Craig Cheslog

Thanks to Rep. Tom Allen's (D-Maine) campaign for posting this news clip through his Tom Allen for Senate in 2008 Facebook group.

As a former Mainer (one who is looking forward to his trip back at the end of the month) who is watching this race closely, the issue of Sen. Collins' failure to provide Congressional oversight over military contractors during her tenure as chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is a top priority issue.

Sen. Collins tries to pretend that oversight hearings are about little more than "partisan political theatre". Actually, Senator, such oversight is actually an important part of Congressional action when the legislative branch is actually living up to its Constitutional responsibilities to be a co-equal branch of our government.

As Harry S. Truman proved so well, oversight during wartime can save money, ensure our troops get better support, and save lives. As the United States Senate's own web site describes:

During the three years of Truman's chairmanship, the committee held hundreds of hearings, traveled thousands of miles to conduct field inspections, and saved millions of dollars in cost overruns. Earning nearly universal respect for his thoroughness and determination, Truman erased his earlier public image as an errand-runner for Kansas City politicos. Along the way, he developed working experience with business, labor, agriculture, and executive branch agencies that would serve him well in later years. In 1944, when Democratic party leaders sought a replacement for controversial Vice President Henry Wallace, they settled on Truman, thereby setting his course directly to the White House.

That's right: Truman went from Prendergast-machine tarnished backbencher to the Vice Presidency -- and ultimately the Presidency -- because of his diligent and patriotic efforts.

That would have been a far better model for Senator Collins to follow.

Probably unnecessary disclosure: Like Tom Allen, I am a graduate of Bowdoin College -- another reason I am watching this race. But ties to a former state of residence and an alma mater are not nearly as important to me as Allen's positions and the need to put this seat in the Democratic column.