An Open Letter to the Democratic Senate

Well, I ate a pan of chocolate iced fudge brownies. I listened to Avril Lavigne sing "My Happy Ending" three or four times. I don't feel better(I feel used and disillusioned) but I know that I can't just throw up my hands. I do want the fifteen senators that chose to abandon fighting for political expediency that I won't be fighting for the Democratic party they stand for. I'll fight for the democracy that I believe in and that over 20 senators were willing to fight for. Occasionally, I may find myself forced to ally myself with them but I will NEVER trust them again. They won't get my money. They won't get my time. I won't defend their indefensible behavior. I'll keep them around as long as I have to, but only that long. How ironic, that I WILL BE USING YOU. I have a long, long memory Senators and if I were you I wouldn't make myself too comfy because when you outlive your usefulness (and with the way you vote you ain't worth much) you're history.

For the Senators that listened, I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You are the reason I am able to have hope that things will eventually change and my country will become stronger and better. There is nothing wrong with trying and failing. We often learn more and become stronger when we fail. I expect that is how this will be. You put yourselves on the line for our beliefs. I give you my promise that I WILL NOT FORGET that. There will come a time when you may need my money, my time, or my voice. I will be there. I will have your back the same way you had mine today. In addition, I vow to do the hard work it takes to make certain that YOU, the leaders with the strength of conviction and principles, remain in office.

For the Senators that felt Alito was a good nominee choice I want to let you know I don't agree. I don't expect you to always have the same views as me but I will be watching to make sure we match up on the important issues. Alito WAS important. That's strike one. I'll be watching carefully to see where you stand on other issues that I consider important.(If you voted for that abominable Bankruptcy bill while ignoring health care considerations consider this strike 2). If we differ too much you can consider yourself in the same boat as the first group I mentioned. Our democratic representatives are supposed to reflect our democratic values. When they desert those values on a consistent basis it is time for us to reconsider keeping them as our representatives.

•  Thanks for posting this

  I have to admit, that this whole episode has put me over the top! I am angry, I am sad, I am worried, I am scared! I've experienced anger, rage, speechlessness, disgust and host of other adjectives. I had thought I'd had all I could take. I was ready to re-register as an independent tomorrow, and I still might.  But you have me thinking... "I'm using you!"  That's a frame that might just give me the strength to continue on fighting rather than giving up. I'll sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow, but thanks again for giving me something else to think about!

  by reflectionsv37 on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:02:21 PM PDT

  •  Glad

    I'm glad I helped. I hope you feel better tomorrow.

    by cwaltz on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:41:34 PM PDT

•  uphill every step....

  Not only can the RNC outspend the DNC at every turn, they have a hitler-like grip on the party-line vote....not ONE Republican thinks Alito is bad for the country????

  As opposed to the Dems....lol....we are all about having a big tent and how people can have different views and still be a Democrat....hug a tree and everything.....but it's soooo frustrating!

  Where the HELL was Dean in all this?  We had TWELVE jump ship!!! We couldn't even beat ONE cloture vote......

  I hate the fact that there is money in elections.....a hotly contested Senate seat cost $50,000,000 (by both sides) to get apparently...in a six-year term it means a new senator has to raise $11,000 a day for 6 years to get re-elected!!! It's sick!  We HAVE to change this!

  Meanwhile......both the GOP and the DNC use the fund money as a blunt instrument to get the party faithful.......you want to win re-election? You are gonna need BIG bucks from the party.....You want BIG bucks from the party? You better not f-ing vote for cloture....

  See how easy that was?

  Dean was MIA.......
  

  by brent for truth on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:10:02 PM PDT

  •  Dean

    I don't think it was Dean that was MIA. I'm inclined to believe Dean couldn't get the DLC on the bus until too late and then they came along only grudgingly. Dean came out pretty early in favor of derailing Alito. Obama and Harry Reid all the way up until yesterday spent their time talking about the futility of a filibuster rather than a case against Alito. Two different mindsets in the two different groups IMO. Too bad the DNC and DLC didn't coordinate better. Sigh.

    by cwaltz on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:37:11 PM PDT

•  Make vichy senators hurt

  IMO, the really important house to win in 06 Is congress, so that impeachment is possible (forget about removal from office, though, not gonna happen: but we will be making a lot of senators have to blush and vote to keep a criminal in power).

  No money to vichy senators, put all your money into congress!

  by Mr Bula on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:11:47 PM PDT

•  If I see one more

  "An Open Letter" diary I'm just gonna puke.

  This is the last one I ever open.

  STOP IT, just stop it.

  Send the fucking thing to the person so they might actually read it.  But away with the silly self-importance.

  by philgoblue on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:27:08 PM PDT

  •  Actually

    I intend to send it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts though.

    As for silly self importance, it seems its contagious if YOU think it really matters to me whether or not you read another open letter diary.

    by cwaltz on Mon Jan 30, 2006 at 08:40:41 PM PDT