An open letter to Senate Democrats

Every poll taken over the last six months states an unarguable truth: the majority of the American people are not happy with the direction in which our country is moving. The President's approval rating continues to hover dismally between 30 and 40 percent and it appears to drop ever further with each successive poll. The Bush Administration has violated the public trust on multiple occasions, subverted the Constitution of the United States, advocated policies that go against the law of the land (as well as International law), and violated their Oaths of Office. The Republican controlled Congress has enacted legislation limiting education opportunities for Americans, gutted our health care system with the assistance of the pharmaceutical and insurance companies, and generally lowered the standing of living in this country by supporting economic and other policies which are detrimental to the everyday lives of millions of Americans. As Eldridge Cleaver so eloquently said, "You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem."

Nothing can survive in a vacuum for very long. This country is in the midst of, perhaps, the worst identity crisis that we have ever faced. The American people are crying out for leadership. It's time that you provide it to them. When you took office, you recited an oath similar to that spoken by the President upon taking office and similar to that of all of our brave men and women in uniform. That oath states that you will faithfully defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, both foreign and domestic. It's time for you to do your job and honor your oath of office.

On Monday March 13, 2006 Senator Russ Feingold attempted to provide what this country has been so sorely lacking for the last 6 years: leadership. I've seen it reported that he presented his call for censure of the President as a purely political stunt to gin up support and name recognition for a possible Presidential campaign in 2008. I wholeheartedly disagree with this take on things. From what I know about Senator Feingold, and I have done my homework, political expediency has never been a factor in anything this man has done. He presented his measure on Monday because it is what he believes was the ONLY right course of action to begin requiring some accountability from a rogue administration which, should they get their way, is angling to end our very means of democratic governance. More importantly, Sen. Feingold's resolution IS the right course of action! It is time for you, as the elected Representatives of the American people, to start standing up for our needs, our wants, and our way of life.

Unfortunately, the Democratic Party is in the minority at present. That does not, however, preclude you from exercising your rights within the system to call the Administration out when they commit an egregious affront. What I have seen out of the Democratic Leadership over the last 2 years is, at best, disheartening. Apparently, you are all bark and no bite. The American people have seen this and what is worse, your opponents on the other side of the aisle have used it to bludgeon you into submission. As I said previously, the American people are crying out to be lead out of this darkness that has descended on our once-great nation. There is your theme for 2006! "We are the party who can lead you out of this mess that President Bush and his cadre of cronies have gotten us all into." Unfortunately for you, the American people have had it with the tired, empty rhetoric that issues from within the beltway. You can not simply state this fact. You must believe it with every fiber of your being. You must get up every day and strive tirelessly to make things better for ALL Americans (not just the wealthy, white, heterosexual, etc.). In short, you MUST do the job you were elected to do regardless of what it gains you. I thoroughly believe that this is a watershed moment for our party. We, your constituents and in many cases your donors, are issuing a call to arms. You are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem and rest assured, if we find you to be part of the problem, we will find someone who does not lack the courage of their convictions to replace you.

I, hereby, call on EVERY Democratic Senator to unilaterally  support Senator Feingold's resolution for censure of the President. It has been said by some of you that we need further investigation into the potential legality of the President's program. We now know that when President Bush stated, "When we talk about wiretaps...we are talking about getting...about obtaining a warrant" he was lying. I would submit to you that the legality of the program, which is most definitly in question (not in my mind, I believe it was completely illegal) is secondary where a resolution of censure is concerned. I would remind the bulk of you that you supported a resolution of censure of President Clinton brought by our own Senator Feinstein which chastised the President for not being truthful with the American people or the Congress. Why should the standard of acceptable behavior be any different for this President? Do the job you were elected to do and start looking out for your constituents rather than going along to get along just to keep your cushy job and lifestyle. As I noted above, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution.