Posted on 06/19/2011 7:59:08 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
WASHINGTON— Rep. Allen West doesn't do subtlety.
Take the recent suggestion to his congressional colleagues — Democrats and Republicans — pressing for a speedy exit of U.S. troops from Afghanistan: "I would take these gentlemen over and let them get shot at a few times and maybe they'd have a different opinion," says West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who spent 22 years in the service.
Firm in his convictions and unafraid to share them. It was vintage West — brash, brusque and bombastic.
The black biker and conservative Republican who became a fixture on the tea party circuit has brought his own brand to Congress.
"I'm not a career politician," West says. "I'm just being myself."
When West speaks his mind, it turns on his tea party fan base, which is hoping the fiery freshman will run for president in 2012. But Democrats consider him vulnerable. Two are already gunning for his seat, repeating the 2010 campaign attack line that he's too far right for the moderate Broward-Palm Beach district that went for Democrats Barack Obama in 2008 and John Kerry in 2004. Republicans are looking to defend him, putting his congressional seat in the first round of a national protection program aimed at keeping their most endangered candidates in office.
West, characteristically, has a blunt message for his opponents: "Tell them to have fun, try," he says.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Palin-West would be a great team.
Palin-West would be a great team.
Alliterate much?
I see "bombastic" has suddenly become de rigueur with leftists describing Republican candidates.
They’d like to just call all Republicans “stupid”, but that clearly doesn’t work with some Republicans! So, “bombastic” is used instead.
meanwhile, i'd back that ticket...
-------------- PALIN / WEST --------------
They look really good together don’t they?
They would probably make an outstanding team.
Taming the barbarity of the Afghans is beyond the capability of our military & politicians. We are supporting one set of barbarians (Karzai & Co.) against another set of barbarians. It is a waste of lives & resources to continue nation building & policing this crap hole. Especially so given that al-Qaeda is in Pakistan, Yemen, & elsewhere; & our limited assets could be better used in other places, or just given a rest.
The fact that our soldiers are being shot at & blown apart is not a strategic reason to stay. Supporting a corrupt gov’t is not a reason to keep wasting money. Building a corrupt nation that will crumble the moment we leave is not a reason to keep building. Who believes Afghanistan will ever be anything more than our enemy, even in 100 years? Does it really matter?
Even if we killed the most radical & violent 50% of the population of Afghanistan, the other 50% would still be shooting at us.
I'd like to hear Rep. West tell us what the conditions in Afghanistan need to be to declare victory & bring our boys home. I'd also like to hear his estimate of when that will happen & what it will cost in US lives & money. I suspect most Americans would be shocked & dismayed by an honest answer;, & would say, like me, "It ain't worth it".
I’d wholeheartedly support and work for a Palin/West ticket (people need to eat and stuff), but considering he’s a freshman Congressman, I think he’d rather put a full term under his belt. At least that’s what I’d do.
Being in Afghanistan, as messy and casualty-laden as it is with no absolute conquest in sight, has allowed some suppression of the formation of terrorist nests in that area. Maybe this is still not worth it, but it deserves to be debated with all facts at hand, with many key facts still being classified data. The most competent answer would be that there is no clear decision on the horizon until a saner administration takes the helm and has time to evaluate things.
The south Florida tv stations, from West Palm Beach to the Keys, basically ignore Colonel West.
He is rarely mentioned or given recognition. Instead, the south Florida media focuses on Hussein worship, giving attention to race-baiters in the local minority community, and Debbie Wassermann-Douche.
I am frankly surprised a south Florida “news”paper did a story on West that didn’t start with a slander or slur.
Florida news ping.
I think he will stay where he is. That’s what he has said he intends. You’re right. He probably needs more experience but I really like him.
That is one major difference I have with West. I think we need to get out of Afghanistan. What more can we do there other than lose soldiers and waste a lot of money we don’t have?
I like West but he’s a first-term congressman with zero prior political experience. The idea that he should be first in line to the presidency is ridiculous.
I agree. Normally I would disagree but our country is crumbling from within and our border had totally collapsed. At this point in our history, our foreign involvements are nothing more than foreign adventures... and we can’t afford them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.