Multiple sources in Western New York politics have confirmed that there is a strong possibility that Cong. Tom Reynolds (R–Erie) will not run for a sixth term next year, opening up a race for the seat by State Sen. George Maziarz (R–Niagara), thus placing Maziarz’ seat up for grabs.

There have been too many retirements already, but I’d welcome this one.  If Reynolds had dealt with the Foley scandal when he heard about it, we might still have the House.  We’ll have a better chance of taking it back in the near future if we can rid ourselves of those who ignore scandal rather than those who deal with it.

As for the effects on New York State, well, that’s another story.  When I was working in Washington about six years ago, a knowledgable colleague said of New York, “We’ll never lose the Senate because we write the rules.”  Suffice it to say that the Democrats can’t do nearly as much damage to the GOP as Republicans can, and the once safe State Senate could well fall as a result of Republican fiscal irresponsibility.

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said Friday that a 20-year-old soldier serving in Iraq often has a better understanding of national security than a veteran lawmaker in Congress.

Thompson spoke to about 100 supporters in Florida, where recent polls show the actor-politician in single digits, trailing his top rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney and in a close race with John McCain and Mike Huckabee. Thompson met privately with about 15-20 family members of deployed soldiers and sailors from the town populated by military retirees and home to Pensacola Naval Air Station.

“It always is amazing to me that the average 20-year-old today serving in Iraq has a better understanding often times of our national security and what it takes than a 20-year veteran of Capitol Hill who is playing politics,” Thompson said.

The Boston Globe

Thompson’s assertion sounds like common sense to me. These 20 year olds are in the war zone 24/7 every single day they are deployed. They see firsthand the trials and tribulations of war, be it in Iraq or Afghanistan or any other conflict we may see ourselves in. Their experiences lend them a lot a more credence in knowing what is right or wrong in the War on Terror than some stuffed shirts in Washington on either side of the war argument who twist and spin information in order to support their biased opinions in front of the television cameras.  It’s good to see Fred recognizes this.