Congresswoman Pelosi:
I guess I could start this diary by listing all the occasions on which your "leadership" of the house dems has let me down, not the least of which was your failure to support Russ Feingold on his censure resolutions and your failure to speak out about the intelligence failures leading up to the war until long after everyone else did. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or the energy right now.
You make me tired, Representative Pelosi.
I see your press conferences with all the cutesy gimmicks, the nice signs in the background, the carefully prepared democratic "plans" that are always being presented. I read your emails, which are chock full of soundbites and devoid of any real substance. They are now usually deleted without even being read. I hear your carefully crafted political speeches, the ones where you make snide comments about Republicans with that irritating smirk on your face. Oh, how many times have you claimed, using different words, that the gloves are finally coming off? Your showmanship reminds me of everything that I don't like about politicians, even the ones in my own party.
It reminds me how far this party has to go. It makes me tired.
What I never, ever see from you is real leadership. The courage to take an unpopular stance. The bravery to stand up for what is right no matter what the polls or Bill O'Reilly say. The guts to take a beating from a right-wing reporter on national tv and to stand your ground beause you know you are right.
Where were you when Dean was speaking out against the war? When Feingold was defending our civil liberties? When Conyers and Boxer were challenging the election in Ohio? Where are you on the environment? Immigration? Aid to the poor? Where are you when the issue of casualties to Iraqi civilans is raised? Where have you been on Valerie Plame? Where are you on AIDS relief to Africa?
When have you ever spoken for me?
I don't see you anywhere. I see you coming late to the game, after the Feingolds and Deans and Conyers of the world have been raked over the coals, after you've realized that the issues you once deemed too hot to handle have struck a chord with many Americans. I see you and your Senate counterpart finally wade into the fray after your colleagues have been raked over the coals, derided, laughed it, without support even from their own party leaders.
That's not leadership.
Please don't come running to the netroots now. Your actions have demonstrated what you believe us to be: scarey, extreme, ultra-liberal, "un-electable" whackos with tin foil hats.
But I am none of those things. I am a married family law attorney with two children. I live in the conservative suburbs of a very blue city. I attend local democratic meetings and write letters to a large metropolitan newspaper promoting the democratic platform. I take my children to swimming lessons and t-ball. I drive a station wagon. I have many conservative friends who are interested in my opinion. I am the sister of an Operation Iraqi Freedom vet. I send money to Russ Feingold and the ACLU. I am a "field trip mom" at my son's school. I don't own a tin-foil hat. I am exactly the voter you want to support you.
But you lost me long ago.
You have, for so long, through your actions, demonstrated that you believe that my views, that this war is illegal and wrong, that we should be doing more to conserve our environment, that the government has no place in my computer or on my phone line, are radical, subversive, "un-electable." But you are wrong. And now you see that. And now you want my support.
For me, it's too little too late.