Phil Dunkelbarger for US Representative (Mass 9th CD)

[paineinthearse]

I appear to be a bit behind on this, but had seen no other posts in the Massachusetts forum, so perhaps I am not alone.

Today at a peace meeting I learned that Phil Dunklebarger of Westwood has announced his candidacy to run against DINO, war-supporting and general blight on the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, Rep. Steven Lynch.

I did some googling and found .08 acres had this in November:

http://point08.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_point08_archive.html

Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Early Congressional Challenger Roundup
It looks like some of Massachusetts' Congressmen are going to be challenged for reelection next year. The Globe reported today that former Beverly City Councillor, Phil Dunklebarger, now of Westwood, plans on challenging Congressman Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary. Dunklebarger was a Dean supporter in 2003, and according to the Globe, has criticized Congressman Lynch for supporting the Iraq war.

more...

The Globe article.

<http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/22/dunkelbarger_to_run_against_lynch/[br />
Dunkelbarger to run against Lynch
November 22, 2005

A Westwood Democrat has announced he will run against US Representative Stephen F. Lynch in 2006. Phil Dunkelbarger, 57, owns and operates North American ImEx Inc., a seafood trading and export company. Dunkelbarger, in a letter to Lynch, criticized him for supporting the Iraq war and called him a career politician. Lynch, elected in 2001 to replace the late John Joseph Moakley, said, ''I consider it an honor to represent the families of the Ninth Congressional District at such an important time in our nation's history. I am hopeful that the people . . . continue to entrust me with the opportunity to serve our state, and our nation, in the years to come."

...so to all who have been saying "Lynch must go" and "we need to run a candidate against Lynch", take a look at Dunklebarger.

Your thoughts? Is Phil viable? Is he worth our support?

==================

http://www.dunkelbargerdemocrat.org/

"Our country is approaching a crossroads. Our choice is to keep going straight, in the direction that has taken most Americans, by almost every measure, to a point where they are worse off than they were five years ago, or choose a new direction. Our government has a responsibility to its citizens, to provide conditions for greater security and prosperity; a responsibility that the Republicans, and those Democrats who have supported Republlican policies, have failed to provide.

The incumbent fails to represent the will of his constituents, fails to represent the platform of his party, and, most importantly, fails to offer the vision needed to correct our course."

[paineinthearse]

1. Cross-posted to POLITICS

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2369058

[paineinthearse]

2. The war

http://www.dunkelbargerdemocrat.org/war.html



"No single act of this government in the past five years has been more destructive to our children's future than the War in Iraq. For many there will be no future, others will face the future physically and/or emotionally impaired. And all our children will pay for this war for the rest of their lives."

Setting a disengagement plan is the best way to 'support our troops' and 'stop the bleeding' from this disastrous blunder.

As the Congress began debate on the Iraq War Resolution, a few dozen of us met in the Incumbent's Boston office to try and persuade him not to support the Administration. By his own admission, constituents contacting his office were 8-1 against supporting the Republican agenda. But, saying he was exercising leadership, he voted for the Resolution and signed on to the Republican Doctrine of Pre-emptive Warfare. Instead of listening to Kennedy and Byrd, our Republican Wannabe incumbent preferred to listen to Bush and Wolfowitz.

Now, nearly 30 months, thousands of casualties, and billions of dollars later, the incumbent is still supporting this failed policy, still voting more funding, still encouraging the recruitment of more troops to feed this illegitimate conflict. There is no more important reason to replace him. When all the slick Republic spin is blown away, when all the fear mongering is brushed aside, there is, at the bottom of this sad affair, nothing but a pack of lies. Stephan Lynch should have known better.

The fact is, our departure from Iraq will have a positive effect by undercutting the appeal of the insurgency, by fully investing the Iraqis in the solution to their own problems, and by encouraging broad and meaningful international involvement to achieve a just and lasting resolution to this post-colonial mess.

The incumbent must be held accountable for the poor judgment in believing known liars and for the breach of faith in ignoring the will of his constituents.

[unhappycamper]

3. This is really good news.

The Veterans For Peace will be happy to hear this.

[mom cat]

4. He looks great on the issues: stop the war, single payer health care,

I could get to like this guy. Thanks for the heads up.

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Aaahhhhh, he's tweaked my curiosity. Indeed. But the . . .

.
Aaahhhhh, he's tweaked my curiosity. Indeed. But the . . . name, "Dunkelbarger" is jokes waiting to happen!

Anyway, Mr. Dunkelbarger appears to hit the nail on the head about the right to privacy regarding Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. Lynch falls into the unable-to-separate-his-religion-from-law category which is a rightwingnut Republican stance, not a Democratic Party stance, particularly Dems from Massachusetts. Lynch falls way the hell out of mainstream Massachusetts thinking. For example:

Dunkelbarger speaks out against Lynch (and Lynch's anti-right to privacy stance)

"Much has been made of the fact that the political agenda today in the U.S. involves the "culture war." Essentially what this means is endless quibbling over highly personal matters (religion and sex for example) which, while important subjects of public discourse, should not distract our government from developing solutions to real problems that threaten us. While Congress argued about Terry Schiavo, they didn't find the time to properly fund improvements to the levees in New Orleans. We need to challenge the Congress to stop wallowing endlessly in the mud of differences of opinion which will never be resolved, and concentrate on issues which "put food on the table."

Part of the problem is the experience base of Congress. There are too many Representatives, like our incumbent, who are lawyers and career politicians with little connection to the real world. They view politics as another sport. We no longer enjoy the luxury of returning these veterans of the public trough. We need tough-minded, practical representatives, with a broad base of knowledge and experience, with the energy and vision to make a positive difference in the lives of our families.

The most effective problem solving often involves a comprehensive approach, addressing numerous problems simultaneously. Our Congress doesn't work well this way, because power has been bought by groups focused on narrow interests. To effectively meet the challenges facing us will take a broad knowledge of technology and an inter-disciplinary vision that the incumbent has not exhibited in his mediocre, in truth poor legislative record while in office. In four years, the incumbent has demonstrated he is incapable of effecting the course of our nation for the better."
http://www.dunkelbargerdemocrat.org/issues.html

. . . and . . .

"The incumbent's record on personal privacy issues is contrary to the position of the State Democratic Platform, and contrary to the views of a majority of his constituents. It is what truly defines him as a "Republican Wannabe". He voted for the "Patriot Act", allowing the government to snoop in our bank, phone and library records. He has consistently taken positions against personal choice. And, perhaps most astounding, he was the only Massachusetts "Democrat" to vote with Tom Delay, involving the government in the Shiavo case.

When it comes to a choice between trusting in individuals or trusting in government, the incumbent has chosen the government. When it comes to a choice between who decides, individuals with their spiritual and medical advisors or the government, the the most difficult family questions of whether to bring a new member into this world or let an old member leave in dignity, the incumbent has chosen the government.

These are fundamental choices; there are none more important in defining how we want to be represented in Congress. With Republicans installing Justices with a Republican agenda in the courts, the constituents of the ninth Massachusetts district don't need to return a representative who will support a Republican legislative agenda as well. If Republicans, and "Republican Wannabees" continue to control all the branches of our government, it will not be long before the principles of individual freedom and personal responsibility will have been removed from our system, and our form of government and way of life changed beyond recognition."
http://www.dunkelbargerdemocrat.org/privacy.html

.

Yes. Whether it's a constitutional right of autonomy, freedom of choice in abortion issues, stem cell research issues, right to die with dignity issues, Stephen F. Lynch, has for years been holding his nose ALONE of all our Massachusetts congressional delegation! ALONE! Because Lynch cannot separate his own ultra-conservative Roman Catholic religious tenets from that of constitutional rights of liberty, privacy, due process and equal protection! I've been saying this about Lynch for years and years and years. Lynch sucked up to homosexual voters in embracing their constitutional rights but only lately. Lynch has been a blatant homophobe all his political life except for the past several months. However, Lynch REFUSES to budge on these other important constitutional issues.

Hats off to Dunkelbarger -- and his name -- for he has tweaked my curiosity. Tis good to hear that Lynch will be challenged in these issues. Damn good to hear! But I await Dunkelbarger's pronouncement of other issues b4 rallying to his cause. BTW, as an attorney, myself, I truly didn't embrace his oft-handed remark about lawyers and our elected officials. That was a kneejerk that was truly a jerk remark.

_______________________

edited to add: And, thank you, paineinthearse, for calling DUers attention to this re that Dunkelbarger is running and that Lynch will be challenge directly on point about these issues as is Lynch's weakness.

[janalfi]

6. I know Phil from Dean for America Meetups

He was an early Dean supporter because of his opposition to the war on Iraq.

I was just at a candidates' night at the Vets Club in Bridgewater last Thursday where he spoke. Phil's 7 minute speech was very good, but his forte was the Q&A. He handled a question on Iraq like I wish Kerry had. Meanwhile, Rep. Lynch (DINO-MA) sent a representative toady to the candidates' night to read a letter from him saying he wished he could make it but he was "visiting our troops in Iraq." Gag!!

From healthcare to privacy to the Iraq War to fiscal responsibility, Phil's ideas are progressive and practical. Any progressive who wants the DINO Lynch extinct should put his/her money and energy behind Dunkelbarger (funny name but also memorable). Lynch has the big bucks and the old boys behind him. Barney Frank looked like he was having stomach cramps when Phil came over and spoke to him at candidates' night. Incumbency (read access to money) is a stronger tie between Dem pols than ideology.

Phil's wife Arlene was there filming the speech so he could work on it later. She and the family are all on board supporting Phil's run. Phil has met with Jass Stewart who ran a great campaign for mayor of Brockton last fall. He needs to make contact with other progressive groups and peace groups to get his campaign off the ground. Lynch's current plan (with the media's help) is to ignore Phil and hope he goes away.

Everyone from Lynch's district (9th) who wants a real Democrat representing them, and who wants to vividly show the pro-war politicians in this state that there is a price to pay for their stand, needs to help Phil get his message out. The ninth is a weird district that snakes out from South Boston and Braintree goes all the way to Brockton and Hanson and includes Stoughton, Canton, Westwood, etc. It will be a tough race. All the usual methods - call ins, letters to ed, sending him invites to meet with your church, community group, town committee, etc. - should be employed. At the very least, he has to make Lynch pay attention to the fact that the 9th is not a Republican-lite district.

[TaleWgnDg]

7. welcome to DU, janalfi . . . n/t

[paineinthearse]

8. Any Dunkelbarger news?

With all the anti-Lynch posts in the past, I thought someone from the 9th CD would be feeding us regular updates.

:shrug:

[PuraVidaDreamin]

9. Splendid! I will know have to write up a post for Peter White 10th

Cong. district, Quincy South to Cape Cod!

Keep em comiing folks!

[paineinthearse]

10. 4 rethugs travel to Iraq & Afghanistan, CSPAN, 9PM Friday

Maybe we can arrange a trade, Lynch for OBL?

:shrug:

http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/cspan.csp?command=dprogram&record=193199205

Congressional Delegation in Iraq
C-SPAN
Iraq

ID: 191135 - 01/21/2006 - 2:00 - $29.95

A U.S. Congressional delegation visited the Middle East on an information-gathering trip. Led by Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the group also included Massachusetts Democrat Steve Lynch, and Pennsylvania Republicans Todd Platts and Jim Gerlach. A C-SPAN video journalist accompanied them during their 5-day visit to the region, as they traveled first to Kuwait for a day, then into Iraq for the next two days, and spent the final two days in Afghanistan.

On January 21 and 22, 2006, they visited Al Taqaddum Airbase in Al Anbar Province, Camp Fallujah Marine base, East Fallujah Iraqi Security Forces Camp, Baghdad's Green Zone, and Balad Airbase outside of Baghdad. They met with U.S. and Iraqi military leaders.

[unhappycamper]

11. I'd trade Lynch for used toilet paper.

I may need to delete this post after I have some coffee.

[paineinthearse]

12. Time's up.

I'd leave it, if I were you.

[unhappycamper]

13. OK

:rofl: