The 2010 Midterms: Wars? What Wars? A Deafening Silence.

We are in the midst of two wars, correction, two un-funded wars, and not one candidate ran a campaign on them. No Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Tea Partiers, no one took any position on the wars. In fact, I only heard one candidate even asked about them, Sharron Angle, whose response was, paraphrased, "They are what they are."

All the talk about deficits and spending and budgets and not one mention of the financial cost to this country of these illegal and failing wars. No candidate ran for or against them, or the spending, or responsibility. Not one. No one stood up and said, "Hey! You want to cut the deficit and reduce spending? How about ending two billion dollar-a-day failing wars (or three if you count Pakistan)?"

Not one Democrat, Republican, Independent or Tea Partier.

Until today, and only today, was there any mention and that was in conjunction with Veteran's day in which we honor and remember all who have served, continue to serve, and may want to serve. Even the gay and lesbian ones. (Note to politicians: today would have been a great day to repeal DADT). While it's nice to  honor and be honored for serving one's country, I think it might have been more respectful to our Veterans if we actually offered some policy to go with the platitudes.

I've been aware of the world around me for about 50 years. and I cannot recall any election cycle that failed to include debate when we were engaged in a war. Vietnam was the headline in every newspaper and lead story on every newscast. Politicians ran campaigns with a position on it. America debated it. Some of us who objected it to still served because the country called and we answered. Still others took to the streets to protest it.

Iraq was a big story when the Republicans had control and started it. But they changed the debate in this country and disowned the war. And why not? Obama took ownership when he increased the troop levels and kept fighting. As Nixon inherited Vietnam, Obama inherited the Middle East. The wars overseas have been replaced by in-fighting here at home largely at the direction of the right-wing media machine.

And we just had an election which completely ignored their very existence. I find that reprehensible.

Hamster Prez