Reply #35: Dear John,

[marlakay]

I worked very hard on your campaign. I am 48 years old and this is the first election I have done more than vote. I live in CA, but went to Nevada with Sierra Club door to door and went all over Oregon from the coast to Medford getting the word out. I helped organize voter reg in my county.

I cried on my way home from work the day after the election when I realized you had conceded so soon. I went from saddness to anger to despondency to numbness to almost giving up politics forever to where I am now which is I don't watch the news anymore, don't read the paper, I feel like I am in hiding like you.

You must feel awful and I understand the wanting to hide, but you aren't me, you are our leader and we NEED YOU!!

I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about 4 more years with Bush, and knowing you have to work with him must be even harder for you. I know you are being careful about what you say because of still being a senator but part of the problem is your carefulness. I like how you think about things but sometimes you have to show strength by stepping out even when not all the questions are answered. I know its risky but life is a risk and true leadership is willing to take that risk.

I am one of those who voted for you in the primary and have been with you since the beginning. I saw a man with real fight in him in his twenties who really wanted to make a difference in our country and worked his way up to do that. PLEASE show me you are still that man, that I voted for!