Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Can a Female Ex-Fighter Pilot Take the Giffords District for the GOP?

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    COMMENTARY | The special election for Arizona's 8th Congressional District just got interesting with the entrance of retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally into the race on the Republican side, according to the Tucson Sentinel.

    The Arizona 8th was until recently represented by Gabrielle Giffords, who was forced to retire a year after being shot in the head at a public congressional event. Giffords is devoting her time to her rehabilitation.

    McSally's life story, as described by Gateway Pundit, is nothing short of impressive. She was the first American woman to fly a fighter jet in combat. She was the first American woman to command an Air Force squadron in combat. In 2002, she successfully sued the Defense Department to prevent it from forcing female service members to wear the Muslim Abya and headscarf while off base in Saudi Arabia.

    She is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and holds a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. She was a legislative fellow in 1995. She has taught military and foreign affairs to world leaders at the George Marshall Center in Germany.

    To top it off, McSally is reliably conservative on the issues.

    In other words, McSally is just the sort of person one would want in public service. One can imagine Congress being just the first stop in a modern day cursus honorum that could lead one can only imagine where.

    McSally still has to win the special primary April 17, according to the Arizona Secretary of State. Then she has to beat the Democratic nominee on June 12. Almost immediately, if she wins, she would have to win a full term in the November election.

    Her probable Democratic candidate is Ron Barber, according to the Hill. Barber was a staff aide for Giffords and was wounded in the same incident she was. He is supported by both Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly.

    By every measure, except for sentiment, McSally is much more qualified to occupy a seat in Congress than is Barber. It will be interesting to see how the voters of the Arizona 8th regard the question.

     

    25 comments

    • Robert  •  Mobile, Alabama  •  3 mths ago
      OMG, will wonders never cease...Yahoo allowed a POSITIVE politically conservative article
      • Buffalo1 3 mths ago
        I was also mildly, but pleasantly, shocked.
    • tim  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  3 mths ago
      Interesting race in AZ. . . one a leader with incredible credentials and one a former aide to a congresswoman. Now we get to watch the dem's political machine get behind the obvious sympathy play. The former congresswoman's water carrier. The GOP candidate led the way for female pilots and would fly in actual combat, then went on to higher command. Let's see if the voters can pick a leader or a political water boy.
      • Robert 3 mths ago
        Great reply Tim !!!
      • Fred 3 mths ago
        Based on history, I've not been too impressed with former fighter pilots,e.g., John McCain and "Duke" Cunningham, but I'll try to keep an open mind when I mark my ballot.
    • pit bulls bite  •  3 mths ago
      Col.McSally sounds more worthy to have a ship named for her than giffords...........
    • DavyCrockett  •  3 mths ago
      In other words, just the kind of person Whittington will shill for. Can this clown be any more shallow?
    • David Baker  •  Sacramento, California  •  3 mths ago
      "Combat" for the U.S. Military is loosely defined as overwhelming force confronting disorganized, ill equipped and poorly trained enemies. Fighters, by their design, are air superiority weapons. They have controls that allow the crews to maneuver these agile aircraft in ariel dogfights against trained and determined combatants in similarly capable machines. Just cruising into a country that does not fire SAM Missiles, Stingers, or even small arms at you does not qualify as a "Combat Sortie". U.S. forces vastly outnumber enemy forces, and their weapons are highly accurate, and potently explosive. In any other dictionary of military terms, this would be called a 'Rout'
      • Hobson Victim 3 mths ago
        A pussyboy like you would #$%$ yourself if you were even in country much less shot at. Go eat your free CA Gov cheese you back bencher. The Lady Col will continue to due your part. Wimp loser. LOL~!!!!
      • Michael 3 mths ago
        Another California Coward tree hugger checks in. Why don't you just go back to puffin your boyfriends pickle.
      • JOHN 3 mths ago
        Hey David, you sound like someone who never served in the military. Another coward that tries to justify his failure to man up and instead attacks the military because he thinks it will make him feel better about himself

        USMC
        Retired
    • GARY D  •  Doylestown, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Hey Crunch, if you think for a minute that flying an A10 and engaging the enemy is not 'fighting' i urge you to be on the receiving end of her gun run. then you'll see first hand she's "NOT a fighter pilot", jeese what dip#$#t comment you made.
    • Eric  •  3 mths ago
      Sounds like she will be able to work with the governor to get Obuma to protect our border too.
    • The Hut sux  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      Being a pilot does not make you more qualified for public service. Look at GW Bush.
      • george 3 mths ago
        he seemed to avoid doing service in the service but look who his daddy was and you can see the string of political favors as long as Texas north to south east to west
      • Robert 3 mths ago
        The military may not have help Presidents' Bush but it certainly didnt hurt...What has been obamas claim to fame LOL a community organizer !!!
    • crunch  •  Mililani Town, Hawaii  •  3 mths ago
      story i read is that she flew A-10s-that is an attack airplane and not a fighter-she is NO fighter pilot..there is a difference...this is so typical of uninformed civilians and the press in general...hope a conservative kicks her butt...
      • chris j 3 mths ago
        Well hell, Crunch...I guess the 355th Fighter Wing, which flies A-10s, will have to change its name!
      • crunch 3 mths ago
        the woman ain't a fighter pilot Chris...period...got it??
      • Robert 3 mths ago
        She did not fly a super sonic fighter but the A 10 can sustain and do a lot of damage when it comes to close ground support. She had to be a pretty good pilot to fly one of those and it had a mean nose mounted Gatling gun to destroy targets with.
    • Martin  •  Burbank, California  •  3 mths ago
      I wonder if the good Col is going to turn out like Randell "The Duke" Cunningham Hell of a fighter pilot even won the Navy Cross in Viet Nam for becoming an "ACE" then became the GOP poster boy for what not to do in congress The Duke forgot his roots and ended up in jail
    • ELKE  •  3 mths ago
      The person who said the sympathy for the jew is over, you a disgusting human being of this earth may god coming after you. You could never hold a candle next to this womens place.
    • Eric  •  3 mths ago
      But you must understand Whittington is a bought and paid for shill, he has zero credibility except with the simple minded that believe half the crop he writes.
    • barrymtn  •  Austin, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      A military career does not make someone more qualified for office than someone else. The extremist views of todays republicans should make anyone wary of voting for them. Hopefully the people of this district will remember the quality of service Rep Gifford gave the district when voting.
    • John  •  Wayne, New Jersey  •  3 mths ago
      Listen, I am sure she is a good pilot and all, much better than i could do or ever could learn to do, but how many men that were more qualified than her to be a fighter pilot were passed over in order for female quota's and what have you to be met?
    • Vet 60-64  •  3 mths ago
      Common sense will vote this woman into office UNLESS the Obama sheeple herds have their way with the illegals voting situation they endorse...
    • rog  •  Huntsville, Alabama  •  3 mths ago
      At least she is not like all the "BRAIN DAMAGED" democrats
    • Bob  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      Wow. Only GOP are dissin' her! Hahaha!
    • Allen H  •  Orange, California  •  3 mths ago
      This is a fluff piece for McSally. Her military career and education does not qualify her for leadership. Supporting the radical GOP agenda disqualifies her.
    • paintmonkey61  •  Moscow, Idaho  •  3 mths ago
      another piece of pro GOP rubbish posing as "news" on yahoo..why dont they just sell themselves to rupert murdoch and get it over with fer chrsts sake?
    • Justin Cayse  •  3 mths ago
      Vote for Martha McMunchy! :)
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
    Loading...
    • The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral

      CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station opened the hatch and floated inside a Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon capsule on Saturday, the first privately owned spaceship to reach the orbital outpost, NASA said. Running ahead of schedule, station commander Oleg Kononenko …

    • WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most of the cadets who graduated on Saturday from West Point were in elementary school when hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and enrolled in the U.S. military academy with wars raging in Iraq and Afghanistan. Vice President Joe Biden lauded the brave choices …

    • NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Many folks may fret themselves into a frenzy over the November U.S. elections and whether the world will come to an end on December 21, but for about 1,500 people gathered in New Orleans for the United Astrologers Conference, all will be revealed this week. "Some of the world's top astrologers are …

    • Hurricane Bud appoaches landfall in Mexico

      MANZANILLO, Mexico (Reuters) - The remnants of the first hurricane of the 2012 season, Bud, dumped heavy rain along Mexico's coast early on Saturday but caused little damage before it turned back into the Pacific. The storm, which on Friday had threatened to hit land with hurricane-force winds, lost strength as it neared …

    • MIAMI (Reuters) - Subtropical Storm Beryl churned toward the U.S. southeast coast on Saturday, threatening heavy rains and dangerous surf on Sunday to northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Beryl was centered about 230 miles east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, …

     
    Add your ideas and help make it happen. Join the conversation.
    Should Bill and Donna take on more risk to boost their business?
    How Josh's comment on a Remake America video laid the groundwork for something bigger.