I called all senate offices this week. Here is the report

[peace13]

This Iran nuke talk has pushed a cliff sitter over the edge. I decided to call all senators with the message...'No bombs in Iran and out of Iraq please'.

-I left messages with five machines, an option that is OK with me
-Senator Shelby's voice mail box was full so no message was left.
-All other senators had humans answering the phones.

Here is the kicker...out of the whole lot two offices refused to take my comment. The explanation was that I did not live in their district. The office of Sam Brownbeck (R-KS) was the rudest. I was told to call my own representative and when I explained that I was calling everyone I was cut off and passed to the operator. The second refusal was the biggest surprise. Hillary Clinton's office actually said that they only take comments from district residents. My mind could not get around that. I explained to the young man that they may want to rethink their position. After suggesting that this would not look good on the web he stammered and agreed to hear my comment.

How can any senator refuse input from a citizen of the United States when the issue is unprovoked nuclear attack? How can these few individuals not take every comment into consideration? How can these few kill in our names with bombs bought by us and close their ears to our comment?

[wellstone dem]

1. Democrats need to wake up

After Hurricane Katrina I tried to email the HOuse and Senate leadership. Nancy Pelosi's website would not take comments from folks who were not residents of their district. Interestingly, Frist's site not only responded, but regularly sends me emails on a variety of issues. (Which I delete) If our leaders don't understand they lead for the whole country, no wonder we keep losing.

[sandnsea]

3. That's peculiar

I've emailed her lots of times. Her email address is right there on her web site.

[e-mail]

[acmejack]

2. Absolutely, that's where that "arrogant and out of touch" comes from!

But I was surprised to learn that Cornyn wasn't one of the two. He won't even deign to accept e mail from his constituents, the arrogant so & so.

[zann725]

4. Mzzz. Hilary's office sent me a similar "reply" email a few months ago...

...to an issue I'd mass-emailed to "key" Senators.
The comments in her email (as I recall) not only reminded me that I was NOT Mz. H's "constituent," but also (as I recall) that she was "busy" enough with her own constituents, and simply didn't have the time.

I took the time to remind Mz. H. that ALL elected rep's INDIRECTLY (yet DO) represent ALL we-the-people. I also said that because of her abrupt, dismissive, clearly mass-mail reply...I ALSO would "not have time" to vote for Mzzzz. H...SHOULD she ever choose to run in '08 for Prez.

INexcusable reply...yet "telling," indeed.

[NJ Democrats]

5. I got a message similar

from Joe Lieberman on the Alito issue. He said he didn't have time and was busy with his constituents. Anyway, how do the calling go? What did the staffers say?

[peace13]

7. Most were very interested.

Most of the calling was done on Wednesday and the lines were actually pretty busy. I sat on hold which was music to my ears. I hoped that that meant other DUers were doing the same as I was. I do think that mass calling is the answer to the problem. I asked if many were calling on the subject and many said yes.

[NJ Democrats]

9. Very, very good.

Which office was the nicest/most responsive?

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. If Senators can't take calls & comments from outside of their states

then they shouldn't take money from individuals and corporations outside of their states either.

[peace13]

8. Good point!

[TahitiNut]

11. That's EXACTLY what their staff should be told when they refuse ..

... to accept comments. OpenSecrets lists campaign funds they take from outside their 'official' constituency and those numbers should be shoved right down the throats of those arrogant assholes when they don't dig the shit out of their ears.

Hillary, for example, has taken over $11 million (54%) of her campaign funds from out-of-state residents!! She can damned well fucking take comments too!

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/geog.asp?CID=N00000019&cycle=2006

[bdamomma]

10. you know these senators and reps

are forgetting who they are representing, US, they want our input but there is a disconnect between us and them. I will excuse Feingold, he seems very genuine to me.

[xxqqqzme]

12. It really, really gripes my ass that these

senators - paid w/ OUR tax dollars - feel free 2 make decisions that affect ALL Americans but refuse 2 hear any person outside their state. I have started keeping a zip code list, usually a zip in a city where they have an office,. I use my street address but their city and zip.

I am fed up w/ that elite 'my state, my constituent' crap. I got that BS during the bankruptcy disaster - biden's office wanted my zip, the staffer said they don't write down comments from 'out of state'. I said then biden has no business making decisions affecting people 'out of state'! This is a pet peeve of mine

[Robbien]

13. I admire your effort

Its an important issue and I sadly say I only called my Senator and Representative to voice my opinion.

:hangs head:

Great job Peace
:thumbsup:

[rockymountaindem]

14. In Hillary Clinton's defence

Her office probably gets flooded with a ton of that irrational RW Hillary-hatred that Rush honed to such perfection in the 90s and which persists today. I think in that sense she is unique among Senators and therefore I can understand why her office tries to keep out-of-state contact to a minimum.

[acmejack]

15. That must be it!