Who is going to win in this VP debate? UPDATE

The voters. The more we know the less likely we will make a mistake and vote for the wrong team. Ask yourself which candidate truly represents your views on the economy and the state of affairs we find ourselves in and which team will solve these problems? Will it be the team that created the problem in the first place or the other? You decide.

UPDATE: Well it went on and there were no gaffs, and Gov. Palin did a good job recovering her image. Biden won the debate in substance, which was what most viewers want in a debate. He made no gaffs, answered questions in the assigned time and was respectful of Gov. Palin. This is the Joe Biden I liked in the Primary and why I had supported him for President.

The momentum is continuing for Barack Obama. John McCain's time is running out. And with 1/3 of the nation actually voting now with Absentee ballots this is not good for John McCain. Even if there is a movement back towards McCain, the fact that so many are voting now, with Barack leading in all polls, this is not good for Senator McCain.

To Hillary Supporters still upset

I can truly empathize with your feelings. It is a real disappointment to get out and really support your candidate you hope would be the best presidential candidate for the Democratic Party and not to have that happen. I felt the same way supporting Joe Biden in the Primary and I was disappointed he didn't win the Primary. But you can still support Hillary by helping to pay off her debt. When Biden didn't win, I sent in donations for Biden to help him. It is not up to Barack Obama to pay off the Clinton's debt. I hope she does well tonight.

Sen. Biden: Comments and appearances from 2005 to now documented here

Today is a historic one as Barack Obama has picked Sen. Joe Biden as his VP running mate. What follows here are some of Biden's best moments as noted here in past posts. For one example is the repost of a Poll which said Biden is the MOST TRUSTED DEMOCRAT ON FOREIGN POLICY. I had supported Biden in the Primary, contributed to his campaign and watched it not gain traction. But today I am very happy to see Joe on the ticket. Here are some previous posts and key phrases with links to the original posts:

Sept. 13, 2006 "Poll says Senator Joe Biden is Most Trusted Democrat on Foreign Policy"

"The poll, which samples key decision makers in Washington, DC, asked respondents: Who in your party do you trust most on foreign policy? Poll respondents overwhelmingly favored Senator Joe Biden, followed by former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)."

Mar. 19, 2006 Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Lugar on CNN

"Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Lugar were on CNN Late Edition this morning. As usual both Senators have it right on Iraq. Sen. Biden has given some really good suggestions over the past 3 years to this Administration. He has proposed a regional conference of neighbors to Iraq put together a comprehensive Peace plan for Iraq, Biden looks more and more Presidential and instead of just complaining about what is wrong with the Administration, he offers some worthwhile suggestions as to how to solve the problems in Iraq. He could have just remained silent but he hasn't. He has nothing to gain politically if the Bush Administration took his ideas seriously and implemented them. Joe would then not have much to run on in the 2008 elections except to say they were his ideas. But Sen. Biden wants to see a victory for the USA as it is too important to lose, as he has stated many times. This is the kind of unselfish advice I wish more would offer this President from the Republican side. Instead they seem to want to let the President and VP run this game without their two cents of advice included. That way, they can say it was a failure of the President and not theirs. Where's the accountability! We need more candidates like Senator Biden running for every available seat in Congress and the Senate. Notice I said candidates, not Democrats nor Republicans. This country needs true Patriots and unselfish non-politicians to help change this country back to where it once was; respected across the world!"

Mar. 24, 2006 Biden blasts Chertoff on Chemical Plant Security

"Sen. Joe Biden has put a much needed focus on Chemical Plant Security after Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, announced that safeguarding chemical plants will be the responsibility of the chemical industry, not Homeland Security.

Nov. 28, 2005 "Sen. Biden on Meet The Press (regarding Iraq war)"

"Senator Joe Biden was on Meet the Press again yesterday, Sunday Nov. 27th, and he was well prepared for the questions thrown at him by Tim Russett, moderator. It is the truth that for the past few years, Sen. Biden has tried to help this Administration win the war in Iraq. I have mentioned a number of times where Sen. Biden 's suggestions made good sense. But they went unheeded by President Bush and more importantly, by Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld, for whom I have lost a lot of admiration over the past few years. He seems to have become very stubborn and is not listening to good ideas. He too surrounds himself with idealogues so they all chant the same chorus. Now it seems that many Americans are starting to come to the same conclusion I did, back on my posting of August 5th, when I said we were at a turning point and that the war in Iraq felt more and more like Vietnam when we all knew that we weren't going to win that war either and it too was a turning point.

Bush has 6 months maximum to turn this thing positive. I doubt he has the skill or competency or desire to take a risk and make a course change which is required to win this thing. I am afraid it was a bad idea to go in there and it was a bad idea not to have a plan to secure the peace. Everything promised there has gone bad. We don't use the Oil of the Iraqi's to pay for the war. We have no real allies there any more and we are the only ones dying there besides the Iraqi's. God help the people of that nation when we leave."

Aug. 14, 2005 Sen. Biden reaffirms he's a candidate for President

"Biden's comments on Meet the Press were spot on the sentiment of regarding where the country is regarding Iraq. He said the Administration and this President are not leveling with the American people. He said the American people know things aren't going well there, that it is incomprehensible that we still don't have the right body armor protection for our troops, as was described in the NY Times today. Senator Biden said he has no confidence in Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and the President should fire him, because everything that could go wrong there has gone wrong there.

On another Sunday show, Sen. John McCain also said he has lost confidence in Rumsfeld.

On Chris Mathews NBC show this morning, NY Times correspondent, David Brookes, said, "Senator Biden and Sen. Clinton are the only Democrats that have given specifics as to how to improve the situation in Iraq" (I would say it is apparent that their suggestions have fallen on deaf ears).

Senator Biden reiterated his plans to seek nomination from his party to run for President in 2008 after visiting recently in the "Red States" and being encouraged to run.

Henry Kissinger when asked on Wolf Blitzer's The New Iraq this morning, about whether what is starting to happen in Iraq today is reminiscent of what happened in Vietnam. Kissinger in his response seemed to blame the anti-war movement for what happened rather than a failed policy of the Nixon Administation and previous Administrations. My question is this When are these current and former policy makers going to take responsibility for their failures? They want to blame the American people for what was wrong in Vietnam and now in Iraq, other than a failed policy and strategy. Why didn't Rumsfeld consider more troops when he was advised to, going into the war, from his top General? We should reinstate the General and have him get Iraq right. As Senator Biden said today, "If Donald Rumsfeld was a CEO he would have been fired long ago!!!"

Jun. 19, 2005 Sen. Biden announced his run for President today.

"Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, made news this morning announcing his intent to run for President in 2008, on "Face the Nation". His comments on what we need to do in Iraq shows why this Senator knows what he is talking about. From enlisting Nato to help guard the borders in Iraq, to accepting the Europeans offer to train more Iraqi's, I hope the President and the Administration listen to his suggestions to turn the Iraq situation around right now. Senator Biden, returning from a trip to Iraq, his 5th trip, reports US. Generals there tell a different story than what the Administration is touting now. VP Cheney even said the insurgents are in the last throws of being defeated in the past few days. Recent pronouncements by the Administration said we had turned a corner there. This was about the 6th time we had "turned a corner" there. Seems to me when you turn the corner so many times one could accurately conclude, we are going in circles. I think so. Don't you?

This is an email I sent to Senator Biden this morning after the "Face the Nation" broadcast:Wow! I am thrilled you will be a serious candidate for President in 2008. I saw the "Face the Nation" broadcast this morning and again realized what a plain speaking, intelligent, thoughtful and sincere person you are. I was particularly touched by your comments about wanting to help a family bring home the remains of their son from Iraq and you were turned away. I did a short summary of your comments, as well as a link to your web site on my Blog this morning at: http://cdiamico.blogspot.com/ Keep speaking out on what is needed in Iraq. It is too important to just let failure play out. I am encouraged by your comments on this Father's Day, that there is hope still. Thanks Senator.


Looking back Biden has been right on most things and not afraid to say what needs to be said. The Democrats now have a chance to win the Presidency with Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Thank God for the Country and our future. Change is coming from the failed policies and presidency of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Amen!

Barack asks 10 supporters backstage but look what States they are from!

Barack Obama's team is planning every aspect of their convention in Colorado. This includes inviting supporters from 10 States to join him backstage as he accepts the nomination.

In the email I received today it lists all 10 people and a little about each of them. They make up all races, ages and backgrounds, according to the email.

But one thing I noticed mostly is the States they are from. Here's the list:


Montana
North Carolina
Indiana
Ohio
Colorado
Florida
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Alaska
North Dakota

Each State represents a State Obama hopes to put in play in this election but you won't read that in this email. Clever, quite clever, in my view. I wonder what else he and his people have up their sleeves? Maybe Sen. Joe Biden for President? I would like that very much as any reader here knows, I supported Sen. Biden in the Primary.

The Georgia/Russian conflict: Please explain it to me again?

Today I received an email from Senator Joe Biden's wife on his behalf informing me on his stand regarding this conflict. Here is my reply to the Senator in the form of an email to him and at the bottom I have copied the initial email from his wife:

"Senator, I noticed this in your statement with Senator Lugar back in April, "Russia is clearly trying to provoke the Georgians into an over-reaction that will tarnish Georgia's image in the West. To its great credit, Tbilisi has so far chosen the path of restraint and negotiation, as evidenced by Mr. Saakashvili's magnanimous diplomatic initiative."

I am no expert here, nor do I side with Russia on this, but it seems that President Saakashvili initiated the military action during the Olympics, instead of the heeded advice from you, Senator Lugar and others.

It also seems to me that our strategy for allowing membership into Nato by countries surrounding Russia is provocative in itself. We would not appreciate Chavez of Venezuela building similar alliances with Cuba and other neighbors of ours as we also reacted when Cuba was friendly with Russia and now the Chinese. It feels like we are sticking a sharp stick in the eye of Russia instead of working with them on the issue of Iran, War on Terrorists and things like this conflict.

I know you are busy and most likely haven't the time to respond. I am an average American, a financial supporter of yours again most recently and I am confused by the explanations. Why is it in our interest to cozy up and enter into Alliances like Nato with countries we most likely would not defend with our Blood and Treasure when we have our hands full now and the world knows it.

I appreciate your indulgence Senator. The average person is as confused as I am and this topic needs some time to educate us on this matter and a one page letter, even with links, doesn't do that.

Warmest regards,
Charles Amico
Larkspur, CA"

If the good Senator responds to my inquiry, I will post it here in an Update.

Dear Charles,
I'm sure you have been following the disturbing news regarding Russia's aggressive military tactics in Georgia, begun during the start of the Olympic Games. I wanted to make sure you were the first to read Joe's take on the situation.

Joe penned an op-ed on Georgia for the second time since April, this one in the Financial Times – just now up on their website. In it, titled "Russia Must Stand Down," he outlines the potential consequences of Russia's actions:

By acting disproportionately with a full scale attack on Georgia and seeking the ouster of Georgia's democratically elected President Mikheil Saakashvili, Moscow is jeopardizing its standing in Europe and the broader international community – and risking very real practical and political consequences...

Joe identifies what the next steps need to be for all parties involved and clearly summarizes what we could be facing if things do not change – fast:
The only hope for preventing this crisis from becoming a calamity for Russia's relationship with the west is for Moscow to immediately ceasefire, pull back its forces and agree to negotiations brokered by the international community – all steps that the Georgian government has agreed to. If the fighting continues, this moment could emerge as a turning point in the west's relationship with Moscow, and deny Russia the international standing it seeks. That is not the future the United States or Europe want – but it is the future Russia may get if it does not stand down and live up to its responsibilities as a force for progress.

Once again, Joe and Senator Lugar of Indiana were ahead of the curve on this critical issue. In April, they wrote an op-ed in the Washington Times that highlighted what a crucial region of the world this is. In that piece, "Stand up for Georgia," they said:
Georgia has done its part by refusing to overreact and continues to seek a diplomatic solution. The time has come for the trans-Atlantic community to show unity and commitment.

As always, please do not hesitate to share your opinions on this or anything else that matters to you. We appreciate hearing from you. I'll continue to pass along Joe's thoughts on this developing situation.
Sincerely,

Valerie Biden Owens

Headline reads: Study: Delayed delivery of trucks led to Marine deaths

You can't blame Congress for this one. The essence of the story is this and I quote, "Hundreds of U.S. Marines have been killed or injured by roadside bombs in Iraq because Marine Corps bureaucrats refused an urgent request in 2005 from battlefield commanders for blast-resistant vehicles, an internal military study concludes."

The Democrats in Congress have been wanting the war in Iraq to end and for the troops to come home. And although they voted for these MRAPs in a difficult vote they were not ordered because they cost too much, according to the study. I remember Sen. Joe Biden making a difficult vote against some of his Democratic colleagues because he said he had to protect the troops and these vehicles would save many lives. Now we know they weren't ordered even though the funding was approved because the cost $450,000 to $1 Million a piece and Marine Corp. bureaucrats wanted the money to go for other lighter vehicles in the planning stages which weren't to be in the field for years ahead.

In May of 2007, when Sec. of Defense, Robert Gates, made them a priority, the trucks began to ship according to the article. They article went on further to say "The study's author, Franz J. Gayl, catalogs what he says were flawed decisions and missteps by midlevel managers in Marine Corps offices that occurred well before Gates replaced Donald Rumsfeld in December 2006."

We now have 3,951 soldiers dead in Iraq. We want our troops home ALIVE, not dead. Over 29,000 soldiers have been wounded since 2001, with most injuries, very seriously. There is no moral justification to continue this war. It's now the Iraqi's to get right. Bring the troops home safely before more of them are killed unnecessarily.

To read the entire story click here.

Iraq needs to be front and center on our minds in the upcoming primaries

U.S. Fatalities in Iraq are down for the 3rd consecutive month, taking Iraq out of the Presidential debate for both parties as the Iowa caucus draws near. This is a very good news for U.S. troops and the families of our soldiers.

It does however cloud the situation in terms of who will get us out of Iraq now that it is off the topic in the last remaining days of 2007 and early 2008. Let us not forget, we still have 160,000 troops in theater and we need to stop the war we have chosen in Iraq and fortify our forces in Afghanistan so that we don't lose the victory we nearly had several years ago.

IT is up to the electorate to decide whether they want Iraq to dominate our lives for the next 10 years or whether we are finally going to get out of there. Only a very few candidates will get us out. They are, for the Republicans, Ron Paul, and for the Democrats Sen. Joe Biden, Rep. Kusinich, Gov. Richardson and possibly John Edwards. You can count on Hillary keeping troops there and Barack may also given his comments in the debate. None of the other candidates on the Republican side will end our presence in Iraq.

To forget about the importance of getting out of Iraq as a major issue in the primaries, is to do so at your own peril and that of your family and friends, because the future needs to be about change!

Who won the debate? The Statesman

CNN's Wolf Blitzer last night "moderated" the Democratic Presidential debate, or so he was suppose to. He apparently lost control in the first 12 minutes as it appeared to be a free for all between the Presidential hopefuls. Much of the focus of attention was on Hillary Clinton and whether she would do better this time over her last performance. She did. Was Barack Obama more present and engaged? He was. Was John Edwards making his case to voters on the difference between the candidates (Hillary) and himself? No, he did himself a disservice last night and if anything, was one of the losers in the debate. He got booed, as they didn't like him attacking Hillary.

But there was more to summarize in this debate than in previous debates. For example, Senator Joe Biden, the Statesman, seemed to have the best answers to solve most of the issues brought up in the debate. He was down to earth, used plain language and was not trying to slam any of the other candidates. He was definitely the most stately candidate and was at his best in this debate.

Also a surprise was Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He was direct, made the differences more apparent between himself and most of the other candidates and in one particular exchange, he noted that most of the candidates had voted for NAFTA, War in Iraq, passed China's admittance into the WTO without restrictions and were responsible for most of the problems facing us today, including passing funding for the War in Iraq and not pursuing Impeachment for Cheney and Bush.

I was surprised how well this debate went and the questions were good. Most candidates were at their best and one thing for sure, any could make a good President, but only one will be. The media seems to influence voters by just speaking of the front 3 candidates and I think the others are short changed. Senator Biden for one and Senator Dodd and Congressman Kucinich as well.

Oct. 30th Democratic Presidential debate: Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

I watched the last Democratic Presidential debate twice to see where I came out on it. I found John Edwards did a great job of speaking to America and distinguishing his differences with Hillary. In doing, so he elevated all the candidates’ status. Joe Biden was terrific and rightfully discussed Iran and the saber rattling in the context of the much more important issue with Pakistan: having Nuclear Bombs on missiles pointed at India and the instability of Pakistan's President Musharraf's Government. Obama tagged on to Edwards going after Hillary and did OK. But Chris Dodd was also a positive surprise pointing out Hillary's problem with about 50% of the population saying they would never vote for Hillary. All in all, it was the first really good debate. As for the jousting amongst the candidates going after Hillary on her stands and inconsistency over the issues that inspired Gov. Richardson to come to the defense of Hillary, I found it resulted in my ruling out Richardson as a viable candidate. This is the very type of debate we need. It's about issues, political stands and inconsistencies in what the candidates have said in the past, that needs to be debated. As this phrase came from President Truman who is depicted in the picture above, Gov. Richardson, if you can't stand the heat on others, get out of the kitchen!

Bush's ultimate legacy: Draining the U.S. Treasury

Yes, it's true. This is our President. Take a good look at the picture so you can remember who created this mess we are in on so many fronts. I am told Republican Conservatives are supposed to be the politicians most concerned and able to manage money, since many have ties and experience in Corporate America. Well I guess that myth has been debunked with the latest figures about the cost of the Iraq war and that it was going to cost $2 Trillion dollars, according to the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said that Bush would "go down in history as the most fiscally irresponsible president ever. The fact is that the nation's debt has exploded on his watch -- rising by $3 trillion since 2001, to $9 trillion today."

We need to consider this issue as more important the the Iraq war itself. This will affect not only our generation but our children's generation and their children's generation. We are now the leading debtor nation in the world and that sets the stage for the second, so called, Fall of the Roman Empire, us!

There are only a few Presidential candidates that can deal with this issue. It's not Hillary, Obama Rudi, McCain, nor Fred Thompson. It is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and he is by far the best Presidential candidate with expertise in this area as Governor of Massachusetts, and having also managed the U.S. Olympics and his tenure as head of Bain Capital. Another might be Gov. Huckabee (R) who has experience as a Governor. On the Democratic side possibly Gov. Bill Richardson who has managed the smaller state of New Mexico. He is the only candidate with the experience being an Executive officer of a large entity like a State. This may be the first election in our history where the issues we face as a Nation can't be resolved by any of the Presidential candidates and the ideal solution would be to combine the best in each.

What Presidential ticket would that look like to me? It would be Senator Joe Biden (D), as expert on Foreign relations and the only candidate who could help solve the Iraq Civil War, and Mitt Romney, as the best candidate for resolving the financial debt issues we will face. But we don't have the consciousness to consider ideas outside of our traditional box of electing a President. But wouldn't that be a good ticket!

As the title of this Blog says, "Bush's ultimate legacy: Draining the U.S. Treasury", he has made the country as bankrupt as he did with his own Oil company. This time instead of the Saudi's bailing him out, it is China, as they own most of our debt.

Inevitability of Democratic and Republican Presidential Nominees

Everyone has been saying Hillary is the one to beat and that no one can touch her lead over the field of Democrats. The same can't be said for the Republicans, as they had their debate tonight on Fox News. So the question is this, without a single vote, your choice has been made null and void by the media. Can and will the American people take charge of this process and be willing to give a fair look at all the candidates for the good of America? What would that look like?

Well for one thing one would have to first focus on which of the issues they feel strongest about. For many it's the Iraq war, ending it and bringing the troops home. For others, it's about the economy while for others in a related issue, it's the high price of gasoline. For still others, it's about healthcare and whether we should have Universal Healthcare coverage and a system run by the U.S Government.

On the issue of the Iraq war, there is only one candidate that has a position to solve the problem and that is Senator Joe Biden, as he stated today on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He is clearly the most experienced on Foreign Affairs as he is Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and the most trusted Senator by his colleagues in the area of Foreign Affairs. He said this morning that many have said he would make a great Secretary of State. His reply, don't we need the next President to excel in this area and if so, he is the most qualified. He is right on the money on this.

If your issue is healthcare, Hillary has probably the most intimate knowledge about the system and what's wrong with it and could most likely have learned from her previous attempt to change the system.

If your issue is we need to be strong as a country and not tolerating pandering or negotiating with the likes of Amadenajad of Iran or Putin of Russia, you might want the fiery Rudy Giuliani.

If you want someone to run the country and the economy maximizing efficiency's and effectiveness, you might want to consider Mitt Romney.

If you want to ensure Christian Values are front and center as the basis for deciding who should get your support then Mike Huckabee, the Baptist minister and Gov. of Arkansas, would certainly be at the top of that list of current candidates from both parties.

What's clear here is that focusing on the single issue that stirs you the most and then pick the candidate with the most experience and track record. You choose, not the media. Start thinking more deeply as this will be your most important decision for President in your lifetime. Much rides on you choosing wisely and not being swayed by the polls and the media. You need to stick with your choice and let it play out while you are constantly focused on the issue that is most important to you and seeing exactly where the candidates stand. Are they clear or deliberately confusing the boundaries of their decisions and trying to have it all ways to include the most voters. I don’t need that kind of candidate and neither do you. Not this time, not this election for President!

N.H. Democratic debate on Iraq-What a disappointment

What disappointment from Hillary, Barack and Edwards. All 3 said they wouldn't promise all the troops home from Iraq by 2013. I need to pick a new candidate and so do you or we will be there indefinitely. The only candidates who said they would have all the troops home from Iraq before 2013 were Biden, Richardson, Dodd, Kusinich and Gravel. Anyone voting for a Democratic candidate in the primaries, needs to reconsider one of these 5, who will bring the troops home. I just was shocked at the front leaders response and how Hillary found it useful not to stake out any popular position for ear of offending someone.

Biden and Richardson had no problem with bringing the troops home as soon as they can after being elected President. They also had bold ideas about saving Social Security. Biden wants to solve the problem by raising the Caps on when people pay taxes. Currently at $97,000, Biden wants all income above $97,000 taxed because anyone who makes $97,000 or under is taxed on all their income and why should those making more not be taxed on all their income as well. They don't need the break if they are making Millions of dollars according to Biden. I agree with him on that.

Biden, Dodd and Richardson are the only hope of anyone wanting to end the war and picking a candidate that could make a good President. I believe Biden and Dodd could get both Independent voters and some Republican voters as well. Yesterday, Biden got his soft-partition non-binding resolution approved that favors a loose Federation in Iraq of three separate regions, one Shia controlled, one Sunni controlled and the other Kurdish controlled regions, where each would share in Oil revenues and the country would have a weak but effective central government. Biden garnered Republican and Democratic support with a winning resolution 75 to 23 votes. We need a President that can work with Republicans and Biden did.

If we are going to have any effect to bring the troops home we must choose, and loudly support with money and our voices, either Biden, Dodd or Richardson. If anyone polls us we must tell the media why we have changed our minds on the front-runners. There is no choice for Republicans with a serious candidate who has a chance to win, who will stop the war and bring the troops home other than Congressman Ron Paul.

Senator Joe Biden's flawed reasoning for continued funding of the war.

God bless Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) presidential candidate and the most trusted Senator when it comes to Foreign Relations. This morning on Meet The Press, he articulated his position as to why he won't cut off the funds for the war even though he believes there is no hope of the current strategy in Iraq working. His rationale is this, as long as there is a single soldier left in Iraq, he won't cut off the funds because the funding is paying for special armored vehicles that can stand the I.E.D. explosions which have killed or injured thousand of our troops. These vehicles cost Billions of dollars and he wants to make sure they are made.

Here's what's flawed in the Senator's position. Let's look at recent data. Since August 1st, there were 100 deaths of our soldiers. 50% of the deaths were caused by I.E.D.'s. The next single cause of the deaths was because of Hostile fire at 24% and helicopter crashes accounted for about 20%.

So the best we could do using Senator Biden's reasoning would be to save 50% of the deaths. This is very good indeed if we could pull it off in the next 6-9 months. But the vehicles are still being built and may not be in theater far beyond a year from now. But what about the other 50% your reasoning can't save? Theses new vehicles will not save lives for soldiers walking around on missions in Iraq from such things as hostile fire, small arms fire and snipers. So the best we can do is not good enough, Senator Biden.

By voting to cut off the funding, you are assuring that eventually the troops will start to come home, safe with their families and recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.), which by the way doesn't physically deform or injure the body, but instead ravages the mind, not only of the soldier, but of their families as well because they must live with their loved ones mental damage for years to come. Those vehicles can’t do a thing for P.T.S.D. You see Senator, the only thing that can be done to honor the troops and their sacrifice, is to admit the truth of the situation and bring them home. Anything else, is truly cowardice and I respect you but think your reasoning can't stand the rigor of a logical analysis without crumbling. Senator, changing your view here could help change the course of this war. Many listen to you and could follow your recommendations. If you believe these vehicles are necessary anyway, just fund the vehicles but strip away everything else and vote to bring the troops home.