Holiday Greetings

Stolen from an email from Bearing Drift. Hilarious, but a sad example of what we’ve become as a country that something like this even need be written.

To all my Democrat Friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To my Republican Friends: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As I said on Facebook yesterday, I’m taking a break from most things political through the new year. My family and I wish you a merry Christmas-in keeping with the caveats above. See you in ‘10!

-Coby W. Dillard

Statement on President Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy

Tonight, President Obama has outlined his strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

I believe the President’s strategy outlines the best way forward to success in our efforts there. President Obama is right; the security of our nation and interests demand an escalation of our efforts to assist the Afghan government in securing their country and people.

President Obama has committed to providing the resources-both equipment and personnel-that GEN McChrystal and his subordinates have asked for, and has resisted the winds of political opinion that suggest a premature withdrawal is in order.

I applaud and support the president’s decision as outlined this evening, and urge Congress not to attempt to use our service members as a tool to advance their own partisan agendas.

Keeping Up with Me

…because it doesn’t seem like I’ll have as much time to blog as I’d like (though some of my writings that aren’t totally campaign related will still be posted here as well).

To keep up with my exploratory efforts, you can follow me on Twitter (@DillardExp), or visit our ever-evolving site, dillardexploratory.ning.com, which is where I’ll be doing most of my writing. If you’d like to help with the effort or are part of the media, our general email is info@dillardexploratory.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you…and if you’re around the district, meeting you!

-Coby W. Dillard

Announcement of Dillard ‘10 Exploratory Committee

I’m happy to announce that I have formed an exploratory committee to begin work on a congressional run in 2010 in Virginia’s 3rd congressional district. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be talking with both community and political leaders in the district to get the ground-level truth on their problems and whether they feel their concerns are adequately addressed by their current representative. Next week, we’ll launch our social interaction site-dillardexploratory.ning.com-where people will be able to keep up with our work and express their thoughts on the direction and future of their district.

I take on this task with full knowledge of the electoral history of the 3rd district. The last Republican to run for this seat in 2004 lost by nearly a 2 to 1 margin. I have no illusions that a run for this seat will be an uphill battle and, ultimately, may not be successful. I believe, though, that the people of this district-from my childhood home of Richmond to Hampton Roads, where I now live-deserve a voice in Washington that works to serve all their interests and sometimes tells them the hard truths, rather than one who is no more than a reliable party-line vote. For them, I seek to be that voice.

-Coby W. Dillard

For Veterans’ Day

The call to serve.

It has no sound, yet I have heard it in the whispered retelling of honorable sacrifices made by those who have served before me.

The call to serve has no form, yet I have clearly seen it,
In the eyes of the men and women infinitely more courageous and more driven than most.

The call to serve has no weight, yet I have held it in my hands.
I will commit to carry it close to my heart, until my country is safe,and the anguish of those less fortunate has been soothed.

The call to serve, is at once invisible and always present, and for those who choose to answer the call, for their country, for their fellow man, for themselves,
It is the most powerful force on earth.

Happy Veterans’ Day to those, past and present, who answered the call.

-Coby W. Dillard