I joined in late today, making my first post about the outrageous White House Press briefing. Sorry to all, and thanks for comments.
I had my chance to vent. Now it's time to take action.
So, I am going to be somewhat original, and post my letter to Senator Hagel's office. Thanks to the recommendation from another post, (for inspiration), to write to any moderate Republican Senators in our states.
So without further ado. Follow me below the fold.
Good evening Senator Hagel,
I've written to you before in calmer times. But as we both know, these are anything but calmer times. We are fighting the War on Terror, and have occupying forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan, with more than 1700 dead, brave soldiers, and many thousands more wounded and scarred from this war.
I'm writing to you today about the President's & his Administration's involvement in the whole Rove/Plame fiasco. I will not assign a "gate" moniker to this atrocity, for this act and/or acts of treason by anonymous "High ranking White House Administration officials" has far exceed any offenses that may have been committed by an Administration of an early era, and has gone on for far too long. Today's White House Press Briefing by Scott McClellan in regards to Karl Rove's involvement in leaking the name of Valerie Plame was unconscionable, (and to quote one reporter "ridiculous"). I have been following this story since Joseph Wilson was sent to Africa to investigate the Niger documents. I have heard people try to discredit his work, slander his name, and impugn his integrity. After the War in Iraq was started, Mr. Wilson brought his charges of the incredulity of the White House's claims that Saddam Hussein had tried to purchase Yellow Cake Uranium ore from Niger, and then, shortly thereafter, Robert Novak publishes her name in his New York Times article.
You have started to question this administration, and the actions that they have taken to get the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the American people to support the War in Iraq. I believe that I read somewhere that you had questions about the Downing Street Memos. I imagine that you are distancing yourself from this Administration in preparation of your own White House bid, but that is not my point. If you really want to make a difference, and truly want to "Speak Truth to Power", you, and the other reasonable Senators, must ask President Bush to make an honest and open statement to US, the American People. This Administration should not be allowed to hide behind words, and dissemble on when or what someone said. The fact is that Karl Rove and other members of Vice President Dick Cheney's staff spoke out of turn when they started their smear campaign against Joseph Wilson, and exposed his wife Valerie Plame, an honorable agent in the CIA who was involved in the true War on Terror, tracking WMD in the Middle East.
This is a non-partisan issue. This is an American security issue. This Administration has done more to destroy our security that they profess to protect by playing partisan politics with the safety of all Americans. I hope to hear that you have joined Senator Edward Kennedy in asking that President Bush comes clean. It is time someone told "The Truth, the Whole Truth, and nothing but The Truth!"
Respectfully,