Run, Powers, Run!

Run, Powers, Run!

You really couldn’t script this race any better: Jon Powers is a 29-year-old Iraq Veteran and substitute teacher who founded a nonprofit to serve Iraqi orphans. He’s running to fill the just-vacated seat of Tom Reynolds (R-New York) — who, among the many blushes of his career, voted for the Iraq War, voted against a series of 9/11 Commission recommendations to improve homeland security, and for years turned a blind eye to Mark Foley’s proclivity for underage pages.

Powers faces a likely opponent in the self-financed millionaire, Jack Davis, who dismisses Powers’ chances accordingly: “He’s 29 years old, and he’s never had a real job.” (Because serving in Iraq and working as a substitute teacher don’t count.)

With Reynolds’ retirement, the tally of Republicans who have declined this year to run for reelection has hit 29.

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You really couldn’t script this race any better: Jon Powers is a 29-year-old Iraq Veteran and substitute teacher who founded a nonprofit to serve Iraqi orphans. He’s running to fill the just-vacated seat of Tom Reynolds (R-New York) — who, among the many blushes of his career, voted for the Iraq War, voted against a series of 9/11 Commission recommendations to improve homeland security, and for years turned a blind eye to Mark Foley’s proclivity for underage pages.

Powers faces a likely opponent in the self-financed millionaire, Jack Davis, who dismisses Powers’ chances accordingly: “He’s 29 years old, and he’s never had a real job.” (Because serving in Iraq and working as a substitute teacher don’t count.)

With Reynolds’ retirement, the tally of Republicans who have declined this year to run for reelection has hit 29.

Run, Powers, run!

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Onwards,

Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

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