Thank you, Chris Dodd

When the Democrats -- who I thought were the good (or at least the anti-Bush, and pro-Constitution) guys -- took back Congress in the last election, I was overjoyed. I thought we'd see an end -- finally -- to the Bush administration's recklessness and lawlessness that's made me feel ashamed to be American. Of course, the Democratic leadership has been a pathetic, embarrassing, contemptible, miserable failure, and now we see that not only have they enabled Bush's insanity, they've been willing participants, helping him and Dick Cheney feed our constitution into the shredder. Yesterday, for the first time in ages, I felt my faith in our government begin to return, and I have Chris Dodd to thank for it.

It's been depressing to watch our Democratic congressmen -- the very ones we all worked so hard to put into the majority -- do nothing to slow Bush's destruction of what it means to be American.

I still don't understand why Harry Reid will honor Republican holds and do back flips to make Mr. 24% happy while he extends a hearty "F you" to Senate Democrats, the Democratic party, and now the vast majority of Americans who are begging congress to do something -- to do anything -- to stop this tyrannical lunatic before it's too late to save our country.

It is outrageous that Senators Clinton, Obama and Biden are asking for our votes, but are unwilling to provide leadership now. If they won't stand up for the principles we all hold dear when they're trying to earn our votes, how can we expect them to do it once they're in the White House? Leadership is doing the right thing when it's risky and when it's unpopular. (And how depressing is it that upholding your oath of office is risky and unpopular? How doubly depressing is it that the only people who think that -- and the only people being listened to -- are Joe Klein, the DLC consultants, and the rest of the pundit class?)

Well, as a complete idiot once said: Fool me once, can't get fooled again.

John Edwards has inspired the hell out of me with his message of hope for America, but Chris Dodd has shown real leadership on one of the most serious issues we've faced lately with telco immunity. While the other Senators have talked a good game, Senator Dodd actually did something when his country needed him.

I wanted to share my letter to him here, in the hopes that somehow it will find its way into his hands.

Dear Senator Dodd,

I doubt you'll get to see this personally, as you're very busy campaigning and defending our constitution from, well, everyone in government, it seems.

I hope a staffer will convey my immense gratitude -- not only as a Democrat but as an American -- to you for respecting your oath of office, and standing up to defend the very values that have made America great.

I sent e-mails and I made phone calls yesterday, but you stood up on the floor of the Senate and did something no other Democratic candidate for president seems to be willing to do: you were a leader. You stood not only with the base of our party, but with the vast majority of Americans who want the recklessness of this lawless president brought to a halt.

Your real leadership has inspired me and many others I know who have lost faith in our government, but especially in the Democratic party.

Best of luck to you in the primaries, and thank you for restoring a little bit of my faith in America.

Sincerely,

Wil Wheaton
Pasadena, CA

Comments

[TheGibson]

Amen. I also sent letters to both of my Senators yesterday. We too must get off our asses and do something.

[rob]

Did you ship the softcover backlog yet? Need by xmas.

[stoolpigeon]

"and now the vast majority of Americans who are begging congress to do something -- to do anything -- to stop this tyrannical lunatic before it's too late to save our country."

"Leadership is doing the right thing when it's risky and when it's unpopular."

So basically you feel that Bush is a real leader - you just don't like the direction?

[zizban]

Here is what I wrote on Crooks and liars yesterday:

Dear Senator Dodd,

There will come a time when historians will look back on our current era and take account. It is the duty of Congress to be a third branch of government, to have checks and balances on on the Executive branch.

Ever since the President took office, those checks and balances have been absent. The President and Vice President have used fear to as an excuse to destroy our civil liberties and to increase the power of the Executive in ways not intended by the founders of our great nation.

History will take account of those who stood up in this time of darkness and crisis, who said ‘enough is enough’ and began to turn the tide back and to restore the balance.

I commend Senator Dodd for his stand. I only wish other Senators would do the same.

Christopher Turkel
Cheshire, MA

[Proto]

Romans called those not involved in politics, idiots. It's good to be involved, even if on the opposite side of so many issues. Merry Christmas!

[Leadpipe]

"and now the vast majority of Americans who are begging congress to do something -- to do anything -- to stop this tyrannical lunatic before it's too late to save our country."

"Leadership is doing the right thing when it's risky and when it's unpopular."

So basically you feel that Bush is a real leader - you just don't like the direction?

He said "doing the *right* thing"

[Quadropheniac]

How does one define the fine line between "tyrannical lunatic" and "real leader?" As we can see Wil has drank the Kool-aid.

[0ccam]

Clinton and Obama are too busy running for office to do anything with their current offices.

Candidates that are campaigning should not be allowed to do so while they still hold another office.

[Wil]

"Drank the Kool-aid?"

What the hell are you talking about?

[Darth Paradox]

Dodd's opposition to the bill - or at least his willingness to stand up and do something about it - was inspired and propelled by citizen action. It's a pretty interesting story - Greenwald has details.

[The Trash Queen]

To be fair, Wil, part of the reason the Dems haven't been able to get very far yet is that they just don't have the numbers to override vetos or get supermajorities when needed for other things. Half of congress just isn't enough for any real control.

Yes, some Dem leaders have been chicken shits, but that's less of a problem than the sheer numbers issue.

And YES on the Edwards support. Hil is a corporate shill and Obama is inexperienced (and the GOP candidates are warmongers, religious nuts or completely *koff*RonPaul*koff* out of their minds.) Edwards is the only guy out there who really has a plan to fight the corporate overlords who have decimated our government and the economy in the name of greed.

[timewalker2099]

Ok, so part of me is saying Dodd is going to see this and go "OMG! Wil Wheaton totally e-mailed me! This is going in my LJ!"

And the other part of me is just going, "Bravo and well said, Wil."

However, looking at how overwhelmingly the FISA bill passed, it looks like Reid was just doing what the majority wanted, which is really fucking sad in this case.
I miss my country.

[Andrew]

To be fair, Wil, part of the reason the Dems haven't been able to get very far yet is that they just don't have the numbers to override vetos or get supermajorities when needed for other things. Half of congress just isn't enough for any real control.

The Dems in Congress have the power to tell the President, "We can't force you to sign our bills, but they're the only bills you're going to get." They may not be able to override his veto just on their own numbers, but they certainly do NOT have to play lapdog for the White House.

[Sandra L.]

Right on! I'm currently "undecided" in the primary election - as in, when the caucuses come around, I'll support (within reason) whoever has the best chance of keeping Clinton from getting the nomination. I really want to like Obama, but he was awfully quick to run to the wishy-washy, so-called "center" and follow Clinton's lead. He seems to have been indoctrinated already into the inside-the-Beltway groupthink. I like Edwards' talk this time around - he's clearly just saying what we want to hear (he's another DLC Dem, after all), but at least he seems to have a clue what we want to hear. Now, though, I'm seriously considering going into the caucuses supporting Dodd - then switch if I need to in order to keep a precinct vote from Clinton. (I don't know if they do caucuses in CA, but let me tell you, they're all about that kind of compromise and deal-making on a very local level - very exciting and participatory.)

[Emma]

This is a great email, Wil. Far too often we only send emails and letters when we're unhappy about something. It's nice to send a letter of thanks every now and again. And even nicer to receive one, I imagine!

[ToddCommish]

Wil, sometimes, you give me hope that your strident liberal bleating will eventually lead you in a rational direction.

"Of course, the Democratic leadership has been a pathetic, embarrassing, contemptible, miserable failure, and now we see that not only have they enabled Bush's insanity, they've been willing participants"

This is an honest, eyes-open assessment. And the exact reason why they lost two elections to someone even Republicans will admit isn't the brightest light on the tree. Democrats seem to believe that sound bites = sound governance, and that pandering to the media is the best way to get elected. Both sides need to form PLANS for the country, not just criticisms of the past. Frankly, I'm not sure either party is up to that.

[Aldora]

If Dodd, Kucinich, or Gravel get the nomination (or vice-president, or something, hopefully our country will begin to turn around. Politics is something I am very passionate about, and even though I rarely respond here, I felt compelled to.

It was like..

"Dood, Wil totally has the same ideas as me.....awesome!"

[Wil]

Wil, sometimes, you give me hope that your strident liberal bleating
will eventually lead you in a rational direction.

Wow. That's one of the most insulting, belittling things that's been said to me all year. I'm so profoundly offended, I should probably just stop typing now.

[ToddCommish]

At least you took in the spirit in which it was offered...

Merry Christmas, if I'm allowed to say that.

[Exurban Mom]

Senator Dodd has done something so important for our country, and I'm impressed that he took time out of Iowa to do it, while Clinton and Obama remained on the stump (though they took enough of a break to sent out an "attaboy" press release).

I faxed my senator yesterday, and he was among those who spoke so eloquently on the Senate floor in support of Dodd. While I'm not sure about Dodd for president, I admire and respect his principled stand on FISA.

Keep on with the strident liberalism, Wil. People who hate all politics usually believe they are so above it all, and they are, because the gasbag that is their head has achieved escape velocity.

[Wil]

Merry Christmas, if I'm allowed to say that. Oh please. Take your fucking "war on Christmas" strawman someplace else.

See? I should just stop typing.

But Merry Christmas, in any event. In fact, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and happy whatever it is you celebrate that makes you happy, because that's what the whole season is about.

Hey, I know! I'll make a donation to the ACLU in your name, so we can all feel safe to celebrate -- or not -- however we want.

[bionicslovana]

"Drank the Kool-aid?"

What the hell are you talking about?

Wil,

I believe that would be a rather tasteless reference to the Jonestown Massacre (Wikipedia), a mass murder-suicide where nearly 1,000 men, women and children (members of the Peoples Temple) died by drinking poisoned Kool-Aid/Flavor-Aid.

[Exurban Mom]

Merry Christmas, if I'm allowed to say that?

Ahhhh, it becomes clear! Our friend Todd is a falafel man!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013043mackris1.html

[love2all]

I still am disturbed at the amount of people who truly do not understand my position (and yours, Wil, since we seem to have very similar political beliefs).

I don't understand why it's so wrong, in the eyes of some people, to:

stand up and ask for change to wake up and refuse to be zombified
to want an end to innocent slaughter
to want a TRUTHFUL RATIONAL answer out of own government and President
to have the right to be ANGRY AND PROTEST when elected officials do not do the job they were called to do.

Last I checked this was the U.S. of Fucking A and I'm fucking pissed off. I was livid when I heard that congress was going to go ahead and give Shrub more money for this war.

Wh.. how... Is this the Mob? What have they been slipping our Democratic Senators, Dumbfuck Shutuppus pills? Glad to head Dodd hasn't taken the medicine.

I'm angry too (can you tell? I'm rambling and probably not making sense). And investigating other parties. I'm NOT happy with our Democratic party.

[love2all]

That would be "hear Dodd hasn't taken the medicine."

See what happens when I'm angry? Yes... "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry"

And all that jazz.

Hey, what's Canada like, anyone? Nice? Are the politicians truthful? Do they have cable?