People like me are terribly disappointed in the governing abilities exhibited by the Democratic Party leaders in Congress and in the party since the party won the election in 2006 and took power in Congress in 2007. We are not the rich bundlers of money, but rather the small $10 a month givers to DNC bonds to build the party. We are the people who were thrilled when John Conyers as the ranking Democratic member of the Justice Committee dared to hold hearings without Republicans. We are the people who thought Democrats in power would and could make a difference.
We worked hard to put you in positions power. We gave money in small amounts to candidates all over the country. We supported the Jim Webbs and the Ned Lamonts. We gave lots of small contributions – 10 dollars here 25 dollars there. And we spoke through letters to the editor, blogs and demonstrations. And we met with party organizers and went to organizing meetings with them. Some call us netroots; in reality we are the grass roots.
Instead of roaring like Lions you, the leadership of the Democratic Party, cower like Jackals over dead meat. You do not have to control the presidency to exercise power; you have the power in Congress. Whether you like it or not, you, the Democratic leadership, promised to bring the Iraq War to an end. You are not delivering.
Historically power shifts between the branches of government. The Constitution set up the House of Representatives with the power to raise revenue and is thereby the most powerful organ of government. The Constitution also gave the power to impeach anyone in the executive and judicial branches of government to the House of Representatives. The power to initiate firing any high level official in either the executive branch or the judicial branch lies in the House and the ability to "close the deal" lies in the Senate. President Bush is fond of saying people serve at the "pleasure of the President." Well he serves at the "Pleasure of Congress." The time is past when you need to remind him of that fact.
Democratic Leadership has an opportunity to shift power once again back to Congress. This is a one time opportunity until after the next presidential election. Either tie spending bills firmly to ending the war in Iraq before the 2008 elections and start hearings to investigate impeaching Bush et-al. or get ready to watch us disappear from the Democratic Party.
To be clear, none of us want an Imperial Democratic Presidency any more than we want an Imperial Republican Presidency. Unless Congress exercises Congressional Power that is where we are headed and the Democratic Party will die. Remember POWER CORRUPTS and absolute power CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY. A Democratic President exercising the powers Bush has taken to the presidency will be a nightmare for the nation and may very well destroy the party. Heed my warning. The best way to preverve your power is to institute hearings today and use the power of the purse to end the war.
The people are slow to rise up. If you look closely at the polling numbers you will see the people are no happier with you and your performance than we are with President Bush and the Republicans. Beware, the power is yours to stand up for what you believe or be labeled correctly as the party of no belief, no hope, no audacity.
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