Dear Senator McConnell:

Perhaps you will remember me out of the many you have met? I stood conversing with you and your lovely wife Elaine Ciao at an election returns event some years back in Northern Kentucky. Barb, the little human dynamo, introduced us. Elaine remarked on how good it was to see young men in the Republican party and said she did not understand why there were not more. Hopefully my letter will shed some light on that for both of you. I am the home schooling parent who was monitoring the Cincinnati market for campaign ads on a nightly basis on three major networks and summarizing them for Louisville.

Considering your very close call recently in almost losing your previously very secure seat, it is only right that I close the loop with you such that you be aware of where some of your support has gone. The young men that Elaine met have left the party and aligned with those who better might serve their interests. I have gone with them as well. We were lifetime members of the Republican Party, but cannot live any longer in support of such. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is no longer possible for us via the Republican Platform.

In particular, the Republican "tough on crime" platform somehow became a "violate the constitution" platform with a heavy targeting of non-white citizens such as are those two fine young men Elaine remarked upon. These young men cannot walk or drive down the streets without being harassed. Almost every one of the Bill of Rights has been violated, and I have witnessed these events. One fine young boy was almost killed in front of my face on my front lawn by an out of control officer while he was undergoing cancer treatment as a juvenile, I have on numerous occasions been threatened with arrest when not breaking any laws as have my sons, illegal searches have been carried out, illegal seizure of property has taken place, attorney has been denied... you name it, I have seen it.

I looked for a Republican who stood for civil liberties and alas could find none. I am papered during elections with Judges, Prosecutors, and Republican Legislative hopefuls proudly declaring their endorsement by the Fraternal Order of Police. How proudly you display that the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches are all in agreement with the police. I save the flyers and vote the other way as I still believe in the civil liberties stated in the Constitution, division of power, and monitoring of civil rights by the Legistive and Judicial branches. I am hopeful freedom from the infringements will come soon. There will be two constitutional attorneys in the #1 and #2 positions in the nation, and I would that you consider my words and what you know of me via Barb, and give careful consideration to what might be done amongst the Legislative branch to better secure liberty from such abuse.

I leave you with the following words to ponder. I say these in a free and democratic nation, yet the very requirement of me saying them reveals that we are not after all free.

• My sons have the right to drive on the streets of Kentucky.

• My sons have the right to drive or walk down the street without being repeatedly physically detained and questioned.

• My sons' race must be accurately reported in police encounters.

• My sons have the right to be secure in their persons and property from warrantless search and seizure.

• My sons have the right to a legal hunting knife without it being repeatedly seized by police with threats of arrest.

• My sons have the right to an attorney when they ask for one. If they can't afford one, one must be appointed for them.

• It was my right as parent to insist upon contact with the oncologist and hospital care for my juvenile son after my son had been repeatedly tased by an officer rather than being detained in police custody without his cancer medications. It was stage 4 cancer for God's sake. Inhumane!

• My sons have the same rights as any adult in Kentucky regarding their spoken words however inappropriate those words might seem to those of us with adult sensibilities. Felony charges against an 18 yr old for words alone is a constitutional violation.

• My sons have the right that charges against them match whatever crime is alleged without police add-ons and twisting of words to increase charges to multiple felonies not supportable by evidence.

• My sons have the right to the same punishments or lenience received by white men.

• My sons have the right to reasonable fines and punishments. 5 yrs in prison, loss of constitutional rights and permanent problems getting a job for words or a stub of marijuana is not reasonable or just.

• My sons have a right that a background check integral in finding work and hence the pursuit of happiness not reflect ridiculous charges that were later dismissed or amended down.

I hope that you will consider the gravity of the situation and join with the new administration in addressing these civil liberties issues.

My best regards to you and Elaine,

Linda