FZ2878

Mr. President, on that night in November, when the news came through that you’d been elected President of the United States, though I was sitting at home, I shed tears of joy along with Jesse Jackson, and millions of other Americans across this land. For once in my life, I voted for change and for a moment it seemed as though the dream could actually become reality, this country really could hold its high up again as the land of laws and freedom.

To this day, I don’t regret casting my ballot for you, because I sincerely believe my other choice would have been a vote for national catastrophe, both economically and diplomatically. I firmly believe John McCain would have led us down a road to militaristic isolationism that would have further destabilized our world, and possibly even led to even more war than we face today.

Mr. President, you and I are both liberals, maybe one more than the other, but liberals nonetheless, and as liberals we both understand, that there is no free ride, and very little time for a honeymoon, because we both know we can’t afford to take one. Unlike the conservatives who will back their leader until they see it is political suicide to remain on the sinking ship, with us, if you screw up, we’re not afraid to raise our eyebrows and tell you so. We are not the party of ideological lemmings.

Follow up:

Mr. President, on the subject of torture you were right to stop it, but you are dead wrong to obstruct in any way an investigation as to whether anyone in the Bush Administration, including the former President and Vice President broke not only United States law, but international law as well. And you would be even more wrong to discourage any actions taken based on those findings. Of course we must move forward, but we cannot erase our past no matter how sullied it is. To do so sets precedence for future administrations that its okay to disregard the laws and the Constitution.

When you were sworn in front of millions of Americans and millions abroad, you took the same oath that all of the great and not so great Presidents before you have taken.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Many may argue that of the oath he took twice, George W. Bush failed on all counts. I disagree, because though he didn’t do what he swore to do, I think he did do it to the best of his ability, which is a sad testament to him as a person, as a president and to the voters who elected him once due to name recognition, and the second time due to fear.

Please think about every word that you spoke on the campaign trail and on that cold January day. Think about that wonderful document that you swore to protect and then justify how you can selectively choose parts of it to uphold, and ignore other parts for political expediency.

You are already unlike any president we’ve had for many decades, and for that we thank you, but remember, we’re both liberals, and the honeymoon is over. It’s better to expose the truth about the Bush Administration than to perpetuate the lies and pardon the crimes. Do this for the nation, the world community, and the American people. History will thank you for it.

William S. James, Liberally uneasy