I consider myself the oversight's oversight

Here is the text of the letter I sent to Senator Levin and Congressman Skelton. Feel free to use any part of it, or use it in it's entirety if you so choose. I don't care whose words you use to contact the Chairmen, just contact them.

I am sending you this email because you now represent every last one of us in your postion as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, whether you appear on my ballot or not. I take the Armed Services Committee seriously, and watch it closely.

I consider myself the oversight's oversight.

That said; please put a stop to this nonsense of a troop buildup. Escalation of hostilities is escalation of hostilities, no matter what you call it. I never thought one person could do so much damage to a country as strong as America, but I was wrong. Six years of Bush with a feckless House and a compromised Senate doing no oversight has brought our nation to the brink of disaster and I simply can't abide it. Bring him to heel. NOW. Before 3000 Americans die in six months.

Northern Ireland didn't get to where they are because the British military's tanks in the streets of Belfast were such a smashing success at routing out and crushing the IRA. They got to this (still imperfect) point when the politicians took over. I'm ready to try that.

Respectfully;
BG,RS

UPDATE: As is my wont I clicked my own links. You may have problems getting an email to Congressman Skelton until the web sites update at the start of the new congress. I left the link up for the few readers I know about in the MO-04. I sent my email through other channels, but don't be discouraged. Contact his office by call or fax. Those aren't zip-code restricted.

Ike Skelton will be a great asset as HASC Chairman

When the 110th Congress takes it’s place in January, Missouri Representative Ike Skelton will take over as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. When Representative Skelton, who has able represented the Missouri 4th for 30 years takes over as HASC chairman, oversight of the Pentagon and the Bush administrations strategy will be top priorities.

Skelton has enjoyed a reputation as a conservative Democrat for a hell of a lot longer than it has been cool to be a conservative Democrat, Skelton is a devoted supporter of the military; but he has become increasingly critical of the war in Iraq and expressed frustration that no one at the pentagon seemed to be listening. From the very first moments of the war, he has been demanding of the administration what exactly it’s plans were for a post-Saddam Iraq. He warned the President how difficult it would be to occupy a land torn by sectarian and ethnic hostilities.

No one listened to his wise counsel. Without coming right out and saying “I told you so, you feckless thugs!” he instead takes the high road of the gentleman “I don’t think they listened to my recommendations very carefully, but I was right in some of them.”

Skelton will be an asset to the House Armed Services Committee, and the troops will be the winners. This president, the Defense Department must be brought to heel, and ike Skelton, wise, soft-spoken, intelligent and well-versed is the perfect man for the job.