6/18/07
Dear Vice President Al Gore,
I just got a letter from you on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Thanks for thinking of my wallet in these difficult times…
You mention several reasons why I should be supporting more Democrats in the Senate, but I have to take issue with the idea that Senate Democrats will solve the problems.
For instance, at the top of your list, you cite being “an occupying force in the middle of a civil war in Iraq – unquestionably the most strategic mistake in American history.” I completely agree: Iraq is a boondoggle of epic proportions. But where are the Democrats who failed to question the lies that led to war? Are they screaming they were duped? Are they apologizing for making a huge mistake in judgement? Are they digging to find out how the “facts were being fixed around the policy?” Are they on Sunday talk shows blasting pundits for negligent journalism and sheepish complicity?
The answer is no. The vast majority of Senate Democrats, elected to lead this country are not leading at all, but only following. A few weeks back, they had the chance to live up to the clarion call of 2006 – and begin to get us out of Iraq. Instead, they gave in to a President with approval ratings below 30%, and a plan for Iraq that’s 100% BS.
But you want my money for them none-the-less. Hmmm. Well, maybe you can convince me to part with a Franklin or two… Let’s see:
You site Bush’s claim of right to “seize any person – including American Citizens – on his say-so” and his allies in Congress conspiring “to grant him unheard-of powers” along with illegal NSA wiretaps… Indicating to me that this is scary stuff. You are right, it is frightening… So why the hell aren’t Constitution-loving Senate Democrats fighting it tooth and nail?
You even scratch the surface of the dubious “voter-fraud” operations Republicans have been enlisting for quite some time now. That one got my attention… only because I was thrilled to hear someone other than a darn blogger write about it. But really, if you want my money for mamby-pamby, "leaders” like Harry Reid or finger-to-the-winders like Hillary Clinton, I humbly suggest you kick their bottoms into giving me and millions of others some substantive reasons to support them.
Dubious claims of voter fraud? How about caging lists? A preponderance of spoiled and lost ballots in black, brown, and red neighborhoods? Machines that don’t work for poor people but are just fine for rich-white folk? “Felon” purges? Incompetence? Negligence? Outright vote theft? Exit poll reversals that would negate a vote in the Third-world but were just fine by our pathetic media? Phone jamming? Unwarranted voter challenges? Aye Carumba! The death of democracy has come by a thousand cuts and the Dems won’t even do a damn autopsy! The craziness that has gone on in the name of democracy is mind-boggling. And yet the Democratically controlled Senate seems to think the best use of their fast closing two-year window is passing bills Bush that won’t sign. Somehow the appearance of legislating is more important than investigating what the hell happened in War Lies 2002-2003 and Elections 2000 and 2004…
If someone with more power than John Conyers or Henry Waxman would do some heavy-duty investigating, I would empty my wallet to help them along!!
We of the grassroots will support a Senate Full of Fighting Democrats. Real leaders who’ll take up Kucinich’s call for impeaching Cheney… Not to be vindictive, but because justice demands accountability. We want Senate heroes who’ll tell Tony Snow he’s full of horse poop… We want visionaries who see the incredibly important historic value of pulling back the curtain on the Bush legacy of criminality and incompetence. We want a Senate that cares for this country more than their own carefully positioned asses. We want all those “Reagan Democrats” to realize the GOP has stolen their kid’s future. We want to make sure nothing even remotely close to this Administration’s debauchery is ever attempted again.
Show me Senate leadership that uses a bullhorn to call out Republican corruption, shenanigans, bullying, lies, war mongering, cronyism, and race-baiting… and I’ll show you Senate Democrats getting television coverage and re-election money that’s actually deserved!
But if all you can show me is Battered-wife Syndrome Democrats, I’ll take a pass. You’ll have to send your form letter to some wealthy corporations with business before the government. They seem to be the only ones content with politics as usual.
Good luck on this one Al. I want to believe you mean well. But if your Senate buddies continue to act like we are in something less than a Constitutional Crisis, I can’t fork over any cash.
On the other hand, if you ask me for money for your Presidential run, I’ll probably smash open the piggy bank. Global warming is our gravest national security risk and as far as I can tell you’ve got the most potential to do something about it. I’ll be looking for your announcement soon…
Meanwhile, you and Tipper have fun at Live Earth!
Sincerely,
johnj