I used to be a Republican!

I used to be a Republican. I didn't leave the Republican Party; the Republican Party left me. Kenneth Stepp.

OBAMA SAYS WATERBOARDING IS TORTURE!

Obama: Clearing economic "wreckage," fixing U.S. image
Reuters – President Obama acknowledges the applause as he arrives to speak at a town hall meeting held at Fox Senior …
* * *
FOREIGN POLICY
"I also campaigned on the promise that I would change the direction of our nation's foreign policy and we've begun to do that as well," Obama said.
He cited new strategies for Iraq and Afghanistan and his order to close the internationally condemned military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and to halt harsh interrogation methods for terrorism suspects.
"Obama was pressed on whether he believed waterboarding, a now-banned interrogation method that simulates drowning and was used under the Bush administration, amounted to torture as human rights groups assert. He said, "I do believe it is torture."


So, the Chief said about Waterboarding, "I do believe it is torture." You got that right, Chief. Now, let's go one step further and outlaw torture and outlaw waterboarding. It's too bad ex post facto laws don't apply to Bush and Cheney, but we can keep it from happening again! Kenneth Stepp

British troops withdraw from Iraq combat!

"Britain ends military operations in Iraq
18 mins ago
"BASRA, Iraq (AFP) – British forces formally ended combat operations in Iraq on Thursday, one month ahead of schedule, after a solemn ceremony to remember their dead comrades from six years of warfare.
The conclusion of the military campaign, which began with the March 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown met his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki in London.
"Today marks the closing chapter of the combat mission in Iraq," Brown said. "The flag of 20 Armoured Brigade will be lowered as British combat patrols in Basra come to an end and our armed forces prepare to draw down.
"Today we are taking steps to strengthen and deepen our relationship and to make it a long-term partnership of equals," he added.
A ceremony was held in the southern city of Basra for the handover to US forces by the British military, Washington's closest ally in the war.
"Today marks the end of the UK's combat mission in support of the government of Iraq," said Brigadier Tom Beckett, commander of 20th Armoured Brigade, moments before the unit's flag was lowered.
"We are sad to leave our Iraqi friends, but we leave knowing we have done our job, and done it well."
British troop numbers were the second largest in the Iraq campaign, peaking at 46,000 at the height of combat operations that resulted in Saddam's ouster and his eventual execution for crimes against humanity.
The formal end of combat operations means that all troops still in Iraq will use the remainder of their deployment to pack up their gear before heading to their next posting.
The official withdrawal of forces was launched on March 31 when the pennant of the British headquarters in Basra came down and the base was handed over to US control.
A deal signed by Baghdad and London last year had agreed that the last 4,100 British soldiers would complete their mission -- primarily training the Iraqi army -- by June, before a complete withdrawal from the country in late July.
Before the handover, British forces paid tribute to their 179 colleagues killed since the US-led invasion.
* * *
"Under a landmark security pact signed between Baghdad and Washington in November, US troops are required to withdraw from all Iraqi towns and cities by June 30 and pull out from the rest of the country by the end of 2011."
Let's pull the U.S. troops out of Iraq combat now! Peace Now! One War To End!
End it now! Peace! Peace brother, Peace!

"Mitch" approval rating 10% in Northeast!

Republican Party:

In the latest edition of the Daily Kos/Research 2000 weekly poll, Republicans fared as follows in the Northeast:

Republican Party
Favorable 8
Unfavorable 85

Congressional Republicans
Favorable 8
Unfavorable 80

John Boehner
Favorable 10
Unfavorable 74

Mitch McConnell
Favorable 10
Unfavorable 70

Northeastern Republicans may not be extinct, but for the most part, they might as well be".
Mark Twain once said he'd prefer to be buried in Kentucky because things always happen in Kentucky twenty years after they happen in the rest of the nation. Kentucky just sent "Mitch" McConnell back to the U.S. Senate for another six years, but he only has a ten per cent "favorable" rating in the Northeast. The Republican Party is rapidly declining to be a mere regional party. "Mitch" is lucky he wasn't running for office in the Northeast at large, or he would have been beaten seven-to-one. Eventually Kentucky will dump the advocates of the neverending war in Iraq, the advocates and apologists for torture, the Republicans. The Republican Party had better change its course, or it will go over the cliff like the Whig Party (the party of Henry Clay) did in the U.S.A. Kenneth Stepp.

Good Riddance! to Specter says Republican leader.

Welcome aboard Senator Specter. I hope your stay aboard the Democratic movement is enjoyable. Kenneth Stepp.

Namecalling: Arlen Specter is a Democrat!

"If we lose my seat they have 60 Democrats, they will pass card check, you will have the Obama tax increases, they will carry out his big spending plans. So the 41st Republican, whose name is Arlen Specter, is vital to stopping tax increases, passage of card check and the Obama big spending plans." quoting U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, formerly R-PA, now D-PA.

He often voted with the Democrats while a Republican. He will probably be a Democrat that often votes with the Republicans--especially on the issues of stopping tax increases, passage of card check, and the Obama big spending plans. It's a marriage of convenience of Arlen Specter and the Democratic Party. I hope this new moderate Democratic U.S. Senator is convenient for the Democratic Party.

Name Calling.

Namecalling.
I am opposed to name calling. I remember when I was on my most recent election campaign, I sent emails to some "Mitch" McConnell neo-con supporters blasting him for his support of the never-ending American war in Iraq. Well, they informed me that that makes me a "socialist". What does running around killing Arabs in a country that was not involved in 911 have to do with "government ownership of the means of production", Karl Marx, Fredreich Engalls, or anything remotely approaching "socialism"? I believe in the free enterprise economic system and in the private ownership of property. I am not a socialist. I don't appreciate being called a socialist. Irresponsible name-calling only results in bloggers limiting the publication of comments. In my own, separate blogspots I exercised the option of reviewing, deciding whether to publish, and deciding whether to modify comments. I only deleted expletives, and did not delete whole comments. If somebody wants to cuss me, they can do it on their own blogspot; I'm not going to pay for it nor publish it. Kenneth Stepp.

Hal Rogers' Congress approved torture!

Admiral Dennis Blair (above)


Blair: Congress Approved CIA Interrogations

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:07 PM

By: David A. Patten Article Font Size





Before members of Congress rail at the CIA’s coercive interrogation of terrorists, they might want to blame those who authorized the measures in the first place: themselves.

Yes, members of Congress approved the interrogation methods many of them now decry as torture.

That revelation comes from an article posted Wednesday on WeeklyStandard.com by senior writer Stephen F. Hayes, who reveals that Adm. Dennis Blair, President Obama’s national intelligence director, circulated a letter within the intelligence community last week that could prove embarrassing to both Democrats and the Obama administration.

Blair’s letter reportedly states that members of Congress repeatedly signed off on enhanced interrogation methods such as waterboarding.

“From 2002 through 2006 when the use of these techniques ended,” Blair wrote, “the leadership of the CIA repeatedly reported their activities both to Executive Branch policymakers and to members of Congress, and received permission to continue to use the techniques."

Blair’s letter was distributed April 16, the same day the president released portions of newly declassified internal memos describing in detail how the interrogations were to be performed.

Obama has been widely criticized by former Vice President Dick Cheney and others for holding back information that shows how successful the enhanced interrogations were in disrupting al-Qaida operations, including attacks against U.S. citizens.

Blair’s letter also stated that coercive interrogation provided “high-value information” and contributed to a better understanding of al-Qaida. An abridged version of Blair’s statement was released to the public, but it did not refer to the program’s success or the authorization from Congress.

Hal and Ed make sounds over Pork Barrelling!

At least us Democrats aren't that bad on pork barrelling the taxpayers' money! Next time vote Democratic!

The Prez speaks out against torture.

The Dynamic Duo: Pork Kings.

Latest Kos Poll shows McConnell has 22% National Approval Rating.

FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE DON'T KNOW NET CHANGE
PRESIDENT OBAMA 69 (68) 27 (29) 4 (3) 3

PELOSI: 37 (36) 45 (46) 18 (18) 2
REID: 35 (34) 49 (49) 16 (17) 1
McCONNELL: 22 (23) 57 (56) 21 (21) -2
BOEHNER: 17 (18) 60 (58) 23 (24) -3

Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers very generous with your tax money!

kentucky.com reports:

"Rogers' earmark requests include $6 million to Somerset-based Progeny Systems to develop a biometrics-based submarine access control system; $8 million to Outdoor Venture Corp., also in Somerset, for tents that can be relocated and reconstructed by two people in 20 minutes; and $16 million to the McKee-based Phoenix Products Inc. for aircraft drip pans.

Progeny employees gave more than $13,000 to Rogers through his campaign and his political action committee, HALPAC. Outdoor Venture Corp. president James Egnew and his wife, Azalie, contributed more than $20,000 to Rogers' campaigns; Peggy and Thomas Wilson, owner and manager of Phoenix Products, have given roughly $15,000."

And they used to accuse Democrats with being very generous with other people's money! Stay with the Democrats and keep your money from being given away to wealthy Republicans.

Illegal Warrantless Wiretapping!

"Senate to Re-Look Warrantless Wiretapping
by: RDemocrat
Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 21:22:08 PM EDT

Many of us were very critical of warrantless wiretapping as proposed by the Bush Administration. Many of us were also disappointed in our leadership in the FISA struggle last year. As it turns out, we had good reason to be. Now it appears that Americans were illegally wiretapped and the Senate is set to hold hearings on it soon.
RDemocrat :: Senate to Re-Look Warrantless Wiretapping
Diane Feinstein, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee today called for hearings on the NSA's wiretapping activities:

The head of the Senate intelligence committee said Thursday that she would hold a hearing to examine the National Security Agency's interception of domestic communications after new reports that recent wiretapping went beyond what Congress has authorized.
"These are serious allegations, and we will make sure we get the facts," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who leads the Senate intelligence committee. "The committee is looking into this, and we will hold a hearing on this subject within one month."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04...

Feinstein was joined by Russ Feingold, who long has endorsed common sense on this issue of Civil liberties:


Senator Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who has been active in overseeing intelligence issues, said Thursday that the report of wiretapping problems was part of "a tragic retreat from the principles that had governed the sensitive area of government surveillance for the previous three decades."
Mr. Feingold called for reforms in intelligence law as well as the public release of certain aspects of wiretapping operations "so that the American people can better understand their scope and impact."

At issue is the "overcollection" of domestic communications since Congress passed a new wiretapping law last July:


Several intelligence officials, as well as lawyers briefed about the matter, said the N.S.A. had been engaged in "overcollection" of domestic communications of Americans in recent months since the passage of a new wiretapping law by Congress last July. They described the practice as significant and systemic, although one official said it was believed to have been unintentional.
It seems that this program which was supposed to be used only to spy on communications of "terrorists" outside of the United States was actually used to spy on domestic correspondences, even including an unnamed American Congressman:


The questions may not be settled yet. Intelligence officials say they are still examining the scope of the N.S.A. practices, and Congressional investigators say they hope to determine if any violations of Americans' privacy occurred. It is not clear to what extent the agency may have actively listened in on conversations or read e-mail messages of Americans without proper court authority, rather than simply obtained access to them.
While the N.S.A.'s operations in recent months have come under examination, new details are also emerging about earlier domestic-surveillance activities, including the agency's attempt to wiretap a member of Congress, without court approval, on an overseas trip, current and former intelligence officials said.

It appears that the problem was more widespread as many Americans may have been spied upon without the legal authority to do so because of a "technical problem":


Officials would not discuss details of the overcollection problem because it involves classified intelligence-gathering techniques. But the issue appears focused in part on technical problems in the N.S.A.'s ability at times to distinguish between communications inside the United States and those overseas as it uses its access to American telecommunications companies' fiber-optic lines and its own spy satellites to intercept millions of calls and e-mail messages.
One official said that led the agency to inadvertently "target" groups of Americans and collect their domestic communications without proper court authority. Officials are still trying to determine how many violations may have occurred.

The FBI has itself concluded that there was "significant misconduct" in the surveillance program:


As part of that investigation, a senior F.B.I. agent recently came forward with what the inspector general's office described as accusations of "significant misconduct" in the surveillance program, people with knowledge of the investigation said. Those accusations are said to involve whether the N.S.A. made Americans targets in eavesdropping operations based on insufficient evidence tying them to terrorism.
So, what was a bad idea for all the reasons Progressives opposed it has indeed proved to be a VERY bad idea. The disappointing part is that so many Democrats condoned such behavior in stripping Americans of generations of Constitutional rights at the whim of the incompetent Bush Administration.

I think it is time not only to investigate these actions, but to reverse a bad mistake. No matter who is in office the shredding of the Constitution is never a good policy. We need to call upon President Obama and Congress to re-enact Constitutional protections and scrap the FISA law.

American Civil Liberties make this country what it is and are nothing for either party to play politics with."

Let's get rid of illegal warrantless wiretapping.

Torture

Obama Administration Will Release Torture Memos
by mcjoan
Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 09:34:56 AM PDT
This is excellent news from the Obama administration:

After a tense internal debate, the Obama administration this afternoon will make public a number of detailed memos describing the harsh interrogation techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency against al Qaeda suspects in secret overseas prisons.

The interrogation methods were among the Bush administration’s most closely guarded secrets, and today’s release will be the most comprehensive public accounting to date of the interrogation program that some senior Obama administration officials have said used illegal torture.

The documents are expected to include Justice Department memos from 2002 and 2005 authorizing the C.I.A. to employ a number of aggressive techniques- including sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme temperatures and "waterboarding," the near-drowning technique.

Among the anticipated documents are detailed 2005 memos by Stephen G. Bradbury, who as acting head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel authorized the C.I.A. techniques. The documents have never before been made public, but an article in The New York Times in October 2007 said that the memos gave legal support for using a combination of coercive techniques at the same time and concluded that the C.I.A.’s methods were not "cruel, inhuman or degrading" under international law.

Another document expected to be released this afternoon is a Justice Department memo written August 1, 2002. The memo, written by John C. Yoo and signed by Jay S. Bybee, two Justice Department officials at the time, is a legal authorization for a laundry list of proposed C.I.A. interrogation techniques.

Today is the court-imposed deadline for the memos to be released, and there has been an intense battle between the CIA--populated by far too many holdovers from the Bush administration--and Justice over what, and how much, should be released. This report doesn't say what, if anything, will be redacted from the memos, though it seems to indicate that they will be fully released. It looks like Justice won out, in more than one way.

The United States should outlaw torture at home and abroad, should avoid complicity in torture, and should avoid participating in extraordinary rendition which releases American prisoners to others to torture. Kenneth Stepp.

Jack Conway running for U.S. Senate Kentucky!

Jack Conway is a Democrat, too.

Dr. Dan from Hazard, Kentucky is running for the U.S. Senate.

Kenneth Stepp Salutes Sgt.Daniel Beard!

American Military Deaths
Since May 1st, 2003
Back to Iraq Casualties Page

5-Apr 5 Five U.S. Coalition Soldiers were killed, and one wounded from a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device attack earlier today in Mosul.
5-Apr 1 Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias, 28, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, died April 5 near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when a mine detonated near him during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment in Task Force 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Grafenwoehr, Germany.
3-Apr 2 Lance Cpl. Stephen F. Dearmon, 21, of Crossville, Tenn., died April 3 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Daniel J. Beard, 24, of Buffalo, N.Y., died April 3 in Al Diwaniyah, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 147th Postal Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Wiesbaden, Germany.

31-Mar 2 Sgt. Devin C. Poche, 25, of Jacksonville, N.C., died Mar. 31 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.


Lance Cpl. Nelson M. Lantigua, 20, of Miami, Fla., died March 31 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10 Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

25-Mar 1 Staff Sgt. Raphael A. Futrell, 26, of Anderson, S.C., died March 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 13th Military Police Detachment, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
20-Mar 1 Sgt. Jose R. Escobedo Jr., 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., died March 20 in Baghdad, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident the night before at Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariyah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment in Schweinfurt, Germany.
16-Mar 1 Spc. Gary L. Moore, 25, of Del City, Okla., died March 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an explosive device struck his vehicle. He was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.
10-Mar 1 Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone, 21, of Ocala, Fla., died March 10 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
7-Mar 1 1st Lt. Daniel B. Hyde, 24, of Modesto, Calif., died March 7 in Samarra, Iraq, of wounds sustained in Tikrit when an explosive device struck his unit vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
3-Mar 1 Pfc. Jessica Y. Sarandrea, 22, of Miami, Fla., died March 3 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her forward operating base with mortar fire. She was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
2-Mar 1 Sgt. Jeffrey A. Reed, 23, of Chesterfield, Va., died March 2 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a grenade in Taji, Iraq. He was assigned to the 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
28-Feb 1 Cpl. Donte J. Whitworth, 21, of Noblesville, Ind., died Feb. 28 as a result of a non-hostile vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
26-Feb 1 Spc. Brian M. Connelly, 26, of Union Beach, N.J., died Feb. 26 in Adhamiya, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an explosive device. He was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 1-6, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
24-Feb 1 1st Lt. William E. Emmert, 36, of Lincoln, Tenn., died Feb. 24 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was shot while participating in a local Iraqi Police function.
23-Feb 3 Cpl. Michael L. Mayne, 21, of Burlington Flats, N.Y.,
Cpl. Micheal B. Alleman, 31, of Logan, Utah, and
Cpl. Zachary R. Nordmeyer, 21, of Indianapolis, Ind. died Feb. 23 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small arms fire. They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

21-Feb 1 Staff Sgt. Mark C. Baum, 32, of Telford, Pa., died Feb. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire in Mushada, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
19-Feb. 1 PFC Cwislyn K. Walter, 19, of Honolulu died Feb. 19 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii National Guard.
15-Feb 1 Staff Sgt. Sean D. Diamond, 41, of Dublin, Calif., died Feb. 15 in As Salam, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.
14-Feb 1 Cpl. Stephen S. Thompson, 23, of Tulsa, Okla., died Feb. 14 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a gunshot wound. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
9-Feb 4 Lt. Col. Garnet R. Derby, 44, of Missoula, Mont. ,
Sgt. Joshua A. Ward, 30, of Scottsville, Ky.,
Pfc. Albert R. Jex, 23, of Phoenix, Ariz., and
Pfc. Jonathan R. Roberge, 22, of Leominster, Mass. died Feb. 9 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
8-Feb 1 Sgt. James M. Dorsey, 23, of Beardstown, Ill., died Feb. 8 in Kamaliyah, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
6-Feb 1 Spc. Christopher P. Sweet, 28, of Kahului, Hawaii, died Feb. 6 in Kirkush, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172d Separate Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.
4-Feb 1 Petty Officer 1st Class Theophilus K. Ansong, 34, of Bristow, Va., was lost at sea Feb 4. Ansong was assigned to USS San Antonio (LPD 17) as it conducted operations in the Gulf of Aden.
31-Jan 1 Spc. Darrell L. Fernandez, 25, of Truth or Consequences, N.M., died Jan. 31 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle accident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
26-Jan 4 Chief Warrant Officer Philip E. Windorski, Jr., 35, of Bovey, Minn.,
Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Kelley, 30, of Cameron, Mo.,
Chief Warrant Officer Joshua M. Tillery, 31, of Beaverton, Ore. and
Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin H. Todd, 29, of Colville, Wash. died from wounds suffered when two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed Jan. 26 in Kirkuk, Iraq. They were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. The cause of the accident does not appear to be the result of enemy action.
24-Jan 2 Sgt. Kyle J. Harrington, 24, of Swansea, Mass., died Jan. 24 in Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-hostile accident in his unit motor pool. He was assigned to the 542nd Maintenance Company, 80th Ordnance Battalion, 593rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Pvt. Grant A. Cotting, 19, of Corona, Calif., died Jan. 24 in Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 515th Sapper Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

22-Jan 1 Pfc. Matthew M. Pollini, 21, of Rockland Mass., died Jan. 22 at Forward Operating Base Delta, near al-Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 772nd Military Police Company, Taunton, Mass.

18-Jan 1 Staff Sgt. Roberto Andrade Jr., 26, of Chicago, Ill., died Jan. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.m.
17-Jan 1 Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight, 22, of Marrero, La., died Jan 17 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Balad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
16-Jan 1 Pfc. Ricky L. Turner, 20, of Athens, Ala., died Jan. 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
11-Jan 2 Pvt. Sean P. McCune, 20, of Euless, Texas, died Jan. 11 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Sgt. Marquis R. Porter, 28, of Brighton, Mass., died Jan. 11 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

10-Jan 1 Staff Sgt. Justin L. Bauer, 24, of Loveland, Colo., died Jan. 10 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
6-Jan 1 Staff Sgt. Anthony D. Davis, 29, of Daytona Beach, Fla., died Jan. 6 in Northern Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was shot by enemy forces. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
3-Jan 1 Lance Cpl. Chadwick A. Gilliam, 29, of Mayking, Ky., died Jan. 3 at a U.S. military base in Kuwait. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq in 2009.

American Military Deaths
Since May 1st, 2003
Back to Iraq Casualties Page

5-Apr 5 Five U.S. Coalition Soldiers were killed, and one wounded from a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device attack earlier today in Mosul.
5-Apr 1 Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias, 28, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, died April 5 near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when a mine detonated near him during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment in Task Force 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Grafenwoehr, Germany.
3-Apr 2 Lance Cpl. Stephen F. Dearmon, 21, of Crossville, Tenn., died April 3 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Daniel J. Beard, 24, of Buffalo, N.Y., died April 3 in Al Diwaniyah, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 147th Postal Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Wiesbaden, Germany.

31-Mar 2 Sgt. Devin C. Poche, 25, of Jacksonville, N.C., died Mar. 31 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.


Lance Cpl. Nelson M. Lantigua, 20, of Miami, Fla., died March 31 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10 Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

25-Mar 1 Staff Sgt. Raphael A. Futrell, 26, of Anderson, S.C., died March 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 13th Military Police Detachment, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
20-Mar 1 Sgt. Jose R. Escobedo Jr., 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., died March 20 in Baghdad, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident the night before at Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariyah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment in Schweinfurt, Germany.
16-Mar 1 Spc. Gary L. Moore, 25, of Del City, Okla., died March 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an explosive device struck his vehicle. He was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.
10-Mar 1 Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone, 21, of Ocala, Fla., died March 10 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
7-Mar 1 1st Lt. Daniel B. Hyde, 24, of Modesto, Calif., died March 7 in Samarra, Iraq, of wounds sustained in Tikrit when an explosive device struck his unit vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
3-Mar 1 Pfc. Jessica Y. Sarandrea, 22, of Miami, Fla., died March 3 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her forward operating base with mortar fire. She was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
2-Mar 1 Sgt. Jeffrey A. Reed, 23, of Chesterfield, Va., died March 2 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a grenade in Taji, Iraq. He was assigned to the 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
28-Feb 1 Cpl. Donte J. Whitworth, 21, of Noblesville, Ind., died Feb. 28 as a result of a non-hostile vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
26-Feb 1 Spc. Brian M. Connelly, 26, of Union Beach, N.J., died Feb. 26 in Adhamiya, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an explosive device. He was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 1-6, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
24-Feb 1 1st Lt. William E. Emmert, 36, of Lincoln, Tenn., died Feb. 24 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was shot while participating in a local Iraqi Police function.
23-Feb 3 Cpl. Michael L. Mayne, 21, of Burlington Flats, N.Y.,
Cpl. Micheal B. Alleman, 31, of Logan, Utah, and
Cpl. Zachary R. Nordmeyer, 21, of Indianapolis, Ind. died Feb. 23 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small arms fire. They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

21-Feb 1 Staff Sgt. Mark C. Baum, 32, of Telford, Pa., died Feb. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire in Mushada, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
19-Feb. 1 PFC Cwislyn K. Walter, 19, of Honolulu died Feb. 19 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii National Guard.
15-Feb 1 Staff Sgt. Sean D. Diamond, 41, of Dublin, Calif., died Feb. 15 in As Salam, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.
14-Feb 1 Cpl. Stephen S. Thompson, 23, of Tulsa, Okla., died Feb. 14 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a gunshot wound. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
9-Feb 4 Lt. Col. Garnet R. Derby, 44, of Missoula, Mont. ,
Sgt. Joshua A. Ward, 30, of Scottsville, Ky.,
Pfc. Albert R. Jex, 23, of Phoenix, Ariz., and
Pfc. Jonathan R. Roberge, 22, of Leominster, Mass. died Feb. 9 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
8-Feb 1 Sgt. James M. Dorsey, 23, of Beardstown, Ill., died Feb. 8 in Kamaliyah, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
6-Feb 1 Spc. Christopher P. Sweet, 28, of Kahului, Hawaii, died Feb. 6 in Kirkush, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172d Separate Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.
4-Feb 1 Petty Officer 1st Class Theophilus K. Ansong, 34, of Bristow, Va., was lost at sea Feb 4. Ansong was assigned to USS San Antonio (LPD 17) as it conducted operations in the Gulf of Aden.
31-Jan 1 Spc. Darrell L. Fernandez, 25, of Truth or Consequences, N.M., died Jan. 31 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle accident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
26-Jan 4 Chief Warrant Officer Philip E. Windorski, Jr., 35, of Bovey, Minn.,
Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Kelley, 30, of Cameron, Mo.,
Chief Warrant Officer Joshua M. Tillery, 31, of Beaverton, Ore. and
Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin H. Todd, 29, of Colville, Wash. died from wounds suffered when two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed Jan. 26 in Kirkuk, Iraq. They were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. The cause of the accident does not appear to be the result of enemy action.
24-Jan 2 Sgt. Kyle J. Harrington, 24, of Swansea, Mass., died Jan. 24 in Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-hostile accident in his unit motor pool. He was assigned to the 542nd Maintenance Company, 80th Ordnance Battalion, 593rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Pvt. Grant A. Cotting, 19, of Corona, Calif., died Jan. 24 in Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 515th Sapper Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

22-Jan 1 Pfc. Matthew M. Pollini, 21, of Rockland Mass., died Jan. 22 at Forward Operating Base Delta, near al-Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 772nd Military Police Company, Taunton, Mass.

18-Jan 1 Staff Sgt. Roberto Andrade Jr., 26, of Chicago, Ill., died Jan. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.m.
17-Jan 1 Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight, 22, of Marrero, La., died Jan 17 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Balad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
16-Jan 1 Pfc. Ricky L. Turner, 20, of Athens, Ala., died Jan. 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
11-Jan 2 Pvt. Sean P. McCune, 20, of Euless, Texas, died Jan. 11 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Sgt. Marquis R. Porter, 28, of Brighton, Mass., died Jan. 11 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

10-Jan 1 Staff Sgt. Justin L. Bauer, 24, of Loveland, Colo., died Jan. 10 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
6-Jan 1 Staff Sgt. Anthony D. Davis, 29, of Daytona Beach, Fla., died Jan. 6 in Northern Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was shot by enemy forces. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
3-Jan 1 Lance Cpl. Chadwick A. Gilliam, 29, of Mayking, Ky., died Jan. 3 at a U.S. military base in Kuwait. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"Mitch" McConnell approval rating at 23%; Obama's at 67%

Weekly Tracking Poll: Continued Obama and Democratic Approval
by DemFromCT
Fri Apr 10, 2009 at 10:26:03 AM PDT
Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 04/05-04/09. All adults. MoE 2% (3/30-4/2 results):

FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE NET CHANGE
PRESIDENT OBAMA 68 (67) 29 (30) +2

PELOSI: 36 (35) 46 (45) +0
REID: 34 (33) 49 (50) +2
McCONNELL: 23 (22) 56 (55) +0
BOEHNER: 18 (16) 58 (57) +1

CONGRESSIONAL DEMS: 43 (41) 51 (52) +3
CONGRESSIONAL GOPS: 18 (17) 68 (69) +2

DEMOCRATIC PARTY: 51 (49) 42 (42) +2
REPUBLICAN PARTY: 26 (25) 66 (65) +0

"Hit and Run" by the Republicans!