Pete Ashdown

The events of this week have turned my thoughts to war. President Bush, Condoleeza Rice, and Donald Rumsfeld all spoke in Salt Lake of the necessity for “winning” the war on terrorism. United they stated that there is no alternative other than absolute victory. What I wonder is whether they, or more importantly, the American people, realize what is required to “win”.

There is no doubt that America and its allies won World War I and World War II. In each case, on all fronts, our enemies deemed themselves divine rulers and militarized their populations right down to the children. The enemy was not only ruthless and aggressive, they spoke as the hands of the almighty, and their countries believed them. No atrocity was out of line, no diplomacy could stop their bestowed destinies. They were on a path to world conquest. It is not much different from the Islamic extremists the United States is locked in a struggle with today.

How did we defeat them? To me the answer is simple. We beat them until they begged for mercy. We bombed their cities, then bombed the rubble. We deconstructed their societies and faith in their leaders brick by brick until there was nothing left. The surrender of Emperor Hirohito was also a dethroning of a country’s divine ruler and an end to a form of worship. Hitler died at his own hand. Mussolini was hung and his corpse beaten in the public square after the hardships his country faced. These victories were delivered to the American people via newspaper and newsreel.

The Vietnam war changed the face of war in that the public became intimate with its intrinsic horrors. The image of naked children running from napalm dropped by Americans was reprinted in every newspaper in the USA. It is an image that burns the cost of war into the minds of anyone who has seen it. As a result, American efforts have been carefully tailored to be more appetizing to the general public. “Surgical strikes” are somehow technologically possible, where bombs only seek out evil-doers and those who wish harm to America. Every bullet finds only the guilty.

Yet the images still come. Dead, blinded, and limbless children. Destroyed homes. Family members crying in anguish over their loss. Transmitted all over the world, the horrific internals of war makes the overall effort unpopular.

It would seem to me that if this administration truly desires victory in Iraq, they should act as the bigger bastard. A roadside bomb equals the loss of a city block, a penetration into secured barracks equals the flattening of the town square. The bombings lose their precision and in turn are escalated to the point of destroying an entire civilization. Is that what was advocated this week by American leadership and applauded by the American legion? Is America ready for the wholesale killing of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people? The victory of World War II came at the cost of 62 million lives. Iraq will spill into Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Israel, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. The entire middle east will not only be soaked with oil, it will be soaked with blood.

That is what victory demands. There are no other ways to “win” a war.

I do not believe Americans can support such a proposition and neither do I. Since John Murtha proposed withdrawal from Iraq, the debate has been locked in a stranglehold between “stay the course” and “timetable for withdrawal” with no movement towards peace in either direction. This lack of resolution bothered me last year until someone contributed the idea of asking the Iraqi people through referendum on my wiki, which is what I have been advocating for ever since. The Iraqi people can take responsibility for their future, but if they continue to need our help, they should ask for it. Whether or not they slide into civil war is something that Americans cannot prevent by standing in the middle.

War should be robustly debated and declared formally by our congress. If Americans are not willing to bear the humanitarian and financial cost required for victory, then such a declaration should be very rare indeed.

With my nose to the grindstone in this race, it is all too easy to forget the other contributions dedicated Utahns are making throughout this state. One person in particular who has made deep sacrifices for his state and country is Steve Olsen.

Steve was asked by the party to run in the 1st congressional district after Democratic State Committee Chair Wayne Holland received a book authored by Steve titled, “Why Most Utahns are Democrats and Just Don’t Know it Yet”. Steve bravely took on the challenge in spite of full time commitments to his job and his church. We have seen each other at many events and I have marveled at Steve’s ability to build bridges and convince even the most staunch Republican.

He has also shown a healthy dose of humor in his campaign. Many prominent parades have turned down challengers from entering for reasons unknown. Olsen refused to take “no” for an answer and asked instead if they needed someone to clean up after the horses. His presence in the parade is then taken by a small tractor and trailer with “Farmer Steve” cleaning up with a shovel. The trailer is bannered simply and effectively, “Help Steve Olsen Clean Up Washington”.

Steve has blog entries periodically on his race and politics. His entry on “Church and State” is positively luminary. He blogged earlier this week about the Cindy Sheehan visit and was once again spot on.

I will be voting for Steve Olsen this year, even though I live in Salt Lake City. My neighborhood was sliced out of Jim Matheson’s district a few years back. I will be proud to do so, and I am proud to display his sign in my front yard.

This is the kind of congressman Utah needs. Give Steve Olsen your support.

President Bush will be attending a fund raising dinner for my cash strapped opponent, Senator Hatch.

In response to this, I am personally buying dinner for up to 150 people at the Alta Club on August 29th at 6:00 PM. This dinner will be financed out of my pocket and will not draw from campaign donations. What I ask of the attendees to this dinner is to make a sizable donation to a charity of your choice that deals with hunger in America. I will have a list of suggested charities at the dinner and my staff will collect and tabulate and send the donations. No charity is coordinating with the campaign on this dinner, they are simply receiving the donations as designated by the attendees.

Senator Hatch, President Bush, Secretary Rice and anyone else are welcome to attend this dinner.

This is not a campaign fund raiser and donations to my campaign will not be funneled to this event or the charities. If you wish to make a donation to a hunger charity in response to this effort outside of the event on the 29th, please let me know.

If you can attend the event on the 29th, please RSVP by Friday, August 25th. Choose chicken, beef, or vegetarian menu items.

Also, we still have a number of free tickets left for the volunteer event at the Bees baseball game 7:00 PM this Thursday the 24th. Contact Justin at the campaign if you can attend.

It appears that the “sign war” has begun. Last night, all of our signs in the Salt Lake Foothill area magically disappeared, including a 10 foot banner that was zip-tied to a brick wall. All of the signs, including the banner, were on private property.

Equally magical is the fact that Republican signs have suddenly appeared in the same area.

So here’s the deal. First, check out our sign map and let us know if your sign is not on the map. Please consider sending us a digital picture of the sign in your yard. Second, I’m offering $500 to anyone who can get video or a picture of an identifiable individual removing or vandalizing any Democrat’s sign located on private property. I’m sure there are a number of webcam ninjas who will delight in this challenge. Set the bait, spring the trap, and wait for the rat.

The campaign has a lot of signs waiting for deployment at headquarters right now. The office is at 780 East South Temple in Salt Lake. Every time a sign is stolen or taken down, replace it, but also find two additional neighbors to take signs in protest.

Update: Rob Miller has pledged an additional $500 on my bounty. Thanks Rob!
Joe Spencer has pledged $50!

This morning I fell through the looking-glass when I heard Senator Hatch being interviewed on KCPW. It is a strange world, where you can accuse the other side of partisanship and obstructionism while claiming you have never done it yourself.

Lara Jones, the interviewer, asked Senator Hatch if he was going to debate his opponent. I was looking forward to his answer because in spite of requesting a debate via registered letter, I’ve heard nothing in response. The closest thing to an answer is Hatch campaign manager Dave Hansen fumbling the ball in response to Ethan Millard at SLCSpin. Even though Senator Hatch has most of August off, campaign season apparently hasn’t started yet.

Senator Hatch’s answer? “I’ve never refused a debate in my life.” I suppose that is accurate. He didn’t refuse my request for debate, he ignored it. I gave him opportunity to debate anywhere, anytime, and this is written off in the same breath as, “We’re not going to do it to the ridiculous extreme.”

The seven Lincoln/Douglas debates started in August and were held all over the state of Illinois. I ask Senator Hatch to merely match this effort. Instead of waiting until the last week of October to have one or two, let us allow the public to ask us questions in several open debate forums. Note that Democrat Jim Matheson has already agreed to six debates with his Republican challenger. The Utah State Fair falls in Dave Hansen’s “campaign season”, I see little reason not to have the first debate then.

In any case, Senator Hatch and myself are not the only candidates in this race. The other candidates have graciously agreed to debate this Saturday, August 12th, at 10:30 AM in the Salt Lake City Public Library. I hope to see you there.

It is deeply humbling to be on the receiving end of the support I have seen in this campaign. From sign construction and delivery to marching in parades, the efforts of volunteers fuel my fire to press on.

For some, their contributions have been constant, showing up repeatedly to events all over Utah. Others may help out once, but due to their own busy schedule, this is a big sacrifice. Some work in front of me, some work without recognition — putting postcards on cars at a concert, plastering south Salt Lake with signs, or carefully emailing everyone they know to spread the word. Each day brings another surprise from a mystery volunteer.

Politicians speak of the “grass roots” as if they can buy a bag of seed at the Home Depot. Labeling the efforts of volunteers in this campaign as “grass root” support is almost an insult, for what I have seen has been far more passionate and creative than anything happening nationwide. It speaks of desire to return government to the people, to forge a better tomorrow, to believe in the greatness that is America.

I read an ancient African proverb recently that sums it up. “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a few mosquitoes.” Volunteer efforts to push this campaign forward make all the difference.

Please join us at the campaign office on Wednesday, August 9th, at 6:00 PM for a volunteer appreciation party. The office is located at 780 East South Temple in Salt Lake City.

Campaign promises are a literal joke that repeats every political season. Self-limiting terms, fiscal responsibility, and tax returns the size of postcards, to name a few. Within hours of election, the newly minted official has already forgotten the promises that put them over the top.

In differentiating my candidacy from the others, making campaign pledges are important. Talk is cheap. Instead of tossing these pledges into the wind and nobody taking them seriously, I will cement my commitment to my word. Today I held a press conference where I detailed the following pledges. I have signed twenty notarized copies which are being sent to the press and to prominent Republican leaders throughout Utah. If you are in Republican leadership and would like a signed copy, please contact me directly or my campaign. Once the twenty are distributed, I will post a list of individuals possessing signed copies on the website.

CAMPAIGN PLEDGES

• Democracy – I will actively strive for broad public collaboration, equally weighing and considering the input and advice of the American people with those alongside me in Washington.
• Open and Honest Leadership – I will be open and honest about the dealings of my office. I will continue to publish my calendar of meetings and events in relation to my public life. While doing this, I will protect individual privacy and national security where requested or necessary.
• Fair Elections – I vow to serve only three terms if incumbent advantage cannot be overcome or eliminated. I will reform campaign financing either by a shared donation pool for all candidates seeking the same office or through public financing. I will also work to eliminate the seniority system in Washington by replacing ranking committee leadership with a random lottery appointment system.
• Fiscal Responsibility – Until there is a balanced budget and the United States is cleared of all debt, I will stand with Congressman Jim Matheson in voting down congressional pay raises. Until this happens, I will donate any salary increase to charity.
• No Nuclear Testing – I will fight against any and all forms of testing on the Nevada nuclear testing ranges.

See a large format image of the signed pledge sheet here.