Censure Resolution; Letter to Sen. Feingold; Look it over; Thanks

[originalpckelly]

Here is the letter, please tell me how it should be improved:



"Dear Senator Feingold,

I have written to you because I believe you to be a shining example of integrity. I hope you will understand that my Senators are not exactly willing to help you with the censure resolution for whatever reasons they may have.

The Congress should censure the President because of the signing statement for the Detainee Treatment Act, which said in effect that the President might set aside the DTA when he feels it is appropriate. This in combination with the memo of one Jay Bybee at the OLC prompted me to think the President has authorized torture. To you this may be obvious, but not to the rest of the nation because it is still hearing from the likes of Secretary Rumsfeld, "These are terrorists, they are taught to lie about how they've been treated." I would note that the Secretary is a politician and that many politicians have learned how to lie as well. I don't think that Congressional Republicans or the President will be able to defend torture in the way they have defended the illegal NSA wiretapping program. Nor may they say that it isn't in "bad faith," torture is pretty "bad faith" if you ask me.

The NSA issue is about the rights guaranteed in the US Constitution. You may remember the story about more Americans knowing the Simpsons characters than first amendment rights. I don't think it is that much of a stretch to think Americans have no clue about their fourth amendment rights either. I do know, however, that most Americans understand torture is not something the United States does. I don't think the President will be able to defend torture by saying other Presidents have done it; to my best knowledge, no President has authorized torture, ever. Not George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and not even Richard Nixon authorized torture because they were true Americans and understood that is no American principle to torture those being detained, even in a time of war.

The President should be censured, but I think that it is much more obvious to do so for the authorization of torture. If the debate shifts to torture and the American people understand just exactly what has been going on the past few years, the President will eventually be impeached. Like I said before not even Richard Nixon allowed torture.

I have heard the President talk about the victims of 9/11 and the fact that we must get the terrorists and serve justice. The problem is that the President has tarnished the good names and the justice of the people who died on 9/11. We have also done a disservice to the families of the 9/11 victims by doing horrible deeds in their loved ones names. They have a blind hatred for the terrorists, and they should (not because I say so, but because it is true.) All of us who didn't loose a close family member, however, must be strong and impartial to serve those families. We must remember that justice is not blind with hatred, but with impartiality. We must remember that accusation is not proof. We must remember that even though 9/11 changed our perspective on the world, it did not change the definition of conviction, whether that be in the context of our law or our principles.

I hope you will edit the censure resolution and present it again. It will hopefully have even greater impact with my recommendation. I hope you have received this, and will take my advice. I thank you for your consideration Senator. Good luck on doing the right thing."



I didn't sign the thing because they get my name before hand. I don't actually live in Wisconsin, and if someone else does please send it along to get it noticed. If no one lives in Wisconsin, we should all send him personalized copies of this thing. I think it will seal the deal for the President.

For further reference;
Here is the Bybee torture memo:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/documents/dojinterrogationmemo20020801.pdf

Here is the Signing Statement on the DTA:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051230-8.html

Here is the DTA (Title X of H.R. 2863):
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/gazette/2005/12/detainee-treatment-act-of-2005-white.php

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Good letter!

The only thing I'd add is cc to your Representative, your Senators, and Harry Reid.

Nice job! :)

[wtmusic]

2. Ditto nt

[originalpckelly]

3. Well,

The only problem is Senator Feingold isn't as spineless as the other Senators and Reps that represent me. And one of my Senators is a Republican anyway, don't think that will do much there. We deserve to loose the upcoming election if we cannot stand up and do what is right.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Which is why you should cc the others

Just my 2cents. Let them SEE Feingold is getting support and fan mail. You can preach to the choir till the cows come home. It's when you make your voice heard that they start to listen.

So, cc-ing it to the others might seem to be a waste of time and effort. But just imagine if 100, or 500, or 5,000 or more people all sent letters to Feingold showing support. If each of the writers also cc'd their Represenatives, Senators, and Senate Leader of their party then they can't help but notice the support. JMHO.

[originalpckelly]

5. Good Idea

I will do it. That actually would be kind of funny. Since it is critical of other senators. Oh, thats great Norquist. :-) Thanks for the suggestion. :-) Everyone copy the letter and send it to your members of Congress. Make them feel ashamed, as they should. Please help me, this is very important.

[originalpckelly]

6. I was just going to use the form,

but I think I'll send it to the main e-mail. They have it on the Senators directory on the US Senate homepage. Please, like I said we all need to do this. Thanks ahead of time.

[originalpckelly]

7. Thanks n/t

[originalpckelly]

8. I finally sent the letter, so far only to Feingold...

I edited it a little, including an edit after "and not even Richard Nixon authorized torture because they were true Americans" to add "(well, Nixon was still a citizen)". Because quite frankly he wasn't all that great, but he was a lot better than George W. Bush.

[originalpckelly]

9. I had to resend it

The e-mail returned a postmaster error. I guess even though the address is listed on the website is a Senate one, it doesn't work. I sent it through the feedback page, hopefully he will still read it.