The Draft Pace Movement Has Gone International

Gen Pace made the Telegraph's (UK) list of the 100 most influential conservatives in the U.S. Word of this movement has apparently reached our friends across the pond. Also, thanks to Norman Leahy at Bacon's Rebellion for his thoughtful piece on the 2008 U.S. Senate race. Of a potential Pace candidacy, Leahy states:

...if he [Pace] should decide to answer this call, it would make for one of the more interesting, and one hopes, informative primary campaigns Virginia has seen in some time. It would also provide Republicans with the opportunity to present a real choice to voters in the general election.

Mr. Leahy, I couldn't agree with you more.

Coverage in Leftist Blogs

A brief survey of the more left-leaning blogs (Raising Kaine and Think Progress among others) demonstrates the growing coverage of the movement on both sides of the spectrum. The overall tone in many of these blogs is hateful and all-around unproductive. General Pace is a solutions-oriented leader. While we should be focused on gathering support and motivating the base, we should not be afraid to take on this hateful rhetoric. General Pace served almost 40 years of his life in the Corps so that we can have this dialogue. Let's make him proud.

Townhall.com Covers Draft Pace Movement

GOP campaign consultant Matt Lewis mentioned the Draft Pace movement on Townhall.com. The Draft Pace movement is reaching out to senior GOP leadership in Virginia about the prospects of a Pace candidacy. In the meantime, we need to keep up the intensity. More to follow.

As an Honorably discharged United States Marine who served in Vietnam with C Co 1/3 3rd Marine Div 68-69, I highly support Gen Pace to run for the Senate.

It's the enthusiasm of folks like John O'Brien, USMC (ret.), that are the lifeblood of this movement. We always hear things like, "This is the most important election of your life." The fact of the matter is that all elections are important, but in 2008 Virginians will decide who will succeed John Warner in the United States Senate. General Pace is a leader. We need more leaders in Washington and less politicians. God-fearing, Small Government, Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, Pro-Military Virginians need a candidate who can beat Mark Warner. General Pace is the man for the job.

Word of this movement is spreading like wildfire. Thanks to all who have spread the word. Your work is paying off. A special thanks to Extreme Mortman, Scott's Morning Brew and Beth at Blue Star Chronicles for their coverage of this movement.

The Growing Buzz Over Pete Pace

We've been getting e-mails from folks all over the U.S. expressing their support for Gen Pace. Virginia Republicans in particular have been ecstatic about the prospects of a Pace candidacy. The movement to Draft Gen Pace is gaining momentum and you can help.

Said one supporter, "Virginia needs General Pace. He has served his country bravely for the last four decades, but we need him now more than ever. He is the type of advocate Virginia needs. I only hope General Pace knows how much Virginians need him."

We need to let Gen Pace know how much Virginia needs him.

Here are three simple things you can do to help:

• Join the Facebook Group and invite five friends to join
  
• Post the this blog's URL on two other blogs
• Tell five friends about the Draft General Pace movement

Why Pete Pace Makes Sense for Virginia

Gen. Pete Pace is the man who can stop a disturbing trend in Virginia politics...

2001: Democrat Mark Warner is elected Governor
2005: Democrat Tim Kaine is elected Governor
2006: Democrat Jim Webb is elected Senator
2008: ...

Pete Pace is the man we must turn to to ensure that John Warner's seat stays in Republican hands in 2008. Out of all the potential candidates on the GOP side, Pete Pace would be the strongest candidate against Mark Warner, who casts himself as a conservative Democrat. Moderate Republican candidates will not be able to rally the base. As some are quick to forget, there is more to Virginia than NoVa. NoVa elites who think moderate Republicans represent Republicans throughout the Commonwealth are misinformed. Draft Pete Pace.

Red State, NRO Cover the Draft General Pace Movement

The Draft General Pace movement is heating up in a big way. You can read the Red State coverage here. There is widespread interest in a Pace candidacy throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The fact of the matter is that Gen Pace offers voters a true conservative choice. Pace is a leader. What's more, he can beat Mark Warner in November 2008. Of the movement, NRO's The Corner reports: "A draft movement gains steam."

We need to ensure that membership in the Draft General Pace Facebook Group continues grow. Please spread the word. The website will go live soon. More to follow.

General Pace Responds to Anti-War Protesters During Farewell Speech

When I watched General Pace deliver his final farewell speech this week, I couldn't help but picture him speaking in the chamber of the US Senate. He is a natural. I was particularly impressed with his response to the anti-war protesters that were demonstrating outside of his departure ceremony. See a short exerpt below. America needs this man of honor to heed the call to service once more. Help us draft Gen. Pace for the US Senate!

"Our democracy is strengthened by divergent views and dialogue about those views when that dialogue is conducted in a civil manner, in a gentlemanly way, in a way that allows people to argue on the merits of what they believe and to understand that what they believe is part of the answer and if they have the willingness to cooperate to find the right answer for our country. And what worries me is that in some instances right now we have individuals who are more interested in making somebody else look bad than they are in finding the right solution. They are more interested in letting their personal venom come forward instead of talking about how do we get from where we are to where we need to be....But I want them to understand -- I just want everyone to understand that this dialogue is not about can we vote our way out of a war. We have an enemy who has declared war on us. We are in a war. They want to stop us from living the way we want to live our lives. So the dialogue is not about are we in a war, but how and where and when to best fight that war to preserve our freedom and to preserve our way of life and to do so with the least damage to our own society and the least damage to those we're fighting against so we can -- we can put the pieces back together on the end of this.”

A Grassroots Effort to Draft General Pace for US Senate

In 1952, the Draft Eisenhower movement persuaded another great American Patriot to run for elected office. This grassroots movement eventually led to the nomination and election of Dwight D. Eisenhower. This grassroots movement has one goal: to recruit Gen Peter Pace to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by John Warner in Virginia.

Marcus Aurelius: Won't you accept this great honor that I have offered you?
Maximus: With all my heart, no.
Marcus Aurelius: Maximus, that is why it must be you.

This quote is from the movie Gladiator, the 2000 film starring Russell Crowe. The point is that career politicians dominate Washington. Often times, the people the U.S. really needs to run for elected office choose not to seek it. Washington is filled with career politicians like Ted Kennedy and Joe Biden. Gen. Pace is a man of service, honor and integrity. He is exactly what Virginia and the U.S. need in the Senate. As the recent National Review Online op-ed noted, “Virginia Republicans should tell this devoted patriot that he is not done, and encourage him to take on another mission.” It seems unlikely that Gen Pace would naturally gravitate toward the dirty profession that is American politics; however, grassroots support for a Gen Pace candidacy for U.S. Senate is growing—fast.

Please follow the link to join the Draft General Pace Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6215223244