Like many others I feel sold out by my government passing legislation condoning torture, removing Habeas corpus protections from the Constitution and granting unprecedented powers to the Executive branch.
I wish the voting had been based on belief in our system of government, the principles defined in the Constitution instead of partisan politicking in an election year.
It was, however, a vote based, not what is good for the United States of America but the short term interests of the Republican Party.
With this vote, the USA lost today.
I am angry, I want to cuss, and threaten, spew venom, lash out, attack, demonize, name call the spineless coward traitors who made it happen and those who let it happen both.
But where does that get me, us, my Country? Maybe I'll release a bit of tension, burn off some adrenalin, but at the end of the day I/we are right back where we started.
Time to: "don't get mad, get even."
Prioritize: Nothing will change so long as Government is controlled but one party. The first priority is re-establish checks and balances in Congress. Winning control of the Senate and/or the House on November 7 is the highest priority.
Speak out: Torture is still torture and it is wrong, it is evil, it is un-American. The people who put this legislation together, voted for it, are at least cowardly and wrong, at worst scoundrels and un-American. Write your Senators and Congressmen, Democrat or Republican and tell them what you think. Write letters to the Editor of your local newspaper, blog, make lists of contacts and tell them, e-mail them.
Take Action: Donate to the campaigns of Democratic challengers, go to work on Democratic campaigns, make calls, hand out literature, put up a sign in your yard, sponsor a meet-up, what ever you can do. Elections are not won by having the best ideas or being right. They are won working harder than your opponents.
Put all the energy you would into saving your Country from an invader who threatens take away your freedom and rights under the Constitution. The invaders are already here.
Start now!