Shock & Outrage

Of late I've felt impotent as a citizen of the United States, a taxpayer, a voter. It troubles me deeply that the corruption and deception practiced by the Bush Administration goes on, unpunished. It sure as hell wasn't this easy when Clinton was president. Remember Whitewater and Lewinsky? -- those "scandals" dragged on and on, and Republicans talked like it was the end of the world. But very few Republicans seem troubled by the near daily deaths of Americans in Iraq. I can't tolerate the hypocrisy...

June 2, 2005


Senator Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Senator Boxer:

Inre: Bush Lies…Downing Street Memo…Lack of Outrage…Congressional Hypocrisy

I may be slow on the uptake, but if my memory serves, the United States Congress impeached President Clinton for lying under oath about a sexual dalliance with an intern. National security wasn’t threatened by the affair, and as far as I know, no one was killed, wounded or maimed by Clinton’s indiscretion.

Those of us opposed to the invasion of Iraq knew the conflict was bogus from the start, and now the Downing Street memo appears to confirm our suspicion that President Bush flat out lied to Congress and the citizenry.

And yet, in a display of hypocrisy and cowardice that will surely stand as a low point for Congress and the Senate, neither body appears to have the will to investigate the President’s lies; the cost to the United States in terms of soldiers killed or wounded; taxpayer money wasted; lost international prestige and trust; not to mention the horrific cost to Iraqis.

Despite the cheerleaders on the Fox Network, Iraq is headed for a protracted civil war and years of instability.

The decision to take the country into armed conflict is the most serious decision a president and congress can make and deserves rigorous, unbiased debate and an honest assessment of aims and ends based on verifiable facts. Any violation of this strict standard should hold serious consequences for the nation’s leadership.

The Bush Administration clearly lied about the need to invade and occupy Iraq. Why can’t we hold them accountable? Why is President Bush able to strut around, consequence free? Why are Rumsfeld and Cheney virtually untouchable?