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Open Letter to NH Congressman Paul Hodes

Excerpts from a correspondence with Hodes' office:

(Dean's responses in parentheses)

And what was the record of the new Dem congress of which you are a leader?

In a message dated 3/28/2008 9:55:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, info@hodesforcongress.com writes:

* Make health care accessible to all;

(No change except health costs accelerate; not even a minimal change as in allowing govt health insurers to negotiate.)

* Create a strategic redeployment out of Iraq;

(Higher troop levels, no change in negotiation with Iraq neighbors, increased funding to local entities in preparation for the coming sectarian battle. Gitmo and other prison facilities continue to operate including dark sites.)

* Provide for our veterans;

(Unaware of any change except sensational stories from Walter Reed and personnel paying for own care. Of course, increased signing bonus levels to maintain minimum recruitment goals.)

* Restore personal freedoms; and

(Also no change. FISA bill (should be called non-FISA bill) not passed (good) although a presidential signing statement says no change. Tel co. immunity for unspecified crimes still debated.)

* Chart a renewable energy future.

(Only change is boost for ethanol where it takes 5 gals of fossil fuel est. to make 4 gal of corn-based ethanol, we have 50something cent tariff on sugar based ethanol from Brazil and take no notice that the EU is about to ban ethanol as environmentally unsound. US position seems politically based.)

Also K St thrives with new Dem lobbyists added to the Reps., earmarks continue as a tool for legislative passage, "creative" accounting still illuminates a deficit out of control, the UN would not put the US on the Human Rights Council because of our abuses and we could interpret the dollar decline as a global referendum on the US.

With this record on the very points you use for esteem, one must give the new congress failing grades and especially when its leaders display our customary political hyperbole.

Dean LeBaron