Blogger Luke Vargas has as a great write-up of the Manchester, New Hampshire IAFF endorsement event this past Friday. Vargas ends his post arriving at the conclusion that he's endorsing Chris Dodd for President (joining the International Association of Fire Fighters and Big Tent Democrat of Talk Left!). He writes:
I walked away from the rally this morning in awe...Dodd is markedly new man now: he's all fired up (pun intended). With a fresh haircut, a raspy voice (no doubt from two consecutive days of IAFF rallies), and a throng of cheering supporters, I can now visualize a different Chris Dodd. Where I previously saw little more than a Washington politician--a kind one, but far from charismatic--I now see Dodd as a candidate capable of both succeeding in his legislative role, but also someone with the spark to lead and inspire the people who hear him.
When I first met the Senator I asked him about youth involvement in politics and what needed to happen to empower younger generations. His answer touched upon a lot of points I can no longer remember, but his last sentence presented a personal challenge to me that no other candidate I've met has asked: "Support me in the primary--we need young people like you."
As Dodd accepted President John F Kennedy's call to national service by joining the Peace Corps, I'm proud to say I have taken up Chris Dodd's challenge to support him in the primary. I'll still cover every candidate and event that lands on the New Hampshire campaign schedule, but like the IAFF, I endorse Senator Chris Dodd.
Steve Clemons has a long analysis of the Cuba policies offered by Senator Dodd, as well as Senators Clinton and Obama. Clemons is a foreign policy expert and his been strongly supportive of Dodd's Cuba position in the past. He writes, "Dodd set the gold standard in my view in articulating a policy that wasn't all warm and fuzzy about Castro but that spoke to America's 21st century economic and national security interests with Cuba in contrast to those who want to keep US-Cuba relations cocooned in an anachronistic Cold War era framework that has little relevancy today. "
Clemons has also posted a detailed explanation from an Iowa fire fighter as to why he thinks the IAFF has endorsed Chris Dodd.
DailyKos diarist Hannah has a great post up on Senator Dodd's Somersworth, NH event and the media coverage surrounding the IAFF endorsement, Dodd's recent statements on Iraq and foreign policy, and his work to address the looming housing crisis. She concludes, "Chris Dodd certainly has more experience crafting laws and developing programs for thirty years on Capitol Hill [than other presidential candidates]. Which, I would guess, is why the fire fighters picked that Senator to endorse for President."
Lastly, Siun of FireDogLake addresses Dodd's continued leadership to end America's involvement in Iraq's civil war and bring our troops home. "And while the presidential candidates not currently in Congress have voiced their opposition to the upcoming supplemental, only Chris Dodd of the serving members has spoken up to make his position crystal clear."
Siun is referencing this comment by Senator Dodd last Wednesday:
It is a civil war in Iraq and those who have understood this issue have argued from the very beginning that there was never going to be a military solution to the civil war in Iraq. I intend to fight any efforts here, I’ll do whatever I can to support whatever our troops need to have a safe and secure withdrawal from Iraq. But I don’t intend to continue to fund the war over there that I think has no end.
She goes on to praise Dodd for "acknowledging the validity of Iraqi voices as he warned of the danger of repeating British colonial mistakes."
