AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION:

Dear Attendees of the Democratic National Convention:

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!

Remember that phrase from childhood? Maybe you read it on a calendar or on the card attached to a floral bouqet. It's become such a catch phrase that we don't think about it anymore.

But what an incredibly liberating statement it becomes when you stop to consider it. "Today" is what matters for action, "tomorrow" is endless possibilities. "Yesterday" is simply done.

Nothing we do can change the past.

EVERYTHING we do can change the future...for good or ill! And that is an incredible responsibility placed upon us both individually and collectively by whatever higher power you may believe in.

Today the eyes of the nation are on you and the convention. We have been fed this image of hysteria and venom filled riots on the convention floor and throughout the streets of Denver by the media. We wait for the chaos with all the eagerness of a NASCAR fan seated on his couch awaiting a wreck. DENY US THIS PERVERSE PLEASURE!

Take a moment before the start of this historic event and ask yourself, "What do I want my Grandchildren to be taught happened here?" And then begin the first day of the Democratic Convention and the rest of your life.

You see, I feel that this is THE election! The nation has seen just how bad it can get and we the people are the only ones who can stop the destruction of our country. (And I'm not talking about Democrats only. We the people include Independents and even some Republicans who are scared by where Bush has taken us.)

Over the past eight years, we have seen the Constitution compromised, an energy policy developed in secret by a Vice-President & the Energy Companies, we have watched 4,000 of our children and countless Iraqi children die because of non-existant weapons, we have learned to spy on our selves without warrants, we have "outed" our own spies, we have deregulated our financial institutions to the point of collapse, we have spent ourselves into record deficits.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT JOHN MCCAIN AGREED TO THIS NIGHTMARE 95% OF THE TIME!!!! That's our real enemy. Everything else is secondary. And while you are having your "carthartic moments", the Republicans are laughing at you. Because they know that nobody is better than Democrats for holding to high ideals with little thought to pragmatic solutions. Democrats don't believe in compromise. That why Independents vote for Republicans more often than not.

You see, Republicans will make a deal with the Devil to keep power (and often have I am told). Democrats will vote for Ralph Nade because Al Gore isn't green enough!

Now is the time for the Democratic Party to come together and stand up in one voice. Not because you agree with everything your party stands for...but because millions of Independent voters are watching you. Waiting for the car wreck.

Now is the time to move forward and show the undecided Independent voter that Democrats offer something different than the last eight years. You can make your actions in Denver something that promotes the greater good or gives the McCain Campaign a good laugh. And that's why today is so important for you and me and all our children.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!