Washington’s Wake Up Call

An effigy of change has taken hold in the 7^th congressional district in Virginia, and it spells hope for a nation mired in a political albatross.

In what’s being touted as a major upset to Republican politics, Dave Brat, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, widely defeated incumbent congressman and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor with a 56 to 44 percent win in the primaries. And given the district’s R+10 lean toward the GOP, Brat is all but a sure bet in November.

In this classic underdog story, Dave Brat, left, defeated incumbent congressman Eric Cantor, right, in the VA 7th congressional district Republican primaries.

The facts surrounding Brat’s successful run are simply astounding, and should serve as a warning to both parties that change begins on the ground, and America is not pleased with what we see in Washington.

Brat was outspent 40 to 1. Cantor had the backing of PACs, corporations, and other benefactors locally and nationally. Brat raised a paltry $200,000 for his run, most of it from grassroots supporters (and no support from any Tea Party faction, as was erroneously claimed). Running up to the primary election, polls indicated a potential landslide victory for Cantor. He had taken on most of his previous contenders with merely a scratch against him. However, when you fall out of favor with your constituency, all the money in the world can’t cushion the effects.

Brat ran on a moderate platform, as evidenced by his positions closely aligning with basic tenants of classic, pre-schism Republicanism. His oft-repeated mantra includes:

• That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice,
• That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society,
• That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government,
• That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing Constitutional limitations,
• That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense,
• That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers, is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation

Oh my God, a sensible Republican! Well, time will tell, anyway, but these points certainly speak more to positive intrinsic beliefs than the cronyism and other disparities embodied by his soon-to-be predecessor.

Logic and politics fell hand in hand, and won. Are your feet beginning to feel the pangs of frost, yet? Certainly, hell must have frozen over.

With an approval rating hovering around only 14%, it’s no wonder congressional incumbents, such as Cantor, the first Majority Leader in United States history to be voted out of active office, are facing a tough re-election process in November. This example of bucking the trend should strike fear into their cold hearts, and lead our elected representatives to the realization that none of their jobs are safe.

We will not stand idly by as career politicians destroy the tenets of America.

We can harp on enacting term limits all day, stand upon our soap boxes with bullhorns, and decry the injustice we feel by our sworn leaders’ betrayal of the people’s interests, but in our country, the only way to enact real change is to vote. Our quintessential right has been re-infused and given new hope by the actions of a 65,000 citizen-strong electorate.

Our nation doesn’t need to be ruled by an extreme, ruthless faction of tyrannical partisan hacks. We just need to pull our heads out of our asses long enough to smell freedom, and pull the lever for some well-qualified, levelheaded, fresh faces.

During a post-election event last night outside Richmond, VA, Brat stated, “”The reason we won this campaign, there is just one reason, and that’s because dollars do not vote – you do.”

Here’s your wake up call, Washington.

A Treasonous Exchange

Last week, President Barack Obama stated his desire to reshape the face of US foreign policy – a shift toward popularly quoted “might doing right.” The concept asserts that cautious, diplomatic avenues will need to be explored to strengthen our desperately lacking stance as a world power commitment to doing the right thing. So, how, exactly, do we begin our fruitful journey in seeking to exhibit our national standing? What can we give to the world that will show we mean business?

Terrorists. Thanks, Obama!

Sans sarcasm, that was the gist of the heartfelt reaction from Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar when describing the exchange of five high-ranking former Taliban operatives for one US soldier, Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, as a “big victory.”

Sgt Bergdahl, left, B.O., right, B.S., everywhere.

Bergdahl was previously captured by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in June 2009 when he mysteriously disappeared from his base in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan. Allegations of desertion, fueled by previous conduct and statements shared with friends and family, plague the obscurities that lead to his POW status. And they look pretty convincing.

In the ensuing weeks after the allegedly traitorous fuck decided to switch teams, his base came under heavy enemy fire, resulting in the loss of many soldier’s lives. To add insult to injury, he appeared in videos (coerced, of course) denouncing the war effort and begged for the US to release fellow homies of the Taliban. But the follow-up Taliban reunion album and tour are going to have to be put on hold, at least for a little while.

Obama stated that he had received security guarantees from Qatar – the Muslim Brotherhood-loving mediators of the deal – “that it will put in place measures to protect our national security.” The almost laughable, if not hollow, measure they took? They fab-five have been banned from leaving Qatar for at least a year.

By George, that’ll stop ‘em!

In defense of the decision, Chuck Hagel said, “We didn’t negotiate with terrorists. Sergeant Bergdahl was a prisoner of war. That’s a normal process in getting your prisoners back,” he told NBC TV.

Is that the famous “doublespeak” I’ve heard so much of from that silly old book, 1984?

“No shots were fired – it went as well as it could have.”

Yeah, except we just released possibly the most dangerous men in the world, the consequences of which are tall and foreboding. Here’s a brief, yet accurate, look at their colorful past, as brought to you by the BBC:

Mohammad Fazl served as the Taliban’s deputy defence minister during America’s military campaign in 2001. Accused of possible war crimes, including the murder of thousands of Shia Muslims.

Khirullah Khairkhwa was a senior Taliban official serving as interior minister and governor of Herat, Afghanistan’s third largest city. Alleged to have had direct links to Osama Bin Laden.

Abdul Haq Wasiq was the Taliban’s deputy minister of intelligence. Said to have been central in forming alliances with other Islamist groups to fight against US and coalition forces.

Mullah Norullah Noori was a senior Taliban military commander and a governor. Also accused of being involved in the mass killings of Shia Muslims.

Mohammad Nabi Omari held multiple Taliban leadership roles, including chief of security. Alleged to have been involved in attacks against US and coalition forces.

Just the type of guys we want freely wandering around the face of the earth. Especially in exchange for such a hero as Sgt Bergdahl. Long-held mantras be damned, this was totally worth it!

“…what makes us exceptional is not flouting international norms and the rule of law; it’s our willingness to affirm them through our actions,” Obama said in his speech to West Point graduates just last week.

Yes. What makes us exceptional is negotiating with terrorists and breaking international law with Afghanistan regarding releasing their citizens to Qatar. Sounds exactly like what he just said, right there.

Also, drones. The Ukraine crisis. Syria. NSA spying. We’re totally affirming the hell out of that shit… depending on whom you ask.

“[Those] who suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away, are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics,” must be an irrefutable statement as well. When, under the current regime, have there been non-partisan politics at play? We must all be biased. Or illiterate.

Puffing up your chest in the mirror does not constitute strong leadership. It just means you’re literally full of hot air.

Can we have our terrorists back, please? We’ll trade you the most treacherous one we know.