GET OUT OF IRAQ.

GET OUT OF CONGRESS.

This is the message, spoken loud and clear, by Maj. Gen. John Batiste and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, two retired senior Army generals, both of whom served in Iraq and both of whom previously voted Republican. Both are now openly endorsing a Democratic takeover of Congress while bitterly condemning Bush's failures.

This comes close on the heels of a leading organization of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), giving most Congressional Republicans worse ratings on their handling of war, terrorism and veterans' issues than Congressional Democrats. (Above linked article only looks at the New York State delegation).

And, of course, we also have an entire slate of Iraq and Afghanistan war vets running for Congress, almost ALL of them Democrats who bitterly condemn Bush's handling of the war, terrorism and veterans' issues. Some 21 Fighting Dem candidates, running in some 16 states, are doing their best to defeat Bush's failed policies.

Today is the third anniversary of Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech, quite possibly the dumbest speeches in American History. Since then, the quagmire has stretched on and on and there is no end in sight.

Let's reflect on then and now...

May 1st, 2003, in the New York Times (via Editor and Publisher):

By Elisabeth Bumiller

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- President Bush's made-for-television address tonight on the carrier Abraham Lincoln was a powerful, Reaganesque finale to a six-week war. But beneath the golden images of a president steaming home with his troops toward the California coast lay the cold political and military realities that drove Mr. Bush's advisers to create the moment.

This past Jan. my father retired from his 20+ year position. He filled out his paperwork and filed it in time for it to be processed. I just spoke with my mother. It seems that the same office that processes the same forms that my dad filled out also process the Medicare D debacle. According to the folks that Mom talked with, it's going to take longer than it normally would because they are wallowing in the nightmare known as Medicare-Part D.

Thanks Tom. Thanks Joe. That stressed out mother who just called me in a snit? Much appreciated.

Some of you know me from over at Daily Kos. A few others of you may know that I spent a chunk of my grad school days living in the North Texas area. That NTexas connection is how I started looking at Dave Harris as a contender when it comes to Dr. Dean's 50 State Initiative and the race to Take Back the House of Representatives.

Find more below...