So many of us build up candidates to an idealized version only to be disappointed by them.  We do it with friends, loved ones, celebrities, etc.  If we desert everyone who has fallen short of our expectations, we'd all be alone. It' not just the media that builds up people just to knock them down.  We all do it.

One of my imperfections is that I listen to or read both sides and see the merits of each and agree with many of each side's arguments.  It's very frustrating for me. One of my strengths is that I listen more than I voice opinions.  I get along with most people even if I don't like everyone.  I learn a great deal by observing and asking questions.  When I speak up, I believe strongly in what I'm saying.  It's more powerful.  This diary is neither profound nor the first of it's kind.

I mostly read DailyKos, make some comments and have posted a few diaries.  At times, especially lately, I've become disenchanted with the anger and divisiveness here.  But I keep coming back because nobody and nothing is perfect.

I feel Al Gore's influence on Barack Obama's campaign.

In my opinion, Barack Obama has utilized Al Gore's The Assault on Reason to advance his campaign and begin a movement to bring back democracy.

On the use of the Internet Al Gore writes:

In fact, the Internet is perhaps the greatest source of hope for reestablishing an open communications environment in which the conversation of democracy can flourish.  It has extremely low entry barriers for individuals.  The ideas that individuals contribute are dealt with, in the main, according to the rules of meritocracy of ideas.  It is the most interactive medium in history and the one with the greatest potential for connecting individuals to one another and to a universe of knowledge.

As I was submitting my comments to a petition pleading with Congress to go forward with the impeachment hearings for Dick Cheney, it was rejected because I had already signed the petition.  I needed to express my thoughts so I decided to write a diary.

My perspective is not a deep political analysis nor a list of crimes committed.  My view is one from a parent and from an observer of behavior.  As usual, I ask more questions than have anwsers, but it may lead to an interesting discussion.

As any parent knows, if you do not provide appropriate consequences for undesirable behavior, the negative behavior tends to escalate.  Inaction is a reinforcement of the behavior because it allows the action to continue.  A family is a microcosm of society and since behavior is behavior, my theory with regard to impeachment boils down to basic parenting.  

I just googled information re the legislative process.

Unless I am incorrect in my understanding of the how a bill is passed into law, I think the FISA bill can be stopped via filibuster.  Last night, Russ Feingold objected to the FISA bill being sent to conference committtee.  I think that means that unless the House passes the same exact bill as the Senate, then the bill is held up until the objection is removed.  It looks like it is up to the House to pass a different version of the FISA bill to slow down the process if not stop it completely.  If the House passes a different version from the Senate's bill then it must go to conference.  If Senator Feingold objected to referring the Senate bill to conference, then does that stop the process?

Over the fold I posted what I found.  Please provide insight and input to help answer my question.  Thanks.  

The following is my letter to the editor regarding impeachment.  It was published in one of our weekly newspapers that everyone receives and most read.  I can't attest to my arguments being completely sound, however, they are heartfelt.  Hopefully, this letter helps put impeachment out there for people to consider and act upon.

My letter over the jump

The following are just some of my unanswered questions.  Please help me find the answers.  Feel free to add your own.

Given the public outrage over Iraq, Republican corruption, Bush's blatant ignoring of pre-Katrina warnings and post-Katrina devastation, etc., why was impeachment taken off the table at all?

Knowing that they had a slim majority at best in the Senate, did the Democrats really believe that they could pass any meaningful legislation?

Since the Senate confirmed most of Bush's nominated judges for the various levels of the federal judiciary, not to mention, Roberts and Alito for the Supreme Court, didn't the Democrats forsee the problem of holding a rogue President and Vice President to account?

Why didn't the Democrats use the power of the filibuster?

I'm an ordinary person.  I've listened to Air America Radio since it began and started reading Daily Kos during the 2004 Presidential election. I now obsessively watch C-Span 1, 2 & 3 and have even recently stepped into the blogging world.  Additionally, I've become increasingly active in local politics.

My entry into protesting the travesty of the Iraq War/Occupation began with a vigil in support of Cindy Sheehan when she first camped out in Crawford, Texas waiting to speak with President Bush.  I identified with her unending love for her child and her anger at the injustice of this unnecessary "pre-emptive" war.  I found the Bush Administration's treatment of the troops, veterans, family members and survivors of those who died despicable.  I've written letters to the editor, my Congressional representative and senators, posted some diaries on local blogs and proposed a resolution protesting the escalation and war at my local Democratic Town Committee meeting.  I feel as though I've supported the troops in crying out to end the war and in calling for the respectful treatment, financial and medical support needed for those in the military.