Dear Senator Burr

I dispatched this e-mail to Senator Richard Burr this morning.

Senator Burr,
I have voted for you in every general election in which you have been a candidate. I also voted for Donald Trump in 2016.
I watched the Senate hearings with Jeff Sessions yesterday ands I am appalled.
First, the same Democrats who were calling for Comey's head in October are now acting like he was the last virgin out of Pompeii. They lost the election, tell them to get over it. Second, people are saying that Comey's performance as head of the FBI did not merit termination because Comey said that he was doing a good job. I have fired hundreds of people and have never had a single one say, "You're right, my performance sucked."  Your performance as a leader is evaluated by others, not by yourself.  Evidently, Senators don't grasp that concept?? Lastly, Comey's "testimony" was that of a disgruntled former employee. We did find out that he leaked information, that the former Attorney General told him to lie to the world about the investigation of Hillary Clinton, and that he doesn't like Donald Trump. There's some breathtaking info!!
Second, Everyone acts like it is a crime to speak to a Russian. Who really cares if Jeff Sessions spoke to a Russian in a reception line at the Mayflower Hotel? Do you remember every person that you meet? If you do, then surely you remember meeting me in your office.
Third, politicians all keep telling us that they are absolutely certain that Russia meddled in our election. Given the history of the United States in foreign governments, we should be reluctant to bring this up. In 1918, Woodrow Wilson sent thousands of American troops to Russia to try and affect the outcome of the civil war there. It didn't work. CIA involvement in foreign governments is the stuff of legends. In 1953, we brought the Shah back to Iran to replace the elected leader. How did that work out for us? How about the governments of South Vietnam and South Korea? How about the invasion of Panama to remove Noriega? The US government is a long time meddler in other governments and is now attacking the Russians for doing the same thing. Does this make sense to you?
Fourth, "intelligence" is not always accurate. Does "weapons of mass destruction" ring a bell? Or was it just another excuse to change a foreign government? World class meddling in that case. In my ninth grade journalism class more than fifty years ago we learned that every good news story answers these questions. What? When? Where? Who? Why? How?  Yet, politicians and the media keep bombarding us with the news that Russia meddled in the election. The truth is not in the volume of sound of the claim, it is not the repetition of the claim, it is not in how many believe the claim. The truth is in the facts. Don't waste your breath telling me that this is secret. Here's a message for the media and government officials, give us the facts or shut the hell up!!
Last, but certainly not least, in November Americans voted for a change. We wanted new ideas, but most of all we wanted action. We want a healthcare bill that addresses the cost of medical care not the cost of insurance. If you address the cost of medical care including tort reform, the insurance cost thing will be taken care of anyway. We want a budget where we live within our means. We want our borders secured. We want a sensible tax code. But instead, we are witnessing a national temper tantrum by the side that lost the election. The Congress is paralyzed while they search for such "critical" data as who Jeff Sessions spoke to in a reception line.
It is time for Republican leaders to lead. If not, there are more changes coming in future elections.
Thank You,
Gilbert Jones