It has been scarcely one year since the re-election of George W. Bush, and the consequences have been even greater than many had feared. Since the election, we have seen an American city all but washed away; we have seen a war with no visible end continue to hemorrhage not only dollars and resources but American lives; we have seen a bribery scandal involving some of the most powerful Republicans in Washington; and we have seen the appointment of Alberto Gonzalez as the nation's chief law enforcement officer--a man who counseled the President on how to avoid breaking anti-torture laws by merely changing the definition of the word "torture".
It has been a difficult year for those of us who believe in a strong, progressive America. Even our basic civil rights, once comfortably protected, are eroding more rapidly than the time it takes to reach the next news cycle. We have learned that justice is only as fair as the government that administers it, and the Bush administration is proving to be far more adept at evading justice than prosecuting it. We have learned that laws protecting workers, consumers and disenfranchised voters are no better than empty gestures when they are not enforced. For myself, I became most aware of this when I co-authored the New York Times best-selling The Book on Bush in 2004 and as I now finish writing my book for this August, Losing Our Democracy. W's attack on The Rule of Law is exactly why the right New York State Attorney General can make all the difference in the world.
Our state is fortunate to have Eliot Spitzer, but it is not just New York that owes him a debt. When Bush took office in 2001, a law enforcement vacuum was created as the Bush Justice Department decided to selectively enforce some federal laws while ignoring others. Attorney General Spitzer filled that vacuum, using his office to prosecute violations of environmental, securities, labor, insurance, and health care laws that may never have seen the light of day otherwise. The New York Attorney General became a de facto national office, enforcing federal laws and protecting citizens throughout the country.
Months ago, Eliot Spitzer announced his candidacy for Governor of New York, saying he will not seek another term as Attorney General. I am certain that Eliot will make an outstanding Governor, but he himself proved how important it is to America that New York elects a strong Attorney General--a true "People's Lawyer". It is a job I have been preparing for my whole life.
I developed my passion for public interest advocacy by fighting against the Vietnam War in the 60s and then by fighting for human rights as the editor-in-chief of The Harvard Civil Rights Law Review in 1970. I honed my skills as consumer advocate by assisting Ralph Nader in that decade, running the most important consumer advocacy group in Washington, DC - and later by serving for 11 years as the Consumer Affairs Commissioner and then elected Public Advocate for New York City - in effect, I was the "People's Lawyer" for New Yorkers. But perhaps most importantly, I have learned in my career that no one is above the law. The people of New York and the people all across America need someone fighting to ensure that, in this great country, justice is still more powerful than money.
I'll be running for New York State Attorney General because I believe we must take a stand on behalf of those ordinary New Yorkers forgotten by the Bush and Pataki administrations - all those families who can't privatize their schooling, their health care, their transportation and who look to fair, effective government to improve their lives. That's why it's essential that we have a "People's Lawyer" who remembers that--if not in Washington, than at least in Albany.
Today, I'm launching a blog for my campaign, and I wanted the netroots community to be the first to know about it. The address is www.markgreenblog.com; please take a moment to visit and talk about some of the challenges we face in America. I am thrilled to be starting this conversation with this community; the future of the progressive movement and just law enforcement in America is here at the netroots, and I hope that we can work with one another to enact real change.
We have a historic opportunity in November--an opportunity to usher in a new era of accountability and trust. I believe that 2006 will be remembered as the year that justice was renewed in America. Together, we can make it happen. Please visit me at www.markgreenblog.com to learn how.