Yesterday, while I was preparing this post to schedule for Wednesday, it was raining here in my corner of the world, with occasional thunderstorms. Sammy, my big coward of a cat was scared all day, hiding most of the time, and only coming out when the bowling balls quit rolling across the sky. When all was quiet for a time, he came into my office to sit on the desk and look out the window, and was quite content until this leaf landed on the outside sill. He jumped, then growled and hissed and ran away.
Silly kitty!
But I love him, anyway.
On Saturday, October 6th, Beto O’Rourke sent a letter to his supporters that was his thoughtful response to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. It does also contain some campaign rhetoric, but that is no surprise. Beto is running for office after all, 🙂
With the permission of Beto’s Campaign Staff, I would like to share the letter.
Today, the Senate voted on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. If I were in the Senate, I would have voted no.
The events of the past two weeks — including Dr. Ford’s courageous, powerful, and credible testimony and Judge Kavanaugh’s temperament in his response — have only added to my concern that he does not meet the bar to serve on the Supreme Court.
I am disappointed that he was confirmed. I know that today’s news and the headlines we’ve seen over the last few weeks have been extremely difficult for many Texans and especially painful for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment — so many of whom bravely spoke out, shared their stories, and continue to lead the way. The news has also been hard on those who might feel let down after making their voices heard by calling their senators, organizing with one another, uniting for what we believe in. Today, we are going to come together for one another.
But tonight and tomorrow and in the days that follow, I want you to know that we are going to meet this disappointment weighing on many of us with the power of people who want to make sure that our government represents all of us. In a democracy, the government is the people and the people are the government. If the government does not represent the will of the people, we will change the makeup of the government.
We will ensure that the senators voting on lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court fight for people, for our rights, for our future. That they put country over party. That they bring a sense of civility and decency to what is supposed to be the greatest deliberative body in the world.
Together — not as Democrats or Republicans but as Texans and Americans — we will ensure that the next nominee to be confirmed to the Supreme Court represents all of our interests.
We will do it because in a state that is last in voter turnout — not by accident but by design — we understand the importance of voting rights.
We will do it because in a state that is the epicenter for the maternal mortality crisis — three times as deadly for African American women — we understand that Roe vs. Wade is the decided law of the land and that women should be able to make their own decisions about their own bodies, and have access to the healthcare that will save their lives.
We will do it because in a state where you can be fired for being gay and where the justice system does not serve everyone, we understand the importance of civil rights and equal justice under law.
And we will do it because we understand the need to put people over PACs, people over corporations, and people over special interests.
Thank you for staying strong for one another, for Texas, and for this country. We will not let one another down.
Whether or not you agree with everything in this letter, I do hope you agree that “In a democracy, the government is the people and the people are the government.” As well as the call for decency and civility in our government.
I have seen several BETO campaign signs in these precincts; causing me to wonder about the ideology of BETO – and now I know, thank you. The shout-out Mary Ann has gifted us with has all to “freedom” and “patriotic” language associated with the propaganda necessary to advance the seamless integration of the evil in your cause(s) to the mob you pander, cloaking the vigorous determined attempt at the rank destruction of the historical Texan family life culture(s).
My wife indicated to me this morning that you, were born in El Paso, and practice law, so my daddy. Unlike my dad, your declaration that the “justice system serves no one” in this state is, after angering, amusing – it is your ilk has made it that way – that’s your very stock and trade – legal charades. I’m glad your not a Senator, the notion that law is what ever the lawyer/judge deem it to be is repugnant to the responsible citizen. I believe it would be repugnant to the mob too, if only they knew the game: shame on y’all.
Thank you Mary Ann, I appreciate your views, generally accepted by democratic thinking folks (as depicted in your parting paragraph.)
However, by the Common Grace of the Christian God, the form of government we have in this nation is a republican – representative – limited – law determined (constitutional) form of government: not a democracy, though anyone can vote by any number of channels, as long as the look like they are of age – right?
It has been the age old effort of the forces of secularism to (as Walmart says) Roll Back the success (cost) of our founding fathers into the former despotic rule of monarchy, oligarchy, socialism, or Communism. No party affiliation necessary to accomplish their aims.
I enjoy lite reading occasionally, especially historic related fiction, what may be and the like.
As the nation becomes more and more like a compound of urban, financial destitute consumers, influenced (ruled) by media propaganda, owned and directed by the multi national corporations, its a pleasant diversion to read your material too – thank you.
Thanks so much for your reasoned response, Karl. What saddens me most about our current state of government is that it has become so much about power; whether it be the power of a particular party, or the power of a particular person. We have come so far from the representatives of the people actually representing the people. Sad indeed.
And thanks, too, for your kind words about my writing. Even when delving into controversial issues, I do try to keep it non-confrontational.