On 30 Nov 2004 I sent the following letter to Senator Kerry & ....

[understandinglife]

...this afternoon I called his DC (vmail only) and Boston (very pleasant person answered phone and willingly took my message as she noted that 'every phone is busy.')

I do not have a problem with the fact that Senator Kerry decided to remain out of the picture during the weeks since 2 Nov 2004.

I understand the need for what developed in response to systemic, multi-faceted disenfranchisement had to be the result of a large 'grass roots' effort. That has happened. "We The People..." means something to me that it didn't before 2 Nov 2004; and much of that is due to interactions with many, many individuals I did not know before 2 Nov 2004 (and many of whom I only know by names like "TruthisAll" and "pointsoflight" and .....).

It now seems wise that Congressman Conyers and his colleagues have had that enormous 'grass roots' effort propel and support them in their actions without the distraction of a 'media circus.'

But, I decided last night that I had to revisit my letter to Senator Kerry and think hard about sharing it with all of you as well as what I should say when I called his offices today.

My message to Senator Kerry, today, was not different than it was to him on 30 November 2004.

We Have No Election.

John Kerry cannot 'win'; George Bush cannot 'win.'

With the current national election we have reached the moment when we decide if our franchise of democracy wins or loses.

That is what is at stake. If the challenge does not proceed and if the 109th US Congress, our representatives, do not act in an aggressive, creative and flexible manner, beginning tomorrow our Democracy is over.

In that spirit, and in the spirit of my letter, it is my opinion that Senator John Kerry must be in one and only one place at 1pm EST, 6 Jan 2004 -- in the Joint Session of the 109th US Congress.

Each of us, tomorrow, at 1pm EST will need to look in a mirror and ask ourself one simple question -- what am I prepared to DO irrespective of the outcome of the challenge.

In my opinion, no matter what happens after that Joint Session begins, what we think about "America" and what we are going to have to do to restore our franchise of democracy is going to take more zeal, courage and very hard and sustained effort than many any of us have ever had to dedicate to nurturing and protecting our "more perfect Union."

I am confident that we will in_DEED prevail.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Honorable Senator John F. Kerry
US Senate
BY FAX: [phone] & 617.248-3870

30 November 2004

Dear Senator Kerry,

Subject: W 2: Democracy O-ver ?

I ask you two questions:

1. Are we prepared to let that happen?

2. Who is the only person who can lead an effort to change the score to W out: Democracy, the Winner?

I can answer the first question only for myself, obviously. The answer is No.

In my opinion the only person who can lead all of us to the only victory that matters is you, Senator Kerry. I urge you to realize that fact and the fact that it is better to make a valiant attempt now rather than deluding ourselves that we are going to get another chance. Because, foul ball, strike 1 was 2000; foul ball, strike 2 was 2002; foul-tip was 2 Nov 2004, and we can't wait for the next pitch for several obvious reasons.

Our opponent truly controls the scoreboard, owns the field, and has been showing our Democracy the exit since 9 Dec 2000. We must refuse to leave; we must insist that the third pitch was no different than 1 and 2 -- spitballs.

Thus, Senator Kerry we all need to focus.

We must assert that the only 'winners' in a franchise of democracy are supposed to be the stakeholders, the citizens, who irrespective of what happened to their candidate, got to swing at legal pitches and didn't have the score changed from 3 to 0, and reported as a mandate.

Senator Kerry you cannot truly 'win' no matter what the numbers in OH, or FL, or..., happen to be.

Why do I say that without reservation -- well, let's reflect on what would it mean for you to "win" the current "election"?

What exactly would you and our Democracy be winning?

An HR and Senate controlled by Republicans; an intractable Iraq; a close to collapsing debt structure; a fanatical bunch of neocons who'd never let up; a voting system that you would not be able to reform because of the intransigence you would face from a Republican controlled Congress; a media that has shown zero interest in finding the truth, in defending the disenfranchised, and on and on.

You and your fellow patriots would arrive at 2006 and face a disaster that would make Newt's ravage of the Democrats in 1994 look like child's play.

In my opinion, you and Senator Edwards have only one realistic option - declare the current election process invalid, demand a comprehensive audit and commit to one of two outcomes:

1. Audit shows Bush 'won,' so be it;

2. Audit shows you 'won,' then you demand a re-vote using a fair and legitimate system and you abide by the outcome.

I am suggesting that you and Edwards take the type of courageous and selfless action that might just rescue our democracy franchise.

You need to call the spitball for what it was in 2000, and in 2002 and on 2 Nov 2004 -- a systematic attack on our Constitutional rights and our value proposition to all of humanity.

You, along with all of us who are dedicated to our Democracy, should not waste another second trying to 'win' something that simply cannot legitimately be 'won'; the other team not only breaks the rules, they control the scoring process, the umpires and the media.

Senator Kerry you must lead from a position of selfless service to the franchise.

From that vantage, with that sudden jolt to everyone's attention, you will have earned the moral and patriotic authority required to convince millions of Americans to shout -- "Halt, prove to us our vote was counted as we intended. And, for all those who were prevented from voting, let them vote, now.

Rev Jackson got a bit of attention yesterday by saying 'fine with win and lose, but let's count first.'

Just imagine what would happen Senator if you said 'we have nothing to win, we have everything to lose if we first do not determine exactly what happened in this election and if we do not insist that those who were disenfranchised are permitted to express their vote before anyone claims to be the Next President of the United States of America.'

And, just imagine the power and credibility you would have if you stood before all the Nation, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and committed pledged yourself to this commitment:

'Even if the numbers swing in our favor, the current system is so bankrupt that we will insist on a re-vote, using a fair, legitimate process to ensure that whomever then 'wins' will truly have done so knowing that every eligible voter is confident that they had equivalent access to vote and confidence that their vote was counted exactly as they intended.'

Senator Kerry history is happening and it is a broad, black stroke being painted over our Constitution, our heritage and our credibility -- if you do not lead now, in a way no less dramatic and courageous as the Founders, as Lincoln and as FDR, our franchise is over.

I will be there next to you; I will take as many hits as I can withstand to protect you; I will die at your side and, at 57 years of age and having witnessed as an MD exactly what death is, I assure you, these are not idol or idealistic words. This is a commitment from someone who fully recognizes that we either halt the next pitch or what we call "America" is no longer a democracy franchise.

Awaiting orders, Senator Kerry.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Halt, Audit & Prove My Vote Counts, Now"

[bleever]

1. As always, UL, a thoughtful and inspiring post.

Thank you.