ramblings of the last American Jedi

Dear Senator,

Knowing in advance the great sense of respect you have for your constituency, our Constution and the groundbreaking political movement you started, it appears you are currently facing one of the biggest and most loaded decision you have/may ever face as a candidate – and quite possibly your Presidency.

This issue goes to the heart of the matter at hand in this great country — whether or not the body of laws that form the very fabric of our union are to be obeyed by the President or whether in fact he/she has some unknown, unreferenced and implicitly inferred authority to ignore laws that Presidential power is derived from in the first.

To walk out/cave in/tear up the existing framework for Foreign/Domestic surveillance is to abandon the pedestal upon which we – your supporters Senator Obama — placed you on.

Senator, we are not naive. As comparative bystanders, We understand that we cannot possibly conceive of the magnitude of diametrically opposed, tectonic political forces that are acting on you, your family, your thoughts, words and actions with regard to your historic run for the Presidency.  

At the same time, you must also stop, close your eyes and step outside your own experience for a moment and remember Us as we engage in and wage our own personal idealogical battles with friends, neighbors and those who seek to, both passively and actively, to invalidate our belief in and support of this Movement and what it means to be an American. In an America that is often times deeply and violently disturbed by those who seek to CHANGE IT in favor of balance, equality and justice, we need you now more than ever.

In talking to others both for and against you (and us), it has become clear that:

1. you are fulfilling your promise — one that you’ve repeatedly said is woven into your DNA – to reach out to those whose allegiance to our cause for true democracy seems a far-fetched and foolish waste of resources. But as our Candidate, the call is yours alone.

2. that in giving up ground on the left-of-center issues (aka, ”moving to the middle”) you are not making the ”safe” play, but are in fact taking a huge risk by seeking consensus with an ever- shrinking number of Americans who are not either drastically for or against something as Constitutionally relevant as UNCHEKED POWER and so, quite possibly, you are angling for a Net Loss.

It’s like the dog (pardoning) who drops one ball in favor of chasing another: Should you lose 20% of your support only to gain 10% elsewhere, you will have lost twice: First in the math, but mostly in your principles.

The “fact” is, most Americans who truly understand what is at stake here are in your corner.  Those who know that we are a Nation of Laws and those who know that a very specific set of laws (FISA) ALREADY EXIST which allow the Executive gather and monitor private communications while protecting the rights of law abiding citizens is already in place, are FURIOUS at the idea that more, unchecked power (both to “spy” and absolve the “spies”) is in the works under this law.

Conversely, those who do not understand how well protected we are under existing law are all to happy to give up rights they do not understand. In seeking to be safe from some unknown menace, this portion of the American Electorate would leave itself open to more sinister threats and abuses from within.

I leave you (and my friends and family) with this not-so-gentle reminder of where we are in this battle: Second only to Jesus of Nazareth himself, the United States of America was founded by the Greatest Bunch of Liberals That Ever Walked the Earth – both Christians and Americans alike should agree that no progress, no justice, no attainment of true freedom, security and salvation was EVER secured by bowing to a conservative establishment.

It was true for Jesus in his time and trials, it was true for Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Paine, Hancock and the rest  — and it is most certainly true now as the timeless documents inspired and authored by these Great and Unforgettable human beings are once again under all manner of assault by those who seek unchecked, unlimited power.

Simply stated, whatever the costs — WIN OR LOSE — you, sir, must not — We must not — falter in our judgment, resolve and direction at this critical juncture of the American Experiment.

 Whatever your decision on July 8th — whether your quest finds you for or against what appears to be yet another draconian overreach of Executive authority — do not fail to clearly and properly explain yourself to your faithful supporters.

We may not agree with you in the end, but to leave Us in an idealogical bind would in the end cost you much more ground than any you might win on the other side.

“Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could.” — Abigail Adams