REFLECTIONS ON THE JOINT ADA/H-PD/H MEETING WITH ABERCROMBIE

The most important thing is that the two groups were substantially in agreement and showed it to Neil. His responses were generally good, although some would have favored a more fervent support for impeachment. However, in a discussion I had with him the next day he gave a useful political perspective: he was for impeachment but they need the votes from the newly elected members of Congress, many of whom were victors in Republican districts, and are a bit skitterish. Our jointly held positions as constituents will help him in Congress. Thirty years ago Sparky talked to ADA/H about impeaching Nixon in about the same way. It seemed like a long shot then, but the Sultan of Sleaze ended up resigning.
Further, I thought Neil was right to emphasize that the new Congress has to create and negotiate a new government, meaning lots of new legislation, after the ravages of Newt, Shrub and their relentless 12 years trying to sell America to the highest bidder.
On a more mundane level, Neil and I also talked about getting a way to better respond to constituents’ mail. The automatic email non-sequiturs from his office and the supposed impossibility of sending snail mail to Washington are not signs of a high level operation. Amy and Neil both said that the volume of email is overwhelming. I reminded them that 30 years ago I could always get a thoughtful reply to letters I sent Sparky or Patsy. When I suggested that Neil hire as interns some bright young English graduate students who could write and edit responsive drafts, he said that’s what he and Amy were talking over. They could hire literate and well-briefed interns to draft letters, show them to Neil for editing, and then get them out in a timely way. We’ll see. What’s the old law of bureaucracy–work swells to fill a vacuum? So eliminate the vacuum.
I hope Neil realizes that the new leadership needs to lead. Pelosi and Reid are getting some things going.
We need to get a selection of the big issues out in future meetings: things like withdrawing from a stupid war; warring only if Congress declares war; stopping the senseless killing of our own young people sent on to gratify the bloodlust of old cold desk jockeys; establishing a national single-payer health program; devising a foreign policy based on knowledge rather than blind ignorance; redirecting an economic policy that could bankrupt us like the old USSR; or using air, sun and water to create energy that does not raise the price of vegetables.
George Simson, ADA/H Board Member