While watching the Hayden hearings on CNN, I was sorting through a pile of mail. One envelope caught my attention as it was from Senator Liddy Dole in her capacity as chair of the RNSC. (Okay, my first foray out of lurkdom and I am exposed as a former Republican. Be kind; if I had already gotten around to changing my registration, I wouldn't have received this survey which so deftly and expertly reinforces my perception of the current Republican party as a den of crony, corrupt, lyin' thieves who are interested only in their money/power grab.)
The survey is too long to share in its totality. However, I will share my response. join me below the fold ...
Dear Senator Dole,
Re: Republican Senate leadership Survey
In the future, do not insult my intelligence by sending me a survey so disgustingly worded that I cannot answer honestly. If one wants a clear, well-thought out response in order to develop a depth of understanding of the public's concerns--or even a sub-set of the public's concerns-- then one must not design the survey to reinforce one's own mind-set and prejudices.
I cannot answer this survey by checking boxes; you have not given me choices that correspond to my values, political opinions or concept of country/Constitution. (Except for question 1, am I pleased with the job President Bush is doing. Read on, and then draw a conclusion as to whether I would check "yes" or "no.")
I have written my Republican representative on numerous occasions during the last six years. I have yet to receive a satisfactory response.
I grew up in a Republican family. My grandmother used to take us children to the Capital to watch legislative sessions back in the day when the Public was more than a class of consumers to be targeted with misleading advertising and push polls. My first political experience was being allowed to stay up past bedtime to watch the political conventions during the summer of 1960. As a child, I was encouraged to listen to both sides of an argument, including political arguments, and then to reach my own conclusion based upon critical thinking and due diligence as to factual basis, sources and hidden agendas. (This was why we could be a white Republican family during an era when the South was a bastion for the old Democratic coalition. Spend two minutes thinking about that, please.)
My four children were encouraged to think, and they will be Democratic voters for the bulk of their voting lifetime. How could this happen? Look around you in the halls of the Capital. Look in the mirror. Listen to the words that come from your mouth.
I will not be bought for tax refunds while my country bleeds red ink, cheapened "values" presented from the mouths of proven liars, fear of people who look different than me, or the hysteria of my marriage being threatened by a gay couple living down the street.
In this survey, you mention the Second Amendment in an effort to scare me into voting for continued Republican control of the Congress. Please, stop insulting me. I happen to believe in the Second Amendment--as much as I believe in the Fourth Amendment and the First, and the Ninth, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Tenth ... The Bill of Rights consists of ten amendments. You don't get to pick and choose which are subject to due diligence as an elected representative of the people and which are disposable. To do otherwise is un-American and unpatriotic and cheapens the service and blood my family has volunteered to this nation from as far back in our history as Valley Forge.
I used to counter the '9/11 changed everything' canard with a statement to the effect that the only change I saw was being subject to pat downs when I wanted to fly. I was wrong.
9/11 happened--during the reign of the ever-vacationing George Bush--who then went buzzing all over the country, fomenting fear and xenophobia. The sheep then went jumping off that cliff--plop-plop-plop--as sheep are wont to do when the First Sheep leads the way.
I'll be a goat, thank you--and fight to preserve the Constitution of the United States.
I will decline donating money to your cause. I will decline donating "$11 to help cover the cost of tabulating and redistributing my Survey."
I will donate, to the best of my ability, to the DNC and work to defeat my Republican representative as I happen to be a self-described American Patriot who thinks the two party system has served this country pretty well throughout its history.
Sincerely,
Now, I'll go study the Hayden hearing thread to find out what I've missed.