The Rev. Jill Martinez ( CA-24 House of Reprentatives. Incumbent: Elton Gallegly) had an op-ed in The Star today. At the end of the article it mentioned what she was running for. Too bad that her campaign couldn't of been mentioned more.
Anyways, for the whole article about The Iraq war, click on continue reading
Here is the article:
Time for a plan to bring troops home from Iraq
By Jill Martinez
August 27, 2006
President Bush has said, "Getting out of Iraq is up to presidents who come after me." I don't agree. He is saying that someone else will have to figure it out in 2009. He has no plan. He admitted it at a press conference last week.
I don't know if we can get our troops out of Iraq in six months or even a year. What I do know is that three years without even a plan is too long. I am committed to getting them home as soon as possible and focusing on the real security needs of our nation.
Let's be clear — invading Iraq and diverting our attention away from al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden is not being strong on national security. The lack of planning for a post-invasion phase endangered U.S. service members. It exacerbated insurgent and sectarian violence. Blind allegiance to a failed "stay the course" strategy is not being strong on national security either.
U.S. military capacity to respond in other parts of the world where we face real threats has been dangerously strained. We can't just keep sending our young men and women into harm's way and burning through money just because Bush can't admit that his policies aren't working.
The dedication and sacrifice of our armed forces deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. More than 2,600 Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. More than 19,000 have been wounded. How do we begin to acknowledge what we owe to these young people for their courage and willingness to risk their lives in service to their country?
I believe we honor their sacrifice by demanding that the Iraqis step forward and take responsibility for securing and governing their country. I believe it is time to change course in Iraq and begin to bring our troops home with honor.
This week, as we remember the trauma of our Southern neighbors in Louisiana and Mississippi that still reverberates a year after the disastrous Hurricane Katrina, can anyone say with certainty where their state's National Guard is stationed?
Added to the strain on our military, American taxpayers have contributed more than $300 billion; nearly $3 billion is added each week to our record spending deficit. This cannot be sustained. In the meantime, Washington Republicans worked in a $40 billion tax cut for the folks who need it least while refusing to appropriate $650 million for our nation's port security because they thought it was too expensive. It is this kind of misplaced priorities and fiscal irresponsibility that has the leaders of the bipartisan Sept. 11 commission lamenting. They know how much could be accomplished in a positive way for homeland security with all that is being wasted in Iraq.
Since the Feb. 22 bombing of the sacred Shiite shrine in the town of Samarra, the nature of the violence has shifted drastically. The rising numbers of Iraqis killed each day indicates that sectarian violence is spiraling out of control. It seems to bolster an assertion that Iraqi officials and American military analysts have been making for months: that the country is already embroiled in a civil war, not just slipping into one, and that American-led forces are caught between Sunni Arab guerrillas and Shiite militias.
Thomas L. Friedman, perhaps our country's most influential foreign affairs columnist, wrote Aug. 4, "It is now obvious that we are not midwifing democracy in Iraq, we are baby-sitting a civil war."
We must take Americans out of the line of fire. But we cannot justify going into a country, destroying it, and then leaving.
Here is a developing plan that deserves serious consideration:
Change the mission of U.S. forces from combat operations to training and logistical support of Iraqi forces and U.S. force protection. Begin the first phase of a redeployment of troops home by the end of this year. Decisions need to be made on whether to station a contingent of special forces nearby to deter foreign intervention as Iraq rebuilds.
In the meantime, the U.S. needs to urge the Iraqis to make the political compromises necessary to unite their country. They could explore the idea of changing their constitution, to build in greater power sharing for the minority Sunnis. But the commitment must come from them. A free people determine their own destiny.
We need to open lines of communication and promote a regional framework for diplomacy. We must engage in greater multinational cooperation. That means talking with the Iranians, the Syrians, as well as our regional partners, the Egyptians and Jordanians. We must engage the Europeans. It is our responsibility to rebuild our alliances to secure resources to finance Iraq's reconstruction and rebuild its economy.
The alternative to this approach is endless war. That is unacceptable. If we want to achieve real security at home and in the world, we have to make more friends than enemies. Let's begin it.
— Jill Martinez, of Oxnard, is the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 24th District.
I have a few guidelines for comments on this blog.
1. If you see anything that crosses the line from politics, to a personal attack and you want it removed just e-mail me (briandennert@yahoo.com)
2. You don't need to use your real name, but I trust a person that uses thier real name more. So should you.
3. In the box that says URL, feel free to leave a link back to a candidate or cause you favor.
4. Keept it clean. Don't use foul language. Try to attack ideas, not personalities. Bring the best and you will bring out the best in others.
5. In addition, I abide by other guidelines put forth by The Star. I want this blog to have high standards and I would hope as your part as a citizen you will help move the debate forward.
Is this just another cut and run?
Nope. Doesn't look like a cut and run to me. Look at what she's saying
"Change the mission of U.S. forces from combat operations to training and logistical support of Iraqi forces and U.S. force protection. Begin the first phase of a redeployment of troops home by the end of this year. Decisions need to be made on whether to station a contingent of special forces nearby to deter foreign intervention as Iraq rebuilds."
Cutting and running would just be packing up and going home. Jill is talking about refocusing our efforts in Iraq. Bush and Gallegley don't have a real plan in Iraq. WMDS? Stoppping torture in the country? Staying the course is costing us billions and billions of dollars and thousands of our young sons and daughters and can anyone clarify to me what Bush and Gallegley's plan is in Iraq? Why are we there?
Please?
Anyone?
Thank God someone has the backbone to stand-up and challenge this failed administration!
Jill has my vote.
It will be wonderful to see this area finally recognize the failures of the current Washington Republicans and retire Gallegley in the polling booth!
Jeremy, what momentum do you see behind the Martinez campaign? Seems like a huge uphill battle.
Does she plan to spend at least a million bucks?
Well it does seem like a huge uphill battle at first sight, but if you take a closer look, there are a lot of things that seem really strong for Jill Martinez's campaign.
#1 the anti-incumbency energy rising across the country due to a failed war in Iraq, fiscal irresponsibility, and insecurity felt across the country. Elton's the Washington Incumbent.
#2 Republican frustration with Elton's lack of accomplishments - with Elton we still have an insecure border, fiscal irresponsibility has surged, and stem cell research has no federal funding.
and #3 Jill Martinez pledges to be accessible to all people in this district. When was the last time you saw Elton? Is Elton representing your needs in congress?
She's going to spend a lot of money as will Elton! He's - - already - - spent more money this cycle than he spent total in either of the last two elections!
Lets retire Gallegley
and elect Jill Martinez to represent us!
If she hasn't raised $250,000 she isn't a serious candidate.
She needs to spend as much as an incumbent does to win. Gallegly just demolished Tenenbaum 80 to 20!
I care not about a single issue if she doesn't have the money to communicate her message.
Does she have a plan to raise and spend at least a half million dollars it takes to win? If not, stop wasting our time.
I remember when Wagner said he was within striking distance.
Ths sad fact is that I have yet to see one article in a nation wide press that places her in the top 60 seats to watch. She doesn't have a presence on dailykos.com, she hasn't been responding on this blog until recently, she doesn't sleep in the district most nights, and she is bragging about Ted Kennedy's endorsement?
Give me a break! Is the name Ted Kennedy going to put her over the top in the Conejo Valley? Maybe she should chase down an endorsement from a few local city council members or at least school board members.
Does she live in the district?
http://www.jillmartinez2006.com/endorsements
It�s a huge reminder that elections take a lot of money to win. She's been raising a lot of money, of course she doesn't have the fundraising infrastructure that Elton has (who walked into the race with 1.2 million carry-forward from previous cycles) but with everyone's help she will fundraise every dollar that she needs. But that means your help too. So do your part! Go to https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9424 and donate now!
As far as her endorsers go, Ted Kennedy's history of fighting for civil rights and equal opportunity across this country makes his endorsement a strong one.
Her endorsements page at: http://www.jillmartinez2006.com/endorsements - she has several city council members and several leaders and organizations who are very involved in the 24th district.
In addition to the local endorsements, President Bill Clinton has endorsed her.
When people realize how winnable this campaign is, both the national press, and blogs will pay attention.
This race is winnable, and Jill Martinez has what it takes to win.
She has an apartment in Lompoc! and a house in Oxynard - (which is only jerry-mandered out of the district and is literally surounded by the district).
As much as I detest the representation of our do-nothing congressman and no-show candidate Elton Gallegly, Jill Martinez has run a lackluster and uninspiring campaign. Whether she can raise money or not is of no interest to me, the problem is that she doesn't raise any interest in her battle to unseat the 20-year incumbent. She also turned off a lot of Dems with some of the dirty smear tactics she employed in the primary season.
A Democrat cannot win in the 23rd without reaching out to Republican voters in the district.
Martinez repeats the mistakes of the past by pandering to traditional Democratic constituencies such as Hispanics and Unions and has failed to reach out, let alone connect with, the silent majority of nervous Republicans that might vote for change if they had a real choice in this election.
Hey R.J. - I can't agree with you more about Elton being a "Do-Nothing No-Show" candidate. Your talking about Jill's campaign in the past tense - keep your eyes open though because her campaign is just beginning to launch, and with the current tide of anger against the Washington republicans including do-nothing Elton - its time for change.
Jill didn't use any smear tactics! I've searched all over the Internet and have found people starting rumours about such smear tactics but haven't seen any evidence anywhere.
Oh and Dems have the 23rd pretty well its the 24th we're fighting for this time.
And where do you get the impression that she's pandering to the Unions and Hispanics? First of all, Jill repeatedly says at her appearances that she plans to represent everyone in the district unlike the incumbent. Secondly, Jill is more than willing to speak to any Republican groups or individuals about her campaign - she understands their frustrations with Elton's lack of ability to accomplish anything while in office.
Thirdly, I've met quite a few Republicans who have not only told me their voting for Jill, but who have signed up to volunteer to help put her in office, so please tell all of those silent nervous Republicans that Jill is not only a real choice, but the only choice if they want someone who wants to and will represent their interests.
Being that it took 7 days for a Rev. Jill Martinez supporter to respond I doubt RJ will see this unless you e-mail him.
Has Jill gotten any local endorsements of elected officials?
Please stop bragging about Ted Kennedy in East Ventura County. It is like bragging about WALMART at a union meeting.