Tell-Your Experiences with Cornyn and Hutchison, good or bad

[liveoaktx]

I honestly have an overwhelming feeling that Cornyn, in particular, doesn't give a hoot what any Democrat thinks, in this state. I have written him before about issues and gotten back only standard form letters telling me why he voted a certain way. I never expect that either of them will contact me to find out my opinion, so occasionally I telephone to leave a comment. Sometimes the person answering the phone has been snotty.

Overall, when I see the messages here and on other forums saying Call Your Congressmen (Senator) I have a sinking feeling that it will do no good to call either one becuase they don't give a hoot. I do it anyway, but when I saw Cornyn introducing and glad-handing Torture Pimp Gonzales, I knew we are worlds apart in idealogy and he cares nothing for minority opinions that he doesn't share.

You?

[WestHoustonDem]

1. To her credit, I always receive a response from KBH

rarely agreeing with my opinion, but at least addressing my concerns. I have several dozen letters from her. I've gotten exactly one response from Cornyn and send them both identical correspondence.

[Career Prole]

2. Same here, minus the response from Cornyn.

I'm still waiting for a response from KBH on the one I sent her about her dinner with Annthrax Coulter this coming Saturday.

[Sweet Freedom]

3. KBH responds months later

I never remember what the heck I wrote to her about because it takes so long for her to reply.

I get form letters from Cronyn and from DeLay as well. Both say bascially the same thing: "The pResident and I disagree with you; go fuck yourself."

[outraged2]

5. Months later....

Months to get a response and then it is just a form letter not even about the same topic I contacted her about. :eyes:

I've only tried Cornyn a couple of times and never got a response.

[jburton]

4. Kay Baby is very responsive

She doesn't really respond to my actual topic, but at least her handlers send me polite form letters. I figure since she is running for Senate re-election or Guv next year her correspondence department is better than average.

Cornyn has never sent a response, not even a form letter.

[muse]

6. This is my experience exactly.

Kay sends letters that explain her position. Nada from Cornyn. My emails to him always remind him that he represents more than just the Republicans in the state. He has a bad habit of basically calling the Dems "babies" at every opportunity.

[PDittie]

7. Echoing what others' experience has been

Cornyn does not respond to any of my letters; Kay does.

You need to send them anyway.

Note: E-mail is the classic exercise in futility. Even your representatives in Austin (much less DC) can flag your e-address so they never have to open it. You're just spam to them (I learned this recently at the PP lobbyist training).

Send a snail mail letter -- a citizen letter from Working Assets or some similar is good (if you cannot write or type one out), with the letter personalized BY YOU in the opening paragraph at the very least. Even if you say nothing more than say "Thank you for serving us in the ..."

I also call their offices for important things like the Gonzales confirmation; 15 seconds with a staffer to say "please tell him this constituent is opposed" is better still.

You have to drip on them.

[muse]

8. I always hear this about email, but

it's also my understanding that snail mail takes a tremendous amount of time to get through all of the security hoops in DC due to the past anthrax scares.

Kay will respond by letter to my emails.

[CitySky]

9. reply from KBH

I wrote to her sometime last year re black box voting concerns and months later she sent back a letter saying that voting was important to her too, which is why she had supported the Help America Vote Act (which GAVE us bbv, and "provisional ballots.")

Cornyn... shudder.

[muse]

10. Do you think Cornyn is reading DU?

Out of the blue today, I received this email from John Boy:

Thank you for contacting me about the confirmation of Judge Alberto
Gonzales as Attorney and Dr. Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State. I
appreciate having the benefit of your comments regarding these important
nominations.

Judge Gonzales combines stellar legal credentials with an inspiring
American success story. He is the first person in his family to attend
college. After graduating from Rice University and Harvard Law School, he
joined a prestigious international law firm headquartered in Texas, and he
became one of its first minority partners. In the 1990s, he served under
then-Governor George W. Bush as general counsel, Secretary of State, and
Texas Supreme Court Justice. When elected in 2000, President Bush
appointed Judge Gonzales to serve as counsel to the President.

Despite his talent, achievement, and humility, Judge Gonzales was harshly
criticized for advising President George W. Bush that all detainees in the
war against terrorism must be treated humanely, but that—as a legal
matter—al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are not covered by the Geneva
Convention. This position is not only legally correct, but also an
essential matter of national security. I recall that nearly two decades
ago President Reagan, followed by every subsequent President, rejected a
proposed amendment—known as Protocol I of 1977—to extend the Geneva
Convention provisions to terrorists. As President Reagan rightly argued,
"We must not, and need not, give recognition and protection to terrorist
groups as a price for progress in humanitarian law."

President Bush and Judge Gonzales have both unequivocally, clearly, and
repeatedly rejected the use of torture in combating world terrorism. I
believe that Alberto Gonzales has done his duty in the war on terrorism,
and I welcome him to America's chief law enforcement post.

Additionally, Dr. Rice has proven a wise and trusted advisor to President
Bush. She has led with purpose, conviction, and clarity during the war on
terrorism and has skillfully handled many complex issues facing our nation.
I am confident that as Secretary of State she will serve as a constant and
unwavering advocate for America’s values and interests around the world.
In this historic time of challenge, I appreciate Dr. Rice’s willingness to
serve our nation by assuming this critical role, and I am pleased that the
Senate acted so quickly to fill this important position.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in
the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.


Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator