Thanks for your response Mr. Carlin.

You are right. The debt crisis has been building for a long time. Last Summer's political wrangling however was the first time Congress debated raising the debt ceiling in such a way that led to our downgrade. I hope we are not too late to fix the new challenges associated with that downgrade. I do respect your decision not to vote for me.

Should you later decide to reconsider my candidacy please send me a note at Jason@VoteJasonHowell.com. You are the kind of politcally aware voter that political candidates should meet.

Thanks again,
Jason

Howard,

I don't really see anywhere where Mr. Howell said he just noticed the debt crisis. He was commenting about the clown show that Congress created last Summer with the debt ceiling approval. We were downgraded because of our politics, not our budget.

Look back at how many years Jim Moran has actually been in Congress. Think about that time frame for a second and ask yourself, what has he done for you lately? Or more importantly, what has he done for our district?

I am disgusted with where our country is and what politicians have done (or not done) to make this mess worse. Party politics is dragging this country down and I'm all for an Independent that won't cozy up to the deep-pocketed corporations and actually represent individuals in his/her district.

Thanks.

Wow, Mr. Carlin! It is this kind of political fixation that really makes me realize that we need some fresh thinking in Congress...and I am from the older generation. Don't be so quick to "disqualify" people - especially for something you misread. Read Mr. Howell's comments again...slowly this time.

www.votejasonhowell.com

Mr. Carlin, the last time we had a year over year decline in our debt was 1957 during the Eisenhower administration. Anyone who says we had a surplus in the 1990's is either lying, not aware of basic facts or callously disregarding the need to keep our promise of making Social Security sustainable. We need to keep our promise.

Will Rogers said, "We're all ignorant, just in different ways." We need to clarify a common misperception created by politicians repeatedly and intentionally lying.

As our nation's largest public pension fund, Social Security must be made solvent. Moran has said repeatedly we had budget surpluses in the 1990's. He lies. We neither created cash reserves nor reduced our debt.

Our debt has increased by over $12 trillion during Moran's time on Capitol Hill. Yet, says he would change nothing. In fact, to paraphrase him for a family audience, Moran says if he is ever given chairmanship of a subcommittee he will pork the heck out of legislation.

I have also wondered about that. Patch also would close threads on here that were critical of Will Radle. It is one of the reasons I tend to avoid this site now. Patch presents itself as a way to participate in what's going on in your community and then closes threads when the community is participating.

Check the author on most of those articles... Will Radle.

You, too, can write for Patch.

Hi All,
Thank you for your comments. We have invited all of our elected officials, as well as those intending to run for office, to blog on Patch. In addition, any of our readers can blog on Patch sites.
Thanks!
Abby (Editor, Ballston Patch)

Which one of my public policy goals is not "real Democratic"? Expanding access to higher education, helping children fulfill their potential, providing universal quality health care with embedded choice, competition, and national portability while positioning patients and doctors as the central relationship in medicine, preventing future government shutdowns, increasing household incomes all seem real Democratic to me.

Also, your indication that only "real Democrats" should have coverage is peculiar. Is that commentary reflective of how you treat guests on your cable access show?

Your unfounded assertions about my efforts to help move our nation forward are baseless. I have over 1,700 signatures from registered voters in my district. They come from important conversations with my neighbors about effective solutions to serious challenges. You are not in our district.

I stepped aside to support another Democrat who assured me he had nearly 2,000 signatures, shared my concerns and generally supported my proposed solutions. I am a team player.

Is that California company your only source of information? They do not ensure the validity or truth of search results. Take it with a grain of salt.

Wonder why you support an icon of insularity, arrogance and corruption whom former Speaker Pelosi says is an embarrassment, The Washington Post says is unfit for public office and three women have divorced.