Open Letter to Dianne Feinstein

Sen. Feinstein:
Much of what I have to say is aimed at Democrats in general, but since you are my senator, it is you that must hear my anger and sadness. I have voted for you faithfully in every election since I moved to San Francisco in 1977, and have never been disappointed. Until now. Allowing the funding of an expensive war with a dubious, at best, mission; and caving in to ridiculous Republican obstructionism to allow the public option to die is more than my progressive values will allow. I've always voted Democrat, mostly because I have fretted over the "Nader Effect" and don't want to see Republicans win office. But as I read article after article, it has become apparent that there remains little distinguishable difference between the two parties of power. I don't know who I will be voting for in upcoming elections, but I know who I won't vote for. I am not abandoning the Democratic Party; it has abandoned me. I realize voting for a third-party candidate will likely play into the hands of Republicans, but ultimately it won't matter much in terms of policy direction; you are the party in power, winning the presidency after eight years of atrocities -- atrocities applauded by your Senate Republican colleagues. Yet today Democrats are rolling over and showing their bellies in hopes knuckle draggers like Mitch McConnell will scratch them. As Roger Daltry crooned, "The new boss is the same as the old boss." I want you to know that as an individual I like you. You carried us on your shoulder during those horrible days in San Francisco after the murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone. I will never forget that. I wish you well in the future; you are a good person. But it's time I recognize and live by the values I know to be true.
Sincerely,
Dennis Taylor