Calls to Congress 499 to 1 against Syria war

[BelgianMadCow]

"Americans are slamming at least 24 members of Congress with thousands of phone calls and emails, urging lawmakers not to approve a military strike on Syria – by a margin of as much as 499 to 1.

A national debate is raging on Twitter. Tweets and statements from members of Congress – both Democrat and Republican – show tremendously strong opposition to President Obama’s call for an air strike on Syria:

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., tweeted, “Calls and emails from my constituents is 100 to 1 AGAINST getting involved in Syria. The American people are speaking.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said 99 percent of the calls his office oppose an attack.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., said, “Constituents who have contacted my office by phone or mail oppose action in Syria 523-4 so far.
more”

Thank you.
Thank you.

Thank you.

[idwiyo]

1. k&r

[CountAllVotes]

2. My message

NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA!

Understand?

NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA! NO WAR IN SYRIA!

[tridim]

27. The President agrees with you 100%.

[dipsydoodle]

3. k & r

.

[florida08]

4. Thank You America

[fasttense]

5. Very similar to the bank bailouts - NO ONE LISTENED Then

Before all the banks got bailed out, congress had to vote on it. Just prior to the vote, the DC phone lines and e-mail accounts of congress and the WH got slammed with negative comments of Americans from all over the US. So many people called and e-mailed that they jammed up the accounts and shut down the sites and lines temporarily.

The vast majority of Americans were telling their representatives to NOT bail out the banks. But no one listened.

[B Calm]

6. The bankers are the ones pulling the strings on everything.

[BelgianMadCow]

10. Similar, indeed. But the bailouts and the impunity for banksters also gave rise to Occupy

Wall Street.

If the people's voice is disregarded, I think similar movements are in store for the US.

I saw Chris Hedges describe his experience with the revolutions he has covered. They are very rarely linear, but usually more in a "one step back, two forward"-way.

In any case, it feels as if the giant US public conscience is waking up, not just to this war but also to the blatant inequality of taking care of banks / MIC and not people. The UK vote gave me hope, and your vocal opposition does too. At the very least, it will make it clear to the world that it is the US government doing this, and not the people.

We are one.

[Adrahil]

25. And you ought to be happy about that, to a certain extent.

Those bailouts prevented a major collapse of the financial system.

However, the immunity the bankers enjoy pisses me off. People should be in jail.

[undeterred]

7. Sounds like we need a new Congress, at the very least.

One that listens to what the American people want.

[BelgianMadCow]

14. Well, I think you do, but it does look like a no vote in the house atm

current whip count:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014586618

[joshcryer]

8. I wish the public would react this way on health care, education, etc.

I'm glad this is happening. If the Congress listens, maybe the people will realize they can press their Representatives to do the right thing.

[orenbus]

9. Agree

Hi guys I just joined this forum and I agree with what most are saying here that we should not attack Syria, thanks for everyone that is speaking out.

edit: Also what does K&R mean? Thanks.

[BelgianMadCow]

12. Welcome to DU, then!

K&R is kicked (to the top of the forum page) and recommended.

[Rebellious Republican]

11. We have no say, only the banksters!

[BelgianMadCow]

16. I'll see your Carlin, and raise you one

we DO have a say - stop buying corporate stuff

[Rebellious Republican]

17. Classic Carlin.....

Looks like I have been trumped.

[BelgianMadCow]

18. Nah. How about we call it a draw?

After all, competition is a good strategy for a species that is conquering new territory and trying to grow.
Collaboration, on the other hand, is the way to go for a species that has grown to its limits and wants to find a steady state.

So here we are, at the point in time when mankind is considering raising its awareness, its empathy, its intelligence, to the collective level.

?w=502

[Rebellious Republican]

19. Wow, very eloquently spoken. Wish I had your talent for prose.

I can only express myself through others, thats why I use a lot of you tube vids. I will offer you this, you are very wise and I am glad we are on the same side. This song is as true now as it was when it was written. Thank you.

You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.

Counter Melody To Above Verse:
Can you hear and do you care and
Cant you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.

Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

[BelgianMadCow]

28. "I can only express myself through others"

remove the "only". You being able to do that means in the first place that you are able to listen to others, and feel what they are trying to convey. That makes you big, not small. Empathy is the essential caracteristic of good people.
I have much to learn in the listening department, but thanks for your kind words anyway.

I didn't know that song. Interesting that it's about children and parents - 'cause that what we all are, first and foremost. I find it much easier to have "political" discussions with people of other opinions when I remember first that they very likely have the wellbeing of their children first and foremost in their mind, and take it from there.

Of course, there is also the appeal to that same empathy for children that John Kerry used in his first key speech. It sickened me, thoroughly, since it struck me as insincere, and since what we needed was evidence, not emotional manipulation.

[Rebellious Republican]

29. I will keep that in mind, thank you very much for your kind words.

[silvershadow]

13. Sounds about right. "Now, watch this drive." nt

[pinboy3niner]

15. Looks like that 1 needs to be educated

[Demeter]

20. Yes, that's lovely, but

it's the 1% that gets the grease....

Yes, they WOULD dare to go against the express will of the People.

[totodeinhere]

22. I'm not so sure about that. Maybe they might decide to make a strategic retreat on this one.

Then they could milk the idea that Congress bowed to the will of the people for all it's worth while at the same time they continue to screw us on most other issues.

[Demeter]

24. That's far too sophisticated for the puppet masters

I'm not holding my breath.

I used to be an optimist, but when they explained that pessimists are the only ones who can be pleasantly surprised....well, I switched right then and there!

[BelgianMadCow]

23. I hear you. But seeing the will of the people expressed is never futile

at the very least, it's being reported on this side of the pond, both in German, Belgian an UK news outlets I check.
It's rather important we all understand it's hardly ever the common people that want war. It was great to see the UK people come out of the fear-induced war setting, and it looks like the US public is not buying the fearmongering any longer either. And fear is all they have, once people start feeling enabled, there's no telling where they go. Once you set one foot out of the door...

I expect a no vote will not matter. I don't see how the admin would backtrack, and I think they have set it up so going forward without approval looks acceptable (and backed by eg Pelosi, too).

[totodeinhere]

21. It looks like we have finally found something that almost all of the American people can agree on.

The overwhelming opposition to a strike against Syria is bipartisan. I think there is a good chance that we can stop this in the House. We could very well get a majority of both Republicans and Democrats voting against it.

[tridim]

26. Thankfully the President is also against war in Syria.

Sounds like the calls are being directed to the right people.