It’s great to be back here at Daily Kos with all of you. I always enjoy stopping by, sharing my thoughts, and answering your questions. I’ll be around until about 4:30pm ET / 2:30pm MT today, and I look forward to our dialogue about the U.S. Senate race developments here in Idaho.
Just to get our conversation started today, I wanted to post about something I care about a great deal: the Bill of Rights.
Our Founding Fathers created the Bill of Rights to protect American citizens from their own government, not to make it easier for the government to spy on its own citizens or torture prisoners. Sometimes I feel as though politicians say they'll support the Bill of Rights -- until they get in office and become part of that government. You can see where that's gotten us over the past 7 years.
That’s why, right here, right now, I pledge to you that I will support the Bill of Rights each and every day I serve as Idaho's next United States Senator.
But now I'm asking you to pledge something in return: I want you to promise to hold me accountable for upholding the Bill of Rights each and every day I serve in office.
Sign my pledge now -- and hold me accountable for upholding the Bill of Rights each and every day I serve as Idaho's next United States Senator!
The Bill of Rights includes a lot of specific language, but the important ideas are fairly simple. Here's what I think they are, in the order they appear in the Constitution:
-The government can't tell you what to believe, and can't run your church, and no one's church can run the government either.
-You should be able to speak your mind about what the government is doing without worrying that anybody is going to censor you or try to shut you up.
-Assuming you're not a convicted felon, you should be able to peaceably possess a gun without the government interfering.
-You should be able to communicate to anyone you want without the government listening in unless they have a warrant to do so.
-Every citizen should be protected from the government grabbing them and putting them in a jail cell, unless they are charged with a crime, told what the crime is, and given an opportunity to talk to an attorney.
-Every citizen should be able to challenge their incarceration by means of habeas corpus, regardless of whether the government declares them to be enemy combatants.
-Just because a particular right is not specifically listed in the Constitution, doesn't mean that we have given up that right in favor of the government.
These rights are pretty simple to state, but living up to them is the essence of what makes America special.
Unfortunately, too many politicians these days have failed to live up to these critical principles.
I promise you that I will uphold the Bill of Rights every day that I'm representing the dreams, ambitions, and values of the people of Idaho as their next Senator -- and I hope you'll sign my pledge to hold me accountable as well.
Thanks very much for your help and support.
-- Larry LaRocco
UPDATE: I’ve got to get back to the campaign trail now, but I’ve really enjoyed blogging with you this afternoon. I’ll be back frequently as the campaign continues to keep you updated on our progress and let you know how you can help lead us to victory in November. Thanks again!