There Are Some Things Worth Losing An Election Over

Steely_Dan

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Sat Dec-08-07 12:00 PM
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There Are Some Things Worth Losing An Election Over

There Are Some Things Worth Losing An Election Over

But Oz never gave nothing to the tin man
That he didn’t, didn’t already have
And cause never was the reason for the evening
Or the tropic of Sir Galahad
---America, Tin Man

It is a clear and crisp evening in a small Iowa town. In a lecture hall at the local community college, residents gather to meet and learn more about Senator Joseph Biden.

Mr. Biden spoke on a wide range of topics from healthcare to foreign affairs. His speech is a mixture of rousing passion and quiet determination. His body language is that of a man half his age as he seemed float from one end of the room to the other. Like a wave, the residents nod in unison as a spattering of applause breaks out on salient points. No one appears to be bothered by Mr. Biden’s reported verbosity, understanding that some issues actually require full explanations. Most are amazed at the Senator’s ability to call upon the most intricate details of every subject including statistical histories and future trends. His grasp of nuance reveals his understanding of complex issues and reflects the kind of experience that could only come from 35 years in the Senate. He ends his speech, seemingly bringing together all of the issues into a single crescendo of what it means to be an American. The people in the small room respond with an enthusiastic standing ovation.

Senator Biden begins to field questions.

With each question, Mr. Biden approaches the questioner as if to make it a one-on-one encounter. The questions range in subject from the loss of his wife and child in a tragic traffic accident to the validity of global warming.

The questions turn to the war in Iraq. At one point, he is asked why the funding hasn’t been cut off as a means of ending the war and bringing our troops home. Mr. Biden contemplates the question as he returns to the small podium at the front of the room. Imbedded in his response, he clearly states that he now regrets his vote authorizing force against Iraq. As he has said many times, he fully expected that the President would have exhausted all diplomatic tools before putting our best and brightest in harms way. And then Senator Biden explained that he could never in good conscience cut off funding while American troops are on the battlefield. His statement carried with it, an air of undeniable conviction. He also stated that his vote to continue funding did not sit well with many of his democratic colleagues. And then he said this:

“There are some things worth losing an election over.”

I thought that this was a pretty profound statement. I began to ask myself, what other “things” are there that are worth losing an election over?

While we all know that the President has lied to the American people on numerous occasions, it was never made clearer than the recent revelations concerning the release of the NIE report. Essentially, the President was caught red handed lying to the American people on what he knew and when he knew it. Most recently, we have learned that the CIA has destroyed video tapes of Americans torturing “enemy combatants” and that we are led to believe that the President was unaware of these tapes.

Of course, the list of outrageous and even criminal conduct by this Administration goes way back. It includes, but is not limited to the outing of a CIA agent, illegal wiretapping, the destruction of millions of emails, the suspension of Habeas Corpus, the firing of Federal Prosecutors, the list goes on.

In addition, and what I find particularly outrageous, is the President’s mocking of the fact that he could not find weapons of mass destruction at a correspondence dinner a number of years back. While not criminal, this unforgivable event revealed a man that is absent of any decency or compassion. I have always wondered how the parents of the some 638 American soldiers that had died at that point felt about his comments.

And so, we ask ourselves, what other things are worth losing an election over?

Mr. Biden has stated in recent weeks that if the President of the United States were to bomb Iran, he would personally lead an effort to have him impeached. And while he is not a member of the House that initiates such action, he would be the driving force to ensure that criminal activity would be investigated and impeachment would be put back on the table.

There is no one who is a greater supporter of Senator Biden than me. I am supporting him for President because I believe he is the most qualified candidate to address the unique issues we face as a country over the next decade.

Sometimes the distance between the left and the right can seem like an abyss which has become wider and wider over the past seven years. Senator Biden has demonstrated his ability to bridge that distance, crossing the aisle on many occasions to accomplish meaningful legislation on behalf of the American people. This is the kind of leadership that has been missing for too long.

Yes, I am a Biden supporter because I love my country and I truly believe that he has the best chance of bringing us together, to repair our image overseas and to restore the Constitution.

However, as much as I support Mr. Biden, my concern for this country occupies a higher place in my list of priorities. I am comforted in the belief that Joe Biden shares this concern.

But I return to the question: What other things are there that are worth losing an election over?

-----------------

Mr. Biden,

I would fight to the end to help you secure the Oval Office. However, I would be willing to sacrifice your extensive skills, experience and leadership to guide us out of this morass to see impeachment proceedings brought against George W. Bush.

It IS the “thing” worth losing an election over.

I do not come to this position without considerable thought. I had to ask myself this question: Is it worth not having your leadership and experience in the Oval Office in return to having this cancer removed from our government?

I think that you would agree that America, its Constitution and the Bill of Rights are greater than any single individual under its protective umbrella. This includes the President of the United States.

Our rights are being eroded daily, more and more Americans are being killed in Iraq, our standing in the world has diminished, and LAWS have been broken. All of these serious events fall on the shoulders of Mr. Bush and his Administration. I fear that we as a country cannot afford another 12 months of the outrageous incompetence and illegal behavior that this administration has demonstrated over and over during its tenure. There is simply too much at stake.

You are a highly respected member of the U.S. Senate. Your leadership and influence on the Hill have placed you in a unique position. You can either be an outstanding President or you can fulfill the obligations set forth in the Constitution of the United States.

No one has to give you anything that you don’t already have. All of the necessary tools are at your disposal, both personal and professional.

My decision to support you for President was the result of being true to my convictions. It is not based on polls or how others may determine your electability. It is something far deeper than can be adequately expressed. I now ask you to be true to your convictions and to honor your oath of office in protecting and defending the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic.

If it must be...
This is the thing worth losing an election over.

-Paige