Re: Obey .... here are names of possible targets for pressure that might make an actual difference

[Stinky The Clown]

The Obey thing happened. Some are on his side, some are on the woman's side. There are many threads right here in River City discussing it every which way from Sunday. One of the threads is mine. They're all still active, so if you wanna discuss Obey, specifically, any one of them would a godd place to do that.

The purpose of *this* thread is to suggest some people upon whom pressure might actually help our cause (which is, I think we can all agree, as rapid an end to the Iraq as is humanly possible).

How about the Maine Women? One of them has alreadsy been dissed by Bush upon her return from Iraq. They should be quite willing to listen. And their Senate votes might actually matter.

How about Arlen Specter? This fucking weasel is in a state that has just shown its fill of Republic officials. At let him know we're watching. And we're wise to him.

I would add Arlen's asshole buddy, Holy, but we all know that's a lost cause.

Senators Nelson ..... both of these guys are worth a little pressure .... titular Dems as they claim to be.

Colorado Ken is another one who needs a nudge from time to time. Whittling away at the Gang of 14 never hurts, yanno?

See, here's the deal ....... we can pass most anything in the House. Not **quite* anything, but a lot. Now, if we had the votes in the Senate, it might be even easier to get shit done in the House cuz those opposed would actually **matter** ...... and get noticed. And nobody likes to get noticed as the one who farted during dinner. So anyway, farts aside, the best place to put pressure is in the .... Senate!

Easy, no?

Who else can you see as viable targets of grassroots activities who might actually make an actual difference?

[Monkeyman]

1. Steve Buyer on the Veterans Committee target

[Stinky The Clown]

3. What's his district like?

He always struck me as chock full of Kool Aid. Indiana, I know, is pretty damned conservative. but if he's weak - or even shakey - in his district, hell yeah!

[Monkeyman]

5. Shaky if a good person runs

[MADem]

2. Assuming the discussions are respectful, and aren't bell ringing, chanting, shows

Norm "Al Franken is gonna take your seat" Coleman--he's running scared.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Good one!

Not only running scared ..... abso-fucking-lutely NO moral compass. The most valuable part of this empty suit ensemble is the coat hanger that keeps his lapels apart.

[Monkeyman]

6. No but we could do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOpTAL50bl8 Tell them who we are

[sandnsea]

7. Pryor and Lincoln - Calling Clarkies

And the Arkansas Dems in Congress. Arkansas is almost completely Dem at this point. I think Arkansans can use this as an opportunity to move people to a more populist Dem stance, and get them to move against the war. Clark Dems in particular could be very useful.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Excellent point .... and worth the effort

I sure hope whoever was the handler of the woman who accosted Obey is reading this and considering more appropriate and effective tactics.

[Zodiak]

9. Have the Senators gone on record yet?

If they have, then knowing thier votes would be a good way to make a list and check it twice.

If I were to speculate on the receptive elements on the other side of the aisle, I would lean on the two Senators from Maine as well as Norm Coleman. For the House, Ron Paul might be good to enlist in helping his fellow Republicans jump the aisle....he is against the war, but perhaps not as vociferous behind closed doors as he could be.

The entire coalition of blue dogs are on the record for endorsing fully funding Bush's surge. They would be good to "get at", as well.

Congress has proven itself to be unresponsive to the will of the people and so I see no harm in the grassroots putting pressure on members to get with the program. If the pressure is strong and evenly applied, the glacier of state will eventualy get moving. If we all do as we are told and get in line with the Dem strategy at hand, this war will drag on forever.

It is our job as citizens to agitate and cajole our reps into getting something done. Our troops and our future depend on it.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. You're describing a campaign of "informed targeting" of congress critters.

And that's a tactic I can surely get behind. Also, it is more likely to produce real movement - surely more than trying to convince a passionately anti-war rep to be anti-war.

I like your list, too. And I like your strategy .... not just going after them wholesale, but for good reasons even beyond their own prepensity to flip, but instead, to their ability to get *others* to flip.