Article: My Letter to Russ Feingold

I recently received Russ Feingold's "National Priorities Survey" in the mail and read it with great interest. I'm sure some of you got the same mailing. While I was happy to learn that it was not prepared or sent at taxpayer expense, and I agree generally with all his assertions, that is where my contentment ends. I filled out the survey yesterday and it is now on its way back to Senator Feingold, with the following letter attached to the back. The letter appears here in its entirety, with the same bold face emphasis that Mr. Feingold (or one of his staff) will see. December 18th, 2006 Russ Feingold United States Senator Dear Senator. Feingold, Thank you for the 2007 National Priorities Survey. You will notice that I strongly agree with all your assertions. As is all too common in Washington, however, there needs to be some clarification. Point #1 - The "War" in Iraq: This is not a war and never was, Senator. This was an illegal invasion followed by an illegal occupation that continues to this day, and it MUST end. NOW. The realities that make this "war" illegal are two-fold. First is the fact that without a Constitutional Amendment (which of course did not happen in this case), Congress cannot legally cede its authority to declare war, as it did when it authorized Mr. Bush to invade Iraq as he saw fit. Second is the lack of approval for the use of force from the United Nations Security Council. The facts have long since been established: No WMD, no uranium deal between Iraq and Niger, no connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda, and certainly no threat whatsoever to American soil. Three thousand of our fine young American soldiers and more than 650,000 Iraqis are dead, Senator, their country in ruins and consumed by complete chaos. And it's all costing American taxpayers almost 300 million dollars EVERY DAY. This is beyond unacceptable. It's CRIMINAL, and those responsible MUST be held accountable, to the fullest extent of American and international law. For as long as we are there, the situation will only worsen. The only re-focusing we need to do in Iraq is to turn around and focus on getting the hell out. Today's words from new Defense Secretary Gates ring among the most hollow of all. He says "failure in Iraq would be a calamity". Someone needs to tell him that we have already failed and calamity in Iraq is old news. Point #2 - Fighting Terrorism and Protecting Our Freedoms: Anyone who cares enough to do a minimum of homework can tell you that the Patriot Act is nothing but a neoconservative tool for the systematic destruction of American freedom. Why has nobody in Washington demanded from the Bush administration a complete, fully documented accounting of every terrorist and terrorist plot stopped by the existence of the Patriot Act? We don't need to install safeguards in the Patriot Act. We need to repeal it. It's just another collection of Bush lies. And speaking of terrorism, Senator, perhaps you could inquire as to why Osama bin Laden has not been indicted or even charged in the attacks of September 11th, 2001, neither of which he need be present for. Are you aware, by the way, that his wanted page on the FBI website does not even mention that horrible day, and when an FBI official was asked about this reality earlier this year he replied it was because they did not have sufficient evidence to charge him? Do you think that might be worth investigating? Point #3 - Stopping Domestic Spying on American Citizens: On April 20th, 2004 in Buffalo, New York, Mr. Bush said that obtaining warrants for wiretaps was necessary, even when we're chasing down terrorists, "because we value the Constitution." He made this statement nearly three years AFTER the illegal, warrantless NSA wiretapping program that he personally authorized was instituted. This is 100% irrefutable proof that Mr. Bush lied to the American people and KNEW he was lying when he made the Buffalo statement. He has even repeatedly ADMITTED TO BREAKING THE LAW. This man has twice put one hand on the Bible, held the other up to God and sworn to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution, only to relegate it to toilet paper status, and refer to it as "just a goddamned piece of paper." Please tell me Senator, WHY is this man still president? Point #4 - Energy Independence: I agree completely, but we also must have complete accountabilityfor Dick Cheney regarding his unacceptably secret energy policy. He is supposed to be conducting the business of the people, not the business of Halliburton, Exxon Mobil or any other corporate entity. It is unconscionable and unacceptable that secrets are being kept from the American people, who pay the bills for the government, and the salaries of those charged with carrying out policy. In Closing: Impeachment and removal from office of the entire Bush administration is not an option, not divisive, and not politically motivated, Senator Feingold. It is an absolute necessity. The life of our Democracy may very well depend on it. Any member of the people's Congress, House or Senate, who does not support this course of action, is clearly in violation of their own sworn oath to uphold our Constitution. Contrary to what many in Washington may think, the American people are not stupid. We can tell the difference between blatantly partisan political witch-hunts like the Clinton impeachment and removal from office of the most corrupt presidential administration in American history. And we can tell the difference between politicians who simply talk tough for political purposes and those who actually mean what they say and are willing to follow their talk up with serious action. Please honor your oath and demand, as a fellow citizen, that your Capitol Hill colleagues honor theirs by pursuing impeachment of the Bush administration pursuant to the Constitution of the United States of America.