"[Pete McCloskey is] the best thing that could happen for the district, the state, the nation and possibly the Republican Party" – LA Times (1/25/06)
Paul " Pete " McCloskey, even at 78 years old, is exactly the man Republicans need to restore their long lost values and credibility.
Running for Congress in the 11th Congressional district against seven term incumbent Richard Pombo of Tracy ~ McCloskey is a fresh breeze of honesty and integrity in the stagnant air of Republican corruption, deception and lies.
Pombo has been named by non-partisan watchdog groups as:
"One of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress"-COMMITTEE FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON (CREW)
"One of the first six inductees to the Congressional Hall of Shame" - PUBLIC CITIZEN
I remember meeting Pete in the late 1960's when he first ran for Congress. He was an intelligent and articulate force of conviction and integrity which served him well as a house member ~ representing the San Francisco Peninsula from 1967 - 1983.
But he's also a maverick who took on his own party in 1973 when he courageously called for President Nixon's impeachment for abuse of war powers and for U.S withdrawal from Vietnam.
Now he's doing the same thing against the corrupt Republican leadership of the House ~ who would not field a candidate against Pombo in the primary.
As a highly decorated veteran of the Korean War, McCloskey's criticisms of Washington's errors in Vietnam carry special weight ~ and now, he sees those errors being repeated in Iraq by the Cheney/Bush administration.
McCloskey has refused contributions from political Action Committees but don't underestimate this Teddy Roosevelt Republican ~ with a mind of his own.
Pete has a way of connecting with people at the gut level and the citizens of San Joaquin Valley ( which includes Tracy, Stockton, Lodi, Morgan Hill in Santa Clara County ~ Danville and San Ramon in Contra Costa County and Dublin and Pleasanton in Alameda County ) could not have a greater champion in Congress than Pete McCloskey.
As Pete and his wife of 27 years Helen tool around the Valley in their ancient bus, that serves as the mobile campaign headquarters ~ people smile knowingly when they see the sign on its side RESTORE ETHICS TO CONGRESS.
And the most recent poll by the Defenders of Wildlife predicts Pombo would lose to any Democrat that runs against him.
Richard Pombo's days may well be numbered.
Allen L Roland
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