I've always thought of myself as a reasonably pragmatic person, with an appreciation of the need for flexibility, negotiation and compromise...until now. There ARE absolutes--when standing up for principle and stopping injustice is more important than anything else. A nation that prides itself on living by the rule of law under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights cannot turn a blind eye to desecration of our highest principles by elected officials who fail to honor their oath of office. Perhaps I've managed to stay naive despite a strong cynical streak, but I have been shocked to watch even respected Congressional leaders base their decisions and actions on political calculations and partisan power plays instead of their obligations to the Constitution and the people of the United States. It is time to restore the honor of this nation, to be the example of democracy we aspire to be, by holding all elected officials accountable for their acts. This is NOT a partisan issue: it is a Constitutional issue, and a question of our integrity as a nation of laws. If we fail to apply the same legal standards to every citizen and every individual who comes under our jurisdiction, from the lowest petty thief to the highest officers of government, we betray our deepest values, fail to live up to our own expectations, and cannot recover our lost honor. We cannot expect our leaders to lead without our constant pressure on them: we're all in this together.