Next Tuesday, voters across California will head to the polls to vote in this year's primary election. A number of important races will be decided Tuesday, including determining Democratic nominees for all of California's statewide elected offices, two ballot propositions, a variety of state senate and assembly races, and many Congressional races -- including Francine Busby's run-off election in San Diego, and my own primary in Los Angeles.
I'm looking forward to Tuesday's election because, for those of us in California, it's our first step towards taking back Congress this November. And that can't happen soon enough!
After all, Democrats like you and me want to be part of a majority party, not an opposition party. It's time for Democrats to govern again, because 12 years of this Republican Congress has been more than enough for the American people.
Now I know that many Kossacks don't agree with me on every issue, and many of you may even be supporting my primary opponent. But you may be surprised at how much we do agree on.
You and I agree that the Bush Administration hyped and selectively released intelligence to build the case for war in Iraq. Had the White House been straight with the American people, diplomacy could have succeeded, making military action unnecessary.
You and I agree that the Bush Administration's NSA wiretap program without warrants is wrong, it violates the law. There's no reason that President Bush and the Justice Department couldn't follow the tried-and-true procedures under FISA that protect civil liberties. That's why John Conyers and I recently introduced the LISTEN Act, co-sponsored by 46 other Members of Congress, to turn up the heat on the White House.
You and I agree that the drumbeat towards war in Iran must end. We don't know nearly enough about Iran's true capabilities or intentions -- nor has the Bush Administration taken advantage of all the diplomatic, political, and economic options available to us.
You and I agree that we must always protect a women's right to choose -- protect and preserve our environment -- guarantee equal rights for all, including gays and lesbians.
That's why we're Democrats -- and that's why it's so important that Democrats win back the House this November. I know we agree on that.
So after Tuesday's primary, I hope we can all unite together as Democrats, remembering the common bonds that bind us and our common mission for victory this November. That's the only way we're going to win back the House in 2006 and hold the majority.
I look forward to standing alongside all of you in this fight to put America back on the right track.
-- Jane