Today's tragic report of deadly bomb blasts on London's transport network is yet another clarion cry for America to lead a truly international campaign against global terrorism.  We owe this to ourselves and our progeny, to our heritage and our nation, and to all of our friends around the world.

First, my deepest sympathies go out to London's innocent dead and wounded, and to their families and national brothers and sisters.  Like our common forebears--victims of terrorism in the U.S. and every other region of the world--we grieve over the senseless loss of life inflicted by zealous, misguided, and armed predators.  We Americans must recommit ourselves to a leadership role that, as in our most valorous days, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, we have inspired humanity forward.

First, my deepest sympathies go out to the London's innocent dead and wounded, and to their families and fellow countrymen.  Like their forebears--victims of terrorism in the U.S. and every other region of the world--we, as Americans, must recommit ourselves to a leadership role that has inspired humanity from the American Revolution through the Cold War.

Now that President Bush has arrogantly ruled out a timetable exit strategy for America's War in Iraq, and Secretary Rumsfeld is predicting a 12-year-minmum insurgency, I thought it was high-time that I contrasted, in detail, my differences with pro-war Pennsylvania Senate candidates Bob Casey, Jr. (D) and Rick Santorum (R).  Since both of my opponents embrace the president's quagmire, "fight 'til we win" approach, and since Mr. Casey has refused to say, to this day, whether he supported or opposed the unjustified Iraq War begun two years ago, such clarification is in order.

Before spelling out an Iraq exit strategy, however, it is important to remind ourselves why an American military pullout is vital to our national security.  As a diplomatic historian, national securities professor, and student of the Vietnam War, I can clearly see that the Iraq War has created long-term diplomatic, cultural, economic, political, and military damage for ourselves among our traditional allies, non-aligned yet cooperative nations, rival states, and heretofore neutral nations.  This damage in international relations means that our global war against al Qaeda and related offspring, based in over 60 nations (according to the CIA), is backsliding badly.  In other words, continuation of the Iraq War--with attending human rights debacles at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo--dramatically fuels the recruitment process of radical, anti-American, Islamic warriors around the globe, while undermining our intelligence gathering efforts against al Qaeda and its clones.  

The Iraq War also underscores the fact that our nation is weaker at home, and more vulnerable to attack, than it was on 9-11-01.  Why?  Because federal-level budget cuts have meant first responder support is diminished at the local level; because homeland security dollars are now part of the up-for-grabs pork barrel politicking that defines our undisciplined federal spending--and, as such, unthreatened mid-American towns and cities are, effectively, robbing vulnerable coastal cities, ports, waterways, and nuclear and chemical plants of needed support; because military recruitment has fallen prey to our overstretched, under-armed, poorly-compensated soldier, national guard, and veteran populations.  Rather than address the above problems, the Bush Administration has chosen to drive Americans into opposing camps through the politics of fear (still, shamelessly invoking the mythical September 11-Saddam link), disingenuous rhetoric ("support our troops"), and false argument (better that "we fight 'them' over there than here").                  

From the diaries--Chris

MoveOn.PAC is now conducting a poll among its Pennsylvania members to determine what, if anything, the organization should do about the 2006 U.S. Senate seat now held by Rick Santorum.

Regardless of how you vote on-line, I simply hope you vote.  This is an important opportunity to have your voice heard by a progressive organization with political bite.

http://www.moveonpac.org/2006/?state=Pennsylvania&id  

By now, the issue and values differences between Bob Casey, Jr. and I should be clear.  Indeed, the "choice is clear" on a host of issues--woman's right to choose, separation of church and state, universal health care, living wage, stem cell research, equal rights for gays and lesbians, the American War in Iraq, constitutional checks and balances (Terry Schiavo Bill), death penalty moratorium, and oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

From the diaries--Chris

It's been a while since we last spoke, and there is quite a bit I would like to update you on.  Just last week, I attended the Take Back America Conference in Washington, D.C.  It was a tremendous experience to meet so many Democrats committed to a message of progress.  Earlier in the week, I spoke with the Philadelphia chapter of Democracy for America and with members of the Chester County Democratic Party.  This campaign prides itself on having a conversation directly with the grassroots; we will defeat Rick Santorum because we are taking our case directly to the people of Pennsylvania--especially appealing to those with a demonstrated ability to knock on doors, make the phone calls, and get out the vote.

This race will not be won in the banquet halls of high-dollar fundraising events, smoke-filled backrooms in the State Capitol, or in the editorial boards of newspapers.  There is so much more I want to offer about where this campaign has been, and where it is headed, but today I want to ask you to participate directly in a project much like the one you helped with on March 4, 2005.  

Today at 3 P.M. (EsT) I will be joining the students at Princeton University in their grassroots movement to protect the minority right of the filibuster in the United States Senate.

One hundred and sixty-seven hours ago, the group began what was originally intended to be two distinct 12-hour filibusters in front of the William ("Bill") Frist Campus Center.  As you know it has been the grassroots--through letters to the editor, rallies sponsored by MoveOn, and events like this--leading the fight against Republican attempts to trample the separation of powers and checks and balances that guarantee the minority's right to dissent.

The fight continues today, and I am honored that the students asked my campaign, a grassroots movement like theirs, to speak for an hour this afternoon.

http://www.chuck2006.com

From the diaries--Chris

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's public relations offensive of yesterday, against the filibuster, is yet another maneuver to turn his Party's narrow electoral majorities of the 2004 election into a mandate for unlimited political control over all branches of our government.  Frist, Santorum, and company want unchecked legislative power so they can weaken the judiciary as a check on their absolute power.

The "nuclear option" is a radical effort by Republican Senate leaders hell-bent on consolidating all power at the expense of Democrats, majority opinion, minority rights, and our carefully crafted constitutional system of checks and balances.

Of more immediate consequence, right-wing Senators like Rick Santorum and Bill Frist want to guarantee the confirmation of anti-constitutional judges to our federal courts and, above all, to our Supreme Court.

This sort of post would definately be illegal under proposed campaign finance law changes--Chris

Thank you for your support this weekend after the Associated Press and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party misled readers across the country into thinking this was an uncontested primary.

I wanted to let you know that I spoke with the reporter's editor, and they got the message.  They are very aware of our campaign's grassroots appeal and importance of an open and democratic primary.

I am often asked whether or not a progressive campaign can succeed here in PA. Not only do I believe a progressive campaign and candidate can succeed against Rick Santorum, a progressive message is the only effective means to victory.