An Awful Challenge of a letter to the Good Senator?

Over at DailyKos today, Senator Russ Feingold wrote a diary which leaves the impression that he thinks impeachment is a waste of time. Here's the link to his diary: www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/16/133049/958

Here's my reply:

Dear Senator Feingold,

In your post today, you wrote (in part):

"I fully respect the anger and frustration many Americans feel with this Administration. I share much of it. But on balance, I think Congress’s time is much better spent ending the war in Iraq, conducting the oversight that was absent for the last six years, and advancing progressive legislation."

I think most of us agree that Congnress should be doing those things. Indeed, you yourself have written diaries stating such objectives, such as:

www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/13/141751/474 Getting Out Means Getting Out.

A fine, straightforward point of view that most of us agree with. Getting out means getting out. The question is how do we get out if we don't have the votes? Just like impeachment, at this time we don't have the votes to get out of Iraq.

You also wrote about:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/22/121834/274 A Collapse for Democrats

Where you talk about the abject surrender of the Democrats on the latest Iraq Supplemental bill. Many of us felt the same way. We see the collapse as the result of a symptom in the Democratic Caucuses of both the House and the Senate. The symptom is called Spinelessness.

Now, we know you have backbone. You've fought against this administration. You showed great foresight in opposing the Patriot Act. We honor you for what you have done. Which leads me to another diary you wrote:

www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/5/101613/4896 Ratcheting Up the Pressure

This was not about impeachment, but I think the title applies. Don't you? After all, impeachment hearings would be 'ratcheting up the pressure' a great deal, in addition to allowing members of Congress to live up to their Oath of Office.

So, why should you and your fellow Senators and House members support impeachment? Do you remember another of your diaries? Here it is:

www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/18/93819/1656 The Administration's Defense for Illegal Wiretapping is Just Plain Gone

I suppose from today's diary www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/16/133049/958 that you think it just hasn't gone far enough. Just how far does Illegal Wiretapping have to go before a Senator or House member should support impeachment?

Ah, I know. You'd rather do something with real political importance that doesn't really reign in any of the abuses of the administration. Remember this proposal explanation diary?

www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/13/114144/941 Censuring the President

Censuring the President would allow him to know of the Senate's and the House's scorn. Sure, Dick and he would still be in power, but they would know that they had earned the Congress' scorn. I would say that impeachment and removal would show the Congress' scorn much more effectively.

Again, I'll return to one of your earlier diaries:

www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/2/10581/84829 Pre-1776 Mentality

Here's the first paragraph:

"I've seen some strange things in my life, but I cannot describe the feeling I had, sitting on the House floor during Tuesday's State of the Union speech, listening to the President assert that his executive power is, basically, absolute, and watching several members of Congress stand up and cheer him on. It was surreal and disrespectful to our system of government and to the oath that as elected officials we have all sworn to uphold. Cheering? Clapping? Applause? All for violating the law?"

All for violating the law. Hmmmm. It was surreal and disrespectful to our system of government and to the oath that as elected officials we have all sworn to uphold. Hmmmm. I agree. But you see, of course, that doing (in effect) nothing to hold the administration accountable for their actions seems, well:

1) Spineless
2) Gutless
3) Wimpy
4) Weak
5) A bad joke on the voters who gave the Democratic Party the majority in both houses of Congress in the hopes that the members of said majority would actually do something about the abuses of the administration.

Not that you're a part of that, mind you. You are one of the progressive leaders of the Democratic Party. But...there's something else you wrote today that caught my eye:

"Many of you also wrote that if I recognize that the President and Vice President may have committed impeachable offenses, than it is our responsibility to impeach. As I pointed out, it is the role of the House to impeach, and it is the role of the Senate to try impeachments. But the Constitution left it up to the judgment of members of Congress whether or not moving forward with impeachment is best for the country."

You are correct, sir, in your statement as to what the Constitution allows. I would remind you, sir, that we the people have ultimate control, at least for now, in answering your actions or inactions. It's called the vote. Let us all hope that inaction on impeachment doesn't cost we the people that precious power that we have. I have no doubt that Dick and W have thought of ways to take that power away from us and keep it for themselves.

"Please keep the comments coming. I’ll do my best to read them all. I very much appreciate your honesty and directness. This exchange is very important to me."

I write this in hopes that you actually mean that. I hope that you will read this and rethink your position on the advisability of impeachment.

Yours,

rjones2818

The link to my original reply is here: www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/16/182622/084

I hope he gets to read this.

I sent it to him via his congressional e-mail form.

:evilgrin: