Hugh Shelton For Senate

Submitted by Yankees Fan on

I see that the DSCC has mentioned former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hugh Shelton as a possible opponent to Elizabeth Dole. Does anybody know anything about that? It is a tempting alternative after Virginia in 2006.

Comments

Shelton

Submitted by Blue South on

I know almost nothing about him. The only thing I know was that he did not like Clark, and gained some enemies in 04 because of that. I also know that he spent some time working for Edwards after the tiff with Clark in 2004. I know he has some involvement with NC State and the state, but I know nothing more than that.

It would take a heck of a lot of name id, and he would have to convince a lot of us of where he stood on the issues.

Not that Im opposed to a general running of course. Who wouldnt want that?

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

"Keep the Faith"

He has a Leadership Initiative at State

Submitted by hadrian on

They bring in speakers and do service projects and recognize students who show leadership of various stripes and that sort of thing, as well as a lot of fundraising for the University.

I would run against her

Submitted by parmea on

just to make her come to the state and campaign.

If he actually lives in this state, it is getting easier to vote for him. If he actually runs against dole, it will be much easier to vote for him. If he is in the same league as Shcwartzkopf, or close to that vein, he will be much easier to vote for.

I dont know a thing about him, but to be chairman of the JCS is saying something.

He should get the military vote, and this is the most military friendly state in the union. There should be alot of military (retired and otherwise) voting for him.

To me, the test would be for him to go to FT. Bragg, Euslis, La Juane and Cherry Point. If he is received well there, then he is going to be good for the state.

What will Burr do if a dem is elected? Burr would not know what to do and what to say. He would be a lame duck senator just waiting for his death knoll to ring.

Found this interview by him. nothing earth shattering. Not sure who was asking the questions. Seems to have held his own. I think he was in accord with the prevailing attitude of the day with regard to Saddam.

Another thing I like about him is this, read pg 11 - 14. Shelton was not affraid of Rumsfield.

Another point for Shelton second full para again he was looking out for the troops and if it meant bucking the system, he was prepaired to do just that.

concerns for aging military folks showing he cares and understands what promises even if eluded to promises mean. This shows his integrity.

The undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, Rudy De Leon, and the defense comptroller, William J. Lynn III, didn't endorse the plan but fought hard with White House budget officials to support at least a mail-order pharmacy benefit for the elderly. In the end, the Administration endorsed only two health care provisions: to end Tricare Prime co-payments for active duty families and to expand Tricare Prime Remote for families of active duty members living away from military bases. Retiree initiatives weren't considered a high priority.

Shelton didn't hide his disappointment. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee the day after the 2001 budget went to Congress, the JCS chairman said America has broken its promise of lifetime health care to generations of retirees. Said Shelton, "In their minds, we have broken that commitment, and I think we have."

These are just a few things I found about the guy.

Compared to liddy with her incharge of the red cross. He stacks up nicely.

Some awards and other things to hang on an "I love me wall" the man has:

General Shelton holds a master's degree from Auburn University, and has attended Harvard University, the Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He has been decorated for distinguished service by numerous military and civilian organizations in the United States and overseas.

Among his many military awards, General Shelton has received four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, and the Purple Heart. He has been decorated by 16 foreign governments. In 2001, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Highlights of his civilian awards include the Charlotte (NC) World Affairs Council World Citizen Award for 2002, North Carolina's highest Award for Public Service, the Eisenhower Award from the Business Executives for National Security, the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award, Intrepid Freedom Award, and recognition as National Father of the Year, among others.

For his exemplary service to his country, the 107th Congress bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal on General Shelton on September 19, 2002.

Compared to Liddy

Submitted by Linda on

Compared to liddy with her incharge of the red cross. He stacks up nicely

Compared to Liddy, almost anyone stacks up nicely. Thanks for doing the research, Parmea. Shelton is an interesting choice - but he wouldn't be my first choice. I'd rather see someone with legislative experience and proven elect-ability.
_____________
The Den
It's your democracy; use it.

issues

Submitted by Blue South on

To me this is about issues. The same reasons that make me a fan of Edwards, the same issues that make me a fan of guys like Sherrod Brown and Larry Kissell make me a huge fan of Brad Miller. I simply know nothing about Hugh Shelton. Where does he stand on trade? On poverty? What would he base his campaign on?

Brad has been consistent and correct on all of these issues, so until he says "No way" I am going to be spending every day pushing for him to run and pushing for him to win.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

"Keep the Faith"

fair enough

Submitted by Blue South on

but even Jim Webb had to sit down and talk about policy. And thank god he did, because we need his voice.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

"Keep the Faith"

I agree with Blue here.

Submitted by Robert P. on

When faced with no other choice, the lack of position, lack of record, becomes a strong running platform - look at Liddy herself. However, when you compare that to this:

When asked what year he introduced crucial legislation to expand protection for domestic violence victims, Miller tries to remember but can’t quite come up with it. (It was 1997.) “The reason Brad doesn’t remember every piece of legislation is because he’s always on the right side of the issue,” says Stella Adams, executive director of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Council. Adds Anne Winner of the North Carolina Coalition on Domestic Violence: “Miller was not only a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence, he was considered the ‘go-to’ legislator on a number of issues involving people who are particularly vulnerable in our society.”

This is the same thing that caused me to support Edwards and it is the same thing that will cause me to support Miller. Webb is great and all that, but if a progressive like Mark Warner had run, I would not have supported Webb. Now, I don't know Shelton's record, but I think it is time for the DSCC to stop searching and start promoting the candidate they seemingly have on the hook.

One man with courage makes a majority.
- Andrew Jackson

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

Better to have a record to run on than a blank slate.

Submitted by Linda on

We already know who Brad Miller is. We already know how he votes, how he represents his constituents. We don't have to wonder if he's got integrity. We don't have to wonder if he'll do a good job. We know that he will. He's really the one they've got to get behind and go with. There's already an army of people ready to work for him.

_____________
The Den
It's your democracy; use it.

I think Shelton could potentially be a great choice...

Submitted by hadrian on

as said though, due to the nature of having been a military leader, there's not a huge record of his stances on domestic policy. As close as it comes is the fact that he supported Erskine Bowles in his runs for Senate and Edwards for President. Not sure about the name-id, if you're part of the Wolfpack he's fairly well-known so I don't really have a good perception of what the general population of the State knows of him.

He's a native of Tarboro, a graduate of NC State, and has resided in Moorehead City-area since his retirement in 2001. He's generally very straight-forward when he speaks, and has a fairly thick eastern NC accent that is in no way put on (not to suggest any current Senators may do such a thing).

He's the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to come out of Special Forces (Green Berets) and has a fairly straightforward mainstream Democrat stance on International Relations and the Military (the military can accomplish a few things well but can't solve every problem, force should be used only when the goals of using it are clear, diplomacy is good, coalitions are good, the Geneva Convention is good) and sounds thoughtful as well as sophisticated when he speaks on such issues.

If you see him speak or talk to him you get the sense that when he talks about leadership and service it is nothing but genuine and he has the commanding presence you would expect of a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs without being intimidating.

I think there are some concerns about his age/health (though he's ten years younger than Dole), other than that the main obstacles would be his lack of a track-record on domestic policy. I think the primary could almost be considered as great if not the bigger obstacle than Dole.

Devil in the details

Submitted by Blue South on

Thanks for the details on him. Why do you think the primary would be a challenge? Or is it just that his background gives him enough crossover appeal that if he got the name id to get out of the primary that he would be fine in the general?

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

"Keep the Faith"

to which devil are you refering? :)

Submitted by hadrian on

Pretty much yes to the second question, his lack of positions on a few key issues will mean the left will be the hardest to convince. I wouldn't expect those positions to be too unpalatible but genuinely don't know. I think if he can convince the left, he should be able to convince enough of everybody else.

Hugh Shelton on OLF

Submitted by plain vanilla on

http://www.wdnweb.com/articles/2004/01/29/news/news01.txt

OLF opposition groups had gotten a shot in the arm this week when retired Army Gen. Hugh Shelton, an Edgecombe County native and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff voiced his opposition to the Navy's proposed Washington County site in an interview with Business North Carolina magazine.

http://www.wdnweb.com/articles/2004/02/12/news/news01.txt

another recent attention-getting development -- opposition to the Washington County OLF site by retired Gen. Hugh Shelton of North Carolina, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Shelton recently suggested the Global TransPark in Kinston as a superior alternative.

2004?

Submitted by Blue South on

Good stuff. Thanks for the link.

Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33

"Keep the Faith"

Hugh Shelton, interview Business North Carolina Magazine

Submitted by plain vanilla on

February, 2004

http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-north-carolina/751775-1.html

General delivery: a native son who chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff discusses the military's impact on North Carolina.
By Martin, Edward
Publication: Business North Carolina
Date: Feb 2004

excerpt OLF:

Not everybody desires the military's presence. What about the outlying landing field that the Navy plans to build in Washington County?

In the case of the OLF, in my opinion, we should look at all the alternative sites available to accomplish our training and readiness mission in a way that wouldn't impose such a hardship on a local community.

Speaking of Eastern North Carolina, what needs to be done to turn its economy around?

Well, the Global TransPark is a wonderful idea. Gov. Jim Hunt and I walked it together about three years ago. The thing that's going to be required to make it hum is demand--being able to attract industry into that area. Tremendous efforts have been exerted by Gov. Hunt and now Gov. Easley. But that's what it's going to take to turn it into another Charlotte or Atlanta. Well, maybe some had just as soon not turn it into another Charlotte, but that's what it's going to take.

Any military applications?

I suggested that the OLF might go there, instead of north of there in a game preserve--or close to it. That would bring maintenance requirements, field-operations requirements, suppliers and build on what is there. Distance isn't a problem. If the planes are flying down from Oceana [Naval Air Station] in Virginia Beach, for an F-18 or F-16 it's only a matter of minutes. Something like that is what it's going to take to fix Eastern North Carolina. With a little thought, there's a lot of things it could be.

Shelton for Senate

Submitted by ash2008 on

I agree, Shelton would be an outstanding choice, with his strong military credentials, he would put a block on the Republicans usual stance "Democratics are unpatriotic" He is a perfect candidate:

Strong Military Credentials
Strong Patriotic Spirit
Strong International Credentials
Foreign Policy Experience
Powerful Backers to Campaign with Him and Raise Funds (Bill Clinton)

I believe Shelton is the only candidate that could beat Dole.