Colonel Harry Riley
6 March 2008
A relative forwarded me the following email:
TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND READ THIS LETTER. THESE ARE STRONG, POWERFUL AND COURAGEOUS WORDS COMING FROM A RETIRED COLONEL. AND READ WHAT LINCOLN HAD TO SAY AT THE END. WOW! 33 Senators voted against English as America ’s official language on June 6, 2007. Of the 33, only one is a Republican and two are Independents; the rest are Democrats!
On Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at 23:35:23, Colonel Harry Riley, USA-Ret. wrote:
Senators:
Your vote against an amendment to Immigration Bill 1348 to make English America’s official language is astounding. On D-Day, no less, when we honor those who sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock, character and principles of America , I can only surmise your vote reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens.
I don’t much care where you come from, what your religion is, whether you’re black, white, or some other color, male or female, Democrat, Republican or Independent, but I do care when you’re a United States Senator representing citizens of America and you vote against English as the official language of the United States.
Your vote reflects betrayal and political surrender. It violates your Pledge of Allegiance, dishonors historical principle, rejects patriotism, borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to serve as a United States Senator. Impeachment, recall or other appropriate action is warranted or possibly even worse.
Four of you voting against English as America ’s official language are current or former presidential candidates: Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd and Senator Obama. You are and were four Senators vying to lead America, but you won’t or don’t have the courage to cast a vote in favor of English as America’s official language when 91% of American citizens want English officially designated as our language.
This is the second time in the last several months this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as ‘political hacks’ unworthy of being Senators and certainly unqu alified to serve as the President of the United States.
If America is as angry as I am, you will realize a backlash so stunning it will literally ‘rock you out of your pants’ and, preferably, totally out of the United States Senate. The entire immigration bill is a farce. Your action only confirms this really isn’t about America , it’s about self-serving politics and it’s despicable at best. It has been said, ‘Never argue with an idiot. They’ll drag you down to their level!
The following Senators voted against making English the official language of America :
Akaka (D-HI)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE) (Unsuccessfully ran for President)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY) (Wants to be President)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT) (Unsuccessfully ran for Pre sident)
Domenici (R-NM) (Coward. Protecting his Senate seat.)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI) (Not unusual for him!)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA) (Unsuccessfully ran for President)
Kerry (D-MA) (Unsuccessfully ran for President)
Kohl (D-WI))
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (I-CT) (Disappointment here.)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL) (Wants to be President)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV) (Senate Majority Leader)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)President Abraham Lincoln stated, ‘Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged!’
PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING AROUND THE UNITED STATES UNTIL THE ELECTION!
Breaking my normally strict rule of NEVER responding to or forwarding chain letters I did ~5 minutes of research and sent the following response (hopefully I got my facts right):
The issue isn’t as simple as the email makes it sound. The democrats in question voted for a similar amendment sixteen minutes earlier. Some of the language of the cited amendment contradicted the first, but the spirit behind both amendments seems the same. It doesn’t make much sense to vote for an amendment that contradicts another you just voted for.
The only problem I see here beyond the usual political shenanigans on both sides is the confused souls who voted for both amendments thus potentially making the bill in question very unclear.
It also shouldn’t be assumed that there really is a Colonel Riley and that he really sent this email. A similar email went around based on a bill that actually passed in 2006: http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/englishvote.asp
Keith
I kept it mellow since I was also breaking my rule of NEVER talking politics with family, but I felt like it needed some response.
21 March, 2008 [7:31 pm]
Hi dirvish,
I just received an email from my sister-in-law, noting the above mentioned 6 June, 2007 vote by the US Senate. I noted that one of the senators voting against it was Senator Dayton from MN. This led me to question the veracity of the entire messege; because, Mark Dayton did not run for re-election in November of 2006. That seat was won by Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota.
Don
9 April, 2008 [3:14 pm]
Good catch Don!
23 May, 2008 [12:05 am]
Colonel Harry Riley is a real, live, person. His sole mission in life is to disenfranchise anyone not like him (right wing, fundamentalist, xenophobic, fear strategist for the GOP).
He is the equivalent of the bully you knew in elementary school.
Someone likely not hugged enough as a child.
He hides behind his perceived security of the Internet.
If you want to share you feelings about how he treats other citizens of the country he professes to protect, and love, he can be reached at:
Harry Riley
COL, USA, Ret
111 Overview Drive
Crestview, FL 32539
hmriley@cox.net.
850-689-1818
12 July, 2008 [3:44 pm]
Patriots Revolt is just that, a revolt against the current crime of political rape of America.
We are a conservative political activist movement, with allegiance to no political party, comprised of millions of America’s citizens to include veterans. We hail from all walks of life, not limited to any one stratum of the American fabric, truly a cross section of Americans. What we have in common is our disgust at the despicable betrayal by the political apparatus against the people of America.
The strongest desires of Patriots Revolt are to return accountability of the United States government to its citizens: Government of the people, by the people and for the people; not government of one-world, or by the elite,or for special interest groups.
We, Patriots Revolt, approach you today to publicize our existence and welcome your participation. With your help, we hope to air our grievances to the people of the United States of America by enlisting their support and participation in this struggle to regain sanity!
We oppose both presidential candidates in that we believe they are neither qualified, prepared, nor understand the needs of, or threats to America, nor do we believe they care about the people of America. We need a candidate who is not working for his political party but for the people,and who does not believe he is above the law, winks at illegal activity, or reflects an unethical history. Our candidate, therefore, must be conservative in political thought and governance, have an ear for the people, and whose sole aim is an effort to restore American values and common sense given us by God and our founding fathers.
With your help, Patriots Revolt will be instrumental in steering the Republican Party and this current presidential selection to a candidate that is conservative, displays an initiative to listen to, and abides by the will of the American people.
The fervent hope of Patriots Revolt is to accomplish the following:
1. work to rescue the Republican Party from the Bush/McCain slow death approach and restore a vibrant conservative, of the people, by the people, for the people choice for America;
2. to alert disenchanted, disenfranchised American citizens to an alternative to the present candidates of the major parties;
3. enlist an army of conservative minded individuals who will join forces with Patriots Revolt to shed the yoke of appeasement, pandering, self-serving, greedy, politicians willing to surrender our sovereignty; and
4. find presidential candidates who will govern according to the Constitution of the United States of America.
Patriots Revolt solicits your assistance to make our movement known by:
1. writing letters to the editor, calling talk shows, informing local organizations (e.g.,VFW, Legion, Chamber of Commerce, DAV), alerting email lists, etc.;
2. acquainting individuals to the existence, purpose and goals of the Movement;
3. encouraging people to learn more about Patriots Revolt at our website http://www.patriotsrevolt.com , where they can register, pledge moral support, and become a voice supporting America as envisioned by our founding fathers;
4. encouraging you and others that received this to forward to their email lists, link http://www.patriotsrevolt.com on personal blogs…in short the time for political revolt is now, not 2, 5, 10, or 20 years…it’s now folks no matter where the chips fall……we must take back America to our roots, and finally;.
5. click here and visit Patriots Revolt home page, read our goals, objectives, and complete the pledge at the bottom of the home page. It’s not about McCain or Obama, it’s about America and the threat both these men pose to our way of life.
Respectfully,
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
5 August, 2008 [11:58 am]
Col. Riley,
An e-mail is circulating on the Internet purporting to contain a letter you wrote to senators who voted against English being our official language. I am writing to see if it’s authentic as I have been challenged on it. Letter follows:
“Senators: Your vote against an amendment to the immigration Bill 1348…. to make English America’s official language is astounding.
“On D-Day, no less, when we honor those that sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock, character and principles of America, I can only surmise your vote reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens.
“I don’t much care where you come from. What your religion is. Whether you’re black, white, or some other color…male or female……Democrat, Republican or Independent. …… But I do care when you are a United States Senator representing Citizens of America ..and Vote against English as the official language of the United States.
“Your vote reflects Betrayal. Political Surrender. Violates Your Pledge of Allegiance. Dishonors historical principle. Rejects Patriotism. Borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to serve as a United States Senator…impeachment… Recall……..Or other appropriate action is warranted, or worse.
“Four of you voting against English as America’s
Official Language are Presidential Candidates: Senator
Biden, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd and Senator Obama.
“Four Senators vying to lead America, but won’t,or don’t, have the courage to cast a vote in favor of
English as America’s Official Language when 91% of
American Citizens want English officially designated as
our language.
“This is the second time in the last several months
this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as
‘political Hacks’….. Unworthy as Senators and
certainly unqualified to serve as President of the United States.
“If America is as angry as I am, you will realize a
backlash so stunning it will literally ‘rock you out
of your socks’……… And preferably totally out of
the United States Senate.
“The entire immigration bill is a farce… Your action only confirms this really isn’t about America… it is about self-serving politics……despicable at best.
It has been said: ‘Never Argue with an Idiot….They’ll drag you down to their level!’”
6 August, 2008 [8:10 pm]
Colonel Harry Riley, I do not think our Spanish speaking boys that are serving in Iraq. Would agree with your statement. These are your thoughts and not everyone in this country is so narrow. When many of our great, great, great, grandparents came to this country they did not speak ENGLISH either. They learned. Then they knew two languages. How many American’s are fluent in two or more languages in this country. Not many. In other countrys when we travel we are so smug, we expect them to understand English. They usually do know more than one Language. I Think English is our official language so what are you so afraid of. Are afraid that the Mexican and the Navaho, etc. might want to take back their country????