Barbara Boxer: Stop the Right Wing's "Nuclear Option"

Received by email.



On Tuesday, Republican Senator Bill Frist, answering the call of the most extreme right-wing elements in America, is poised to pull the "nuclear trigger" on one the most fundamental principles of our cherished democracy: the filibuster, the right of the minority to make its voice heard on the floor of the United States Senate.

Frist's allies call it the nuclear trigger because they know there will be fallout in the Senate. We Democrats will not take it lying down. But the real fallout will be on the American people as they suffer generations of judges who will assail and outlaw their rights, attempting to weaken the federal government to such an extent that even Social Security and the minimum wage could be ruled unconstitutional, let alone environmental protections, civil rights, and human rights.

I am working overtime, night and day, to stop this power grab. So are my Democratic colleagues. And now, in the final hours before Senator Frist attempts to eliminate our right to filibuster -- violating the Senate's own rules and more than 200 years of precedent in the process -- we urgently need your help.


Call George Allen, Bill Frist, John McCain, and Chuck Hagel now -- 4 Republican Senators who are considering running for President in 2008 -- and tell them to uphold 200+ years of American values -- checks and balances and the right of the minority to be heard!


The Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. And they won't rest until they get the Judiciary too.

Imagine -- they have gotten 208 of Bush's judges through the Senate, and Democrats have only stopped ten. That's a 95% success rate, but still they aren't satisfied!


Please take a moment to read the statement I recently delivered on the Senate floor regarding this "nuclear option" as well as a detailed analysis of the decisions and writings of one the key judicial nominees in all of this, Janice Rogers Brown. You can find it on my new PAC for a Change website at BarbaraBoxer.com.

Then, after reading my statement, please call Senators Allen, Frist, McCain, and Hagel and tell them to uphold 200+ years of American values. Anyone who supports the "nuclear option" does not deserve to be President, since they clearly don't understand our Constitutional system of checks and balances.


Finally, after you've made your phone calls, please forward this email to everyone you know, and invite your friends to contact these Senators as well. Make sure they understand what we are dealing with here and why the American people must get more involved in politics. I know it is popular in some places to slam the door on that idea, but you and I know we must not.

Thank you for caring and for sticking with me. Please contact these Senators today, before Tuesday's vote on the "nuclear option!"


Best Always,



Barbara Boxer

Visit BarbaraBoxer.com - http://ga4.org/ct/ndzYEJF1iR33/home

Stop the Right Wing's "Nuclear Option" - Contact Senators Allen, Frist, McCain, & Hagel - http://ga4.org/pacforachange/filibuster_calls.html?member_key=b85x6u4o5j8jdj&

Senator George Allen (R-VA) at (202) 224-4024

Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) at (202) 224-3344

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) at (202) 224-4224

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) at (202) 224-2235

Example of a letter/fax/email

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Senator

Please stand up for the nation, for the law of the land. Vote against the nuclear option and preserve the filibuster. Doing away with the filibuster would set dangerous precedent as you are well aware. How many times have you watched "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and been inspired? Can you imagine the long term ramifications if the filibuster is extinguished?

The Constitution provides that appointments to judicial seats be accomplished with the advice and consent of the Senate. That is not a carte blanche approval of the President’s wishes by design. The checks and balances developed by our forefathers were for a reason, to balance power, to not allow a totalitarian mind set the chance to distort and destroy our beloved democracy. Our republic is a democratic republic, please vote to keep it that way.

Praying that you find the moral and political courage to do what is right for our democracy, not what is politically demanded.

Damn you California people have it good out there with someone like that representing you in Washington.

I have made calls today and sent email messages.

It's not a bad idea to just pound away at these Republican "presidential" senators. They must surely know if Frist were to fail on the floor with this filibuster fight, their own chances at the nomination improve.

Not to mention that our democracy is at stake.

I wouldn't trade her and DiFi for EMK & JFK.