Once again I am so damn proud of my senator Barbara Boxer I'm grinning from ear-to-ear with just a tiny hint of a tear in the corner of my eye.
Once again Barbara Boxer has stood up in the face of Democratic Party fatalism and mainstream media cynicism to declare and defend the principles that those who elected her hold dear.
"I need to know exactly where he will stand, and I need to know if he will fight to protect and defend the rights and freedoms of the American people,'' Boxer, D-Calif., told reporters after addressing a group of law students and abortion rights supporters at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
And if Roberts fails to convince her of where he stands?
...she will "use all the parliamentary tools I've been given as a U.S. senator,'' including procedures that "make it difficult for other business to get done until we get the information we need.'
The full story in the San Francisco Chronicle is here:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/11/MNGC1E63J81.DTL
Brave and principled stands are not easy for politicians to take in this day and age. I have already written to Senator Boxer to thank her for declaring that she for one will not be reliquishing her duty to "advise and consent" on the Roberts nomination.
Please write your Seantor today and encourage them to publicly support Senator Boxer's stand.
The letter that I sent Senator Boxer is below. Feel free to copy and use any or all if it helps you contact your representatives.
Dear Senator Boxer,
I was incredibly proud of you again today when I read in the San Francisco Chronicle that you intend to vote against John Roberts' nomination for the Supreme Court if he and the Bush administration do not comply with the Senate's requests for information and fully answer the questions asked.
I completely support voting against Roberts, using the filibuster, and even depriving the Senate of a quorum to transact business should the Bush administration continue to obstruct the Senate's request for information.
This administration has been the least forthcoming in history and look at the consequences. I think Democrats can use the slogan "What are they hiding?" to great effect in the 2006 elections to emphasize the lies and corruption that have marked their tenure.
Stand fast, Senator Boxer, and know that millions of Californians have your back no matter how loud the rightwing screams at your principled and determined defense of the essential checks and balances of our system of government.
Thank you for your courage and leadership!