My first diary - be kind!
Dear Rahm,
I'm addressing you by your first name, because we've met before...in Hartford, CT at a fundraiser. When we were introduced you commented that your mother's name is the same as mine, but spelled Marcia, so I feel very close to you!
Anyway, enough of that.
I'm writing to give you some insight as to how to handle "The Iraq War As a Single Issue" syndrome that so many of your fellow congressional pals will definitely be facing in the coming months. What credentials do I have that allow me to tell you anything?
Well, I just voted for Ned Lamont in the CT primary. And it's been through this process - as an anti-Joe citizen - that I fine-tuned my opposition to Mr. Lieberman.
You see, Iraq is not a single issue. It's the whole ball of wax.
Iraq is the symbol of everything that is going wrong in this country at this time. You name it, everything goes back to Iraq.
Education = money flowing to Iraq instead of into our kids' minds.
The Deficit = money going to Iraq instead of paying down our debt (of course George's tax cuts in a time of war haven't helped, either!).
The Economy = I don't care how great George says the economy is going, to us average Americans, the specter of Iraq (and now the entire Middle East) casts a pall over any possible glimmers of hope. There may seem to be good news this morning, but by this evening, who knows!! It's called fear!
Loss of Morality = the horrors that we have seen as a result of Iraq. Our kids being killed and maimed for oil interests. Abu Grab. Guantantamo. The killings at Haditha. That jerk in the White House. The list is very long and very depressing. (If you're trying to convince a voter that same sex rights, abortion, stem cell research and Teri Schiavo are what morality is all about, just forget it as they don't have a clue what is moral and what is not.)
Our Energy Policy = what energy policy? Iraq seems to be our energy "policy".
Loss of Constitutional Protections = illegal wiretapping; arrests and detentions without due process; every "signing documents" produced by this administration...all done in the name of Iraq and terrorism.
The Immigration "Debate" = another tool to divide and conquer the fears of a diverse America because "foreigners are evil" (first Muslims, now Mexicans...is Canada next?)
The Competency of our Government = almost hard to use the words competency and government in the same sentence!! But the shining star of competency can only be Iraq. And now a broader Middle East crisis. (Even Lieberman finally admitted that the execution of this adventure has been lacking, to say the least!).
Freedom of the Press = which no longer exists as a result of George's little war in Iraq.
Social Security. Universal Health Care. Can't be bothered with right now...we've got Iraq to deal with.
So when the fall elections roll around, don't be shy about naming the elephant in the room "Iraq", because it's really hard to negotiate around the manure left EVERYWHERE by this turkey. And if you won't talk about it, you're going to step in it!
You see, Iraq represents a loss of everything that is/was good about this country. From the day George launched this little adventure this great country has been on a losing streak. And it's more than just "things" that have changed. We have changed. We are fearful of our neighbors. We have lost the ability to think before we speak. We have lost the ability to debate without name calling. We have lost so much. And the sooner we get out of Iraq, the better.
I wish we could be gone from there tomorrow, but I know that's not possible. But, by God, I do expect to see something happening that will make it possible in the not very distant future.
That's the view from a Connecticut Democrat on Primary Day 2006.
Go Ned!!!!!
And God Bless America!