Is it a waste of time to write or email my wingnut Representative?

I have been emailing, writing, calling and now protesting at the offices of my more moderate elected officials. I just sent a letter to and sat-in at the office of Senator Ken Salazar. He's a Democrat, but a conservative Democrat, but still I think that given enough pressure, he can be convinced to do the right thing.

On the other hand, my Representative is Marilyn Musgrave. Everyone who knows about her knows she's drank the Kool-Aid. She's a Pentecostal (just like John Ashcroft,) she's very hard right, she's pro-life, pro-war, and rated in the top ten worst members of Congress. We tried to fire her fundie ass last November and replace her with Angie Paccione, but sadly, didn't quite win. :(

In short, I don't think she's reachable. Protesting, writing her may be a total waste of time, so I focus on Salazar. Am I wrong on this?

so I've been wondering the same thing. My rep. is Jeff Flake. Like any of them would listen to me.

I like to make sure they know that people are vehemently opposed to the stands they take. Does it matter in the long run? I don't know - tho I hear Warner is not running again next election.... I like to think people like those of us here at DU had something to do with that.

:hi:

in fact, you should tell him about the 'house parties' you host so that his constituents are aware of his actions in Congress.

My senator is Saxby Chambliss and my rep is Phil Gingrey. BOTH are so RW I wonder how they drive their cars.

Saxby emails form letters back, and then has his email rigged so he cannot receive REPLIES to his form letters. We literally have to jump through hoops and re-write letters to him via his website.

Gingrey doesn't even BOTHER with form letters. He could care LESS about any dissenting voices among his constituents.

I have, however, called Rep. Murtha's office and other Dems, and had some GREAT conversations with other people's reps.

I have made the following political calculation: If there is absolutely no chance that the congressperson will change his or her mind, DO NOT call. I want them to be as outrageously extreme as possible, so as to raise the possiblity that they will be ousted in the next election by someone more moderate. In other words, don't clue them in.

The situation is different, of course, if there is any possiblity at all that the legislator could be convinced to do the right thing. In that case, yes, make the call.

Why waste time and effort with criminals.Let them have enough rope so they can hang themselves.

I use to and all I got was a wingnut sheeple reply. The USUAL RW CRAP. They don't CARE what you think if you didn't vote for them or donate $$$$$$ to their campaign.. Period.

You would be surprised at how the congresscritter's staffs look at this stuff; they are politicians for a reason, they are very susceptible to public pressure, and the best pressure comes from those who are not afraid to go the extra 1/4 mile.

I'm in NE, I have Ben Nelson(D), Chuck Hagel(R), and Fortenberry(R)...Fortenberry was sweating bullets this past cycle, in the 1st Dist, he didn't win by much, whereas here in NE it should have been a shoe in. Nelson is taking some harder stances on some items, as he promised he would when we met several times. Ben figures this will be the last shot for him before retiring in 2112.

Now Hagel is the really interesting one. I've met him only once, and we talked about vets issues 4 years ago. I never thought he was ultra RW, more moderate than weird. Looks like I was pretty close to being right on target. Hagel and I write back and forth on many issues, mostly vet and environmental issues.
His office has called me personally 13 times to get my views on mail I've sent...that is 13 times. I'm a nobody, just a Lib living in a very conservative state, but when I hear, "This is Senator Hagel's office in Washington, could you hold please, the Senator would like to speak to you", it can sure make you feel like you've had some kind of impact. I have spoken w/Senator Hagel on 3 of those 13 times, the other 10 were staff calls.

Now I'm not going to take any credit for having Hagel hop out of the GOP lockbox, but it is possible I made some impression .

The only other advice I can give you is that if you get an e-mail back or some snail mail, keep copies of both your original message and the reply, put them in a folder, and when you catch them going back on their word, cal them on it w/the message you've received; and if the congresscritter comes near your area while campaigning or just for a Town Hall Meeting GO THERE, w/those copies so you ask questions in front of those who matter, your local community...

We're definitely still purple in Colorado as long as those two are still in office.

Not only do I think that writing to Musgrave is an exercise in futility it might get your name put on a watch list, she's such a fundie NeoCon.

On the other hand she does need to hear from "the other side" just so she can't TRUTHFULLY say how her constituents overwhelmingly or unanimously agree with her.

Thanks for all that you're doing BTW. The work of a true lover of America.

Actually, it's too late - I've participated in enough war protests, I just did a sit-in at Senator Salazar's Fort Collins office this morning, and at one protest a few months ago, I've been photographed by the FBI. So I'm already on their watch lists.

But heck, if I'm going to be considered a national security threat, I might as well make the best of it... :evilgrin:

Salazar sure needs the pressure. I sorta knew when he nominated Gonzo for the AG that he might not be as Blue as we'd hoped.

Thanks again! :toast: