Letter to President Bush

Below is the text of a letter I sent to President Bush.

Dear President Bush:
I want to express my anger and disappointment at the commutation of the 30 month prison sentence of Mr. I. Lewis. Libby, Jr.

I am angered because it sends a message to the American people and our allies and more importantly, our enemies, that there are two classes of justice in this country; one for the privileged and powerful and another for those not of the political elite. This nation was founded on the concept of equality before the law. That means that anyone in jeopardy before the bar of justice should meet that jeopardy on an equal footing. If people, simply because of their status or influence, can expect different treatment, our system of justice will fall like a house of cards. Your actions have set a dangerous precedence that will create more problems for future presidents. Mr. Libby should have been forced to go through the appeals process like any other citizen.

I am disappointed because your actions have lowered our nation’s stature in the community of nations. I realize that the opinion of other nations has never been important to you or your administration but it is becoming ever more evident that we will have to work with other nations to address the great social, economic and environmental problems of our age. I am also disappointed because your actions focus more scorn and cynicism to the office of president. There was a time when young people aspired to the presidency of this great nation. Do you believe that your actions have helped or hindered those aspirations? Regardless of one’s political leanings, the office of president has been one that people respect. In the final analysis, only you can judge how you have been the steward of your high office. Have you enhanced it for future office holders or have you diminished it?

Having lived all my life in Chicago, I have become very adept at recognizing political hacks of all parties and positions. You are just the latest hack with an Ivy League veneer that has made his way into the White House. You are not the first fool to occupy your office and you won’t be the last.

Your actions in regard to Mr. Libby are indicative of your entire administration. Your administration has been a monument to cronyism, favoritism, incompetence and obfuscation towards the American people whom you claim to serve but really hold in utter contempt.

I have no illusions that this note and the sentiments expressed in it will ever cross your eyes. The sycophants and ticket punchers in your administration will not permit it. I have great hope in the sensibility of the American people and they will see what you administrations and its policies have wrought and I am glad that come November of 2008, we will have the power to send you and your minions to the dustbin of history. You deserve nothing less.

Sincerely yours,
Eugene M. Giudice

Pay any Price

This is the first time in a long time I have posted to my blog and the first time I have said something political. Below is a copy of an email letter to the editor I submitted to the Wall Street Journal earlier today.

I read with much interest the report by Bobby White on page B1 of the Marketplace section from the 6 June 2007 Wall Street Journal. At the end, I was very saddened by what I read.

I was saddened because of the attitude of Ms Shelly Valerio, who is opposed to the war in Iraq but want to prevent a neighbor from making a statement about the war on his own property because of the impact on her property values.

I was born in 1964 and when to Catholic grammar school. As anyone of a similar background can tell you, we were brought up on the words of President John Kennedy. Many people tend to focus on the "ask not what your country..." quotation from his first inaugural. My personal favorite from that speech has always been "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

What has happened to this country when people could be aroused by such words to the state we have now where people will support or oppose a particular cause so long as it really does not interfere with their lives. I could care less whether Ms Valerio supports or opposes the war in Iraq. My main issue with her is she is not willing to put any "skin in the game" for her views.

America is still the greatest country in the world, in spite of our mistakes and areas in which need to improve. This greatness will decline if the cynicism of its citizens is allowed to continue unchecked. Ms Valerio's attitude is only unique in that it is an extreme form of this cynicism

The cynicism of "I'll agree with you so long as I get mine" has got to stop. It has to stop in the home, in the workplace and in the corridors of power. It has got to stop because if it does not, this republic and the ideals for which so many have sacrificed so much will become nothing but a hollow promise that will be passed down future generations.