This man had a BRILLANT idea

[NYETNYET]

I watched Rachel last night. I just watched it again. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney had/has the most brilliant idea I have heard in forever. The short of it is... His office is getting phone calls from the district of Rep. John Faso. Why? Because the Faso office won't answer the phone. He mentioned he told Faso... you won't talk to them I will. He went on to suggest that maybe other members of congress should 'adopt a district'.
The people in all of these districts across the whole country have questions about the new health care plan. If the republicans that voted for this mean nasty law won't explain it at town halls to the people that put them in office, get someone who will. Want answers? Invite a member of congress that will supply them.
Rep. Maloney... you are brilliant!

[WePurrsevere]

1. A 'D' member of congress or better yet perhaps...

would be their possible Democratic opponent for 2018. It would help educate people with the added bonus of getting them better known in the district and probably they'd get a bit of free publicity too.

[eleny]

5. +1!

............. .............

[Equinox Moon]

10. Your dancing smiley faces are a delight!

[NBachers]

22. They need some 8-bit sound effects!

[Are_grits_groceries]

24. Both should do it.

The known name will bring the people. Then the new person running could be introduced and get exposure.
The person that would run should have some way set up to be contacted. Then the people won't feel abandoned again if they try to reach them.

[WePurrsevere]

28. Yes, this would definitely be even better. :-) nt

[lostnfound]

37. Thumbs up!

Cmon party leadership, can you do it?

[CitizenZero]

2. Great Idea

This should be a tactic in every contested Congressional District. This is the sort of stuff that the DNC should be doing. We should have "Issue Ads" run about Health Care in which we have Democratic Phone Lines that Constituents can call and ask questions and air grievances.

So, Democratic Congress Folks could adopt some Districts, but maybe a phone bank manned by Democratic activists to answer questions and direct calls. So co-ordinate Congressional Democrats, the DNC, local Democratic Candidates and Activists. Something like 1-800-4Health maybe.

[Equinox Moon]

11. Yep. We can call the DNC on Monday about it.

[Wawannabe]

3. Yes!

On my weekly call to McCaskill I am so going to bring this up.
However, me thinks she has been silent lately due to opening her yap about Trump/Putin in the negative and then getting slapped by a photo with ger at a table "meeting" with Putin and others.
I only hang with her because she is a D but she rides the fence WAY too much. Less being moderate - more about trying to keep her seat.
Never the less. I will persist!

[justhanginon]

32. As Missouri slowly turns into upper North Carolina if

Senator McCaskill has any hope of reelection she has to be somewhat moderate. Remember, this is the state that republicans nominated Todd Akin of "legimate rape" comment as their nominee and even given that, he still got a sizable percentage of the vote in the election and they just elected Eric "AK47" Greiten as their governor.

[Wawannabe]

33. MO

Is a disaster! For sure.
Springfield just elected a Mayor that LOOKS like trump*!!!! Orange fury animal on top and all! I am not kidding. And there are some liberals in this town! I really don't get it. Used to be more moderation when we could still elect a Dem Gov.
I am outta here!!!

[Ligyron]

4. " stuff that the DNC should be doing".

Exactly. Why aren't they? Saving up to lose another Presidential Election?

[Plucketeer]

17. Careful!

I get alerted for those kinds of statements! The DNC can do NO wrong.

[Beartracks]

21. And they have a track record to prove it!

==================

[Amaryllis]

6. I saw it too. He told Faso he was gonna do it and Faso wasn't happy about it, but he told

Faso that if he wasn't gonna answer his phone, and his constituents called Maloney, he would talk to them. The adopt a district idea is brilliant.

[Bohunk68]

44. I live in Schoharie County, at the other end of the district.

I would love to have Cong Tonko again. He was always there. His aides traveled with him and took care of business right away. Always a follow up. I think Paul still takes calls from our county.

[iluvtennis]

7. Saw that segment as well and loved the idea. Gotta get Perez and other leadership to push it.

[Victor_c3]

8. He's my elected rep!

I gotta say I feel a little bit of pride in him right now.

I met him right after he was first elected. He did a tour of a federal facility at used to work at. If I'm not mistaken, he defeated Nan Hayworth (a republican who supported her openly gay adult child). I met her too while I worked at the same federal facility.

If you are in a position of leadership you need to take responsibility for your actions. If you are too much of a coward to stand behind your believes then you aren't much of a leader at all. A real leader can make an unpopular decision, justify it, and convince those around them of the merits of that decision. Lead from the font. If you yourself aren't willing to do something then don't make others do it. Hell, I learned that from the Army and my conscience is free and clear on that front. I never ordered anyone to do anything that I didn't do or wouldn't do myself.

Republicans, from the draft-dodging president on down, are (with a few exceptions) a bunch of cowards.

[rgbecker]

9. Faso is afraid he might get a call from the brain tumer lady.

He's going to have hard time explaining the hug and telling her she won't lose her coverage.

[DinahMoeHum]

29. As it is, he's too chickenshit to come to a town hall meeting. . .

. . .in Kingston this week.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20170506/faso-wont-attend-health-care-town-hall-meeting-in-kingston

[TeamPooka]

12. Democratic challengers who want to dominate in a primary next year should be holding those town

halls in red districts too.
Start holding town halls if you want to get your name known now ahead of time.
Take a page from the UK and act like a shadow/opposition minister/congressman.
For the next year and a half hold public events and say "Rep. isn't doing this right now on X issue and this is what I would do or vote."

[calimary]

20. Also-freakin'-lutely!

I can just hear it now. "Your rep hiding out from you? Doesn't want to show up to meet you for a town hall when there's so much to talk about? Well, I will! I'd love to! Let's do a town hall anyway! Without him/her. I'll take your questions. Ask me anything. If he/she won't explain themselves, I will. I'm considering running for that seat and I'd love to meet you!"

Not just Democratic neighbors who decide to step in for chicken-shit GOPers, but those new Dems who want to challenge those chicken-shit GOPers.

[Yavin4]

13. He stole that idea from me.

But hey, I'm not complaining:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029018621

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Maybe he got it from you!

In any case, it is a brilliant idea.

[hedda_foil]

23. From me too! GMTA

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I agree. The idea has great potential and is just plain brilliant.

[hedda_foil]

16. The resistance groups should start inviting the nearest Dem representative or candidate!

I'm in Peter, the Kochster, Roskam's district and there are already a couple of Dems who are going to be running for his seat. He has never done a town hall since we landed in his district when Illinois redistricted in the Democrats' favor. Supposedly our district was heavily R because they shoved tons of them into this oddly shaped district. Instead, we have pretty much turned it blue. What poetic justice if we hold shadow town meetings for his opponents, complete with press. I love rhis idea!

[Mountain Mule]

18. Brilliant!

I wonder if the dem who is in the House district the next over from my location (represented by a granny killing R) would take it into consideration if I called?

[OnDoutside]

27. Make that call !!! ;)

[susanna]

19. Saw it this morning and I agree! n/t

[KT2000]

25. Love this man

he has a moral center and bright mind.

[certainot]

26. fantastic. great potential to kick ass.

[mgardener]

30. Elise Stefanik my representative, a Republican

Had a lottery so she could meet with people.
I have written her several emails and have gotten one reply.
She voted against the ACA, she obviously doesn't care about us at all.

[Wawannabe]

35. I wrote Billy Long

After inauguration to ask him to stop being so partisan. This was after the trumpcare first fail and like I said after Jan 20.
The reply refered to trump* as President elect trump* all the way through it.
Obviously a form letter that was not even updated to drop "elect".
This man reminds me of the politician on O Brother Where Art Thou? movie.
Is you is, or is you ain't my constituents??? Hmmm?
Nasty swamp creature!

[Honeycombe8]

31. Adopt a district.....then own it? Hmmmmm. Sounds like a plan. nt

[Highway61]

34. I said something similar in an earlier post in April

I sent this letter to EVERY Democratic Senator and Representative...I busted my ass. All I heard was "thanks for your interest"....I was so discouraged. Not ONE positive reply.


I am writing to request that you do your part to help win back the House of Representatives and Senate in 2018. Getting the majority is a MUST and a PRIORITY. It's not an option. You see, I saw Bernie Sanders in a town hall in McDowell County, West Virginia. One must wonder why in the world a Senator from Vermont would go there for a town hall. A county where 75% of the folks voted for Trump. I'll tell you why. He CARES. Many of these people are not formally educated. Many of them are very poor. Many of them don't go anywhere, in fact many don't even own a car. He went there to hear firsthand what they had to say. He did so in a straightforward and uncomplicated way. In one hour he had won many of them over. Those people left that town hall enlightened, more informed and above all they felt empowered because someone influential took the time to actually sit down and listen to them and offer real solutions. Senator Sanders pointed out that healthcare for all, free public college tuition, opiate treatment and job retraining could be paid for by removing the enormous tax cuts the wealthy and corporations receive. He let them know, above all, that they were important. He correctly pointed out that the GOP plan for healthcare (call it Trumpcare) is a a two hundred plus billion dollar tax cut for the top two percent at the expense of millions losing their health insurance. Even though he is a Senator from Vermont, at the end of the day, they knew he works for ALL Americans - not just the people from Vermont.

I am requesting that you visit and sit down with folks in some of these areas that are heavily Republican. Schedule mutiple events in multiple areas that voted for Trump. If every Democrat in the House and Senate did this, it would win hearts and minds and make a huge difference in 2018. You must go beyond your district and carry the fight to the GOP. Not all Trump voters are filled with hate. I believe most of them are ill informed. They vote against their own interests for a reason. Simply because they don't know the facts (example: ACA and Obamacare are one and the same). We are at a critical crossroads in America and it is far past time to reach out to these people. Show them that you CARE. It's certain you're not going to change all minds, but many will be more informed the next time they go into a voting booth. They are going to remember and appreciate the honesty and integrity of your visit. Please, please consider doing this.

The Democratic Party is on the right side of most, if not all; the issues. Our views represent the interests of the majority of Americans and the future of this country. We must articulate these views to ALL the people, especially those that reside in these rural areas of the country. They feel as though they are forgotten. The truth will set them (and us) free...

Thank you

[downeastdaniel]

36. I agree too! Absolutely brilliant.

[DinahMoeHum]

38. Here's the hashtag for Adopt-A-District

https://twitter.com/hashtag/adoptadistrict?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag

Maloney is apparently going to start the ball rolling himself and go to a healthcare town hall meeting in Kingston, NY that John Faso is too chickenshit to attend:

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20170506/faso-wont-attend-health-care-town-hall-meeting-in-kingston

(snip)
While Faso, who represents the 19th Congressional District, will not be in attendance, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, has said he would.

On Twitter, Maloney said constituents deserve answers. He said if Faso would not go explain his vote on the American Health Care Act, Maloney would.

Maloney represents the neighboring 18th Congressional District. His spokeswoman, Caitlin Girouard, confirmed Saturday the offer he made on Twitter.

In a tweet, Maloney wrote, “I’m headed to Kingston Monday night to do @RepJohnFaso’s town hall meeting. If he won’t do it, I will. Join me? #AdoptADistrict.”

Weaver said Faso’s office had no comment on Maloney’s tweets.
(snip)

[Doitnow]

39. This is how to fast-track a 50-state strategy.

[Tatiana]

40. I agree with the majority here. This is a brilliant idea!

Even better, as others have suggested, is for the sitting Congressperson to bring along a Democratic challenger for the "adopted" districts. This gives exposure and name recognition (our biggest hurdle facing some truly excellent Dems) to the Republican opposition. This also puts us in touch with the people on the ground and communicates the fact that our party cares and is truly looking out for the common people.

[bucolic_frolic]

41. A Shadow Congress is a remarkable opportunity

Our great Democratic leaders should be encouraged to pursue this with
unrelenting abandon.

Yell at the DNC this week on it!!!

[proud patriot]

42. it's pro active

I like it

[NastyRiffraff]

43. I wrote to my Representative and both Senators

suggesting that they do the same.

[Lucinda]

45. KNR