My letter to Senator Feinstein

[Snellius]

Senator Feinstein,

As an older, fifth generation Californian, with both parents in their eighties, I write to express my disappointment with your support for the Medicare Prescription Drug legislation. I understand you believe you are doing the compassionate thing. That something is better than nothing. But this legislation is dishonest and corrupt and only a cynical compromise could allow anyone to support it in good conscience.

I heard you on the radio the other day saying you did not care about the politics of the issue. You expressed similarly admirable virtues when you voted for the Bush tax cut. But I am astonished -- after Florida, after the secret Cheney energy plan, after the administration's role in the California blackout, after Iraq, after being duped again and again, especially after the way this bill was rushed and rammed through the congress before public scrutiny had any hope of finding out what was going on, I am astonished that you still hold onto the illusion that what you are dealing with is just politics as usual. I urge you to read the editorial today in the Washington Post, "Government by Juggernaut" as well as Norman Ornstein's outrage over the way democracy in congress has been abused.

A senior in his 80s said yesterday "I wonder why they're working so hard to give us nothing." We have worked our whole lives not just to get a pittance handout for ourselves but to fight for a principle that as Americans we take care of each other and future generations. You say you will fight to correct the "imperfections" and problems in the current legislation. But, by surrendering, you will insure that, despite your best intentions, you will have no voice or power left to do a thing. You may ignore the political realities if you like, but they will not ignore you. Or us.

Sincerely,

[stevedeshazer]

1. Well said

I'm writing a similar letter to Senator Wyden.

[nansocal]

2. good letter.....

I too sent her a letter with a list of names of friends and relatives who will no longer support her in future elections. and listed the many votes she casts that she should be ashamed of , and shame on her for being more republican than democrat, and I cut out the l.a. times photo of her with frist in the background smiling at her and said shame to her for that while her party leaders were at a different press conference.

[shance]

3. Terrific letter***

n/t

[Neecy]

4. great letter

...but you can expect a bland, canned response from DiFi (I've already received it) where she assures you that she'll continue to 'work across the aisle' for reform. <insert barfing noises here>

She wrote me something similar after I wrote to express my outrage at her IWR vote. Same bland canned "I know what's best" response.

[Myra]

5. That's a great letter, and much calmer than the one I sent "my" WA Sen

Murray,

I can't bring myself to call you "Senator," because I will
never vote for you for that office because of your vile
"yea" vote on the medicare privatization bill.
You have sold out to corporate interest just as the
leadership of the AARP sold out its members when they
endorsed this monstrous bill.

If so called "Democrats" like you hadn't voted for it
we would have been able to filibuster.
There are some real Democrats, like Senator Kennedy,
still left in the Senate.

I don't know how you can live with yourself.
I wish you were old and poor and having to depend
on this bill to get your meds. It would so serve you right.

But your constituents will be the ones to suffer from it. You dispicable corporate lackey.

Sincerely,

Name...

[Cleita]

6. Better than my letter.

I also told her that I didn't think she had the best interests of senior citizens in mind and that I really don't know whose interests she is representing, but that I would be working to put another Democrat in that senate seat in the future.