Kohl's response to my letter concerning election fraud

[madison2000]

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your
concerns about the outcome of the 2004 Presidential election. I
value the input I get from people back home in Wisconsin, and
would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns.

As you know, the 2004 Presidential election brought forth
candidates that demonstrated the vitality of the American system
of government and of the American people. The experience and
wealth of knowledge that each candidate brought into the race
made it one of great competitiveness. This year's Presidential race
presented the voters with a real choice on the issues. From taxes to
prescription drugs, education to homeland security, there were
vivid differences among the candidates.

Throughout the campaign, Wisconsin residents heard first
hand from both major Presidential candidates. Reaching record
numbers, 73 percent of eligible voters in Wisconsin voted in this
election. Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry's campaign
efforts paved the way for a popular vote victory in Wisconsin.

The 2000 presidential election raised several concerns
about current voting technologies and continued uncertainty
through the 2004 presidential election. The Help America Vote
Act of 2002 and other legislation helps ensure that every citizen
has an opportunity to vote and to have that vote counted. I
understand your dissatisfaction with the results of the 2004
election and with recent publicized claims of voter
disenfranchisement and voter fraud. I agree that these allegations
must be investigated to the fullest extent possible because every
eligible citizen in this nation must have an equal opportunity to
exercise the constitutional right to cast a vote in federal elections.

Senator John Kerry has already conceded the election and
there are no pending investigations that will result in sufficient
votes being changed so as to alter the outcome of this election. I
did not believe there was anything to be gained by objecting to the
electoral vote ballot certification with regard to the state of Ohio.
The Senate confirmed the certification of electoral votes voting 74
to 1 to overrule Senator Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) objection.

President Bush and his party have set forth a broad new
agenda with many specific goals and proposals. I agree with them
on some parts of this agenda and disagree with others. When we
agree, I will work to pursue our common vision for the country.
When we disagree, I believe it is part of the healthy democratic
debate that allows our nation to move ahead - sometimes slowly -
but always in a manner that takes the interests of all Americans
into account.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please
feel free to contact me should you have any other concerns you
wish to discuss.


Sincerely,


Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator

[WI_DEM]

1. I have a friend

who got the same exact letter from Kohl.

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. These guys are masters at PR and damage control

I doubt the senator wrote the text of this form letter, but it would have been designed to displease as few as possible while promising as little as possible. Politics.

[madison2000]

3. It basically says absolutely nothing. Big surprise.

I'm more interested in what Feingold has to say.

[Goldeneye]

4. I got that exact letter....

Thanks a lot Kohl.:thumbsdown:

[gumby]

5. If a Pink Tu-Tu could write,

I imagine it would have said the same thing.

Sad.

[Wisc Badger]

6. You are lucky to get a letter/response

Kohl's normal approach to constituent's is to ignore them until six months before and election when he starts writing checks and blanketing the air waves with ads.

He gets elected/re-elected because he in effect buys the election and scares off any one to run against him and draws token GOP opposition.

Some one tell me what "No one's Senator but yours" has done since he got elected in 88. Not one piece of meaningful legislation and like I said you never hear from him or about him until the summer before re-election.

I hope he retires, let Baldwin (that would be an interesting race) or Faulk run for the senate, at least they might know what to do with the seat if they got it.

Kohl, yuk.:puke: :argh:

[madison2000]

9. Can you imagine Tommy vs. Tammy?

That would be rich!

:bounce:

[Wisc Badger]

10. Pay cash money to se it!

:evilgrin: :bounce:

[rodeodrive1]

11. It wouldn't turn out well

Tommy would win. She could not be elected statewide.

[ewagner]

7. Pathetic

If there was a good Progressive to replace him, I'd jump on board in a minute.............

[ooglymoogly]

8. the hypotenuse of the compound fracture signifies a pantograph

on the nw by sw exact parameters, wind velocities considered when temperatures rise to unexplainable levels of thrust and suction on all probable glibness of grandable numbers, frangible considerations aside.....bla...bla...bla

[Lizzie Borden]

12. I got that exact same letter

from him. He is such a jerk.

[rodeodrive1]

13. You got that right

If he doesn't retire, Tommy will take him out EASILY. Kohl is not Feingold.

[mark414]

16. um...kohl wins by bigger margins than feingold

[rodeodrive1]

17. He wins against no-names

Kohl buys his seat each time, against NOBODYS. TT would be a horror story to run against.

[sybylla]

18. And how do you think Tommy got his seats?

His war chest was always much bigger than his opponents. And, with the exception of the first campaign for governor, were all against people equally as NOBODY as Kohl's opponents.

You're beginning to sound like quite a fan of our former governor, Rodeodrive1. At least that's the impression I usually get from single issue posters. Have you nothing else to talk about but how you worship Tommy-boy?

[rodeodrive1]

19. ROTFLMAO!!!! I ain't no fan of TT

I can't atand Tommy, but we have to face facts about him. HE CAN WIN. Just like the GOPers have to face the facts that FEINGOLD wins. Simple as that. I also have a VERY big interest in US Senate races. TT did NOT want to run against Feingold, as that would have been a dogfight, but he will not have that kind of a problem with Kohl, who let's face it, is a lousy candidate, and campaigner. Feingold has always been a GREAT candidate.

[AllyCat]

20. Sybylla, I'm going to have to go ahead and agree with Rodeo

Tommy is awful. We all know that. But for whatever reason, Wisconsinites look at him drunk on TV blathering on about the Badgers or the Packers or whatever, and they say "Now THAT'S a guy I can party with!"

Kohl doesn't stand a chance. He is a weak candidate. I signed those petitions and never even got the form letter everyone got here. In fact, I've gone to his office to meet (with staffers, not him) and have never had so much as a postcard in the mail saying "Thanks for your interest". Feingold writes well-scripted form letters with some substance on every single petition, email, or letter I write him.

People will see TT as Their Guy and Kohl, the Vote Buyer. Even if TT buys his own votes, which he probably does, he would win this match up in no time.

It's clear Rodeo doesn't like TT, but has seen this guy in action, an atrocity I, and many of us, have thankfully been spared. Hence the appearance of "single-issue" poster.

Now how do we pool our resources and distaste for this moran and beat him against anyone, including Kohl?

[sybylla]

21. Then we agree to disagree

As for one-issue posters, there is a fine line between having a fetish and being a fan. I admit that perhaps I assumed too much.

Regardless, I would presume that someone who appears to know so much about politics would have more to contribute to political discussion than to parrot Tommy Thompson's name on all threads even remotely relevant to him. IMHO, the TT horse has been beaten nearly to death. But of course, that appears to be my opinion alone.

[rodeodrive1]

22. Thank you, Ally

All of us combined with Mother Teresa could not help Kohl defeat TT. There is no great loyalty to Kohl, as there is to Feingold. People don't care what happens to him.... including Dems. Also, it looks like TT WILL run again, and the word is, FOR THE SENATE. Read this gem: http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jan05/294322.asp

[MessiahRp]

14. I hate to tell you this..

But ALL elected officials send form letters for issues. They feel it's too time consuming to respond to each constituent individually on each issue so they draft a letter pertaining to a specific issue and have their staff members determine which letter fits best.

Kohl does it, Feingold does it, everyone does it. I have received similar letters from my Republican representative Tom Petri regularly (since I am always sending opposition letters to his positions) and I receive those letters even from my Republican State Senator Carol Roessler!

You'd think the local reps would be above that but they're not.

What you should be thankful for though is that the letters even came off as a reply to your letter in the first place. Petri often sends me letters that are completely off topic or roam in subject matter (I sent him one about "partial birth" abortion and he called me someone that would support segregationist policies.... huh?).

Rp

[madison2000]

15. I know that they're form letters, but getting one is still better than not

A couple of years ago I wrote/emailed the entire Senate regarding the extension of unemployment benefits. Same letter to all. Kohl and Feingold wrote back to me, and so did 5 other Dem senators, including Daschle and Wellstone, to name two. It meant a lot to me that they responded and showed me that they cared about the issue.

What's really bad is when your own Senator cares so little about an issue that they don't even have a form letter response to it.

I notice when I go to the congressional websites to send an email they have a topic list, and election reform is never on it.