This is exactly what I’m talking about with the “You Work For Us Summer Tour.” Huge kudos to Susan S. and her discussion with Sen. Bill Nelson at a public meeting:
…Then Nelson decided that since no one else had brought up the Iraq War, he would tell us his take on it. Unfortunately for him, he began his explanation with a disclaimer about how he and the Congress had been lied to about the intelligence going into the war. Well that was it for me. I yelled out to him:
“Then why, when you know they can’t be trusted, when you know they lie to you, did you vote for the FISA bill that gives the incompetent Bush administration more power to spy on American citizens?”
He immediately said that he would answer my question after he talked about the war. (His aide came running over to get me to fill out a form with my name and address and comments for the senator, and also gave me her card.)
At least twice more I interrupted him during his pathetic attempt at an explanation, once by saying:
“I can’t believe you fell for it again. You just gave Alberto Gonzalez more power to spy on us.”
He made a lame attempt to joke about no one trusting Alberto Gonzalez, but then went on to say that this is only a temporary bill, yada, yada, yada. He also said that he trusted Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell to be honest with the Congress. (Didn’t he trust Gen. Colin Powell once upon a time too?)
It was a very frustrating, but rewarding experience. I have long been disappointed in Bill Nelson. Today I got the chance to tell him how I felt.
You go, Susan! I am told that other folks have a meeting set up with Rep. Henry Waxman today — and I’m hoping for an update on that later after it concludes. I have calls out to my elected representatives, and I will certainly let the WV readers know if and when I hear back on them.
So, what have you set up with your elected folks? If you have a scheduled meeting or if you go to a public meeting and ask some questions, let me know — both what you ask and how it is answered. You get it on video and upload it to YouTube or elsewhere? Send me a link. (And take a peek at these great tips from Spazeboy if you plan on videotaping anything. Excellent and incredibly useful stuff.) You get a run around from your elected folks? Let me know that, too, and we’ll try and keep up with what everyone is doing. Or dodging, as the case may be.
Remember, being a citizen is not something that you are, it is something that you do.
It is past time that these elected folks realize that they work for us. Now, let’s get to work…what are you planning to do today to let your elected officials know what you are thinking?
(H/T to KagroX for e-mailing the link to Susan S’s DKos diary. Great stuff! And, btw, we’ll have more on letter writing in a bit…)
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yoo hoo
2?
Good morning Christy!
NYT clobbers the Dems on FISA – and Rahm looks aweful!
Boston Globe has huge piece on Act Blue. Very lengthy, very positive, says Act Blue is very influential, and will be even more so.
Awful. Too early to spell straight :-?
Thanks for this, Christy!
Keep reminding these guys: IT’S NOT 1994, DAMMIT!
Christy – you are just tooo fast for me this morning, so I’m going to repost this to make sure as many people as possible see it.
Folks – This is an FYI for Upstate New York progressives: Rep. Maurice Hinchey will be supporting the Tioga County Democrats at Hickories park (right off the Rt.17/I86 exit just east of Owego, NY on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. Hinchey has put in a censure motion which mirrors Feingold’s. He’s also very supportive of other Democratic candidates in the Upstate area, so people who are supporting Massa against Randy Kuhl might want to meet Hinchey as well.
Well people can make fun of NJ but both my senators and my Rep. Donald Payne got it right.
Phoenix Woman @ 6
And it’s not 1984 either.
Remind them it’s not 1994 by explaining how very 1984 it actually is.
Richmond @ 4
And awful. ;-)
Excellent!
Whoever made the comment about the woman on WJ allowing Rivkin to have more time. The caller just directed a question to Greenwald and she allowed Rivkin to take the reins.
WJ needs Brian back on Friday
AJ @ 10
Yup. And how 1932 it is.
Maloney isn’t even holding any constituent meetings during the August recess. I’m torn as to whether to bother with her. She almost always votes the right way, but is a nebbish – never asks any good Qs, only constituent work seems to be on petty issues, or identity theft, etc. I don’t think she has the scope to do anything more & is in her 8th term, so is she basically has tenure; no incentive to exert herself. Leave well enough alone, or put a burr under her saddle?
Bingo got the retroactive question through WJ.
AJ @ 8
Alas, both my Senators got it wrong, but my rep got it right.
I knew that this story — ‘Same Agencies to Run, Oversee Surveillance Program’ — was by Walter Pincus before I clicked the link. The opening grafs say it all:
Store that factoid up, mainly for GOPwits who say ‘oh, you haven’t read the bill, it allows oversight’, but also for Lap Dogs who try to fob you off on how they wiped their asses with the Constitution in exchange for a month-long vacay.
Had to leave for work & only saw a few minutes of Greenwald vs Rivkin – hope they rebroadcast this segment tonight.
Diane @ 18
You can go into their archives and watch it on the web
General RH, Ma’am,
Human cloning is now a reality! Unless somebody substituted Poppy Bush’s photo for Bill Nelson’s …….
Kathleen @ 12
Greenwald needs media training. He’s not doing enuf for himself. Does anyone know him who can give him the advice? He’s great when he’s by himself, but needs to be more smoothly combative under adverse circumstances.
I was very surprised to see that Frosh Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) voted for the FISA abomination. She had until that vote (I believe) a 100 progressive voting record.
This is not concern trolling, but is there any valid reason why so many senators (60?) voted for passage of this bill beside being Trembling Chihuahuas?
eCAHNomics @ 21
and it is often true when Democrats/Progressives go up against Republicans on TV. Greenwald is not an anomaly in this regard.
ECh@21 did you just hear the gentleman attack Greenwald? The host asked him to be specific about his objections to what Greenwald had stated. The caller tripped over himself and drifted off into more Rivkin cheerleading
Kathleen,
Can you give us some suggestions about calling in to shows? I know you are very active in this.
I think it is important not only to meet with congress people who voted for FISA but to meet with those who voted against it as well. Even the ones who voted the right way on this need to hear how pissed off we are that the damn bill passed. We also need to get facetime with GOP memebers of the House and Senate. They work for us too, though they act as though they represent only 40% of their constituents.
Rereading Jane’s earlier post below it is appalling how unprepared the democratic leadership was in dealing with the MCA. Apparently the leadership machine fared no better this time. It really appears that getting done and getting out of town was more important than doing the right thing. Disgusting.
Moreover, they just gave W cover for the illegal activities he’s already been doing.
It is unbelievable how spineless these bastards are.
Heckuva job Harry, Nancy et al.
Greenwald go the last shot in. No objection to the government listening to terroist or anyone who they suspect the objection is doing this in secret.
Kathleen @ 24
That was amusing. After claiming to be well read in ’scholarly articles’ and having heard both Greenwald and Rivkin before…when asked to be specific, all he could do was dither something about Greenwald painting with a wide brush or some such nonspeak.
The earlier discussion on C-Span regarding Dems moving to the middle, I thought went pretty decisively in support of Dems being Dems and not Republicans light. And all seemed to understand the FISA vote for what it was – Congressional CYA.
fahrender @ 23
You got that right. It distresses me because it’s fixable. Don’t exactly know how to go about doing it, though. I don’t know who the good media trainers are, nor how to get ahold & convince the lefties how to do it. I suspect the righties do it thru their think tank connections.
sweet inspiration.
I am very impressed with Glenn Greenwald. But I thought Mike Stark, on a YKos panel, was outstanding in the way he ATTACKED!
OT.(But I have to leave for Boston)
Murika once again spreading democracy.
From Robert Fisk in today’s Independent. http://news.independent.co.uk/…..841338.ece
Must be ’bout time to cut off Lebanon so that they will learn to love us.
Good morning all,
I just got home late last night and am exhausted! Now back to packing. We move next monday.
BUT in the mean time I just got a bulk e-mail from Sestak’s office—a notice that he will be on CSpan this morning at 9. So I e-mailed back and said that I would be moving to the district next week and wanted an opportunity to meet with the congressman during the recess. I introduced myself as an activist with the FDL community.
I got a message back right away with the name and contact number of Sestak’s scheduler. I’m not even there yet but I’m setting up a meeting!
Impeach/Out of Iraq GENERAL STRIKE SEPT.11th
Buy nothing – do nothing! Bring this country to a standstill!
Pass it on. Post a sign.
Balrog @ 22
A few names on both lists makes me think, in as non-tinfoil a way as possible, that Bush basically said ‘I’m off to the pig farm to clear brush, and I feel like taking the same attitude towards national security that I did six years ago.’ I also say that because the House managers had no overt reason to settle for voting on the disgraceful Senate bill, and I’d rather think it was arm-twisting than a deep desire amongst the first-termers and Lap Dogs to start their vacays.
I think Bush played the LIHOP card.
And I hate the way that thinking such things makes me tinfoilish. But it’s a sign of how atrocious Bush has been that I sincerely believe he’d blackmail congressional Dems with the lives of ordinary people.
RevDeb – When is your first sermon at your new church? Wil it be the 19th or 26th?
Lisa
Kathleen @ 24
I thought the callers, as a whole, were very good for our side. Only 3 that I can remember (the one you cite; if your not doing anything wrong, . . .; and we gotta do it cause of terrorists) thought new legislation was OK. Everyone else ranged from skeptical to angry, and I don’t think Rivkin convinced them. Glenn did a good job of pointing outhow unlawful the powerful have been, and why should we trust W. Rivkin’s point about “well-meaning professionals” was effectively demolished. The only other think Greenwald should have said is “power corrupts.”
A couple of seemingly unrelated questions,sort of OT.
1)Does a House representative have to live in the district they represent?
2)Is it normal for churches to be polling places? I see that all over the place down here at election time,I just wondered.
3)Is it normal for churches without actual church buildings to use public schools for services on Sundays? That’s become quite common here in Metro Atlanta too.
lisadawn82 @ 36
Sept. 9. You’ll be gone by then I think.
RevDeb,
That was fast action! Let us know how the meeting goes.
It certainly seems as if Reid and Pelosi are not the strong leaders that we need during this difficult time, and that DCCC TV clip that has just been sent around is almost kumbaya/touchy-feely.
We need more of Sheila Jackson, Russ Feingold, Howard Dean, Joe Trippi and John Edwards.
Full disclosure: I support John Edwards for President.
egregious @ 25
I’m not Kathleen, but here’s some stuff I’ve noticed. On call-ins, you’ve got to start dialling before the segment begins. C-SPAN in particular has very few lines, and when I was more interested I got on air by being quick.
As for Qs, they must be brief, factual, and pointed. These are difficult to craft & the only way I have learned is by watching what works & what doesn’t work. You can quickly figure out what doesn’t work by watching the Sunday shows.
Something I’ve never done, but think it would be great: if you think the guest will not answer your Q, ask to stay on line until the A is finished, and then simply say, “I’ll note for the record that you did not answer the Q.”
egregious @ 40
Once I get it set up I will do so and follow up with everyone. In my reply back I mentioned how we were unhappy with his vote on the war appropriations but pleased that he came to the blog to explain it and answer questions. Of course I told him I was an activist in this community. Not trying to “name drop” but he obviously knows what goes on here and now he will have an actual voting constituent to answer to at FDL along with the rest of everyone.
It looks like I won’t be skipping a beat when I move—if I physically survive it. I can’t believe how tired I am and how much I have to do in the next 2 weeks!!!!!
Republican caller on WJ: “Dems are on the terrorists side” – good grief.
RevDeb @ 39
Bummer.
eCAHNomics @ 38
Kathleen @ 12
It was I……..and glad to know my tinfoil is firmly in place this morning. It’s understandable WJ has to train-up new hosts but this young female is definitely *not* improving with time. And it’s *not* because she’s female……..just seems not to have much by way of brains between the ears.
anne @ 28
Typical republic.
anne @ 45
A responsible show host would shut that crap down immediately. I know,it’s American media,silly me.
The list of people “real Americans”are not supposed to hate is getting awfully teeny.
eCAHNomics @ 30
it goes back further than that. more than one of the conservative hot beds like Liberty University do a lot of teaching of rhetoric and put a lot of money and focus on their debate teams. i’m pretty sure that the Young Republicans do as well.
lisadawn82 @ 45
But I am moving next Monday so if you want to take a drive up to visit before you move, give me a ring.
I’ve gone to listening to democracynow. Don’t know who it is (some Brit), but talking about propaganda, etc. Also thinks there’s hope as he has never seen population become so disillusioned so quickly.
Christy, did you get the e-mail I sent you about “tips” for writing to Congress?
anangryoldbroad @ 49
…and that wasn’t the worst that was said.
Does anybody know how Marcy Kaptur voted on the wiretapping law? I know there’s a place where votes are listed, but I don’t know how to find it. Thanks to anyone who can help.
Hey, Greta is great. I love her. *g*
John Pilger was the speaker who just ended on democracynow.
Liberal Heart @ 55
google works to get the list.
Richmond @ 4
Well, good. Then perhaps this will resonate with what I told both DCCC and DSCC yesterday, in response to their pleas for $$$$:
“Nope, I only give through ActBlue.” [And a few other choice words.]
eCAHNomics @ 38
I wish he’d corrected the caller who said that Clinton had created ECHELON.
eCAHNomics @ 58
Protect America Act
I’ve been googling. Guess I’m not entering the right search. I’ve also called her office and nobody knew.
twolf @ 5:55 -
Can you imagine Brian allowing that r*cist to continue his rant?
Balrog @ 22
I would not describe Jim Webb or Barbara Mikulski as such, so there must be some explanation. I’m still waiting to hear from Barb.
Liberal Heart @ 54
Kos story with list.
TiredFed @ 63
Ian has a story about the back story. It’s not pretty and not too surprising. Sad.
Waccamaw @ 63
That caller was over the top and should have been cut off. Should have at least made a comment on his idiocy.
twolf1 @ 61
Thanks!
One of Marty Lederman’s commenters suggests that there’s a poison pill in the POS bill that just got signed into law: even if it’s superseded by a new one, the activities it legalized are allowed to continue until they ‘expire’, not the bill authorizing them. Meaning that to stop the snooping, the Dems would need explicitly to terminate it or repeal the bill just passed, which Veto Sharpie Bush will never allow?
Anyone prepared to back up that parsing of the text? Can the genie be put back in the bottle?
Still watching WJ. A few refreshing R calls after the ‘omg Dems are with the terrorists’ caller.
One R pointed out that new FISA law was danger to Constitution, doesn’t want gov’t poking around NRA membership, DUIs, etc, and a Dem president getting their hands on that information. (I would say handing it to any president is bad, but, point taken).
Another R: says one of Rivkin’s allegories was disingenuous. He also doesn’t like FISA.
My guess is that many of these callers who are defending this expansion of presidential powers are HOPING the Bush Admin. uses it against Democrats.
I’ve not seen a lot of evidence that Republicans would object; I have seen a lot that they’d rationalize it.
They defended the outing of a CIA operative,in wartime, and the resulting ruination of her WMD nonproliferation network, afterall.
Mauimom at 53 — I did, and I have something coming up with it shortly.
Morning gang — I’m just back from the preschool drop-off and sipping my first cuppa coffee…how is everyone this morning?
TiredFed @ 64
As I am waiting to hear from Amy.
The Pollyanna in me is telling me that this vote was part of a larger plan by the Dems. For the life of me, I can’t imagine what that plan is.
Feel free to slap me down if I need to get a grip.
Liberal Heart @ 55
House vote on s. 1927 House on S. 1927 Kaptur voted no.
God bless his heart. WJ caller wants citizen oversight of wiretapping, analogous to juries. Now that’s thinking out of the box.
I sent off a letter (which will receive the form-letter reply, I’m sure) to my Rep – Chris Carney. *blech* I’m also going to be going to one of his meet-n-greet events, just to ask (loudly):
Mr. Carney, as a member of both the Naval Reserve and a member of Congress, you have twice taken an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. Can you explain why you voted to give more unchecked power to this administration, allowing it to spy on all Americans with virtually no oversight for the next six months, virtually gutting the provisions of 4th Amendment?
egregious @ 25
Started calling in just after the 2000 Judicial Coup, and have not stopped. Start calling at the top of the hour, have several phones, land line, cell phone, just keep pushing redial. Be clear, polite and on topic when you share your question with the screener. Same goes for an e-mail question send it during the first few minutes of the show. I try to get in a piece of info and then ask my question. I try to pose the question in a way that will trump any standard response that I may have heard the guest repeat in the past. You can also suggest a show or guest that you would like to hear on the show. (Marcy, Jane, Christy etc) I have also encouraged other people to send in questions to many of the National Talk Shows from our area. Most of these shows really want folks from out west since they are trying to increase their listining audience. We could really do a tag team blog call in effort.
Recently one of the screeners at Talk of the Nation tried to get me to reframe a question about events taking place in the middle east the way she thought it should be asked. I have noticed and heard from other callers that Talk of the Nation does this far more than the Diane Rehm show. Dorie the screener at the Diane Rehm show is the real pro, she lets diverse callers get through, allows you to ask just what you want to ask, and never tries to reframe.
I have also gotten through right wing Christian stations with reasonable statements, they are quick to cut you off if you are making too much sense. But I stay on topic and always finish the statement based on facts.
I was on hold yesterday for Talk of the Nation(had not called in for 3 months) they were doing a show on the FISA legislation. Immediately after getting through I overheard the screener say “Kathleen from Athens, I am getting a no from the producer”. ( I don’t think the screener meant for me to hear this). I have a feeling that it may be a case of not so subtle discrimination, especially because of my questions about particular issues. I went ahead and called the ombudsperson for NPR.
I have objected to Neil Conan rolling over with certain guest and the choice of shows. They will do a show with John Bolton and allow him to rant full tilt about why the U.s. should pre-emptively attack Iran, then not do a show reflecting a different view.
I think it is interesting how may of NPR guest are from AEI.
Good luck, it is a way to ask questions that you think are absent from the debate.
TiredFed @ 64
I’m becoming a big fan of Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Kudos to Southern Florida for putting her in Congress.
Watch her. She’s great. Voted against this bill, but more importantly, gave a short but butt-kicking speech against it when it was her turn to speak in the chamber.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 72
steamed (in more ways than one). anything else we can do besides get with our Senators and Rep?
my rep is vice-chair of the rules committee. so, i’m first trying to nail down exactly what happened – how the rules were apparently used to block passage of the dem version and passage of the administration version in the house.
don’t want to give him a hard time by accusing him publicly of helping the house leadership to set the stage for last week’s capitulation unless it’s a fair accusation.
even reps we really like can benefit, i think, from requests to do better. ‘cuz they’re not doing good enough.
next i’ve got to remind senator kerry that some votes are important enough to show up for. the dem version of the visa bill, s.2011, only needed 3 more votes to pass in the senate – and 6 democrats didn’t bother to vote.
christy – thank you so much for organizing this. i have NO access to my senators without fdl… as you may recall, the first time we (i was with prof. foland and revdeb) tried stopping by senator kerry’s office, i wasn’t even allowed to leave my letter with the security guard.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 72
Thanks, Christy. I saw your comments at the end of this diary & went back & deleted my post @ 53. Now the reference should make us ALL crazy.
nomolos @ 33
The Israeli lobby made sure that the Palestinians were cut off after they voted for Hamas in an Internationally monitored election that was deemed fair and legal. Former President Jimmy Carter repeated that cutting the Palestinians off of funds would be a huge mistake.
We know who won that debate.
RevDeb @ 66
thanks Rev. I read it. What galls me the most is that the Senate bill was purely Republican, sponsored by McConnell and Bond and Bond was the one who amended it to add the 6-month sunset provision (which, in reality, is 18 months, but that’s another story). They Republicans acted as if they had the majority! Harry Reid should have been steamed, but he was just steam-rolled.
I’ve noticed that righties do this. Get Rove talking points in the morning & blanket the earth.
No way for the lefties to do same. If we organized it via the blogs, we’d be revealed & discredited.
Kevster @ 26
i agree with your sentiments as you can see by my comment above. there is one thing that i think we should take note of however and that is this:
Some of the Democrats are in districts that would not tolerate a no vote on the FISA treachery bill. one of the clearest examples is the district where Tom Delay represented.
Nick Lampson, Democrat, now represents that district. He won with just over 50% of the vote. Now, I don’t know anything about Nick Lampson. Chances are he’s pretty conservative. He may in fact be a Dino. However, whatever politics the man may believe in or however honest or altruistic he may or may not be, had he voted no he might as well load up the van and forget about even running next year. It would be all over for him. Add that to the lack of Democratic leadership shown and he voted yes. Those are just the facts. We need to understand these political realities because we’re gong to keep coming up on them and we need to not let the realities defeat us.
Danbury @ 78
she is equally eloquent in silence – like when she ceded some of her time to a colleague on HJC who was on a roll questioning on of the mini-Karl minions. She is a spitfire; a rep worthy of respect and support.
Just a general note for everyone: everyone is pissed, and understandably so. But there will be no references to violence, especially toward elected officials. Secret service and US Marshalls have to monitor that sort of stuff and, frankly, their jobs are difficult enough in a world full of crazies that we should all know better than to stretch their limited resources with idiocy. Please, think before you write something — you aren’t just putting yourself in a bad position, you are putting Jane and I in one as well. Thanks.
CHS,
Congressman Charlie Wilson who made into office on Former Congressman (now Governor of Ohio Ted Strickland) coattails will be at the Athens County Fair today. Some of us with questions about his vote for the expansion will be there to ask questions. Will let you know what happens
http://charliewilson.house.gov…..ntID=70438
eCAHNomics @ 84
Actually I agree better for folks just to be aware of who is on the program and come up with their own questions.
TiredFed @ 86
Every time I’ve seen her – on c-span, elsewhere, then her argument against this bill – I have been awed. I hope the Democrats put her out there more.
Kathleen @ 77
Last night’s PBS NewsHour coverage of FISA was especially disappointing.
Judy Woodruff let a Republican lawyer, Bryan Cunningham, spout complete nonsense
(ex: the bill only covers foreign-to-foreign communications) without correcting him.
The other guest, Kate Martin from Center for National Security Studies,
had to spend all of her time trying to correct Cunningham’s lies.
Heckuva job, Judy.
Danbury @ 90
Every time I’ve seen her – on c-span, elsewhere, then her argument against this bill – I have been awed. I hope the Democrats put her out there more.
Oops, sorry Tiredfed, I sliced and diced improperly.
The first paragaraph her should be attributed to TiredFed. The second is mine. [Mod:fixed]
Danbury at 90 — Debbie is great. As is Kendrick Meeks. They were instrumental in the 30 Something Dems work on the Rubber Stamp Republican work on the floor of the House — and we love them for it. They both do quite a bit, actually…the media just doesn’t bother covering it. SIGH
Danbury @ 90
Every time I’ve seen her – on c-span, elsewhere, then her argument against this bill – I have been awed. I hope the Democrats put her out there more.
Isn’t she too outspoken for the D powers-that-be? Would this be a good case to watch to see whether the party is going to do anything to advance non-R causes?
Joe Sestak currently speaking on C-Span2 about the mess that is Iraq.
Kathleen @ 6:07 -
Good stuff……thanks!
WOW! Did anyone else just hear that last WJ caller? She sliced and diced the hostess I’ve been b*tching about all morning up into wee tiny pieces and finished with, “You need to go!” Boo-yah!
allan_in_upstate @ 91
Didn’t see it, but on the basis of your report, let’s send them some feedback:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/letters.html
eCAHN at 94 — Wrong. Debbie works VERY well with Pelosi’s office, I know that for a fact.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 94
Watching him . . . looking forward to getting to know him—and I will.
eCAHNomics @ 97
Did, last night, but am not holding breath.
The slide to the right at both PBS and NPR is hard for this longtime supporter to stomach.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 98
Very happy to hear that.
I do my part as drinking liberally host in Philly by including tirades/praise in my weekly bulletins including who to call and why (with phone numbers).
I just sent out an email to more than 700 democrats, progressives and liberals here in America’s angriest city last night blasting Bobby Casey for voting for the FISA bill and encouraging them to call.
brendancalling @ 102
I left Casey an earful, even though I’m not a constituent.
My reps all voted “nay” on FISA which brings me back a little from the brink of the hopelessness abyss . A few weeks ago I had a brief talk with my Congresswoman re: impeachment & paper ballots. I intend to follow through during the “vacation.”
allan_in_upstate @ 99
With Rove appointing the folks to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board why would we be surprised?
I’m thinking of questions for my freshman Congressman. He refuses to meet with Democrats. He would vote with Bush no matter what, after all he doesnt have to think that way and our paper will print a glowing report.
Im thinking of asking him if he believes in the Constitution.
And this
Maybe Ill print this up for him. Now Ive got to find his schedule.
Completely OT (via Atrios)
Turns out the “bankruptcy reform” was just for little people.
If I may go OT for a moment – I received a reply from Evan Bayh re my call that he support the restoration of habeas: His reply includes….
Well, that little exercise in sophistry certainly makes me feel better.
I remember when I first began to get active, I couldn’t wait to open reply letters from my Senators. Not any more – I don’t expect a damn thing. I got this letter Saturday, and didn’t even bother to open it until this morning.
I guess the take-away message, so far as I can decipher, is that Habeas restoration is important, ’cause an innocent American might be interred, and we can’t have that. But all of those foreigners, you know, the sub-human, non Americans – well – fuck ‘em.
Balrog at 22 – I was very interested in that question too. I just checked her website and found nothing (not that I am expert at sluething blogs) about her votes. Didn’t she also vote to continue the financing of this war?
Her in-state office is at the Whipple federal building at Ft. Snelling. I might just give them a call and see if she has any town hall meetings. I knew Amy long time ago. It sounds to me like she is being very VERY careful not to stir the political pot too much and is just hiding (she hopes invisiblly) from the real work that needs to be done.
No real comment on her website either about the real issues of the day — like spying on American citizens. I am very disappointed.
brendancalling @ 101
brendan,
we need to get in touch. I’m moving to the area next week. Already setting up something with Sestak’s office and need to start with Casey and (she types while holding nose) Snarlin’.
I have lots to learn about the political landscape there.
Hey RevDeb, you’re gonna be a quick train ride away from DC. Stop by sometime.
A short time ago, two monarch butterflies emerged out of the cocoons we’ve been nurturing in our kitchen. Amazing thing to watch. Apropos of nothing. But a small, beautiful thing to lift us out of the slough of despond for a moment.
It is a shame here, I have had to adopt Lloyd Doggett as my Congressman. He responds to my concerns and actually has answered my letters personally! Lamar Smith, my actual Representative is a cretin, and has no meetings scheduled, a shortcoming we are about to address after his local office opens at 1000 Central Time.
I will occupy his office if I have to & refuse to leave until he agrees to see me. Being arrested in this area isn’t too terribly bad, so I suppose I can tolerate it, if it actually comes down to that. I am tired of his nonresponses to my letters-”rest assured I will keep your views in mind”.
I suppose I should be used to it, having the trifecta of Hutchison, Cornyn & Smith-the Three Stooges, a compelling argument can be made that these three possess the collective power of five or six good stooges.
anangryoldbroad @ 39
Don’t know about Georgia, but in Illinois:
1) Rep. doesn’t have to live in the district. This was brought up in the Tammy Duckworth race since she didn’t actually live in the district in which she was running.
2) Yes, churches are frequently used for polling places here. Probably because they don’t get much use during the week, compared with office buildings or other venues.
3) Churches here have to request and receive permission from the relevant city council to use community-owned buildings within the city for their services. Typically, the church/religious group pays a fee for the use of the facility.
enjoyed watching Babs Comstock this mornin’ on MSNBC. Ya gotta hand it to her, she’s a master of assimilation. She combines the truthiness of Dick Cheney, the face of Mr. Ed, and the voice of Rita Cosby.
Very attractive.
Couldn’t see the roots this morning, though.
You mention that there is a group going to see Waxman (my congressman) today, which makes me wonder if there would be a way to use this site to organize people in the same districts, to help us find each other, to join in, to provide support, whatever. Anyone have ideas about that, or have ideas been posted elsewhere in here?
egregious @ 110
Once I get settled in and the temperatures go down. I’m sure there will be many reasons to have to come to DC to yell and scream. Now I’ll have some local friends there to hang with too.
My polling place in Manhattan is a synagogue.
GrandmaJ @ 109
Via MN Campaign Report, Klobuchar issued a statement saying:
Balrog, GrandmaJ, Barbara, Phoenix Woman, other MN folk want to get together to have a nice little chat with Amy? I’m a little weak on activism skills, but I’ll make up for it with, um, motivation. And I’ll be glad to help coordinate our efforts.
jhaygood @ 115
We’ve been doing that for a year through our state based google groups. Some have been active and some not. Don’t know about CA but I know there’s a group.
Biden’s going to be on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer, probably in the 10ET (after news) slot. You can listen at wnyc.org. You can put in comments at http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/e…..ents/83441
And you can email at brianlehrershow@wnyc.org.
I called Sen. Voinovich’s Northeast OH office and he has no public appearances planned here during the break. Such a busy man…
jayt @ 115
Don’t forget the Mouth of Sauron.
-GSD
dan_ps @ 121
Make an appt. with a staffer to start. You are a voter. He works for you.
Apparently Gordon Brown is asking to have five Brits removed from Guantanimo.
I guess he isn’t going to play-act in Bush’s fantasy life.
-GSD
Rev deb writes:
brendan,
we need to get in touch. I’m moving to the area next week. Already setting up something with Sestak’s office and need to start with Casey and (she types while holding nose) Snarlin’.
I have lots to learn about the political landscape there.
Deb, drop me a line at bfstemp AT yahoo
GSD @ 125
He should not hold his breath while waiting for that to happen.
OT again.
Dog bites man, Iraq style.
But if you had predicted this, say three years ago,
Joe Klein, Andrew Sullivan and Peter Beinart would have accused you
of suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome.
nomolos @ 33
Memory tells me the last time you tried that you lost over 200 troops in one fell swoop.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 95
Argh.
He was on Washington Journal recently (first time I’d seen him), and he was taking all kinds of nasty calls from right wingers, the usual drivel about him hating America and wanting America to lose, blah, blah, blah.
Sestak responded with the lamest attempts at folksy jokes, the “My wife would agree with you, hardy har har” kind of thing. But the worst was when some nut called in screaming his venom, and Sestak responded by saying, “This is not George Bush’s war. This is America’s war.”
I wanted to throw a brick at my television set.
This IS Bush’s war, and I do get fed up with Democrats trying to appease these vicious nuts by playing right into their hands and saying, “Heck, we’re all part of Bush’s screwup.”
I was not impressed, needless to say.
allan_in_upstate @ 128
This story will be used as a reason why we can never leave Iraq.
Nola Sue @ 119
I’d love to.
Balrog @ 132
I’m in!
RevDeb @ 66
the part i know about (what happened on the house floor) ian has wrong…. but can’t expect anyone who went to ykos to have spent friday night and all day saturday glued to c-span (like many of us stay-at-home firepups did).
allan_in_upstate @ 128
Juan Cole also highlighted that article. His money quote:
Regarding Debbie W-S, I once suggested in a reply to an e-mail from Senator Reid that the Democrats contact Debbie for lessons on how to talk about issues. Reportedly Speaker Pelosi holds her in high regard and rewarded her with a nice position (I know not what). Debbie and Meek are a nice couple on the Floor.
Judy Woodruff is a loyal Republic. I miss Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the best interviewer on any network.
More wisdom from Christy in the new thread.
Correspondence School
Christy’s ringing the bell upstairs for:
Correspondence School
Don’t be late for class, kids!
Anyone here want to get together to put some pressure on Ed Marky. I called his office and apparently he is not planning any events this month. I understand he needs to attend to an injured leg but his position on impeachment is just a non-starter. Maybe we can hookup through facebook.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 72
Christy hello! Welcome back from YKos! Today is my prechooler’s 4th birthday!
On your letter writing piece, it would carry import to gather stats from here
Also, like this piece on the one case in the courts that could rule FISA unconstitutional
Enjoy that cuppa. Now they say it is good for women in preventing memory loss!
Just talked to Klobachar’s office here in MN and 1) asked if there were going to be any ‘town hall’ meetings, and 2) why did she vote to extend FISA for even 6 months when she should know by now that they are not to be trusted.
Response was to watch her website and ‘IF’ she would ever be in my area, I could attend. I asked If???? She corrected and said ‘when’. And if I wanted to ask for a meeting with her or her staff I could submit an email request in D.C. And they would get back to me.
it took me three times to get in to the office, so hopefully others are calling her.
.
grayslady @ 114
Thank you,I wasn’t sure about any of that.
allan_in_upstate @ 100
Hey on the site I see my comment Carmen F. about the republican only views on the children’s healthcare bill. Thanks for highlighting it, I would have never known. Sometimes it feels that you’re spitting in the wind, nice to know it can make a difference to write.
How can anyone expect wisdom and strength from this guy considering that his brain has been permanently damaged by Topik spray-on hair?
Sure looks like Pastor Ted to me.
dan_ps @ 122
I called Senator V’s local office and raised hell about his vote for the so-called “Protect America Act.” Told his staffer that the man had broken his oath “to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution” with that vote.
Told them it’s insane to trust Gonzales with oversight, and added that AGAG should be impeached.
Staffer said she’d pass my views along. Wish I believed it would make a difference…
It would be wonderful to have a web mechanism to identify, unite, rally, etc. local activists so that we could pool forces. Something like the Moving On “find a party, host a party” program. I want to get more involved locally and think the You Work for Us is a fantastic idea. I already write lots and lots of emails and letters. Thanks.
Hey Brisingamen – if you see this go to my web site and get in touch.
Brisingamen @ 146
My advise to the voting public: Embrace Facism….or else.
anangryoldbroad @ 39
Absolutely!
It’s common where I live, but it’s also done in schools and other places too.
That’s the first I’ve heard of it.
KLynn @ 140
Very interesting story. Wouldn’t it be lovely to see a case like that go to the Supreme Court? Would they rule that something handed over to those lawyers was still not proof that wiretapping had occurred? Their convoluted reasoning can only be imagined.
Susan, maybe Nelson didn’t know this, but this is not temporary. Hidden in the back of that bill are words to the effect that this will last till end of 2008, which is as long as bush will be there.
Not only can I not believe they gave these powers to the least trustworthy people on earth…but they did it without reading the entire document because it is not just temporary.
Good for you, calling him on this — we need more like you.
Sharin Bowers
Southern California (Waxman’s district)