FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY TO THE SENATOR’S DESK
August 8, 2007

FAX TO; Senator Bill Nelson
All District Offices and
Washington, D. C.

FAX FROM: Lydia Vickers, CODEPINK
Florida For Peace/Focus on Nelson
Phone: 850-385-5322

Dear Senator Nelson,

I would like to thank you for attending the meeting with Florida For Peace members in Kissimmee, Florida yesterday, August 7, 2007. Many of us traveled a very long way to share our concerns about your support of the war in Iraq, funding torture, terrorism, Iraqi civilian atrocities, our 1st and 4th Amendment Rights, support for our troops and their families, Florida’s financial deficits, homeless and veteran issues, your responsibilities to your Florida constituents, permanent bases in Iraq and your voting record on these issues.

For me, personally, I was disappointed that you tried to put me in the uncomfortable position of arguing with you, or even worse, being lectured to about your recent yes vote on S. 1927 (to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978). It was totally unnecessary and a little unkind. None of us at the table were swayed with your lengthy discourse regarding your vote. And is was disturbing that you might use most of the little time we had with you talking rather than listening. Senator, we desperately need you to listen to us....

Your vote on S. 1927 has extended the power of President Bush’s administration and worst of all, the powers of the discredited Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales. How can you justify giving this “rattlesnake”, your words not mine, the power to spy on American citizens without warrants from the courts?

I sincerely hope you will take our challenge to become a leader, to become one of 67 senators to form a veto proof block against President Bush and his continued funding of this unjust occupation. We promised to support you if you help to end this war. And we promised to follow you everywhere and questioned everything you do if you continue supporting the republicans and the Bush administration.

Senator, there is no joy for us when we hear you lovingly introduced at the New Port Richey town hall as “Our Favorite Senator” by County Commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand, a republican. We know you represent the entire state. We hope you remember that Florida Democrats voted to put you in office and Florida Democrats will choose to support another candidate if you continue supporting this war. We need your help and you need our votes.

I will be in Washington, D.C. for most of September, 2007. Other Florida For Peace members are joining tens (may hundreds) of thousands of Americans to lobby congress and protest in the streets of our nation’s capital. I look forward to seeing you in the hallways of Congress and will be visiting your office regularly.

Thank you, again, for meeting with Florida For Peace. Although there wasn’t enough time allowed for a sincere conversation with this awesome group of activists, I do appreciate that you gave us a small part of your busy day.

I look forward to meeting with you again soon.

Peace,

Lydia Vickers
CODEPINK Tallahassee/Florida
Co-founder/Florida for Peace

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