Brian Davis Disses Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: Shameless

Just when I thought Brian Davis could not be any more foolish, he manages establish new levels of foolishness. Seriously, the ridiculous bar for Brian Davis is so low right now, I think he dig a ditch in order to get under it...but he still manages.

As we all know, Brian Davis sucks on Veterans issues. Our 1st installment. The 2nd installment.

I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.

We also know, via our site meter through the beauty of IP addresses, that Brian Davis spends more time reading about himself on the Internet than he does researching Veterans issues.

Ollie has the scoop from the Fighting First.

In Walz Gets 'A' Rating from Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Group, KEYC-TV paraphrased as Davis saying:

Walz received the A plus rating from a partisan organization.

That's news to several Iraq War vets we talked to last night, who thought the group was like the VFW, "except focused on 21st century wars," as one former soldier put it. (The VFW PAC, btw, endorsed Walz a while back).

Even more, Davis's opinion will probably be news to Norm Coleman. Like Harry Reid, whom Davis denounced to KEYC-TV, Coleman received an "A" from the group. On his official senate site, Coleman said of the group:

". . .I appreciate IAVA’s recognition and I look forward to working with them in the future as I continue to fight for our nation’s veterans.”

The KEYC-TV report said that Davis will be issuing a statement responding to a
letter Veterans for Walz sent to him asking about vets issues. The vets letter was written after Davis repeatedly said he couldn't think of any way that medical or educational benefits could be improved for our nation's vets.

Perhaps the out-of-touch doc can also explain why Coleman was ranked high by a "partisan" vets group. Somehow, we doubt Coleman will beginning scorning the high grade and encouraging Davis to carry on this way in joint public appearances.

Readers should visit the IAVA's web site to decide for themselves how "partisan" the IAVA's agenda is. We've emailed the group to ask for a response to Davis's statements.

Davis scrapes the bottom of the barrel...again.

Ok, I'm a bit hypersenstive about Veterans issues. When I left the Army 7 years ago, I struggled to obtain my GI Bill Education benefits. I also struggled with the VA medical center in St Cloud and some serious service related knee problems. It took more than 6 months to get my education benefits and was eventually denied help after the VA reevaluated my knees.


Fine, I was more concerned about a former soldier who had lost an eye and had his disability rating changed from 50% to 20%, and soldiers who lost limbs who had their ratings substantially changed as well, after all, how much is your right eye worth?

It's not easy. I'm pretty fortunate in the grand scheme of things. For some veterans, the VA is about all they have.

I had a friend who served in the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles during the first Iraq War. He was many miles inside Iraq when many in his unit began to suffer the effects of a mild nerve agent, Sarin Gas. The Air Force didn't coordinate things very well with the Army as they bombed a weapons bunker near Ah Nassariah in 1991. These soldiers were only a couple of miles away when these bunkers were destroyed, with chemical weapons intact.

The guys in the unit were lethargic and had a mysterious flu. They were shipped out within a day or two and they never really thought much of it.

My friend then got a letter (5-6 years after the fact) from the Department of Defense saying he may have been exposed to Sarin Gas in 1991 and to report to the nearest military or VA hospital for assessment. Chris had been long suffering from PTSD at the time and began what ended up being about an 8 year process to figure out what happened to him.

I met Chris in 2001 at St Cloud State. He was a social work major and we worked together on Veterans issues at SCSU. It was easy to see the stress of working with the VA on his mental and physical health issues, but keeping true to the Warrior Spirit, he kept pushing.

Eventually, he got the care he needed, but the struggle to obtain the benefits he rightfully earned and to get the help he so desperately needed, but it took some considerable time and effort.

It should never be that hard.


Brian Davis' sheer ignorance on Veterans issues and is lack of respect for renowned Veterans organizations is appalling to me. I spoke to a few friends today, guys I served with, people with diverse political views (dude is voting for Gordon Smith in Oregon).


We agree. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is a great advocacy organization for Veterans. IAVA fights for soldiers like our friend David Chatham.

Staff Sgt. David Chatham, 34, won a Silver Star for continuing to command his Bradley Fighting Vehicle to protect pinned- down U.S. troops after a rocket- propelled grenade shredded his lower left leg near Fallujah a year ago.

He has been laboring to get back on duty ever since doctors amputated the limb. "The whole disability thing is a maze," he said by telephone from Fort Lewis, Wash. "Unless you get to the very end of the process, there's no way to know all the answers."

Chatham's goal is to stay on active duty, perhaps to teach combat infantry tactics, until he can retire with a pension in four years. But he fears he will be forcibly retired.
When a physical evaluation board saw Chatham on Monday, its task was only to judge whether he is fit to resume his job as a combat infantryman -- not whether he would make a good teacher in another Army job.

He expects to hear its verdict in a few weeks. "You can't imagine how stressful it is," Chatham said.

For a candidate of Davis' profile to reject the advocacy work of IAVA is yet another reason voters in the Figthing First need to reject him.


Congressman Walz has been an outstanding advocate for Veterans and our servicemen and women. Walz earned every bit of praise from Veterans groups like the VFW and IAVA.


While Walz does not represent me up here in the 6th, I am truly proud that Sergeant Major Walz represents me and other Veterans in Congress.

Brian Davis Still Sucks on Veterans Issues

Flipping between Game 7 of the ALCS and the CD 1 debate on Channel 17, I caught Congressman Walz asking Brian Davis about Veterans issues.

It was really incredible.

For Davis to stumble once...ah, it can happen. Candidates get caught off guard on stuff all the time.

Nearly 2 weeks ago, Davis was asked what he would do to provide better educational methods and health care to Veterans. Davis had no answer.

What action would you take to provide better educational methods and health care to our veterans?

Uh let me say that my father is a retired WWII veteran and he has received some of his health care Veterans administration. As a physician part of my training in a VA hospital and I’ll tell you very good basic health care that occurs at a VA hospital. We have to respect that when people have worked there. And for the tens of millions of veterans who receive their care there.

(We?)(Who?) are always looking for improvements. I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.

I tell with my background, my interests, my respect for veterans. As a representative of the next congressman of this district I take this issue very seriously and will always be on the look out to make sure it is as high quality it possibly can be.

Last night, Congressman Walz asked Brian Davis the same question. Now, at a time in which our nation has soldiers deployed fighting a war on terrorism on two fronts and record numbers of servicemen and women are utilizing their benefits, you'd think Davis would have came up with a coherent answer in two weeks.

Boy, I was wrong.

Davis had that deer in the headlights look. He thanked Walz for his honorable service, talked about his dad serving in World War II, and said that due to the historic new GI Bill, that he could not think of anything he could do on Veterans issues.

Davis was clueless...again. I could not believe it.

Brian Davis does not care about Veterans. It's that simple. He'll spend hours on end reading blogs like this, checking to see what people say about him, but can't spend 5 minutes at Disabled American Veterans looking at their legislative agenda, or a letter to Congress outlining some key Veterans issues that still need to be addressed.

He could have checked out what the Veterans of Foreign Wars thinks.

But instead, Brian Davis could not think of one thing he could do for Veterans in Congress, not one.

Congressman Tim Walz has been simply amazing on Veterans issues. He gets the complexity behind the struggle to obtain benefits and the unique military culture that keeps many Veterans from asking for help.

While there was a lot more to the Tim Walz domination of Brian Davis at the League of Women Voters debate, broadcast last night, it was Brian Davis's inability to answer a simple question on Veterans issues that defined the inept nature of his campaign.

Coleman Runs Away From Bachmann Comments

Interesting, I bet he made his decision after they had a poll...typical Coleman courage.

Esme Murphy interviewed Norm this morning.

No word on whether Brian Davis, John Kline and Erik Paulsen endorse Bachmann's hateful anti-American commentary.

Tinklenberg Still Hauling in $$$

About $120,000 on Act Blue, and its been what, 18 hours?

He may raise more in a couple days because of Bachmann's greatest campaign mistake than he did in some FEC reporting quarters.

Just incredible.

I've read a few right wing bloggers defending Bachmann's statement.

If what Bachmann said was appropriate, when will John Kline, Erik Paulsen, Norm Coleman, and Brian Davis issue statements in support of Congresswoman Bachmann?

Do Erik Paulsen, John Kline and Brian Davis Agree with Michele Bachmann?

Michele Bachmann has been the poster woman for conservatism in Minnesota.

Her insane comments on Hardball and Larry King are ignited a progressive groundswell in Minnesota.

We need to ask some of Bachmann's closest friends where they stand on this.

I hope the press and voters begin to ask Norm Coleman, Erik Paulsen, Brian Davis, and John Kline what they think of Congresswoman Bachmann's comments.

BTW, El Tinklenberg has raised nearly $100,000 at Act Blue since this story broke!

Incredible.

Fact Check: The Brian Davis Misleading Ad on Congressman Walz

Ollie has the scoop, as well as 4 pages of documentation showing how desperate Brian Davis is getting.

Sad...

Brian Davis Sucks On Veterans Issues

Holy crap this guy is clueless. Anyone who would vote for Brian Davis for Congress, well...

Brian Davis on Veterans Issues:

What action would you take to provide better educational methods and health care to our veterans?

Uh let me say that my father is a retired WWII veteran and he has received some of his health care Veterans administration. As a physician part of my training in a VA hospital and I’ll tell you very good basic health care that occurs at a VA hospital. We have to respect that when people have worked there. And for the tens of millions of veterans who receive their care there.

(We?)(Who?) are always looking for improvements. I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.

I tell with my background, my interests, my respect for veterans. As a representative of the next congressman of this district I take this issue very seriously and will always be on the look out to make sure it is as high quality it possibly can be.

I can't identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans?

Seriously? Congressman Walz was endorsed by VFW PAC. Brian Davis can't identify ONE area in which he would improve Veterans benefits.

Incredible. Brian Davis needs to stop taking debate lessons from Miss South Carolina...

Brian Davis Proudly Celebrates Being 18% Behind Walz

Ollie over at BSP has a brilliant post on Brian Davis and the latest poll he commissioned.


What's even more awesome is what Davis (and the team parachuted in to save Davis) left out between his press release and the post on his official blog.


Ollie slaps Mike Spellings and the rest of the Davis clan...

Thus, the Davis campaign wants readers to believe that Davis, at 32% (below the generic Republican, who would get 39%) is within striking distance of Walz, who enjoys an 18% edge.

This feat of persuasion can only be accomplished by failing to post the actually numbers polled in the race. It's one of the tackiest edits we've seen. It speaks volumes about the mendacity of the Davis candidacy-- and of any blogger or journalist who pimps this drivel. And, yes, we've saved screen shots of the entire post.

Put a fork in this one, Brian Davis is done.

TOTAL EMBARASSMENT FOR BRIAN DAVIS: 1/3 OF REPUBLICANS REJECT DAVIS

Brian Davis defeated Dick Day Tuesday evening with Day capturing 33% of the vote. 1/3 of CD 1 Republicans rejected Brian Davis and his campaign of exaggerations and attacks on Congressman Walz.

Some say that 35% of DFL voters not voting for Franken is a problem. Surely then, 33% of GOP voters rejecting Brian Davis is equally problematic, probably more so for Davis since...well...dude has no money (other than his revolving loan) and no one knows who he is.

Davis is a failure...

*Update* Thanks Aaron...

Adding to the Lipstick on a Pig edition of BMRD, Brian Davis lost as many counties in CD 1 as Al Franken did statewide. Davis lost Steele, Dodge, LeSuer and Waseca Counties to Dick Day.

Davis and Day observation

On my way down through the Fighting First last week...I made a stark observation.

With the Brian Davis noise about his big "grassroots" effort, where the hell are all the lawn signs?

Going to Lake City for a golf scramble...I was anxious to see the "ground swell" first hand.

Once again...Brian Davis and Dick Day disappoint Blueman...

Bachmann and Kline AWOL from FarmFest

Larry Schumacher has some excellent coverage of the Congressional debate at FarmFest!

Part I
Part II

Bachmann and Kline must have thought this was the sort of event that occurs while one is on vacation...

The fact that Congresswoman Bachmann and John Kline failed to attend this event is disturbing. Their opponents attended the event and did a wonderful job. Both Elwyn Tinklenberg and Steve Sarvi left the debate as two candidates for Congress who impressed.

Bachmann and Kline are running scared...scared to engage Tinklenberg or Sarvi in a debate format. I know a couple of O-6's that would be disappointed in the fact that the Colonel went AWOL while the Sergeant shined.

Tinklenberg on Bachmann's Farm Bill Vote:

Tinklenberg – Would’ve vote for it. Opponent did not vote for it, which may explain why she’s not here today.

But then again, she hasn’t been with you all that much all along.

Schumacher also posted the closing remarks for each panel member: go check them out at Larry's blog at the SC Times!

Ollie over at Bluestem Prairie also has some great detailed coverage of the event, be sure to head over there and check out her great work too!

So, this is a vacation?

Last night I heard Michele Bachmann talk about the House going into recess and that members were "going on vacation when an energy crisis is facing America".

Ollie has a good post up on this fallacy!

Congressman Walz has never treated the recesses as "vacations," but as district work breaks during which he can meet with constituents. The congressman has held dozens of open, public meetings about veterans, farm, small business, education, economic development, energy, and other issues while Congress is in recess. The schedule for this recess hasn't been released yet, but we don't expect to see Walz loafing around.

Come on now! Where's the mention of golf? How about sitting on one's hind end exaggerating qualifications or offering no concrete solutions to the biggest problems facing America?

A vacation?

Is she serious?

So, coming back to one's district to have forums and conversations with constituents constitutes a vacation?

Bachmann has been AWOL, short of a publicity stunt at a gas station a month ago, Bachmann has been in Alaska, New Orleans and pretty much everywhere else BUT her congressional district.

As for Brian Davis...I think he has no concept of what he's gotten himself into. He'll be in need of a long vacation (perhaps on some of that rural land he owns) after Tim Walz out works him on his "vacation"!

Coleman Ad Implies Brian Davis Unfit For Congress

Coleman's latest bowling ad says that and a lot more.



With the revelation yesterday that Brian Davis was fined $1,237.05 for late property taxes every year between 2003 and 2007, Davis continues his downward spiral in the 1st Congressional "race".

"It's something that has come in the mail, and between my wife and it's taken a while to pay it," said Davis.

Perhaps Davis or Biers ought to call the Bachmann people. Instead of wasting her time on postage stamp analogies of ANWR, she could actually send him some postage stamps to pay his property taxes.

Let's also recall that he is a serial exaggerator, inflating his credentials to make himself appear more qualified than he really is.

Of course we have his time as the treasurer of the Olmstead County Republican Party, where somehow, the treasurer or someone was so inept at...well, being a treasurer, that their campaign finance board report was missing more than $13,000 in contributions.

We're working to confirm Davis's previous enrollment in the Enron school of bookkeeping.

Finally, we have Brian Davis being convicted of operating a vehicle with expired registration and having his drivers license suspended.

Having viewed the Coleman ad several times now, I've come to see it in a different light. While mocking some of Franken's problems, what Coleman's ad really says to me is that unless you have already been elected to office before, you are unqualified for higher office. The ad has an aura of entitlement that beyond the satire, ticks me off.

But I do agree with Norm Coleman on one thing...

Brian Davis is unfit to be a member of Congress.

Brian Davis joins Bachmann and Kline in disregard of oil prices

Jeff Rosenberg, writing at Minnesota Campaign Report, has quickly become one of my favorite bloggers!

He writes about Bachmann and Kline's hypocrisy on oil prices. Simply put, Michele Bachmann and John Kline will only support their solution to the energy crisis in America. Their solution, drill everywhere and drill now.

Brian Davis continues to ride Bachmann and Kline's coattails on this issue while continuing in his failure to provide a reasonable bi-partisan solution.

Ollie provides insight into the latest Brian Davis attack release.

She provides the Walz press release on the Davis attack and the DRILL Act.

As usual, millionaire Dr. Brian Davis is distorting the facts. In today’s negative attack, Dr. Davis accuses Walz of voting against new oil drilling. But his facts are wrong. Tim Walz proudly co-sponsored H.R. 6515, the DRILL Act, which would increase our domestic oil supply by speeding the development of the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska, fast-tracking completion of its oil pipeline so we can bring that oil to market, stopping Alaskan oil from being sold to the Chinese and other foreign nations, and passing ‘Use It or Lose It’ which makes oil companies drill on the leases they have or give them up to another company. Republicans in Congress stopped the bill because it didn’t include enough favors for their friends and contributors at Big Oil. Once again, the Davis plan favors Big Oil and partisan politics, while Tim Walz’ plan helps middle-class families through common sense solutions." Chris Schmitter, Campaign Manager, Tim Walz for U.S. Congress

Isn't it common sense to make the oil companies drill on land they already have a lease on?

Brian Davis Is A Mathematician Too? Who Knew!

Honestly...this is a Blueman first.

I have no idea where to begin here.

The trainwreck that is the Brian Davis for Congress campaign sent out a press release earlier today announcing their lead in "net fundraising" last quarter.

Today, the Brian Davis for Congress campaign announces that their second quarter net fundraising was the strongest of all candidates seeking election to Minnesota's First District in 2008. During the second quarter - April 1 to June 30 - Brian Davis for Congress had $391,601 in total receipts and a net gain in cash-on-hand of $326,273, compared to $186,584 for Congressman Walz.

Total contributions from individuals to the Davis campaign were over $268,000 with a net of $376,718 cash-on-hand. This difference in net fundraising is due to campaign expenses with the Davis campaign reporting $65,330 in disbursements compared to $251,502 for the Walz campaign.

So, if you don't spend money campaigning...you can CLAIM that you lead in "net fundraising"? Is this the philosophy of "he who dies with the most toys wins"?

Seriously, why issue a press release on this?

Ollie over at Bluestem took the first swipe at this idiotic press release.

Did we mention that Tim Walz's $97,617.24 from small itemized individual contributions nearly equals Davis's loan to his own ambition?

Even if everyone in that unitemized pool gave $199, that's still 490 individuals. We're guessing there were a lot more $25, $50, or $100 dollar contributors. Davis only had $29,709.55 in small unitemized individual contributions. As a percentage of their total fundraising (including loans) for the quarter, Walz's small contributions equal 22 percent of the swag, while Davis's small donors add up to a mere 7.6 percent of his haul. Subtract Davis's loan, and it's still only 10.2 percent of his new cash for the quarter.

Ollie is 100% correct. Davis has quickly become the biggest exaggerator in Minnesota politics. Perhaps he honed his awesome math skills over that vast amount of time he was a "nuclear engineer".

Lovely. I just can't wait for Brian Davis to exaggerate his phenomenal driving record...(hint look at #8.)

Did Brian Davis Lose $13,000 While Olmsted County GOP Treasurer?

Ollie Ox has an amazing scoop once again!

It's a pretty interesting story.

Brian Davis is working to "hold Tim Walz accountable" for gas prices and a slew of other things that take more than 18 months to fix.

Ollie uncovered a gold mine. It at least appears that Brian Davis, as treasurer of the Olmsted County Republicans, was...well...incompetent.

A $13,000 discrepancy for the county unit is pretty significant. He was only off by nearly 100%.

If this happened under the Brian Davis reign of terror, it not only serves as a significant disqualifier for Congress, but means Davis will never be the banker in Monopoly ever again.

Republican "Pandermania"

Pandering:

In politics, pandering is the term used to portray one's views to fit in line with a certain crowd of voters the candidate is attempting to impress, when often, these are not the candidate's true beliefs. A candidate may engage in pandering out of desperation if s/he is already losing a race, or if polls taken prior to an election show others as being in the lead.

Apparently some Republicans down in the Fighting First are calling Congressman Walz a "panderer" for his hard work on Veterans issues.

When he is not raking up credit card debt, Walz is pandering to veterans and
shoring up his left flank by voting against initiatives that monitor terrorist
communications.

Interesting. Congressman Walz, as a 24 year military Veteran, has subject matter expertise on Veterans issues. He knows the lingo. He knows the military culture. He understands that soldiers and Veterans alike "suck it up and drive on", that they do not ask for assistance they are eligible for and deserve.

The attacks on Walz, by Republicans and right wing bloggers show their sheer desperation in CD 1.

Anyone have a few minutes to play C-SPAN's first reality TV Show? It's pretty easy really!

Pandering / Not Pandering?

Not Pandering!

Not Pandering, just creepy!

Pandering (she voted against the bill that provided these grants)

Not pandering, again...just creepy.

Not pandering...constituent services. An actual forum!

Pandering!

Desperation...but a great mentor to learn one's pandering ways!

We're not sure if Oda Silva has any connections to Brian Davis, other than he may be a supporter.

Pandering is sheer desperation. Davis pimping his resume citing medical school rounds at a VA hospital is pandering.

Working to pass great legislation which allows more Veterans access to their rightfully earned benefits is strong public policy.

Thanks Mr Silva! Should I ask the Walz campaign to send the contribution thank you to my place or yours?

The "Wanna Save On Gas" Fallacy

After seeing the "Wanna Save On Gas, Vote (R) in November" posts popping up all over the right wing blogosphere and the feeble attacks of Brian Davis and Michele Bachmann.

Right wing bloggers are trying to make an argument that GOP energy policies, if passed, would lower a tank of gas from $4.00 per gallon to around the $2.07 range.

They chant on a consistent basis that no new refineries have "come on line" since 1976, blaming Democrats for that.

Who's controlled the House and the Senate over the years?

Since the 95th Congress, Democrats have controlled the Senate in the 95th, 96th, 100th, 101st, 102nd, and 103rd Congress'. Republicans have controlled the Senate in the 97th, 98th, 99th, 104th, 105th, 106th, 108th, and 109th Congress'. The 107th and 110th were split.

In the House, Democrats have had a little more control, holding a majority from the 95th through the 104th Congress', Republicans in control the 105th through the 109th and Democrats taking back the House for the 110th.

Republicans have had ample opportunity to pass legislation to allow for more refineries. In fact, they had a good opportunity from 1997 to 2007 to create the "Change We Deserve".

They did nothing.

In fact, with no Democratic majority from 1997-2007, the spike in gas prices could be explained in several ways.

It's easy to argue that the oil companies are in the pockets of Republicans. Too easy...

Truth be told, the 106th Congress is the cause of our $4.00 a gallon gas. Both the House and the Senate were controlled by Republicans for the 106th.

The only practical difference between futures look-alike contracts and futures contracts is that the look-alikes are traded in unregulated markets whereas futures are traded on regulated exchanges. The trading of energy commodities by large firms on OTC electronic exchanges was exempted from CFTC oversight by a provision inserted at the behest of Enron and other large energy traders into the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 in the waning hours of the 106th Congress.

The impact on market oversight has been substantial. NYMEX traders, for example, are required to keep records of all trades and report large trades to the CFTC. These Large Trader Reports, together with daily trading data providing price and volume information, are the CFTC’s primary tools to gauge the extent of speculation in the markets and to detect, prevent, and prosecute price manipulation. CFTC Chairman Reuben Jeffrey recently stated: “The Commission’s Large Trader information system is one of the cornerstones of our surveillance program and enables detection of concentrated and coordinated positions that might be used by one or more traders to attempt manipulation.”

We're feeling the fiscal tails of this bad legislation now.

The lack of oversight in the oil speculation markets is the biggest cause of our gas price hikes. Drilling in ANWR and off our coasts is a band-aid solution. Fuel efficient vehicles, slowing our addiction to petroleum, utilizing alternative energy sources, and regulating the oil speculation markets will provide the gas price sticker shock relief we truly need.

Brian Davis Photo Caption Game

"I'll take irrelevant Minnesota Congressional campaigns for $200 Alex."

Anyone else want to play?

Walz Big Lead Over Davis and Day

Bluestem Prairie has the scoop!

It's early...but...

A 35 point margin over Dick Day and a 40 point margin over Brian Davis!

With the focus of Brian Davis being on the franking privileges and campaign finance of Congressman Walz, I suspect things will not get much easier for the dynamic duo of Day and Davis as this race gets closer to the September primary.

The Congressman polled at 57% against Day and 60% against Davis. In my humble opinion, it's because Tim Walz has done an outstanding job representing the First Congressional District in Washington. His constituent outreach has been unmatched!

I'm anxiously awaiting polling numbers from the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th!