By FNC Anchor Trace Gallagher

In the hustle bustle of daily life, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how blessed we are as Americans.We are free to say what WE want, do as WE  please, believe as WE choose. But the only reason we are allowed to live our lives freely is because someone chose to freely give up their life.  Not because they didn’t want to live, but because they wanted their children and ours to live better.  For two hundred plus years they have ridden away, sailed away and flown away. Leaving behind sons, daughters, wives and husbands. When they didn’t come home their families were never the same, and when they did come home their families were never the same.  So remember that Veteran’s day should be as important for those of us who did not serve, as for those who did.  Because it gives us a chance to say thank you.

Happy Veterans Day and thank you.

By FNC Reporter Shannon Bream

He was an 18 year old looking for purpose when Ed DePuy decided to join the United States Marine Corps back in 1964.  It was a time when many young men faced the reality of either joining the military or being drafted.  My father opted to go voluntarily and says becoming a Marine was a “life-changing experience” that had a dramatic impact on him.  After boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina, he was trained on the AMTRAK – an amphibious assault tractor – that transports troops ashore from ships.  For six years my father remained in the reserves and reported once a month to find out whether he’d be deployed to Vietnam, as the War there intensified.  He remembers each time there would be lawyers present to help soldiers draft their last wills and testaments, and medical staff on hand to give shots to those selected to head overseas.  While he was never tapped to go to the frontlines, I have no doubt my dad would have gone without hesitation.   He wrapped up his service in the Marine Corp in December 1970, just weeks before I was born.  Today, on Veterans Day I asked him to sum it up and he said, “I’m really proud I served my country.”

My other favorite veteran happens to be my stepfather, Jasper Norris.  He’s a United States Navy man who joined up back in 1956.  He had classmates who had served in the Korean War and says he was impressed when they returned with their sharp uniforms and interesting tales.  The Navy gave my stepdad the chance to serve on aircraft carriers around the world, and to train for his future profession owning a laboratory where dentures and all manner of dental prosthetics are made.  During his time in the Navy, my stepdad served as a boat coxswain and eventually a medic.  He told me, “The Navy provides young men and women the perfect way to get an education and to make something of their lives.”  My stepdad talks about his time in service with real affection for the opportunities and discipline it gave him.   He finished his service in 1961, and despite the sometimes tough challenges, his overall memory is, “I really enjoyed it.”

I’m proud I grew up in a family where military service is the norm.  In fact, my brother Eddy now services as an active duty Navy pilot.  I’ll refer to him as my favorite FUTURE Veteran.  What I’ve learned from these three men is that there is great honor in serving our country.  It takes equal parts bravery and selflessness.  Each time I pass the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C., I remember that the names of men my dad and stepdad knew and served with are inscribed there.  To all our Veterans who are still with us, whether they saw combat or worked endlessly to support those who did, I say THANK YOU.

by FNC Reporter Molly Line

Voters in upstate New York hit the polls today in the wake of whirlwind developments shaking up the race for the 23rd Congressional district’s open seat.
Two very different candidates are left standing in this battle- Democrat Bill Owens and the Conservative Party Candidate Doug Hoffman.

Republican Dede Scozzafava pulled out and the repercussions are still echoing.
Democrat Bill Owens picked up her endorsement and garnered last minute backing from organized labor- a vote was split before Scozzafava, who’s husband is a union leader, pulled from the contest.

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, has grassroots support that helped him climb up in the polls.

Hoffman is a pro-life fiscal conservative who promises to cut taxes and reduce government spending. His campaign has the backing of Tea Party activists and prominent conservatives, like Fred Thompson and Sarah Palin.

The Republican National Committee first endorsed Scozzafava but, were quick to throw their backing to Hoffman when she left the race- the RNC and the National Republican Congressional Committee have made 140,000 calls on Hoffman’s behalf since Sunday.

Hitting the polls early this morning, Owens says voters have a clear choice.

“We can go backward to the Bush agenda which includes tax cuts for the very wealthy, privatization of social security and tax credits for companies that send jobs overseas, the recession, a 4.9 trillion dollar addition to the deficit, or they can move forward with us,” Owens said.

Doug Hoffman says he’s fighting for the heart and soul of the Republican Party, backed by grassroots support.

Republican Scozzafava freed her supporters but, it’s unclear where her votes will go now.
As a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage candidate with moderate views on tax issues she appealed to some Democrats and Independent voters who could peal away towards the Owens camp, however, the majority of her voters identified with the GOP and their support could benefit Hoffman who now has the backing of national party leaders.

The unusual battle has sparked much debate over whether the results are evidence of a rift in the GOP or just a anomaly resulting from unique circumstances that allowed local republican leaders to hand-pick a nominee, rather than voters.

House Minority Leader John Boehner weighed in today saying political rebellion among conservatives is bigger than most people imagine.

“They don’t have a primary in New York. If they had a primary this would have been resolved weeks ago but, what has happened over the last two or three weeks, basically has been the republican primary,” Boehner said.

It’s election day in New Jersey, and though the sun is shining – not much is clear.  The polls put the match up between incumbent Democrat Governor Jon Corzine and his Republican challenger Chris Christie at a dead heat.  That’s a significant shift from this time last year when President Obama carried the Garden State by a 15 point margin.  Obama has invested time in this race, trying to buoy Corzine going into the homestretch, but any boost has yet to surface in the polls.  After voting today, Corzine sounded optimistic.  “I feel like we’ve got a lot of momentum coming from behind,” Corzine continued, “the only poll that counts is the one that’s going on right now between 6 and 8.”

The Christie camp remains upbeat as well, encouraged by what it sees as a swing away from Corzine and toward Christie in recent polling data.  The candidate is confidently predicting victory.  “I believe the Republican party will be much stronger tomorrow because we will have a Republican governor of New Jersey.”  To make that a reality Christie will have to do what no Republican has been able to accomplish since 1993 – unseating an incumbent Democratic governor.  Christie says he welcomes the challenge, and sees a win tonight as just a beginning.   Christie commented today, “It’s also going to place a great deal of responsibility on our party then to govern.”

Still in the mix, though not as a top contender, is Independent Chris Daggett.  What happens with his supporters today could swing the race in one direction or another.  “Unaffiliateds” make up the state’s largest pool of registered voters at 2.4 million.  It’s all the unknowns that will make the New Jersey gubernatorial race such an interesting race to watch when the polls close at 8:00pm EST.

By FNC Reporter Shannon Bream

The newest Quinnipiac poll out Monday shows the New Jersey gubernatorial race continues to be too close to call.  The latest results show Republican challenger Chris Christie at 42 percent, with the Democratic incumbent ,Governor Jon Corzine, at 40 percent.  Third-party candidate Chris Daggett continues to poll around 12 percent, and while he isn’t a top contender he could have great impact on the two men who are.  In that same Quinnipiac poll Daggett supporters were pushed to select a second choice.  Thirty-nine percent would go to Corzine, while just 29 percent would shift to Christie.  The Daggett factor could have significant impact tomorrow, though Corzine believes Daggett’s entry into the race has been positive.  “I think Mr. Daggett did everybody a favor by forcing my opponent to try to say something specific, which he hasn’t said in 11 months,” Corzine remarked in reference to the ads Christie has been running against Daggett in recent weeks.

Corzine is coming off a weekend that attracted thousands to events headlined by President Obama.  The top Democrat urged Corzine supporters to recognize that the governor has managed many difficulties during his term.  “Change is hard,” the president warned, “Corzine didn’t promise it was going to be easy -  he promised he would wake up every single day thinking about you.”

At his events, Corzine also linked Christie to controversial Congressman Joe Wilson, the Republican who shouted “you lie” during President Obama’s health care reform address to Congress.  Corzine said the two were campaigning together, something the Christie campaign flatly denied.  Though Wilson was in New Jersey at an unrelated event, there was no connection between Christie’s camp and the Wilson meeting.

Christie remains positive on his final day of campaigning, as he travels across the state on a bus tour.  He’s stopping to thank supporters and also trying to sway last minute undecideds, the group that could make all the difference on Tuesday.  While Corzine has accused him of failing to offer specific solutions, Christie says it’s Corzine’s record that should be the biggest concern for voters.  “Jon Corzine stood in front of the people of New Jersey and made a bunch of promises and he put his hand over his heart and said, ‘Citizens of New Jersey, hold me accountable,’” Christie continued, “Well November 3rd is accountability day, let’s pick him up and throw him out!”

Political analyst Larry Sabato says that would be a big loss for the administration.  “If Corzine loses that, of course, is a major prob for the WH because they’ve picked the New Jersey’s governor’s race as the one President Obama can affect.”  The dozens of supporters who waited in the cold drizzle to cheer Christie outside the Monmouth Country Republican Headquarters Monday seem determined to make that happen.