Letter to Senators - Demanding, Assertive, Tippy-Toe?

[VTGold]

How should we go?

On this latest round of freakin' letters (haven't written this much since summer camp...) I was going to go for profundity and pleading.

But then I felt a wave of madness (anger not crazy) - wait just a cotton pickin' minute, I thought - they should be politicking (word?) to us. We put them there - why are we begging?

Then I thought - no that's a bit heavy handed - we're in no position to smack them around or sound like kooka-burra cry babies.

I don't know how to go - most of the letters I've written, I've written with tears running down my little face. But I feel kind of pissed now.

I want results but this isn't only about results. They should do this because it is what is right. Jesus H. Christ - all they are doing to is saying it deserves discussing on the House and Senate floors - surely no one can contend it doesn't.

That's what I'll say - thank you!

[WilliamPitt]

1. Earnest.

Tell them how you feel. Tell them what this means to you. TELL THEM HOW GRATEFUL YOU WILL BE if they stand up.

[VTGold]

2. Graaaateful (she said whining) - I want them to be scared of me...

...like I'm the boss of them.

Edit: I will be earnest Will - you're the boss. I'll make them cry :)

[liam97]

4. remind them

that they are our representatives, not feudal lords

[cyn2]

5. Respect and appeal to their patriotism n/t

[WilliamPitt]

6. What you want may not be the best tactic

This isn't an excercise in self-expression. This is a lobbying campaign writ large. Lobbyists don't bully Senators. They tell them how greatful their clients will be if they vote a certain way. Our client is the American people. Let's be smart for their sake.

[VTGold]

8. True-True. Off I go... n/t

[lachattefolle]

3. I was rude, but both my senators are Repukes (McCain and Kyl)n/t

[KaliTracy]

7. "How can I tell what I think until I see what I say? " -- E.M. Forester

;)

[Straight Shooter]

9. Be firm but firm.

Give 'em a couple facts to show you know what you're talking about. Throw in a quote by Jefferson or Franklin.

Keep it brief and to the point. Giving them a "sound bite" quote doesn't hurt, either.

I'm still musing over my letter and I better get to it. From the truthout reference on BuzzFlash, the Senators on whom Conyers will focus: Biden, Bingaman, Boxer, Byrd, Clinton, Conrad, Corzine, Dodd, Dorgan, Durbin, Feingold, Harkin, Inyoue, Jeffords, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Mikulski, Nelson (FL), Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Rockefeller, Sarbanes, Stabenow, Wyden and Obama.

I'm in Oregon, and so Wyden will receive a little extra attention from me. He's gone from being a strong Democrat to a compromiser, to an appeaser, to a capitulator, and now he seems clearly headed for the submissive posture. I won't vote for him again if he refuses to go out on this limb.

edit: You can find contact info for the above-named Senators by going to http://www.vote-smart.org

edit#2: see cyberpj's post for contact info, much easier!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x212387

[VTGold]

10. Speaking of quotes - I was thinking of one by....

Edmund Burke:
"A representative owes the people not only his industry, but his judgment, and he betrays them if he sacrifices it to their opinion."

[mia]

11. "They should do this because it is what is right."

They are also bound by Oath or Affirmation to support the Constitution.
"
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

[loritooker]

12. Write the kind of letter YOU'D like to receive.

[seabeyond]

13. lol lol i hear what you say, i bottom lined my last email

election fraud, you know it, shame on you

to ken blackwell this morning, just couldnt go into a big ole long time consuming proving what i know shit

[VTGold]

17. That's funny - I really did lol :)

[mia]

14. Amendment XV · Race no bar to voting rights.

1 The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude—
2 The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[Helga Scow Stern]

15. Faxing is best it seems.

Snail mail is too slow and gets irradiated. Email is overlooked.

Here are fax numbers:

Biden:
NH 302-573-6351
DC 202-224-0139

Bingamen:
DC 202-224-2852

Boxer:
San Bernadino 909-888-8613
DC 202-228-1338

Byrd:
Charleston 304-343-7144
DC 202-228-0002

Clinton:
DC [phone]
NYC [phone]
Albany [phone]

Conrad:
DC [phone]
Fargo [phone]

Corzine:
DC [phone]
Newark [phone]

Dodd:
DC [phone]

Dorgan
Bismarck 701-250-4484
DC 202-224-1193

Durbin
DC [phone]
Chicago [phone]

Harkin
DC [phone]
Des Moines [phone]

Jeffords
DC 202-228-0776

Kennedy
DC 202/224-2417
Boston 617/565-3170

Kerry
DC [phone]
Boston [phone]

Lautenberg
DC(202) 228-4054
Newark [phone]

Leahy

Levin
DC [phone]

Lieberman
CT [phone]
DC [phone]

Mikulski
DC 202-224-8858

Nelson
DC 202-228-2182

Jack Reed
DC [phone]
Cranston [phone]

Harry Reid
DC 202-224-7327
NV 702-388-5030

Rockefeller
Charleston 304-347-5371

Sarbanes
Baltimore [phone]
DC [phone]

Stabenow
DC 202-228-0325

Wyden
DC 202-228-2717

Obama
312-427-6401

For bulk faxing:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=201x7570

[VTGold]

16. OMG - thank you!!

[Pithy Cherub]

18. Just as with lobbying, if you can concisely demonstrate that

you represent others in a responsible fashion this will be persuasive as well. :)

[wiggs]

19. How can we hide our disappointment?

One of the major disappointments of the last 4 years is the near-complete disappearing act of the democratic party in congress. (That and the UCLA losing streak against USC in football).

They have repeatedly rolled over regarding Iraq, WMD, 9/11, IWR, Abu Ghraib, lies to congress regarding Medicare, unauthorized shifting of money to Iraq planning, near-contempt of congress regarding torture memos, patriot act, bypassing congress's rules on the environment by executive order, black box voting, and much much more.

We haven't heard but four or five of them stand up and say what is on their minds. The leaders of the "opposition" party have been disgraceful...at least that's what I see. I now have the impression that they are satisfied with what this adminsitration is doing...satisfied with concentration of wealth at the top...satisfied with imperialism....satisfied with distortion of information to justify administration goals.

Even if they don't have the voting power that the majority does, they still have voices and press officers.

So now we would like to ask them to do their jobs, be courageous, be principled, be honest, and work for us by standing up for what is right in this election.

I won't write anything, tonight at least, because I would find it hard to be respectful, polite, earnest, or kind. I would instead be tempted to use words like shame, betrayal, disappointment, and fascism.

[VTGold]

20. I know - that's where I am - that's why I posted - I don't want to mess..

...it up but I feel just as you do. I'm so pissed at them.

They've orchestrated this perfectly - the Democrats are all so afraid to open their mouths because they know they're going to hear "eh eh eh - 9/11..."