On May 19, 2001 a young man raised his hand and swore an oath to defend and protect our country from all enemies foreign or domestic. He chose a tough path he chose infantry because he wanted to learn and do it all he wanted to be the best at his profession you see he had dreamed of being a soldier or something of that calibre. He moved fast in his new world attaining the rank of Sergeant in 3 years having declined it at least once. His path took him to Germany, Kosovo and finally Iraq. During a mission he gave his life for his buds, the children of Iraq, the children of America and for our Freedom. Some foolishly will say he gave his life in vain - for a lie - those are the people who do not understand the gift of our Freedom.


The gift of our Freedom comes with a price. The price we pay for our freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom to live in the greatest country is that we must take an active part in our government - government of the people, by the people and for the people. We must use our freedom of speech to speak out when the government of the people is not doing what the people want. We must use that freedom of speech to reach out to our media and elected officials to ensure that they know what we want. We want our government to protect us from all enemies - foreign or domestic! With that protection we can enjoy our lives - assured that all means necessary are being taken to keep us safe.


It is time for the price to be paid - we must each speak out to our local and national media and to those who we have asked to govern for us. We need to let them know that we want them to protect us - no that we demand they protect us from the terrorists that seek to undermine every aspect of our lives.


For over a year Congress has struggled to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). They were able to pass a temporary fix called the Patriot Act last year, but without a permanent fix, the Protect America Act expired on February 16, 2008. FISA has always allowed the intelligence communities - military and civilian to monitor terrorist communications overseas but a judicial ruling last year put that authority into question, now leaving our country, and more importantly our heroes fighting for us, in greater danger from terrorists. The Senate passed a bipartisan Bill in February to reinstate this protection, which includes retro-active protection for telecommunications companies who helped the government monitor foreign terrorists after the 9/11 attacks. The House Speaker refuses to bring this Bill to the House floor for a vote even though a bi-partisan majority say they will vote for passage of the Senate Bill. The House did pass a Bill but it was much weaker and the Senate will not pass it and the powers that be in the House knew that would happen.

Currently a "discharge petition" is being circulated among the Representatives. This discharge petition is the means by which the minority can demand an up or down vote on the floor of Congress bypassing the Speaker. It takes courageous individuals to do the right thing. 21 "Blue Dog Democrats" signed a letter to Speaker Pelosi in January, 2008 citing the need for a strong FISA bill and saying they are willing to step out in support of the bipartisan Senate legislation; opposing their party leadership's stand on the issue. Representatives Baca (CA), Barrow (GA), Bean (IL), Berry (AR), Boswell (IA), Boyd (FL), Ellsworth (IN), Matheson (UT), Melancon (LA), Moore (KS), Pomeroy (ND), Ross (AR), Holden (PA), Space (OH), Tanner (TN),Davis (TN), Wilson (OH), Carney (PA), Cramer (AL), Shuler (NC), and Moore (KS) need to hear from their constituents -

1) That we thank them for their courage in signing the letter in January
2) That we understand they are under tremendous pressure from their leadership not to sign the discharge petition
3) That they need to give the intelligence community the tools they need to keep us safe and PROTECT OUR HEROES who are fighting overseas.
4) And that they need to do the right thing in protecting our country now!

Defending our Democracy - what price will you pay today to ensure it continues for our children tomorrow?


Merrilee Carlson, mother of Sgt. Michael Carlson
Shrek's Mom