A veteran I wish I could support

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Thursday September 04, 2008 · 8:35 PM PDT

2008/09/04 · 20:35

Sometimes, in the rough and tumble of day-to-day politics, we forget how touching John McCain's story really is. Sure, parts of it are embellished, there's no denying that, but he truly is a man with a story worth admiring. To be honest, there's a part of me that wishes I could vote for him because of that story. Of course, I won't. For so many reasons, John McCain is the wrong man for the job of president, but we should remember that his story truly is worth hearing. And there are many who will be convinced by it. He's a veteran who served with honor, and it's just too bad that I can't support him.

Nameless Soldier

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Wednesday August 20, 2008 · 8:51 AM PDT

2008/08/20 · 08:51

I've been thinking a lot about the priorities of people on this site. And before you leave the diary and commence to tell your friends how much of a concern troll I am, I don't mean that in an accusatory way. I just think it's amazing how wide a variety of people there are here on the Great Orange Satan, and how many different things get accomplished here. My question is, what draws you. What particular issue, or issues, really cranks you're engine?

Poll

57 votes Show Results

What is your biggest political concern

57 votes Vote Now!

What is your biggest political concern

The environment

5 votes

The War in Iraq

15 votes

The "War on Terror"

3 votes

A woman's right to choose

0 votes

Marriage equality

2 votes

Reigning in the executive branch

22 votes

Union rights

1 vote

Something else that, because I'm obviously a bad progressive, I forgot

7 votes

Pie

2 votes

All I care about is the Vice President

0 votes

Thank you all

Nameless Soldier

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Sunday August 17, 2008 · 4:33 PM PDT

2008/08/17 · 16:33

I realize that it's been awhile since Netroots Nation, but I've been meaning to write this diary for awhile. As a veteran myself, I want to thank everyone who put together the Netroots for the Troops. I am proud to call myself a member of this group called the netroots, and that has never been more true then when I went to pack my box on Saturday afternoon and couldn't even find space to sit down because so many people where helping out.

Nameless Soldier

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Wednesday June 25, 2008 · 9:30 AM PDT

2008/06/25 · 09:30

Cross Posted at VetVoice.com

2008 has been, and will continue to be, a great year for veterans running for office all over the country. We have reached the fortunate problem this year of having so many qualified veterans running campaigns focused on change that it can sometimes be hard to know where to put our resources. One campaign that I find particularly exciting (exciting enough that I came to work on the campaign after six years in the Army) is that of Hal Bidlack, the 25-year Air Force veteran running as a Democrat in Colorado's 5th Congressional District.

As soon as I saw Hal's website, I knew that I wanted to work for him. Having followed politics with increasing disappointment for the six years that I was in the Army, I wanted to make sure that I was involved with the effort in 2008.

I called the campaign manager and, within a week of signing out of my unit, I was working full time and living out of the office.

Nameless Soldier

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Tuesday May 13, 2008 · 9:03 PM PDT

2008/05/13 · 21:03

I'm not the first to say it, but I'm sure as hell going to repeat it. We can be competitive in every district this year. Sure, we're not going to win every district, some of them won't even be close, but there isn't one that we couldn't make close if we chose too. These special election results that keep coming in show it to be true. This is going to be an election where democrats can win in any district where they put the resources in. Obviously special elections are just that, special, but when a democrats win in some of the reddest parts of the country, it's indicative of how many other races can be won by the blue team. I'd like to talk to you about one district in particular, a campaign that excites me enough that I'm moving back home to Colorado full time to work on it. The district is CO-05, and the candidate is Hal Bidlack.

Nameless Soldier

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Thursday April 10, 2008 · 1:02 PM PDT

2008/04/10 · 13:02

America is, by it's very nature, in a constant state of flux. Because of the nature of democracy there is always the possibility of change, and that change comes frequently. And there is no time when that statement is more true then during a presidential election where neither party includes an incumbent president or vice president. This election has been, and will continue to be, about change, and no one is more excited about that change then me. And because of the current political climate, we as a progressive movement have a very real opportunity to make sure that the change that is coming is the sort of change we are searching for. In my opinion, there are two main types of change: there is reactionary change and revolutionary change. What we need is a revolution.

Nameless Soldier

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Thursday March 20, 2008 · 1:59 PM PDT

2008/03/20 · 13:59

As of today, I only have two months left in the army. 61 days from today, I will wake up and know, that for the first weekday in nearly 6 years, there is no formation that I have to attend. I will wake up and, most likely, reach for my physical training uniform before I realize that I don't have physical training any more. On that day, my life will be altogether different and I will know that it is time to return to a kind of vocal activism that I haven't felt free to do since I joined the army. Reflecting on that has made me remember my first swing at changing things with my own voice.

Nameless Soldier

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Sunday February 10, 2008 · 4:14 AM PST

2008/02/10 · 04:14

Earlier today I attended my first caucus. Here in the 29th legislative district of the state of Washington, I cast my first in-person ballot. And I loved it. Before today I had only voted absentee. This was my first chance to vote in person, and it was wonderful. To be honest, I had my doubts about the caucus system, but I loved it. There are certainly weaknesses with caucuses, but the chance for discussion is important. I honestly feel that caucuses are an excellent way for a party to pick it's nominee.

Nameless Soldier

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Saturday February 02, 2008 · 10:57 AM PST

2008/02/02 · 10:57

For the last several weeks I've been chewing over who I would vote for should Edwards drop out of the race or not reach the 15% threshold in my precinct. Obviously, the rate of chewing has gone up in the last few days. There are things about both Clinton and Obama that I like, and things that make me uncomfortable. But ultimately I coming down on the side of Obama for three important reasons: His policy on the war in Iraq, what I believe to be his ability to work across the aisle without diluting our party's key beliefs, and the opportunity for change he brings to both the nation and the party.

Nameless Soldier

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Tuesday January 22, 2008 · 10:59 PM PST

2008/01/22 · 22:59

It's been a rough few months here at big orange. I'm sure that it's only going to get worse. The primary race is narrowing down pretty quickly, but it's still going to be a few weeks, at least, before we have a nominee. There have been some pretty lethal candidate diaries, and it's probably worth stepping back for a minute and examining the candidates.

None of the top three candidates are perfect. None of the top three candidates are unbearable. None of the top three candidates are Republicans. All of the top three candidates are Democrats. All of the top three candidates could get elected.

Nameless Soldier

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Thursday January 03, 2008 · 9:30 AM PST

2008/01/03 · 09:30

It's true. I know that policy is important, but when it gets right down to it, I really turn up the radio when the process story comes on. I love the polls (I've thought about making pollster.com my home page), and I have probably spent as much time wondering about which candidate would make the best contest then which candidate would make the best president. Other people have sports, I have politics. My college playoffs come every two years, and my super bowl comes every four. I love to watch. On the political highway, I'm the guy twisting my neck around and slowing down traffic while he does it because he wants to watch the crash. But as much as I love process stories, I know that policy is more important. And so, after the leap, a belated new years resolution.

Nameless Soldier

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Thursday December 27, 2007 · 3:31 PM PST

2007/12/27 · 15:31

Cross posted at Vet Voice

Since deploying, Christmas has been bittersweet for me. Like many other veterans I know, I can't help but think of the men and women who are overseas right now facing combat patrols, ambushes, rockets, mortars, and IEDs. If they're lucky like I was, they are not the ones who pull the triggers, but they are still much farther from the families that they miss so much. I don't enjoy Christmas nearly as much as I did a few years ago. But as my appreciation for Christmas has dwindled, my love of New Years, and the hope it represents, has only grown. No one can know what this year will bring, but I have hope and faith that I will look back on 2008 as a year to remember.

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A veteran I wish I could support

What brings you all around?

Thank you all

The Campaign I Work On

A Horse Race in every District

Reaction or Revolution?

A Return to Activism

You know? I really like caucuses.

Obamamania: I'm In

We have three HUMAN candidates

I'm Nameless Soldier, and I'm addicted to the horse race.

The new year quickly comes