What issues matter to you? National defense? The rights of working class Americans? Seniors issues? A woman's right to choose? The environment?

On all of these issues, New York Republicans are out of touch with America. Most Americans want a strong national defense, support the rights of working class Americans, women and seniors, and place a high value on the environemnt. New York Congressional Republicans have the wrong priorities on national defense, support Halliburton profits but not a minimum wage increase, want to privatise Social Security, place the rights of pollutors over the environment and the health of Americans, and oppose a woman's right to choose.

This truly is curious. As we noted yesterday, and Rochester Turning the day before, two wingnut Congressmen in New York are being targeted by an even wingnuttier organization, Freedoms Watch, with the goal of getting them to adhere rigidly to the White House line on Iraq. Heading up this group is Ari Fleischer, back in the day the chief salesman of the Iraq War.

Specifically, Walsh is the beneficiary of $144,955 in ad spend, while Kuhl has $187,235 directed at him. This is merely the first installment of an ad buy, presently at $5.8 million nationwide, that the group claims will eventually reach $15 million. The group is targeting 41 Members of Congress, 37 of which are republicans.

There's a delicious irony in having Bush loyalists - and both Kuhl and Walsh without question qualify for that dubious distinction - targeted with a massive ad buy to ensure that things stay that way. Pre-emption, it seems, is not out of style yet.

The beauty of it all is this: there will inevitably be a rift between republicans who hope to hold office after 2008 and the term-limited Bush White House. Now, Bush loyalists are spending $332,190 in New York to open that rift just a little bit wider. The post-Bush era is almost here; this campaign seeks to keep Kuhl and Walsh nicely mired in the present, at the expense of their future.

Hey, fine by me. See an ad after the flip.

So Bouldin was unhappy with the Brooklyn-centric front page this morning. Sorry...sometimes Brooklyn still is our best draw for readers. But to balance it out, here's some national coverage. Seems Republicans are going in hiding rather than facing America about the Iraq quagmire...sometimes literally! This comes from Americans Against Escalation in Iraq:

Members of Congress are Afraid to Face Their Constituents on Their Support for Endless War in Iraq

All Across the Country, Republicans who Supported Bush’s Failed Iraq policy are Running away from, Avoiding, and Even Locking Out Their Own Constituents

What is it with republicans and actual veterans? They cut their healthcare, let things like Walter Reed happen, start illegal wars, and when push comes to shove, point to yellow-ribbon bumper stickers to cover up their systematic abuse of America's military and the men and women in uniform.

From the 29th District comes another such tale of woe. It starts, predictably enough, with potshots taken by draft-dodger, Certified Wingnutâ„¢ and incumbent republican Congressman Randy Kuhl against Democratic challenger Eric Massa, a retired Navy Vet. In this specific case, Kuhl broke ground with an interesting description of military retirees.

To Kuhl, these aren't retired military personnel - they just don't have a job. This from a professional politician who has served in elected office for almost three decades.

Now, you'd think that even a Randy Kuhl would realize that this kind of slur is somewhat inappropriate. You'd think so, but you'd be wrong.