Shame on Dianne Feinstein!

Dear Friends,

I LOVE CALIFORNIA! When I was fourteen, Billy Williams moved to the west coast with his family. He came back two years later with the longest hair I had ever seen on a guy. "If they let you do that in California, I want to live there," I thought to myself ... and now I do. I appreciate everything California stands for ... freedom, acceptance, compassion, and love. On Tuesday Dianne Feinstein trashed all of that.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve the nomination of Michael B. Mukasey as our next Attorney General. The vote was 11 to 8 ... Feinstein and Schumer joined the Republicans on the committee to send him to the floor of the Senate for a "probable" confirmation next week. As part of his testimony to Congress last week, Mukasey refused to define waterboarding as torture. You be the judge ... this is waterboarding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaQ1Eryjq9I

I held up a sign in the hearing room that read Shame as Senator Feinstein explained her position ... Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It was the, "I really believe that this man is going to be an independent breath of fresh air," that pushed me over the edge. When she finished, I yelled,"Shame on you Senator! Shame on you! I'm from California ..." Five policemen grabbed me roughly from behind and before I knew it I was straddling a table in the hall. Click here to see what happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBujJVKrzCY

I was booked and released from jail in a little over three hours. Feeling just a little incomplete, I went to Feinstein's office to talk with her. She wasn't in, so I left her this letter:

Dear Senator Feinstein,
I was the person arrested in the hearing room today. The police pulled me out so quickly, I didn't have a chance to finish what I wanted to say.
As you know, I was able to get out,"Shame on you Senator, Shame on you. I live in California ..."
I want to finish by saying how ANGRY your constituents are with your vote today. I'm sure you have an explanation for what you've done, but in the eyes of the world you condone waterboarding and torture.
Many of us feel you have betrayed the democrats on the Judiciary Committee, democrats in general, and Californians.
I never thought I'd say this, but I am ashamed to be a Californian.
Peace.
Jes Richardson

She claims she's voting for Mukasey because Bush might appoint someone worse during the recess. LET HIM! Congress's approval rating is 11% ... Bush's is 28%. Do you think this low rating might have something to do with the spineless nature of Congress? You had an opportunity to take the moral high road and show the world the United States Congress does not approve of torture. Why didn't you take it, Dianne ... what did Bush offer you on that helicopter ride over fire-ravaged California? http://www.kesq.com/global/story.asp?s=7265981 Are you concerned that Schwarzenegger might run against you in 2012 and you're looking for some Republican support? Or maybe you're concerned about your husband's two contracting businesses in Iraq, Perini and URS http://www.metroactive.com/feinstein/ . What about us Dianne ... your constituents!

We are tired of politicians playing with our lives, pretending to speak for us, pretending to act on our behalf when they are only concerned about their own political careers and nothing else. We want our country back!

Peace and Freedom,

Jes & Leslie

If Dianne Feinstein isn't representing you, please take a minute and call her: 202-224-3121 (The Congressional Switchboard). Those of you who live in other states, please call your Senators and tell them to vote NO on Mukasey (same number). They really do pay attention to phone calls. Meanwhile, Leslie and I will be visiting Senators personally up until the vote on Mukasey. We haven't given up yet!


Dianne Feinstein Observing Waterboarding at CNN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgHXrfLz-jg

Audio Account of Jes's Arrest:
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washington/news.aspx?id=68207

From The New York Times:
(click on the second photo for a larger image)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/washington/07mukasey.html