Should I send this letter to Senator Salazar?

[El Supremo]

Poll question: Should I send this letter to Senator Salazar?

I'm kinda bummed out.

I attended the Arapahoe County Democrat Reorganization Meeting on Sunday. We voted on new leadership, but all the candidates that I voted for (I even had an extra proxy vote) were defeated. I presented this "letter of concern" to be signed by members in attendance. There were about 300 present (in 2003 there were only 70 or 80) but I got only 48 signatures. Most were sympathetic just too afraid to sign their name.

Should I even send it?


From Concerned Members of the Arapahoe County Democratic Central Committee

February 13, 2005

The Honorable Ken Salazar
SD-B40A Senate Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Salazar,

We, the undersigned members of the Arapahoe County Democrats Central Committee, during our biannual reorganization meeting wish to express our sincere disagreement and displeasure over your vote on February 3rd in favor of the confirmation of Judge Antonio Gonzales to be the next Attorney General of the United States. You were among only six Democratic senators to vote “yea” – a decided minority.

We and other volunteers spent many hours and dollars to ensure your victory in the recent election. You now occupy the most important office held by a Democrat in the state of Colorado since 1998, so naturally we are proud of our mutual accomplishment.

In our opinion, Judge Gonzales showed a disregard of both US and International Law through his memos to the administration in favor of permitting the torture of prisoners. His answers to the Senate Committee were perhaps the most evasive of any appointee in memory. We have read your explanations and Judge Gonzales’ letter to you, but are not convinced that he will uphold the Constitution and Federal Laws.

Not only do we feel you made a grievous mistake by voting for this judge but also, we wonder about your loyalty to our party’s platform. To vote against this particularly bad appointment should transcend your apparent desire to remain independent in your voting and to not be labeled a partisan. But we also heard this same philosophy from your predecessor and most of us were very surprised and upset when he changed party affiliation. We now wonder if you have the same intention.

Respectfully,
The Undersigned Members of the Arapahoe County Democrats Central Committee (separate attachments)

[Coloradan4Truth]

1. Awesome letter El -

48 is a lot of signatures. I'm sure he will take notice and it will register somewhere in his brain.

[DenverDem]

2. I e-mailed Ken's office with a similar but less eloquent rant.

I am pissed I spent so much time working to get him elected and he votes with the wrong wing on this important issue.

Every day a little more cynical.

[DearAbby]

3. Don't be bummed, do what you can. Send the Letter.

:thumbsup:

[paulk]

4. I like it

except for the last paragraph - I don't really think the Gonzales nomination had anything to do with the party platform.

And the references tohis predecessor changing party affiliation and Salazar's intentions... I think it's too early to be saying things like that. I wouldn't have signed your letter.

On the other hand 48 signatures is quite a few - I think you should send it to him.

[F.Gordon]

5. Yes.

I would have added comments relating to his first action as AG. Recusing himself in the Wilson/Plame investigation. blah. blah.

While your vote may have been intended as a show of good faith, non-partisan, independent. blah. blah. blah. Gonzales immediately proved that he was very partisan. blah. blah.

But... if your intention is less to show your displeasure with Salazar and is more intended to jab a little knife in the side of the Arapahoe County Democrats then my anwser to your question would be: No.

[El Supremo]

6. OK, I mailed it.

I also wanted to send it to the newspapers, but decided not to.

In answer to some of your all's points:

The county platform does not mention torture or the Geneva Convention but the State an National platforms sure do.

Many of us felt utterly betrayed by Switchorse's move to the Repukes. Salazar has always been "independent" just like Crazyhorse. His first actions in the Senate look to me like he might just do the same thing.

And no way am I trying to take a jab at the Arapahoe Dems. But I learned a couple of lessons last Sunday. First, people are not well informed. Second, the average Democrat is almost as stupid as the Repubs.

I just hope that I won't regret campaigning and voting for Ken "DINO" Salazar as more time goes by.