A Warrior on a Mission in Rush Limbaugh's Home District
Democrats who may be worried about the 2010 congressional races have a long shot hero this Veterans' Day in a most unlikely place: Rush Limbaugh's home congressional district, the 8th District of Missouri.
The southeast corner of Missouri reared Rush, but it may be about to redeem itself. This reddest of districts has a realistic chance of turning blue, and the reason is former Green Beret Tommy Sowers.
Sowers, who recently left active duty in the Army, has a gold-plated pedigree. Major Sowers earned two Bronze Stars in two deployments in Iraq. Mr. Limbaugh, the churlish champion of the chickenhawks, avoided duty in Vietnam because, reportedly, he had a boil on his ass. Some boil. Some ass.
Sowers has deep roots in the area. He was born and raised in Rolla, the town that gave us the Carnahan family, the Kennedys of Missouri. Sowers' grandfather founded the town's local newspaper during World War Two. Sowers led the Army ROTC at Duke, earned a Master's at the London School of Economics and taught at West Point. I first met him there, and have followed him with interest since. Now that he's left the Army he's been recruited once more. This time to run for Congress.
I must say I tried to talk him out of it. The district, I said, is too Republican, and the election cycle too challenging. Tommy would have none of it. This is his home, he said, and this is his duty.
While the district is undeniably Republican-leaning, Sowers is at home there in a way the incumbent, Jo Ann Emerson, is perhaps not. Emerson's husband, Bill, represented the area until his death in 1996, and Jo Ann Emerson succeeded him. She has won by overwhelming margins ever since. But her background is more K Street than Cape Girardeau. A former Washington lobbyist, Emerson has over the years been a darling of Washington PACs. In fact, 56.9% of the money she has raised in her career has been from PACs. She risks being seen as of Washington special interests, by Washington special interests and for Washington special interests.
Sowers' mission will be to ride what could be an anti-incumbent wave all the way to Congress. And he won't do it on a wing and a prayer. Fueled by his fellow veterans, Sowers raised $204,000 in just the first three weeks of his campaign. That's more than Emerson's last five Democratic challengers combined. Emerson will not be able to coast to victory on the 25-to-1 fundraising advantage she has held in the past.
What gives the race national implications is the threat that Emerson may be Scozzafava'ed. Bob Parker, a farmer and Ron Paul-style right-winger, is challenging Emerson in the GOP primary. Would it be too much to ask Lardbutt Limbaugh to come home and campaign for Parker? Or how about Sarah Palin? She did so much to elect Democrat Bill Owens in an upstate New York district that hadn't sent a Democrat to Congress in 157 years. Maybe we can get her to stop in Rolla or Raymondville on her book tour.
Something is afoot in southeast Missouri. Democrat Jay Nixon carried the district by a 51 - 47 margin on his way to the governor's mansion, and people are tired of politics as usual. Emerson has had a long run, but what has it gotten her district? The 8th District of Missouri is 435th - dead last - in female median income. It's the tenth-poorest district in America, and 25 percent of its children live in poverty. That doesn't sound like a place eager to keep a Wall Street-K Street Republican in Congress.
It's hard for me to be unbiased about someone like Major Sowers. After 25 years in politics you might think I'd be cynical. No way. Sowers is everything you'd want in an up-and-coming young leader: brave and battle-tested, deeply rooted in his community and passionate about bringing change and progress to his long-neglected corner of Missouri. He awakens the idealist in me.
So this Veterans' Day, we're going to fly the flag, as we always do. Pray for family and friends serving in the military. Honor those who have worn the uniform. And send a couple of bucks to a young veteran who is showing the same courage in the political arena that he showed on the battlefield.
John Zogby: The Big Confusion: "Moderates" and "Independents" Are Not the Same Thing
In a recent New York Times piece, David Brooks divided the electorate into liberals, conservatives and independents. This view mistakes a lack of party affiliation for ideological innocence.
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Operating Engineers is Missouri money, as is Rural Electric Coops. Nothing to fear here. As opposed to Tommy's Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley money. I trust Rural Elec coops' money more than Morgan Stanley when it comes to middle class values. By the way, we know you have New Jersey, New York roots (just by your logic), but have you ever voted or lived in Missouri?
Here is a link from a big Democrat in Emerson's District. If we're going to go after Repubs let's focus elsewhere. It sounds like Tommy is another Blue Dog and Emerson's a pretty good congressperson, as far as Repubs go.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1567926.html
Jo Ann voted against the stimulus because she stated that their was not enough infrastructure and immediate stimulus money in the bill. She voted for the bailout. Unlike Tommy, far over half of her money comes from Missouri. She consistently gets 30% or more of the Democratic vote because she is in touch with the District. And, although she says nothing about it, her husband is an early 70s West Point grad with two children who have served in Iraq, One of those kids is headed back for his second tour today. She understands sacrifice, she just doesn't talk about it. While she originally supported the war (along with alot of Democrats) she also supported Skelton's benchmarks. Sounds like a thoughtful leader, not a kneejerk partisan.
I'm not completely sure where you're getting your facts from. Emerson gets over HALF of her money from out of state PACs, the lobbyists working from inside Congress. Her children's sacrifice is admirable, but not worthy of keeping her job.
Plain and simple, Emerson is only in that seat because her husband was, and has never had to work to keep her job. Now that she has a credible challenger, everything is coming out of the woodwork.
Dave Mitrani--Your facts are wrong. But, how would you know. Like most of Tommy's supporters, your just another East Coaster trying to confuse us.
Smells like a DLC candidate, I will keep my distance until I learn more.
Tommy Sowers raises 75% of his money outside Missouri. Being a war Veteran gives him automatic credibility? That didn't seem to work for John McCain. When SO much money comes from Liberals in New York I can see what his ideals are. Nothing like the people of Missouri. As far as Jo Ann Emerson goes, she voted for a bill that allows unlawful land grabs, she voted for Rangel's Alternative minimum tax, she voted for Pelosi's 1st stimulus, she voted for a bill that exempts other countries from paying back debt to the United States, she voted for 25 billion to the Auto industry, she voted for Tarp I and Tarp II, she voted for the Auto Bail Out, she voted for Cash For Clunkers and taxing on up to 90% of Bonuses. So lets not vote for some one more Liberal. Bob Parker is one man who stands for the Constitution that means he stands for our country. Liberals are always complaining about war machines I'm confused. I support the troops like you could not believe. My question is this. Is Tommy Sowers really a Term member of the Counsel On Foreign Relations? If he is you better do some research before you make your big donations. I'll spend my money on some who will put his and our money where his mouth is. Read communicate educate.
John McCain sold out the country when he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. In fact, at that point it became clear that he wasn't serious about the presidency. Plus, the man is 70 years old. Plus, the rabid right can't stand him, so he had no support from the unhinged base. It's kind of interesting how many Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have come back and run as Democrats, NOT Republicans. Why? I suspect they know that Republicans are destroying the America we all know and love, the one that believes in justice and fairness. The one that believes in a strong middle class. The American people are being sold down the river by an elite ruling class, most of whom are Republicans.
Let me explain something about us liberals. A lot of us had fathers who served our country--my own dad was a POW in WWII. He lived with PTSD all his life; in his time, they called it shellshock.
WE HONOR OUR VETERANS.
We understand that sometimes Americans have to pick up arms and defend our country. We do not have some airy-fairey notion that everybody loves everyone else. Armed forces are a necessity in today's world.
But that is NOT the same thing as the "war machine" -- the military-industrial complex that REPUBLICAN President Eisenhower warned us about. The war machine does not see our troops as human beings, as people who have lives and families and who leave a massive emptiness when they leave--especially when they do not return.
We liberals know that risk and sacrifice are sometimes necessary.
WE DO NOT support illegal, lie-based war for profit, the destruction of innocent civilians, or treating our troops who come back from combat being treated like disposable trash.
My generation went to Vietnam and came back disillusioned.
As for your definition of economic policies... I don't think the bailouts are liberal at all. I think they are old-money conservative all the way. The 'too big to fail' businesses are holding America for ransom. Think about what life would be like if all the banks closed for a week.
We need campaign finance reform and we need to get rid of corporate lobbyists. All of them.
AMEN!!
Yes yes and yes.
Of course Tommy Sowers is getting a lot of money from out of state. Emerson's money (majoritry) comes from PACs.
Guess who I as a progressive Kentuckian am sending money to.
So many of the so-called America-lovers have done all they could to avoid actually serving when their country needed them. Most of them just brush this off and their followers don't question it. They should.
If I were running for office for the Democratic side, all I would do is hammer this point home - it is VERY indicative of someone's true allegiance. Talk is cheap - and actions stand on their own. I am not advocating that one who has served in our military stands for instant governance-ability but those who should have served and REFUSED certainly have no position in the process.
We The People, regardless of political belief, need to agree that those who used their influence to side-step their duty to the country have no credibility with us and should not engage in political aspirations as tar and feathering may offend.
Sometimes I feel sorry for you blue collar GOP'ers and closet Libertarians. You hate the party that wants to help you even the Economic playing field with strict regulations and a fair tax code and yet vote for the party that keeps the Wall Street Elite taking Billions of your tax dollars. You hate the party that supports equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens but vote for the party that sends your jobs overseas, rapes your mountains and pollutes your rivers and streams. I am just confused. Even your war veterans return home more progressive. For Pete's sake people... "Read, communicate, educate?" Just stop hating that's the answer.
A few things Sowers has said in the District--he is prolife. Emerson is no longer considered prolife because she supports stem cell research. He refuses to take a position on cap and trade until after the election. In his announcement of candidacy, he didn't even say he was a Democrat. In 2000, he voted for Bush in the North Carolina primary. During the Gingrich contract on America, he Registered as a Republican in 1994. Youthful indiscretion? Maybe. But the bulk of his New York money comes not from West Point, but rather from Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, etc bigwig multithousand dollar checks. Generally, all he talks about is his East Coast contacts and cash on hand. Meanwhile. Emerson is a true moderate who works across the aisle. She voted to censure Joe Wilson, to expand SCHIP and Medicaid, for cash for clunkers. So, spoken as a Vietnam era vet, before you contribute to Sowers, "Buyer beware."
Hope springs eternal.
"And send a couple of bucks to a young veteran who is showing the same courage in the political arena that he showed on the battlefield." HELP! Where's the link to send a donation?
Seems like a capable alternative to the status quo. I'd vote for him if I lived in the district.
I'm not sure what he can do to turn the district around economically, though. Other than, of course, having the ear of the Administration and the Congress that his party controls. With that he'll have an easier time getting stimulus money funneled into the district than his opponent. Beyond that, what? This is a rural, hilly part of the state with the largest city having 35,000 people (and that's a college town). There's already a Branson and it's in another district.
2010 should be the year of the incumbant loss across the board in this nation, but these candidates better be careful with their campaign promises or they'll be one-termers.
Looking down from Canada I am amazed at how a man like Kerry with his war record can be denigrated and the public made to believe that people like Bush & Limbaugh who did everything to avoid serving are more patriotic than Kerry.... I studied this swift boat stuff and it looks like a pile of
crap....
What centrist supporters in the states need is more and more people like Tommy Sowers....
It seems to me what the right fears is brave decorated men like Sowers and Kerry who are centrist or left leaning . It scares the hell out of them because it leaves them with the Bush's and Limbaughs...
A Canadian point of view
In the end what you say is correct. But I find it a sincere failing of the left to point this out. If Democrats can't make the public see what subversion ReThuglicans are purporting then aren't they the ones stranded upon a perch of substance and facts without the eloquence to disperse the goods to the masses. It is why we elected them. What we need is substance with a silver tongue. Solution: clone Obama..... 535 times.
Hey, Canadian guy...don't we look ridiculous down here? 30 million or more people follow bozo Limbaugh like blind sheep..tens of millions more follow Hannity, Beck ,Savage,etc...it's cult like 'thinking' that leads to successful strategies like swiftboating John Kerry and Max Cleland, who lost his legs and one arm in vietnam. Our media is afraid to call the Republican party or Limbaugh et al on this type of slash and burn 'politics' and the Dems have spent most of the last 20 yrs hoping it will go away, which it hasn't. Liberals/progressives need to start fighting back aggressively and push the nedia to do the right thing. The hatemongers and Republican party is only interested in destroying Obama and regaining total control, no matter the cost to the country. We elected the first Black American as president, the first ever woman as speaker and we think we've won and can now sit back and rest. WRONG!
The problem is that in the US, 95% of the media are owned by the same 6 corporations that own the GOP. You need to keep your eyes open up there; friends tell me that Bush's little buddy Harper is cutting funds to the CBC and shuffling laws to give commercial stations - including that scourge of the news business, Faux, all kinds of breaks.
Too many Americans have been programmed to buy the sizzle and forget that they were expecting to have a steak. There's a whole generation now that has never seen a genuine journalist on a major television news program.
It's no accident that the GOP does all it can to destroy the public education system when it's in power. The ignorant are easier to mislead.
Sounds like a winner to me. Where do I send my donation??
I will never, ever forget what the slimeball Gang Of Propagandists did to Max Cleland- the triple amputee VN vet running against a dandee draft dodger.
I will never, ever vote GOP again.
Cosign
My moment of realization came in the wake of Iran-Contra, Never ever again will I vote for a single Republican. All they ever deliver is corruption, lies, polarization, and behind the scenes - treason.
Hopefully no one will swiftboat or otherwise denigrate this hero.
Wow. With that kind of pedigree, why would he ever want to enter politics? Iraq will look like a picnic after Rush has swift-boated him (do they have swift boats in the Iraqi desert?), or rather swift-cameled him out of the race...
My late father was a WW II hero - he would have been proud young man for his service to our country. Good Luck to you Major Sowers, proud to support you - all the way from Alaska!
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