Kohl's answer to my Solyndra query

A while back, I filled out one of those "action" things that I get by the ton, which resulted in an email sent to my Senators and Representatives requesting they look into Solyndra.

So far, only Herb Kohl has responded:
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Dear Mr. Kuecker:

 

Thank you for contacting me about the bankruptcy of solar manufacturer Solyndra.  It is prudent, especially in these tight budget times, to monitor the investments that the federal government makes.  When a company supported by government loan guarantees goes bankrupt, it is fair to ask why.

 

Recent reports indicate that Solyndra had been in financial trouble for some time.  The official overseeing the Department of Energy loan program that backed Solyndra has resigned, and Congress continues to investigate the situation.  Taxpayers deserve to know what happened to this company, and the Department of Energy should be held accountable for continuing to back Solyndra even after many signs warned of its financial instability.

 

With that said, investing in new technologies always involves some risk.  Government backing has been responsible for many breakthroughs over the years.  Government should not take on undue or irresponsible risk, but neither should it give up on encouraging clean energy manufacturing.  Creating new jobs and technology is worth a strong, determined effort.  We shouldn't shy away from it because of one failure.

 

I'll be sure to keep your concerns in mind as this issue develops in the coming weeks.  Thank you very much for contacting me.

                                                                           Sincerely,

                                                                           Herb Kohl
                                                                           United States Senator

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So - the Department of Energy is as incompetent as Eric Holder and his Department of Justice? I note you are not demanding an investigation.

I beg to differ, Senator. Government backing has certainly helped some researchers get to their discoveries, but I challenge you to show me ONE circumstance where "government backing" alone was responsible for a technology that actually helped build America's technological base.

OK, I can name one - nuclear power, and offshoot of the Manhattan Project via the US Navy. However, the original discovery that gave us the direction was by German chemists in the 1930's.

Everything else was funded by corporations or universities - federal money might have helped, but it never to my knowledge has alone produced useful results.

The only jobs government creates are overpaid and create little of value for America.

Email from Herb

Herb Kohl writes:

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Video games, junk food and television are just some of the obstacles parents have to navigate on a daily basis to keep their kids healthy.  More and more parents recognize that habits formed in childhood can easily carry through to adulthood.  Fortunately, healthy habits that help fight obesity and long-term health challenges are being reinforced in many schools. 

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition recently designated three Wisconsin schools - St. Louis School in Washburn, Sevastopol Elementary School in Sturgeon Bay, and Ashland Middle School in Ashland - as “State Champion Schools.” They were given this honor because many of their students performed exceptionally in standardized physical fitness assessments.

At a time when athletic excellence surrounds us with the success of our home-state teams, the Badgers, Packers and Brewers, we should all congratulate these students, schools and every parent who instills in their children a healthy appreciation for physical activity and lifelong wellness. I hope we can build on these good examples and continually encourage active, healthy habits for children all across Wisconsin.

Sincerely,

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Wow. One I can't bitch about hardly at all, except to point out that nowhere in the Constitution do I see any authorization for a "President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition". 

How much does this cost us? How many more "commissions" like this are out there soaking up money?

Inquiring minds want to know, Mr Most Open Government in History.

Herb Kohl on Google

Just got this. The timing is wonderful - as Google is helping host the Republican debate right now.

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Since you are reading this on your computer or smart phone, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on what has been happening with internet search competition. As Chairman of the Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, I convened a hearing today to examine the role of Google’s search engine on on-line competition and consumer choices. I had the opportunity to question Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and wanted to share with you my comments at the hearing.

Statement of U.S. Senator Herb Kohl
Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy & Consumer Rights
The Power of Google: Serving Consumers or Threatening Competition?
September 21, 2011

Today our Subcommittee meets to consider an issue that affects everyone who searches or does business over the Internet – in other words, almost everybody.  We will examine how the world’s dominant Internet search engine – Google – presents its search results to consumers and treats the businesses it competes with.  Our inquiry centers on whether Google biases these results in its favor, as its critics charge, or whether Google simply does its best to present results in a manner which best serves consumers, as it claims.
           
At the outset I wish to stress that I come to this hearing with an entirely open mind and without any pre-judgment of these issues.  My goal is to provide both Google and its critics with a forum to air their views.  In examining these issues, we recognize the incredible technological achievements of Google and the need to avoid stifling its creative energy.  At the same time, we need to be mindful of the hundreds of thousands of businesses that depend on Google to grow and prosper.  We also need to recognize that, as the dominant firm in Internet search, Google has special obligations under antitrust law to not deploy its market power to squelch competition.
           
There can be no question of the astounding achievements of Google’s search engine.  Through the magic of its search technology, Google – a company literally started in a garage by two Stanford students less than 15 years ago – has done nothing less than organize all of the billions of Internet web pages into an easily accessible listing on the computer screen.  Sixty-five to 70% of all US Internet searches on computers, and 95% on mobile devices, are done on Google’s search engine.  Millions of people everyday run Google searches to find out the answer to nearly every question imaginable, including for the best and cheapest products and services, from electronics to clothing to hotels to restaurants, to give just a few examples.  And businesses equally rely on Google to find customers.    
           
The basic premise of Google at its founding was that it would build an unbiased search engine -- that consumers would see the most relevant search result first, and that the search results would not be influenced by the web page’s commercial relationship with Google.  Its goal was to get the user off Google’s home page and on to the websites it lists as soon as possible.  As Google’s co-founder and current CEO Larry Page said in 2004, “We want you to come to Google and quickly find what you want. Then we’re happy to send you to the other sites. In fact, that’s the point.”
           
However, as Internet search has become a major channel of e-commerce, Google has grown ever more dominant and powerful, and it appears its mission may have changed.  For the last five years or so, Google has been on an acquisition binge, acquiring dozens of Internet-related businesses, culminating most recently with its proposed acquisitions of Motorola Mobility and Zagats.  It now owns numerous Internet businesses, including in health, finance, travel, and product comparison.  This has transformed Google from a mere search engine into a major Internet conglomerate.  And these acquisitions raise a very fundamental question -- is it possible for Google to be both an unbiased search engine and at the same time own a vast portfolio of web-based products and services?  Does Google’s transformation create an inherent conflict of interest which threatens to stifle competition?
          
In the last few years, Internet businesses that compete with Google’s new products and services have complained that Google is now behaving in a way contrary to free and fair competition.  They allege that Google is trying to leverage its dominance in Internet search into key areas of Internet commerce where it stands to capture from its competitors billions of dollars in advertising revenue.  Rather than fairly presenting search results, these critics claim that Google has begun to subtlety bias its search results in favor of its own services.  This conduct has the potential to substantially harm competition for commerce on the Internet, and retard innovation by companies that fear the market power of Google.    
           
Antitrust scrutiny is not about picking winners and losers, but is about fostering a fully competitive environment so that consumers can fairly pick winners and losers.  As more and more of our commerce moves to the Internet, it should be the highest priority of antitrust policymakers that the Internet remains a bastion of open and free competition as it has been since its founding.  We need to protect the ability of the next Google to emerge, the next great website or application being developed in a garage in Silicon Valley or Madison, Wisconsin. 

Sincerely,

Russ Feingold for Senate?

MoveOn.org wants us to know there's a move afoot to elect this person to Herb Kohl's soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat, thereby perpetuating at least one Demonrat senator from Wisconsin.

Didn't we just successfully get rid of the person who co-authored the McCain-Feingold First Amendment Repeal Act?

Forewarned is fore-armed...

Herb Kohl is retiring!

Long overdue, in my opinion. I hope he enjoys the nice retirement package he voted himself out of our pockets.

He's still claiming that suing OPEC through his cutely-named "NOPEC" law will lower our gas prices.

I've got an idea - OK, let's cut out all federal subsidies on energy - not just "big oil", but money for ethanol, wind, solar, efficiency research, the whole enchilada. At the same time, remove all federal energy taxes, and get rid of the Department of Energy and the EPA. Don't forget the federal DOT, NHTSA, and all the other vampires sucking at our lifeblood.

Let's open everywhere to oil exploration, limited only by local concerns. If the local NIMBYs outweigh those who want to drill, so be it.

The drop in tax money being collected from energy producers and compliance expenses should be evident in fuel prices immediately. The individual states can increase their fuel taxes to replace what pittance Washington returns from federal taxes stolen from their motorists, and we still would save, since we won't be wasting a large proportion of that money on bureaucrats in DC.

Email from Kohl

Telling me how much he's doing to lower the price of gasoline - by raising costs to the producers:
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We’ve all been alarmed by the rise in gas prices, which are now surpassing $4 a gallon in many places across the country, including Wisconsin, and have nearly doubled in two years. While we know that the rise in gas prices has many causes, one important cause is the actions of the OPEC oil cartel, which limits supply in order to maintain a high price.  If the nations of OPEC were private companies, such conduct would be nothing more than naked price fixing, illegal under the most fundamental principles of antitrust law.
This week, I questioned Attorney General Eric Holder at a Judiciary Committee hearing about rising gas prices and my legislation, the No Oil Producing & Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act.  My bill would give the Department of Justice tools it needs to enforce the antitrust laws against the OPEC oil cartel.  NOPEC was approved with bipartisan support by the Judiciary Committee last month.  Attorney General Holder indicated that he is always looking for more enforcement tools to protect American consumers and that he will consult with his colleagues in the Cabinet about the NOPEC legislation.   The Administration recently established a task force to examine whether there has been inappropriate market manipulation of oil prices.  Attorney General Holder assured the Judiciary Committee that he will be aggressive in examining the rise in oil prices, and to the extent that they were artificially driven the Justice Department will take action.  I want you to know I will continue working to reduce the price of gasoline.

Sincerely,

 

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My reply:
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Herb,

What are you smoking? "NOPEC"? Cute name, but where does our Constitution give Mr. Holder the power to enforce American laws against OPEC? In case you haven't noticed, OPEC is not an American organization.

Any fines or other sanctions against an oil importer will be paid directly by the American consumer, as corporations never pay taxes and fines - they just pass them along as costs of doing business. This is how business works.
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More from Kohl

Just got this from him:
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Home     Biography     News     Issues & Legislation     Constituent Services     Contact Senator Kohl     Unsubscribe This Friday, April 22, is Earth Day.  Last year, we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the first Earth Day and honored our own Senator Gaylord Nelson, the key force behind that first celebration in 1970. On this day of reflection, it’s hard not to think about environmental tragedies of the last year – especially the ongoing nuclear accident in Japan and the oil spill in the Gulf, which occurred one year ago this week.  These serve an important reminder: regardless of the kind of energy we use, we must always take care to protect public health and our environment.  It also reiterates the need to increase our use of energy that will never run out.  Wisconsin has many great natural resources, but deposits of oil, natural gas and coal are not among them.  While there is no doubt that we need these energy sources to fuel our economy, a dollar spent on oil drilling or coal mining undoubtedly benefits other states and other countries.  But a dollar spent on renewable energy can support new jobs for Wisconsin. We don’t have oil, but we do have forest resources that can be turned into biomass for our power plants, and one day into fuel for our cars and trucks.  We don’t have coal, but we do have farmers across the state that are using “cow power” -- anaerobic digesters that turn farm waste into electricity.  We don’t have natural gas, but we have groundbreaking companies creating advanced batteries, solar light pipes and wind turbines.  These new energy technologies aren’t just good for reducing power bills and pollution, but also for growing our state’s economy. While we don’t always agree on how to tackle environmental issues, we all support clean air and water, we all want our children to be healthy, and we all yearn for our economy to grow and get people back to work.  Forty-one years after the first Earth Day, we celebrate the progress we’ve made, rededicate ourselves to the work ahead, and applaud the men and women of Wisconsin who are inventing and implementing homegrown solutions to better our planet. Sincerely, Home |  Biography |  News |  Issues & Legislation |  Constituent Services |  Contact Senator Kohl |  Unsubscribe

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Sent this back:
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Sir,

Are you insane? You speak of money being spent on developing American oil and gas as money that will benefit other states and nations, while "renewable" energy spending will benefit Wisconsinites.

True, creating "green jobs" will have an immediate effect of Wisconsin jobs, but this will be temporary, lasting only until the people of the United States finally put the kibosh to this wasteful and useless "alternative energy". Wind power is at best a niche application, useless for replacing fossil fuels or nuclear baseline power generation. "Biomass" might help, as an engineer I am in favor of using waste to generate power - IF and ONLY IF it can be competitive with existing resources. If it requires one penny of federal aid - see ethanol - I want it stopped. I am a degreed electrical engineer, and think I might know a bit more about this subject than you or most members of Congress. I certainly know more than our President.

Unless we develop our native energy sources - which we have in abundance, but are prohibited from tapping by wrongheaded attempts to return the planet to Garden of Eden conditions, we are doomed to revert to pre-1900 living conditions while countries like China and India continue to burn coal and oil and grow their economies.

Get on board with the majority of your bosses - the people who elected you, and who you have sworn a solemn oath to serve - and get the federal government out of the way of our country developing our own energy sources. If the free market decides that "renewables" will be part of this, so be it.

Another missive to Kohl

Useless, as usual, but I did it:

Senator Kohl,

End the budget deadlock. Cut federal spending by at least 50%.

Start with Social Security, that Ponzi scheme foisted on us by FDR and ever since meddled with by you guys.

End Medicare and Medicaid.

End ObamaCare.

Do this NOW.

NOW.

This is an order from your bosses.

Cut spending by 50% NOW.

Note - Salaries of servicemen are NOT negotiable. Cut defense expenses by bringing our guys home and ending our involvement in Mr. Obama's illegal wars.

Email from Herb Kohl

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The United States has the safest food supply in the world.  Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of every six Americans are affected by food-borne illnesses each year – costing the health care system an estimated $88 billion according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  

This highlights the need for an even stronger food safety system. Guarding our food supply cannot just be passed on to states and local governments or left to private industry.  Protecting public health is an inherent function of the federal government.  Consumers should be confident that the food they purchase at the grocery store is safe and will not cause harm to their families.  

Over the last week we examined important policy and fiscal questions at two Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearings held to review the President’s fiscal year 2012 budget request.  I used these hearings to ask Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and FDA Commissioner Hamburg about the President’s proposed funding requests for food safety.  I asked whether these increases are necessary at this time given the mounting federal deficit. 

 Every dollar of taxpayer money that we spend must be questioned, defended, and well thought out.  We must ask whether or not we can do more with less, but we must not jeopardize public health.   The way our food is produced is becoming more complex every day, so we need our food safety agencies to have the ability to adapt to these changes. 

As we prepare to write the fiscal year 2012 spending bills, I will work closely with our food safety agencies to make sure we are protecting public health and being good stewards of your taxpayer money. 

Sincerely,

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It's good to see he's willing to consider how much something will cost us before he votes to spend our money, isn't it?

Email from Herb Kohl

He doesn't like high gas prices - so he's got a fix!

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For car owners, filling up the tank is often a part of a weekly routine. And as many have noticed, gas prices are on the rise. Drivers are reaching deeper and deeper into their pockets to spend over $3 a gallon at the pump. And prices could go beyond $4 a gallon this summer unless something is done.

That’s why, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, I introduced the bipartisan No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC). It would authorize our government, for the first time, to take action against illegal conduct of the OPEC oil cartel. The NOPEC bill would establish clearly and plainly that when a group of competing oil producers - like the OPEC nations - act together to restrict supply or fix prices, they are violating U.S. law. I recently raised the subject of increased oil prices with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at a Senate Banking Committee hearing to gain insight about current efforts to curb rising oil and gas prices. It is time for the U.S. government to fight back against efforts to fix the price of oil and hold OPEC accountable when it acts illegally.

Late last year, OPEC ministers indicated that they may decide against an increase in output in 2011, saying that the world economy can tolerate a $100 per barrel price.

Months later, that prediction has come true, and the price of oil has once again topped $100-a-barrel. This is the highest price since the summer of 2008 when gas prices exceeded $4-a-gallon, squeezing family budgets and threatening business profits.

It is clear that the global oil cartel remains a major force conspiring to raise oil prices to the detriment of American consumers. When the price of crude oil rises as a result of these actions by OPEC, there is no doubt that millions of American consumers feel the pinch every time they visit the gas pump. This is why I am working with members of both parties to end oil price fixing and decrease the cost of oil and gasoline.

Sincerely,

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Cute name, anyway. NOPEC - sort of like NOBAMA.

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I sent him this:

Hi, Herb,

I just got your email about high gas prices.

Instead of a law prosecuting "illegal" (under whose laws?) OPEC machinations, why not a bipartisan law removing all the restraints on domestic production your party and Mr. Obama have passed?

Drill baby, drill! NOW!!!
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More missives to Congresscritters

Phoned Kohl and Johnson to let them know I expect a NO vote on changing Senate rules to make filibusters more difficult, as sour-grapist Hairy Reid wants to do.

Mr. Johnson is on our side - but not so sure about Kohl - so sent him this email to make sure he gets the point:

Vote NO on any attempt to change the rules for filibusters in the Senate.

Mr. Reid lost. His attempt to silence the American people by making a filibuster harder is just sour grapes.

Vote NO. 2012 is coming, and we are watching.

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It's getting redundant, ain't it?

The House votes to repeal OsamaCare!

Now, it's up to the Senate, and of course, getting enough votes to overturn Osama's expected veto.

Sent this to Kohl:

The people have spoken in the House.

Now, it's your turn. Vote to repeal this idiotic and un-Constitutional bill, and make your constituents happy.

Or, vote to keep this idiocy on the books, and ensure your place in the history of Wisconsin as just another political hack who ignored his bosses.

Your choice.

More emails, on probably a waste of bandwidth

To Kohl:

I understand that the House intends to pass a bill repealing the un-Constitutional law recently passed known as ObamaCare.

Be advised that I expect you to vote to pass a similar Senate bill, repealing this Obamanation from our country's laws.

I also expect you to sponsor the Senate version of the repeal bill.

Remember, 2012 is coming, and we are watching you.

To our new Senator Johnson:

Congratulations on your election.

Could you do something for me? Please submit a bill to repeal ObamaCare, or sign on as a sponsor of such a bill, to complement the House version currently being worked on.

Also - how about reading the Constitution in the Senate chamber, and insisting that all Senate bills have the relevant Constitutional authority cited in the bill?

Thanks!

Comments to Kohl and Lame Duck Feinglod

Still sending emails that probably never get read by humans, at least humans with any real power.

To Kohl:

2012 is coming. You have yet again ignored the commands of your employers, and voted for a bill we did NOT want passed.

Thank God enough other employees followed the orders their bosses gave them.

You are on thin ice here, bucko. Watch your future votes, or you might be enjoying that Senate retirement plan in two years - a plan, in my view, you have no right to.

Vote as we tell you, or resign, if you have any honor left.

To Lame Duck:

Again, you ignore our instructions.

I realize that you, as a lame duck senator, have no reason to follow the commands of the people who sent you to Washington, but common decency would dictate that you at least make it look like you care.

You are going down in the history of Wisconsin as a liberal fool who tried to muzzle political speech and consistently ignored the people he was elected to serve. Congratulations. Enjoy your unearned federal pension, and remember that every penny you take there is stolen from those you swore to serve.

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I know it's useless, but it sure feels good to vent. Next month, we can look forward to Wisconsin becoming irrelevant in the Senate, at least, and voting for what's right, at best. It all depends on how much Kohl cares if he's re-elected in 2012. If he's planning on retiring, he might just negate Ron Johnson's vote, but not actually cause any damage to our country.

Or, he might have an attack of conscience, and start voting as the majority of productive Wisconsinites would have him vote.

More probably useless emails, again.

Another email to Kohl.

Here are your orders for the week.

!. Vote NO on S. 3991. Public employees serve at the pleasure of the people, and should not be allowed to form unions or strike, let alone get special treatment on a federal level. If they don't like their working conditions, let them get real jobs in the productive sector of society.

2. Vote NO on any and all bills that either spend more money stolen from us, or expand federal power in any way.

Simple enough. I'm sure even a career politician like yourself can understand that your continuing obedience to the wishes of your masters is the only way you can continue to serve us in the Senate.

2012 is coming.

Let's see what bullcrap he responds with.

S. 510

I just got an email from the Beloit Patriots - the US Senate is considering S.510, which would create yet more bureacracy to regulate snall farms, in the search for yet more "perfect safety" for our food supply.

Just sent Kohl this:

Vote NO on S. 510. We have too much regulation now - why not propose getting rid of some of what exists now, rather than add more?

Perhaps by shutting down the TSA or the FDA, we can balance the federal budget without bankrupting the nation.

No new regulations. Enough already!

Sent lame-duck Feingold this:

Now that you have seen the will of the people of Wisconsin, there are a few things you can do to leave on a high note.

First, oppose S.510. We don't need even more regulation on our small farms, especially at a federal level.

Second, investigate the TSA - better yet, let's abolish it. It is wasteful, perverted, and useless, and by it's very existence, proof that the terrorists have won. Use the money they waste groping Americans and using possibly unsafe scanners to make pornographic images to pay down the huge deficits and debts you and your colleagues have created.

Investigate the BATFE and remove a bunch of their funding - the Border Patrol can use that cash.

Do these things and the people of Wisconsin can remember that you did something right on your way out of power.

DISCLOSE raises its' head yet again

Word has it Hairy Reid is going to call fro a vote on this shit yet again today. Tried phoning Feingold, lines all busy. Left a message and emailed him this:

Vote NO on DISCLOSE. If you want even a PRAYER or re-election next month, vote NO.

In fact, vote NO if for no other reason that you will leave office retaining some of your honor as a citizen, rather than being branded a traitor to the nation if you vote YES.

McCain-Feingold was bad enough - here you have a small way to reclaim respect in the eyes of the people you have supposedly been representing.

Emailed Kohl this:

Vote NO on DISCLOSE. You owe it to the people you supposedly represent to prevent this blatant infringement of free speech from becoming yet another un-Constitutional law.

For whatever good it may do. Will call again - and again.

Wisconsin attempting to strip veterans of their votes

At Barking Moonbat Early Warning System:

10 States Seek Waiver to Comply With Military Voting Law’s Absentee Ballot Rules

Kohl, Feingold and all the other Demonrats must be pissing themselves at the thought of how all those servicemen and women overseas would vote if allowed to.

UPDATE 8/28/10 - Petition refused, for Wisconsin. I guess our "leaders" will just have to take their chances in the election.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

Got this on an email list:

Kagan tied to Obama's birth certificate

I just tried to call Kohl again to remind him about our desire NOT to have Kagan on the Court. His aide said she had been confirmed a while ago.

I just sent him this:

OK, so now it's too late.

Are you aware that as Solicitor General, Ms. Kagan was involved in issues related to Mr. Obama's eligibility to be President?

I think some checking is in order - and possibly, someone concerned about his constituents might just want to ask some questions, even belatedly?

Email from Herb Kohl

This person has a very selective ear - he hears only what his handlers have told him he hears. From a recent email from Herb Kohl:

"I rise today in support of General Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Her confirmation will be a milestone that we can all be proud of -- for the first time in history three women will be serving on the Supreme Court at one time.
General Kagan came before the Judiciary Committee with an impressive resume that had all the trappings of an accomplished lawyer worthy of appointment to the Supreme Court. During her hearings she proved herself to be well qualified for the job.
She impressed us with her sharp mind, keen intellect, and comprehensive knowledge of the Constitution and the law. She pledged to consider each case with an open mind and to impartially uphold the rule of law. And, she appeared mindful of the need for judicial modesty and fidelity to precedent, but not when it stands in the way of ending injustice or guaranteeing our fundamental rights.
At times during the hearing, Solicitor General Kagan seemed to be somewhat more candid than previous nominees. She disavowed a purely originalist interpretation of the Constitution, recognizing that such a limited approach will not always solve our 21st Century problems. And, I was pleased that she unequivocally expressed her support for opening the Supreme Court to cameras. So I believe that with General Kagan’s confirmation the American people will be one step closer to seeing for themselves the Supreme Court debate our most pressing legal and Constitutional issues.
But, despite the strength of her qualifications, like so many nominees before her, General Kagan often retreated to the generalities and platitudes that she once criticized. I am pleased that she rejected the analogy that Supreme Court Justices are like umpires, simply calling balls and strikes. Instead, she acknowledged that each Justice’s legal judgment determines the outcome of close cases. But, at times her answers gave us too little insight into what informs her unique legal judgment and how it will impact those close cases.
As I have said before, the confirmation process demands more than that. This was the public’s only opportunity to hear from General Kagan. In my opinion, she made small in-roads, but we still have a long way to go in meeting the high standard to which we should hold Supreme Court nominees during their confirmation hearings.
In sum, I am voting for General Kagan because she is unquestionably well qualified, has a record of being a principled, consensus-building lawyer, and because I believe her judicial philosophy is within the mainstream of our country’s legal thought. I am confident that she will make a superb Supreme Court Justice and is a worthy nominee to carry on Justice Stevens’ long legacy of exemplary public service to our nation."

My response email - also a call to his office at (202) 224-5653:

Evidently you do not pay attention to your employer's wishes. You have been told time and again that Ms. Elena Kagan is unsuitable for a position on the Supreme Court. Any thinking individual who has listened to her comments during the confirmation process knows she is unfit to be a judge of any sort in this country, let alone on our highest court.

You will PLEASE vote NO on this appointment, if you care one whit for the people you serve. You are already marked for retirement at the next election by your actions to date - at least leave office with SOME credible actions in your record!

NO on Kagan. We have spoken. Hear us.

By the way - three women on the Court is nothing to be proud of, unless they are all dedicated to upholding the Constitution as written. Ms. Kagan has proven she is not interested in doing that

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Since when does a douche-bag like Kagan get addressed as "General", anyway?

UPDATE: Got an email from Herb this morning in response - essentially the same text as above, with a personalized first line.