Dear Congressperson:
It is time to take down whoever has to go in our government. Those that have lied and manipulated us into war and loss of civil liberties. Those who have destroyed lives, careers, and our reputation as a country. I no longer want the word `American’ to be associated with lies, torture, and pointless harm. With using weapons such as depleted uranium and phosphorus. With eavesdropping and wiretapping and nasty behavior. We have never been a perfect country, but I know that we are better than this.
As with any bully, you have to stand up to make them stand down. Whether it is Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld or Bush — I know the stakes are higher than they were in the schoolyard–but the idea is the same. However, I believe R.W. Emerson when he said:
“When a resolute fellow steps up to the great bully and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.”
The more they pressure you to support them on party lines, the more it shows how fragile their position. And instead of looking for compromise–the normal political and diplomatic way—it is time to look at what is best for America.
Back in the days of the cold war, the question used to be: “Would you trust _ with their finger on the nuclear button?” I do not trust anyone in the Executive Branch to use their power wisely. Whether its appointees, long time civil servants, or `elected’ officials like Bush and Cheney. I would rather scandalize the country by arresting and impeaching those who deserve it; than watch it destroyed due to their lack of respect for our people or institutions.
The Administration and its representatives have said “trust us” to be doing the program correctly. Well such confidence has to be earned, and their actions have not warranted such guarantees. In addition, they have made it clear that they don’t trust you, so why should you trust them?
If their spying program is so legal, if they really believe the President has this inherent right — then why did they keep it so secret? Why did they pressure the NYT not to print the story? Why did they refuse to take it to the FISA Court? Why are they withholding most basic information?
They claim that such knowledge will compromise the program. How? They themselves say that Al Quaida operatives are very sophisticated. I am sure that Al Quaida knows who their people are, and how many of them are in the U. S. The only people really out of the loop are American people and the people they elected in the House and the Senate.
How many times have we heard Bush, or someone from the Administration state that they are only monitoring `known Al Quaida’ agents? So if they know who they are–why aren’t they arresting them? So far their track record of arresting people without sufficient evidence has been dismal. If they are using the NSA to spy illegally to obtain more evidence, there’s a good chance it won’t hold up in court.
Do you really want to align yourself with this group? If so many people had not died already, this would be bad comedy. Most absurd is that there is a good chance that the number of Americans dead in Iraq and Afghanistan will equal the number that died on 9/11. To protect us from further tragedy we will create situations where more will die. And use the argument that we are “preventing” more from dying.
There is such a long list of reasons the President and Vice President could be impeached–from causing over 2,000 American deaths under false circumstances–to gross malfeasance in ignoring the warnings before 9/11.
9/11 was a tragedy. It was a shock to everyone in this country. But it is insulting to use the backs of those dead to destroy our fundamental rights as Americans. As the 9/11 Commission Report has shown—so much that happened that day would NOT have occurred if everyone was doing their job properly. So why is Al Quaida the only group being punished? Why is their no accountability in our own government over this? Why did the administration drag their feet in investigating the tragedy? Why are there still so many recommendations from the 9/11 Commission that haven’t been done?
Am I safer today than I was on 9/10/2001? No. Did our government respond properly to Hurricane Katrina? No. Did our government send young men and women to die under false pretenses? Yes
Has our government shown its great love and concern for its citizens by cutting benefit programs and making it harder for average people to eke out a living? Yes
Are there now MORE people in the world that want to kill Americans? Yes
Has 9/11 has become the boogeyman? Yes There were terrorists in the world before 9/11. All we have managed to do is help them recruit more.
Now, every official at every level of government is terrified to speak up. They don’t want too seem ‘against’ protecting Americans. They don’t want to be depicted as not supporting our troops.
Essentially the Administration has boxed any possible opponents into a corner with threats, innuendos, insinuations as a ‘stick’, and money as the ‘carrot’.
It is time to change the standard operating procedures this Administration has used. It is time for every Senator and every Congressperson to make sure that no other little tricks are played or slipped past them.
I was appalled to learn that the Patriot Act was passed without being thoroughly read and vetted. I was stunned to see how open-ended the proclamation that allowed Bush to send the military after Al-Quaida. Now this has returned to haunt us all. We are paying a price for a congress more worried about looking like they were taking action, than taking responsibility.
The way to turn the tide is to start doing your job properly. Begin with upholding your oath to the Constitution. Behave as a patriot, not as a politician. Because any money and support the Administration could provide for you is tainted. In fact, the American public is slowly wising up to their behavior. By the time the elections roll around, I think that anyone sharing a platform with a member of the Executive branch will be doomed.
Most of all, as I mentioned already, if they are fully investigated I don’t believe they will even have power. Karl can’t hurt you from jail. Neither can Bush, Cheney, Rice, or Rumsfeld. Remember that.
Are you the hammer or the nail? You were elected to hammer. If you can’t strike back and lead, then you should not be re-elected. Make way for someone who can behave as if they belong to a branch of government EQUAL to the Executive.
