Joel Hefley to Retire?

Joel Hefley will have a serious challenger this year: Jay Fawcett, Air Force veteran, family man, and long-time Colorado Springs resident.

Joel Hefley has long-taken this seat for granted. He hasn't anounced whether he'll run again, but you can bet Karl Rove doesn't want to worry about this seat. But when you get complacent in a job, do you keep doing the best job you can? Do you worry as much about your constituents? Not if you're Joel Hefley.

Hefley was kicked off the ethics committee after actually doing his job and citing Tom DeLay for his obvious ethics violations. Tom didn't appreciate that. Is this the kind of respect a 20-year congressman deserves from his party? I don't think so.

Jay will demand more from his party.

Hefley has said almost nothing about the lack of proper body armor and armored HUMMVEEs for our troops. Our men and women are getting killed over the failures of our Pentagon planners. Hefley supposedly represents Fort Carson, where many of our friends and neighbors serve our country. Does he care that these people are getting killed and blown to bits in Iraq? Why is Hefley even on the Armed Services committed if he won't make a peep about the safety of our soldiers?

Jay will demand more from the Pentagon.

Oh, and I'll never forget this beauty from Joel: a vote against a resolution commemorating the life and legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt - arguably our greatest president ever. Joel was one of six brave Republicans who are blinded to FDR's greatness. Was this the kind of partisan simple-mindedness the citizens in CD-5 voted Joel Hefley into office for?

Give Jay some of that mother's milk of politics. We need to be ready no matter what Hefley decides to do. Now is the time to take this seat back. Let's send Joel Hefley to a well-deserved retirement. Whether he wants it or not.

Jaw Fawcett is the one to do it.