Since I am represented in the House by a very progressive member, if I'm looking for an argument, I have to call someone else's congressperson.
I'm always looking for an argument. (Cue Monty Python: "This is 'Disagreements.' 'Arguments' is down the hall.")
Congressman Darrell Issa promised that as a result of the recent election throwing power in the House to the GOP, he had a list of investigations he wanted to pursue.
I called his California office today so I didn't have to give my suggestions to a recording device, which never puts up much of a fight. (Not that the staffers do either.) The contact info is at the link above.
Be polite.
Although my military service is more than four decades in the past and was neither dangerous nor traumatic, I always introduce myself as a United States Army veteran. It mandates a polite, thank-you-for-your-service tone from the staffer, and gives me personal authority for what follows.
I told the staffer that I was glad someone was willing to investigate the corruption in Washington. I then pointed out that whoever sold the country on the bill of goods called "WMD" had committed the most colossal screw-up in the history of our country. After all, if blowing a trillion bucks and killing a few thousand of our own people as well as a hundred thousand or more of others on the basis of false information isn't a MISTAKE, then it's hard to imagine anything else meeting that threshold.
Staffers are paid not to have opinions, but he offered what sounded suspiciously like a talking-point response, "The Democrats have had four years to conduct investigations..."
He didn't really take that thought any further, so I finished it for him. "It's not news that the Democrats couldn't find a battleship in a teacup. But Mr. Issa promised investigations. Can you think of a bigger mistake than the bogus WMD?"
Silence for so long I thought he had hung up. "Are you there?" He was, but although he offered no counter-examples, he had no opinion on whether false WMD claims were a "mistake."
"My second issue, once again speaking as an Army veteran, is torture. Mr. Bush has admitted that he ordered torture of a prisoner. There is no doubt that torture took place. There is little you can do on earth that is more heinous than torture, but not s single person has answered for it. Any chance the American people will see accountability for these crimes?"
The staffer couldn't find it in himself to condemn torture. If I had his job, I would get fired on Day One for offering a moral stand on torture.
The staffer promised to pass the suggestions along, and I'm sure he will, but it probably wouldn't hurt if a few Kossacks who actually live in the district emphasized the same issues. Use the link at the top for contact info.
Or not. No one can choose another's windmills to tilt at.