How do we make our congressmen & senators stick up for us?

blondeatlast

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Sat Nov-06-04 05:29 PM
Original message

How do we make our congressmen & senators stick up for us?

Glancing through the threads today, it's pretty obvious we know that we have to get a strong presence in in the legislative branch.

I think we'd also all agree we have to light the fire under them NOW, especially with an imminent SCOTUS appointment and the possibility of antoher FBI director.

I think we've all written e-mails, called, snail mailed without a whole lot of effect. I see a need for an organized grassroots effort.

Where do we begin? What do we need to do? I'm not an organizer by any strtch of the imagination.

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bemildred

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Sat Nov-06-04 05:32 PM
Response to Original message

1. Fear is a good motivator. Like, you could be thrown out. nt

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blondeatlast

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Sat Nov-06-04 05:37 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Hasn't seemed to be enough lately, and Bush

has a "mandate."

We know he doesn't, of course, but our legies buy into it and will be in fear of it.

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bemildred

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Sat Nov-06-04 05:58 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. They don't get thrown out.

Edited on Sat Nov-06-04 05:59 PM by bemildred

Incumbents get re-elected at a very high rate.

People take their eye off the ball, the get all
wrapped up in abortion and religion and race and
gay rights and other bullshit and forget that the
dickhead they elected did nothing for them and helped
rob them blind, when he wasn't voting to send their
kids off to Iraq or cut their pensions.

Edit: it's all about accountability, if they can get
aways with ignoring the voters, they will, and it's
rigged so you have to pay attention and be disciplined
and organize. The power lies in numbers.

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union_maid

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Sat Nov-06-04 05:37 PM
Response to Original message

3. I'm wondering the same thing

It's fine what we're doing now. We're basically having a wallow, and we might as well. Not much to do now. Organizing is the next phase. I know what I'm going to be doing here locally, but I also would like some thoughts on how to mobilize enough to get our representatives to find their guts on key issues. I know they're in a minority and that this administration abuses its rights in that regard. I don't expect them to carry the day with their votes. I'd like them to stick to their guns and help to publicize and mobilize against the worst of the Bush agenda, though.

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blondeatlast

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Sat Nov-06-04 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. Exactly; we at the grassroots seem to have found an enormous

amount of pluck and vinegar, but I fear our Reps will just keep on keeoing on.

I was never a Howard Dean fan, but I see him as being a leader in the effort.

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Zomby Woof

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Sat Nov-06-04 06:23 PM
Response to Original message

6. unless you're a million or billionaire

You don't. The system is the best money can buy, and unless you have some green, you cannot and will not make a difference.

It is time to give up the illusion.

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meganmonkey

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Sat Nov-06-04 06:35 PM
Response to Original message

7. Some of them already are!

House Judiciary Committee wrote a letter to GAO outlining fraud issues and requesting an audit. See thread below (on homepage)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2609760

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Malva Zebrina

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Sat Nov-06-04 06:36 PM
Response to Original message

8. Promise them fame and the ability to have their name recorded in history

They love it. Plus there is the added benefit of a lot of money after they leave. Most of them anyhow and HIllary is no different.

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Walt Starr

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Sat Nov-06-04 06:39 PM
Response to Original message

9. If we force the Democratic Senators into a premature filibuster, we lose

and I mean we lose Roe.

The SCOTUS is lost, deal with it. It was lost on November 2nd and there's no going back now, but if we're smart, Roe can still be saved.

It's going to get ugly, but we CANNOT filibuster Rhenquist's replacemnet regardless of how rightwing they are. We vote to move it to a floor vote and not a single Democratic Senator can vote no. At best, they abstain in the interest of national unity.

This will force the moderate Republicans to engage the Democrats for a filibuster of O'Connor's replacement and we win.

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Hippo_Tron

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Sat Nov-06-04 06:50 PM
Response to Reply #9

10. I agree somewhat

But I don't see how the moderate Republicans will engage the democrats for a fillibuster of O'Connor. But I guess that's a decent compromise for a while. Let Wrenchburg's (as my dead likes to refer to him) replacement onto the floor, but not O'Connor's.

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