They always pay the price for our stupidity, whether it is the birds, or dolphins from an oil spill, or cats and dogs slaughtered in gas chambers because their ignorant owners didn't bother to spay or neuter their pets.

I am so sad for the animals.

They sometimes make themselves a distraction, but they are always in the thick of things!

(cross-posted at DailyKos)

Vice-President Gore,

You get it. You understand what the administration has done to our Constitution, specifically our 4th Amendment. You understand that intelligence was manipulated by the administration, that torture was committed in the name of the United States and that President Bush used the fear of terror and 9/11 to paralyze the citizens of this nation as he erased parts of the Constitution to give himself more power. You are one of the few Democrats who understand what has gone on in the past 4 1/2 years, and you are one of the few with the courage to have called the truth as you have seen it. The abuse of our nation by those who use fear has got to stop.

I understand terror. My husband, a now-disabled NYC firefighter, was working on 9/11, and until late that afternoon, I thought that he was dead. He was then disabled by cleaning up the WTC site, cleaning up in air that Christine Todd Whitman of the EPA said was "acceptable." He now has a permanent lung disease. Another crime of not caring by this administration. I resent how the adminstration has used our tragedy and the tragedy of thousands of other Americans for their power grab. And I know that you resent what they are doing too. That is why I am imploring you to make the personal sacrifice and step up now, and declare that you are going to run for President of the United States in 2008.

Many senators and governors in both parties have already said that they are going to run for President. Only one, Russ Feingold, has actually tried to hold this adminstration accountable for their smashing of our Bill of Rights. We need someone of your stature to stand up and stand with Russ Feingold - someone who a majority of Americans know and a majority of Americans respect. I know that it must be disheartening what the media did to you, what the Republicans did to you. But after the debacles of Bush and Cheney, I would bet that even more Americans are now ready to hear your voice. And we need your voice.

We need your voice, calling this administration to heel on the Rule of Law. We need your voice calling out the violators of our Constitution. Your speeches have been effective, but are not enough. Were you to declare for Presidency, you would get instant attention. An instant audience. Yes, the right wing talking heads would say you are calling Bush out for purely political purposes, but the 34 to 36% of people who still have any good feeling for this administration are the only ones who would listen, and you will never get them anyway.

So I respectfully ask you to consider: consider putting yourself into the tumbrel again, consider putting your life on hold and your beliefs up to the light again for all to see. Perhaps you were too early for our nation; perhaps we had to learn to not take good government for granted the hard way. I know I did. Perhaps it was meant for you to wait and do this now.

Because I really think your nation needs you.

C'mon, DUers, most of us do NOT want Hillary, DLC sell-out that she is. We want a real progressive. But it is kind of embarrassing that the GOP seems more serious about Condi than we are about any woman other than Hillary.

Who else do we have?? I really like Deb Wasseman Schultz, who I first heard during the Schiavo mess. She is smart, presentable and very sincere. Who else?? Boxer - I think she is considered too liberal to survive (but I LOVE and RESPECT her!) Anyone??? Anyone??? Please help me not be embarrassed when right wingers sing the praises of Condi, and I don't have a real female candidate!!

Is this a new tactic of those who hate America?? What is next - putting impeach signs in public bathrooms, or something?? What is wrong with these people - they truly hate America!!!