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One of the benefits of being retired is that it frees you up to run for office. Currently I'm running for the State Senate in the 33rd Legislative District. Win or lose in November, I plan on working with the veterans organization in Washington State to encourage veterans to join the fight and get involved in all levels of government from school and water boards, to city councils, State level, and beyond. Veterans are the logical choice to do this, but its hard work and thankless in some ways.
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LTC Martin Metz
I plan on working with veteran organizations in Washington State to generate more interest in vet participation. We have a lot to bring to our communities.
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LTC Martin Metz
I was disappointed in not retiring my opponent. However, Republicans took back the State Senate in Washington. Funny thing, the incumbent raised over $153,000 and spent over $100,000 on the campaign. I can assure you my election effort was done with well less than that. You don't have to raise a bunch of money if you put up a good ground game. She felt so endangered she spent considerably more time raising money for her own campaign than would normally have happened. She was unable to contribute to others who were running. That alone helped to ensure the success of other Republican candidates. The experience was worthwhile as I met a lot of good folks in the region and started re-charging a fairly beaten down district. The Dems should feel very nervous as we move forward to the Presidential elections. I am a free agent right now who will be putting my network, time, and efforts towards continuing to rebuild the grassroots base.
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SFC Boots Attaway
LTC Martin Metz , sorry to hear about the election Sir but that does free you up like you said. I know you will do a great job in rebuilding the grass roots. Drive on.
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i am. but i would never make it. i wouldnt be anything short of bullworth. i would be straight and forward. people claim to want this, but they really dont. there would be about 42 fights on record that the media would focus on in my background. a few speeding tickets. a broken marriage. so i am not the poster boy for an election. i believe in 70% of what the republicans do, 20% of democratic ways, and 10% of my own. i think both parties are 100% full of crap. and i am sure in 20 years when i run, this post will get out and i will have committed political suicide. i am not afraid to say what i have to (within reason and ethics). and i dont go back on my word. yea, i would be a horrible politician.
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SGM (Join to see)
MSG Ibarra, congrats you are first to respond. By the way, my last assignment was 21st TSC/TAACOM...you offer valid points! However, the system gets worse every time a good veteran does not run....while most of us are not and will never be a politician, we might be effective change agents if we are not focused on reelection.
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MSG (Join to see)
SGM, LTC Allen West would've been a good person that i would vote for, but there is a lot of negativity in some of his statements. yes, there is a lot of his statements that i agree with, but i can never bash the boss. the way i see it, in two years, we will have another Politician get into office and have his own view to push on us. one day, we will have our own version of Ike come out and fix a few things. for now, i must support the boss. otherwise, what kind of american would i be? what type of soldier am i? gotta believe in something and stand by it, even if i dont agree whole heartedly with the politics.
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SGM (Join to see)
MSG Ibarra, yep...I continue to quote "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"...
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT Ingram -- To your point, it appears that it continues to get worse with each election. The number of former military personnel in Congress, and in the Administration in general, continues to diminish.
Saw an article about it on the Military Times web site today. Here is an excerpt:
The number of veterans in Congress has been steadily dropping in recent election cycles, but the legislative branch’s meager military credentials could take a major hit this year.
According to an analysis from the nonpartisan Veterans Campaign, only 183 of the 865 major-party candidates up for election to Congress this year boast military experience. It’s the first time in recent memory that fewer than 200 veterans were on the campaign trail in the congressional races.
Based on recent polling data, those sparse figures could drop the total number of veterans in the House and Senate to under 100 for the first time since the 1950s, when World War II veterans began seeking office for the first time.
The current Congress has only 106 lawmakers with military experience, and Veterans Campaign Executive Director Seth Lynn said he expects that number to drop by up to 10 percent next year.
“We’re used to seeing this steady decrease every two years, but this could be an even steeper drop than we normally expect,” he said. “This is going to be the election that puts us below earlier levels.”
CPT Ingram -- To your point, it appears that it continues to get worse with each election. The number of former military personnel in Congress, and in the Administration in general, continues to diminish.
Saw an article about it on the Military Times web site today. Here is an excerpt:
The number of veterans in Congress has been steadily dropping in recent election cycles, but the legislative branch’s meager military credentials could take a major hit this year.
According to an analysis from the nonpartisan Veterans Campaign, only 183 of the 865 major-party candidates up for election to Congress this year boast military experience. It’s the first time in recent memory that fewer than 200 veterans were on the campaign trail in the congressional races.
Based on recent polling data, those sparse figures could drop the total number of veterans in the House and Senate to under 100 for the first time since the 1950s, when World War II veterans began seeking office for the first time.
The current Congress has only 106 lawmakers with military experience, and Veterans Campaign Executive Director Seth Lynn said he expects that number to drop by up to 10 percent next year.
“We’re used to seeing this steady decrease every two years, but this could be an even steeper drop than we normally expect,” he said. “This is going to be the election that puts us below earlier levels.”
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SSG (Join to see)
It is easy to see that military is not the popular background to have anymore. The population feels that if we have a heavy group in positions in Congress we are more likely to go to war because of the individuals with military background. What they don't realize is that those of us with military backgrounds and combat tours do not want wars we have seen and lived it and can tell you there is no benefit to it. We have done our parts to protect our fellow men and women at the cost of our own lives. I think we are more knowledgeable in how to avoid wars now and there should be more of us in congress.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
SSG (Join to see)
Actually, the military is still the highest rated profession in the nation and a military background is an awesome thing to have on your resume. It is just that not many former military run for Congress, which is a shame. Those who do run are pretty successful at getting elected.
Actually, the military is still the highest rated profession in the nation and a military background is an awesome thing to have on your resume. It is just that not many former military run for Congress, which is a shame. Those who do run are pretty successful at getting elected.
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CPT (Join to see)
As the size of the military as a proportion of the population dwindles, it should be no surprise that the number of Veterans in Congress decreases, but that doesn't mean that those veterans who decide to run should fail. COL Burleson is correct on the reputation of the military as a profession and this can easily translate into electoral success. One of our challenges is that "politics" within the military is quite different than electoral politics. In the article, I try to point out some of the areas our experience can help us (planning and executing a campaign), but the transition can be a challenge.
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