My email to Barack Obama

[Walt Starr]

To the Honorable Senator Barack Obama,

It is with a heavy heart that I feel compelled to write to you today. I supported your candidacy for the Senate with my vote, my verbal support to convince others to vote for you, and with my pocketbook via donations.

I saddens me greatly to see you support a proven liar with your yes vote to confirm Condaleeza Rice for the position of Secretary of State. What this has accomplished is to reward negligence, failure, incompetence, and lying that borders on criminal activity with a promotion to a higher office.

If this is what I can expect from the future of your tenure as Senator, I will be unable to support your re-election as Senator or your candidacy for any other office.

I will hold my judgment until I see how you vote on the Alberto Gonzales nomination for Attorney General. Should you also vote yes on this nomination, I will be unable to support your future political ambitions and will find myself in a position where I feel compelled to work against such endeavors.

Please, restore the faith I held in you when I cast my ballot on November 2, 2004. Vote NO on the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General.

Sincerely,
Walter E. Starr

[Streetdoc270]

1. very nice.

Well put and not insulting or angry sounding. I wish I could write with that king of eloquence.

[lancdem]

2. I'll bet he votes no on Gonzales

Since all Dems on the Judiciary Committee did, I get the sense the Dems will vote as a bloc against Gonzales.

[CrispyQ]

3. Good letter. I'm considering writing to Ken Salazar.

[Darkhawk32]

4. And if I recall correctly, you met him in person, right? n/t

[Walt Starr]

9. Yes, I did

I'm one degree of seperation from him via a cousin and aunt, too.

[Tinoire]

44. Sigh. Sorry Walt. Excellent letter & very effective at that.

I am very sorry for your personal disappointment having been there and done that too.

It's an extremely effective letter and I'm so glad you shared it with us.

You made me realize that we really need to all start doing more of this sort of thing. Personal, individual letters...

:thumbsup:

[katinmn]

5. Good letter. And a hard one to write, I know.

I hope he comes through and votes against Gonzales, too.

I think there is a good chance the torture guy could be blocked. Doesn't it require 2/3 in favor?

[orthogonal]

Simple majority

No, simple majority.

[Willy Lee]

6. Good one. I need to compose one myself.

[orthogonal]

7. What's he so afraid of?

What I don't get is that Obama's not up for re-election for six years -- at which time, either the war will be a moot point or recognized as the Vietnam it is.

But Durbin, on the other hand, also from Illinois, is up in 2008, during a general election that'll mean more turnout of fundies.

How is it Durbin is brave enough and Obama isn't?

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Good letter, Walt.

I'm off to write him one now. He has really disappointed me. :(

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. Good letter Walt! This vote is going to come back to him

and bite him in the ass.

[pbartch]

30. I hope he responds. He will have to! How could he and other

Dems vote yes????

I am also sad about Ron Wyden and Patty Murray (from Oregon and Washington) who voted YES.

[Norquist Nemesis]

37. Good question

I don't buy the "President should have who he wants" so I'll vote yes argument. As far as I'm concerned, any of the Democrats who vote(d) aye on that premise should just make that statement and leave it at that. It undermines their credibility to attempt putting 'dissenting arguments' into the record, or make statements that they are "troubled" then turn around and vote yes.

If you're 'very troubled' and have doubts...vote NO!

As to Obama's vote, the best I can say is at least he was consistent with what he voted in committee. I'm not going to try and figure it out or speculate about it. He's under a microscope from all balconies...and he's fully aware of it.

I am becoming more convinvced that he's showing opportunism at every turn though. When the debates over the electoral college objection took place, he took an 'opportunity' to speak. Oh, and then voted no. With the Rice hearings, his office "offered" the tapes of his questions for air in this area. (I was a bit stunned to hear this exact terminology but it did make it clear that the radio station had not solicited it for airing.) Oh, and then he voted no on that too. I didn't see whether he made a statement on the floor.

[Pam-Moby]

11. Great letter-I will start a letter to my senators for USPS n/t

[andyhappy]

12. one good speech does not a good man make

yeah so he had a great speech at the DNC ...so what. Just another politician who knows how to 'talk the talk'

Barack who? Just another democratic asterisk.

Wait and see!

[G_j]

13. thanks Walt

very good!

[anarchy1999]

14. Beautiful. Only thing wrong is that I've heard that most offices are

not paying much attention to e-mails. Phone calls and faxes are far more effective.

Call him up Walt! Read it to one of his staff members, get the name and ask if he is sure he will get the message to the Senator. Hold their feet to the fire!

Everyone make calls to your Senators and let them hear what you



think about the position they are taking on Rice. Maybe they will still confirm her, but let them know you are taking names and not going to forget. "Lying to Congress" and the public does not make one deserving of a promotion, especially to Secratary of State!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

LIST OF ALL SENATORS NAMES & CONTACT INFO OR

Edited on Fri Sep-24-04 01:02 PM by Pallas180
USE FREE NUMBER

1 (800) 839 - 5276 - TOLL FREE Capitol Hill Switchboard number! They'll transfer you to any House/Senate office you name!

[Bjornsdotter]

20. Made my calls...

to Durbin and Obama.

FYI...Durbin voted "no" on Gonzales.

Cheers,
Kim

[TeacherCreature]

15. A powerful letter. I can feel your disappointment.

I expected more from this man, and found his performance on this issue to be most distressing.

[madrchsod]

16. i`m still holdingt my judgement

on obama. it maybe politically prudent for him to vote yes at this time and let durbin take the "heat". condi rice to me is really a non issue.she is a non issue in most of the capitals of the world.
the issue with gonzo is where obama must draw the line,if he doesn`t...

[Bjornsdotter]

17. Heads Up....

I just called his Washington office to express my disappointment about Rice and to ask how he was going to vote on Gonzales...

I was told that "they cannot speculate on how Senator Obama will vote"....I have an itchy-scratchy feeling he might vote "aye".

Cheers,
Kim

[Wat_Tyler]

18. Walt, does your opinion of Obama change on a daily basis?

I've seen posts from you about how great he is, how much he's betrayed you, how he's a great hope for the future, all depending on his last action.
Why not give him a few months in the Senate to really find out what he's made of?

[Walt Starr]

21. Nope

I get pissed off at him, and moreso lately. I've drawn a line in the sand with him now. Let's see how he reacts, especially if mnore poeple urge a no vote on Gonzales.

[Wat_Tyler]

22. You seem to have a real love/hate relationship with him.

Give him some time, and we'll find out. I hate to see a man judged after so little time in the Senate.

[Walt Starr]

23. You have to judge a politician on their votes, not their rhetoric

Obama had the rhetoric. It's time to stand by it with actions.

[AP]

60. Then you're going to continue to have a love/hate relationship with him

Because NO Sentor -- not Fiengold, not Wellstone -- can satisfy every consitituent with every vote.

[Walt Starr]

62. He's gotten off to a lousy start

but he could redeem himself.

[AP]

64. When he does, don't forget to send him a letter.

[anarchy1999]

28. "Line in the sand". Game over.

Nice - I have no other words except I respect you lots.

[Jacobin]

19. This reminds me of Kerry's fateful vote on IraqNam

Eyeing higher office and his political future, he voted against his instincts, thinking that 'moderation' or jumping on what was then a popular bandwagon was the key to success.

Bites them every time.

I would much prefer a candidate voting based on his convictions and the facts at hand.

[cestpaspossible]

24. It is wrong to ascribe motivations that you don't really know.

The votes were wrong. But I don't see how pretending to know what is in someone's heart and mind when you can't actually know that can be correct. Just hold them accountable for their actions, not what you imagine their motivations to be.

[Walt Starr]

25. I'll know his motivation

I'll definitely get a written answer, whether it's a form letter or not.

[kentuck]

26. Nancy Skinner would have voted against Condi....

but she did not win... :shrug:

[Roland99]

27. Shoulda fixed your typos first. ;-)...Here's what I sent to McConnell

To the Honorable Senator Mitch McConnell,

It is with a heavy heart that I feel compelled to write to you today.

It saddens me greatly to see you support a proven liar with your Aye vote to confirm Condoleeza Rice for the position of Secretary of State. What this has accomplished is to reward negligence, failure, incompetence, and lying that borders on criminal activity with a promotion to a higher office.

If this is what I can expect from the future of your tenure as Senator, I fear for the future of the integrity of our own democracy as our government is attempting to install other democracies around the world, by force I might add.

I humbly request you look beyond party loyalty and to respect for the truth when your time comes to cast a vote for the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General. His character has been shown to be that of someone willing to eschew the U.S. Constitution and international law in order to serve the agenda of the Bush administration.

[Walt Starr]

34. What typos?

:shrug:

[Roland99]

36. Two that I saw

"I saddens me"...should be "It saddens me"

"Condaleeza"..."Condoleeza"

[susu369]

69. Condoleezza - spelled with two z's

if we are being picky....

[Roland99]

70. oops

:crazy:

[susu369]

71. That was a friendly jab...

glad you didn't take it seriously.

:hi:

[Roland99]

72. Hey...I expect to be called out if I call someone else out.

And I meant the original post in good humor, too. ;)

[rocktop15]

29. Great email!!

Hopefully he will read this

[Moderate Dem]

31. I'll bet he'll...

trade your vote for the 10,000 other votes he'll get. While Condi did indeed drink the Kool Aid, face it, America wants her in that office, and Obama doesn't have the luxury of answering only to the DU.

Look, how many elections do you want to lose?

As for me, I've read Don Quixote, I don't want to live it...

[Walt Starr]

33. Um yeah, I believe that as much

as I believe your moniker.

[Moderate Dem]

38. Wow...

So I'm a Republican if I care about political expediency and getting Democrats elected?

Do I have to be a leftist extremist to be a Democrat nowadays?

Do I have to insist on Democrats committing political suicide in order to be on your warm and fuzzy list?

I came here to try to spread the message that the Traditional Democratic values can get us elected.

Excuse me if I prefer Hubert Humphrey to Michael Moore.

[Walt Starr]

39. Nice coding there

Sorry dude, I never called you a Republican, but your reaction to my post is extremely telling of your agenda here.

Obama is an Illinois Senator. He needs the left FAR MORE than he needs the center.

[Moderate Dem]

40. Look, I'm not meaning to be disrespectful...

But Obama could be the party's savior at some point. I just do not see the political expediency of him falling on his sword and giving the Republicans an issue for attack ads later over an issue that is not going to matter much.

I believe that Condi did misrepresent the reasons for the war. She wasn't the only one, and she isn't the worst possible choice for the job, AND, she is clearly going to be voted in. It's a little like Gonzalas. While I agree that the definition of torture was a really stupid thing to do, I realize that Bush WILL get an Attornet General that he's comfortable with, and personally, I hated John Ashcroft so much that to me it's an improvement.

To me, being a moderate is being realistic.

[Walt Starr]

42. IT'S NOT FALLING ON HIS SWORD!!!!

And thinking of him as "the party's savior" guarantees he goes nowhere.

[saracat]

43. What, you seriously believe there is such

a thing as bipartisanship? and Obama is going to gain Repug support? Take the blinders off. There was nothing to be gained by voting for Condi.

[in_cog_ni_to]

35. The Majority in this country are Democrats.

The repukes have stolen the last 3 elections. They ARE in the minority. They didn't win and the Majority of Americans do not want her in that office. WE are the Majority. The repukes are just louder, more sinister and good at hacking evoting machines.

[Moderate Dem]

46. That's not what I have heard...

have you seen poll results for this? I thought it was the opposite from what you are asserting. I would be interested in your documentation of this.

[in_cog_ni_to]

47. I'm sure you could find the info by googling.

Democrats ARE a majority in this country.

[Moderate Dem]

50. You're partially correct, Harris says that...

"Based on over 6,000 interviews conducted by telephone last year, one-third (33%) of all adults "consider themselves" to be Democrats, 28% self-identify as Republicans and 24% as Independents."

HOWEVER, and it's the crux of my feelings;

"Self-described moderates (40%) continue to outnumber those who consider themselves conservatives (33%) or liberals (18%)."

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=444

There's the rub, and we must address it. Well, liberals must address it, I consider myself in the moderate majority, AND I WILL SUPPORT MODERATE DEMOCRATS!

[in_cog_ni_to]

51. I'll support LIBERAL Democrats or the Green Party.

The more Liberal, the better. Being "moderate" got us to where we are today.....minority status. If being Moderate was the way to be, we would still be in control of the House, Senate and WH. What? Was Gore too "LIBERAL?" I don't think so.

[Moderate Dem]

52. I've got...

forty percent, you've got eighteen percent. Let the games begin. Wonder who'll win, huh?

It wasn't that Gore was too liberal, he ran an awful campaign, and got taken to the cleaners by Karl Rove. I remember watching the campaign wondering who had stolen Gore's brain...

I won't support ANY candidate that is going to cause Democrats to lose mainstream votes.

[Walt Starr]

53. And I'm not supporting ANY candidate

who sucks up to the BFEE.

Looks like we're at an empasse. I ain't blinking any more as I've done all the blinking for the past two decades.

I also noticed you admit you're conservative (i.e. "40%").

[Moderate Dem]

54. Read more closely...

The 40% was for MODERATES...

[Walt Starr]

55. I apologize

Still meaningless.

I've been polled and I always answer that I am a moderate because I support the second amendment.

[Moderate Dem]

57. That's cool,

just understand that I don't like being called conservative, epecially here...

I support the Second Amendment too, except that I also support waiting periods. The LAST guy I want to have a gun is a guy who needs one RIGHT NOW!

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. You're kidding. Right?

The 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections were ALL stolen by the repukes. They hacked the central tabulators to change the votes. They did not win. Plain and simple.

In 2000, Chuck Hagel was on the board of directors of ES&S evoting machine company. He won the election that had polled the Dem as waaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead just days prior to the election. He won in black communities where he NEVER should have won. Guess what machines they were voting on??? That's right! ES&S!

Max Cleland had polled high in the polls just days before the election and lost.

Blacks were purged from the voter rolls, cops stopped blacks on their way to vote and intimidated them.

Flyers were sent out to black communities with the WRONG election date.

Diebold President PROMISED to deliver Ohio to Bush in the 2004 election.

Inner city precincts were not given enough machines to vote on and let working machines sit in warehouses while the voters stood in lines for 10 hours. The suburbs had machines aplenty and were in and out in 15 minutes.

The repuke National Committee hired a company to register voters and told the employees to throw out the Democratic registration cards in Reno and then they moved on to Oregon, I believe.

Blackwell wanted his registration forms on 80 weight paper and neglected to tell the voters or the people registering the voters.

Please. Do I really have to tell you everything the repukes have done to steal the last 3 elections? Where have you been?

[Norquist Nemesis]

41. Ack! I've been exiled from America!

I didn't want her in there. According to you, I'm not America then. Gee...news to me! :crazy:

[Kota]

48. America wants her in that office?I don't think so.

[Mend]

32. I sent him money, too....wish I had it back. eom

[InhaleToTheChief]

45. Obama sucks!

Hope of the Democratic Party my ass! He folded like a cheap campstool! How can he possibly defend this vote??

What a chump. I had high hopes for the guy. Just another piece of shit politician.

[jswordy]

49. Coulda been shorter.

Dear Sen. Obama:

You sell-out, you!

Sincerely,

(Your name here)


LOL, ROFL, ROFLMFAO!!!!

[fooj]

58. Powerful letter, Walt! A heavy heart, indeed!

[Walt Starr]

59. Thanks

:thumbsup:

[Just Me]

61. Hey, Walter,...great letter.

It has a tone of candor and honesty. Yet, your letter sets clear limits. :bounce: Hope you don't mind if I adopt your language, chiseling it as necessary.

I wonder if he (Obama) is up to speed on what's actually happening. I used to believe ALL those representatives "knew" what was going on,...but discovered that many hadn't a clue (especially the "newbies").

Maybe, we should get Obama up to speed. At the very least, we should make a point of informing him about PNAC (avoiding any assumption that he would know about all that).

[KissMeKate]

63. a vote for Gonzales is a vote for torture.

this is what I said in my email to Obama, after expressing my dissappointment about the Rice vote.

[Tinksrival]

65. I sent him a message also.

Senator Obama,

I am dissapointed in your vote today. As a democrat and a United States citizen, I am ashamed to have Dr. Rice represent my country to the world. Given her record as NSA she will be ineffective due to her lack of credibility.

As a democrat I am also disappointed that you didn't stand with Barbara Boxer on Americans right to vote. Democrats were disproportionately disenfranchised and I have no confidence in our vote tabulation system.

I hope as my senator you will persue election reform. We have an electoral college that results in a few states choosing the Presidency. The partisan Secretary of State making the voting rules. The unsecure machines that count the votes are manufactured and maintained by major Republican political contributers. As long as voting exists under this circumstances, I fear I will never live to see another Democratic president in my lifetime.

I wish you well,

[Norquist Nemesis]

68. Hi Tinksrival!

I see you've been looking for a while here. :) I'm just across the border from you in Aurora, relatives are in Naperville. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

66. Excellent Walt!!!!

More need to do this!!! I emailed Sen. Stabenow as well.

[dogman]

67. Good going Walt.

I sent him an e-mail also, the day of the committee vote. I added I didn't care for his vote on the Electors either. I just reminded him where his base was in the Primaries. He has to give us votes that Keyes would not have made.