Feinstein’s Response

As promised in a comment, this essay brings to the public the first response from my senators and congresswoman to a letter (the physical kind) I sent them asking to be vociferous in their condemnation of the present state of affairs.  Senator Feinstein was the first to respond.

In this comment

Feeling obliged recently  (4.00 / 4)

to do something, sent a letter to my senators and congresswoman:

  Dear…,

  I understand the decorum placed upon elected leaders commits them to a certain constitution of language in public conversation.  But when the very nature of that constitution of behavior is threatened, it’s existence placed in grave danger, these constrictions need to be lifted.

  Presently the United States is being directed by the worst presidential administration in the history of the country.  As this goes unacknowledged and unspoken by the members of the senate and house, due to the “respect for the office of the president,” the country teeters towards the dissolution of its fundamental premises as outlined in its constitution and bill of rights.  I ask you at this point of time to forgo that “respect for the office of the president” and acknowledge the damage the present administration has caused to this country.  I ask that every public remark you make is prefaced with an acknowledgment of this damage, and each private conversation you have is begun in the same manner.  I ask that you have the conversation I am having with you with all of the leaders of the Democratic Party.  And I especially ask that these words are passed along to the Democratic presidential candidates.

  Language is a very powerful tool when used, and an effective weapon when it is allowed to be heard.  It would be nice to hear this vocabulary used by the Democrats as loudly as the Republicans use theirs, and it would be nice to see the Democratic vocabulary as effective as the words used by Republicans.

  Sincerely

Have not heard back yet, will post when I do.

to Standing Up Against The New McCarthyism And Ending The Iraq War I said I would post when I received a response.  I wrote to my Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and to my Representative Roybal-Allard.  This morning I received an email from Senator Feinstein.  Here is her response (my emphasis):

Dear…:

Thank you for writing to me to express your concerns about President George W. Bush and the current Presidential Administration. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

In our most recent elections, the American people expressed clear disapproval with the path this country was on. They are tired of partisan politics and of an Administration that pays little heed to the wishes of the American people. They want-and deserve-a Congress that holds the Administration accountable and fulfills its Constitutional responsibility to check and balance the Executive. I share this sentiment and am determined to work hard and across party lines in the United States Senate to address issues that are of real concern to most Americans, including the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, homeland security, global warming, and lobbying and election reform.

I have been deeply disappointed by many of this Administration’s actions and have been outspoken in those instances. Nevertheless, given the challenges our country faces I believe that we need to focus on constructive and cooperative steps that would lead us in the right direction.

Again, thank you for your letter. If you have any further questions or comments, please contact my office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
  United States Senator

Although my senator acknowledges the most recent election and endorses its ideas, she fails in her response to explain the challenges this country faces today.  Al Qaeda?  Global Warming?  Nuclear Power?  Traffic congestion?  Disintegrating health care possibilities?  Division between the rich and the poor?  Adjustable rate mortgages?  High rate of birth mortality?  Failing physical infrastructures?  Campaign costs?  Lobbyists?  etc..  I had hoped she might address my concern that “…the country teeters towards the dissolution of its fundamental premises as outlined in its constitution and bill of rights…” but she didn’t.  Alas, she also does not define what “…(focusing) on constructive and cooperative steps…” need to be taken to “…lead us in the right direction.”  I plan on asking here these questions in the near future, and when I get her answers, I will pass them along.