Dear Rep. Carter

I applaud the actions of Congressional Democrats and the brave Republicans who joined them in barring the passage of the current extension of the Patriot Act bill. In light of the NY Times revelations that the Executive Branch has authorized the NSA to spy on individuals in this country without judicial review, it is imperative that Congress stand up and protect the civil liberties of its constituents. We cannot let blind fear usurp the very essence of our nation. If not a free society, then what has America? What separates the U.S. from the world is our commitment to freedom, at least in principle, and we cannot win a war against freedom by destroying it at home.

I trust that you will join those members of Congress that are standing up to the Bush administration's abuse of power. I trust that you have more integrity than to simply support a President's actions simply out of party loyalty, especially when those actions violate the very principles of that party. I trust your moral compass doesn't always point to Bush. I trust it points to what is right.