South Florida Congressman Allen West branded the runaway state senators of Wisconsin a bunch of "cowards," comparable to Army deserters."What kind of representative democracy have we become when elected officials run from executing their prescribed duties?" West said in a weekly newsletter to constituents and fans that begins, "Dear Patriot."
"In the military we have General Order number one: `I shall not leave my appointed place of duty or post until properly relieved,'" said West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "If a leader takes off, we call it `desertion.' What manner of person runs and hides instead of making a stand, making a decision?"
The blunt-spoken Republican from Plantation, a favorite of the tea party movement, sees the standoff in Wisconsin as part of a wider ideological battle.
We love you, Congressman West.