Dear Senator Kennedy (and fellow Kossacks),
I wanted to respond to your diary, but I was so caught between being thrilled with your words and appalled at the lack of action that would inevitably follow, that I was not sure it was appropriate for just a reply in a Senator's diary that will get lost to the Dkos archives eventually.
I sincerely respect you, your career, and your family, and this is not meant as an attack on you personally. I am a HUGE FAN of what you and your family have done in the past for this country. My concern is that words have done nothing... absolutely nothing... to stop what this administration is doing. To be honest, this is why I didn't turn on C-Span 2 to watch your speech.
It is very simple and clear to those of us "non-beltway professional politicians" that our country's government is spiraling out of control, and irretrievable given the current lack of action from our Congress.
I think I can safely say I speak for a large number of users here and around the internets that we are tired of speeches and sound bites. I realize this may be all you feel you can do in the current situation, but I challenge you to focus on what is right for the country and not worry about re-election for yourself or anyone. It is time for the Democratic Congress to put electability thoughts behind them and take actions all Americans can respect. It is your sovereign duty to enforce the Constitution.
We're living in a new "robber baron" society of such severity that it pales in comparison to the other similar times in our nation's past. Your elected job is to call them out with all the power Congress has.
Thanks for the speech, but can we see some action now?
Here is a reality-based version of what action means:
- Throw it all into court by calling them on ignoring subpeonas, use of executive signing statements, and well... there are so many other things they have done this list can go on and on
- Pick just ONE of this many topics and begin impeachment hearings in the House
- Use the congressional purse strings... for once
P. S. - I am not a scholar or congressional legal expert, so forgive me if I am not making a flowery essay or if I don't know all the legal impediments you might have in making this a reality.