MAINE CONGRESSMAN TOM ALLEN HELPS US MARK A SPECIAL-- IF NOT JOYFUL-- ANNIVERSARY

Of all the candidates endorsed by Blue America so far this year, Maine Congressman Tom Allen has been the most popular, both in terms of the number of people who have donated to his campaign (right around 500) and Iin the amount we have raised for him, over $13,000. It should come as no surprise to anyone; Tom was one of only 6 House Democrats with a perfect record of opposing Bush's entire hideous domestic and international agenda.

Today Rep. Allen is joining us for a second live blogging session at FDL, specifically to discuss progress on ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq and turning around the Bush Regime's destructive Middle East policies. Take a look at his first session from back in June. Be sure to surf over at 7:30pm, EDT (4:30 on the West Coast) and mix it up with someone who is offering Maine voters a very clear choice in the race for the U.S. Senate. Tom and his opponent, rubber stamp Republican Susan Collins were elected on the same day. While he has been a real and forthright leader in trying to right the wrongs of Bush's disastrous policies, Collins has rarely varied from attempting to paint herself as an independent voice, while rubber stamping virtually everything Bush and Cheney had up their sleeves. Look for yourself:

Collins' Iraq voting record
Tom's Iraq voting record

Tom ask us to post this for people participating in today's session:

Five years ago today, the House voted to authorize the war in Iraq. A day later the Senate followed suit.
 
Five years ago today, I stood up to the Bush Administration and voted against the war in Iraq, because I thought then-- and still do-- that it was the wrong war, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. 
 
My opponent, Susan Collins, stood with the Bush Administration voting to authorize the war in Iraq.  Even today, Susan Collins stands alone as the only member of the Maine delegation who does not support a deadline for withdrawal to bring our troops home. 
 
At 5:00 p.m. today, I launched a virtual 48-hour peace vigil. Join it here at the Virtual Peace Rally. Tonight I ask you to join me and activists from all over the nation in demanding an end to the war in Iraq.


I look forward you talking to you all further in the comments section below.
 
Best,
 
Tom

 




UPDATE: NOR IS TOM ALLEN THE ONLY MEMBER OF CONGRESS TAKING NOTE OF THIS DISMAL ANNIVERSARY-- YVETTE CLARK IS JUST AS DETERMINED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

Since getting elected to Congress from my hometown last year Yvette Clarke has been 100% consistent in opposing Bush's catastrophic war agenda and in standing up for the well-being of our military personnel. Today she marked the 5th anniversary of Bush Regime treachery and rubber stamp compliance by telling her constituents about a new national poll that emphasizes that the vast majority of Americans want Congress to end the funding for Bush's madness.

“I stand today in agreement with the people of central Brooklyn and countless others across the nation who are in opposition to allowing this President to write unlimited blank checks to fund this war,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “The poll released today is empirical data for what many in our communities have long known.”
 
She joined 90 other members of Congress in signing a letter to Bush stating that they will only vote for Iraq-related funding to protect US troops and bring them home.