Conyers blog: Two Apologies

[MelissaB]

Saturday, June 18th, 2005

Two Apologies

First, I want to say to all those who made contibutions to my campaign -- thank you so much. We have received nearly 1,000 contributions since we included the "What Went Wrong in Ohio" offer, which is incredible to me. As a result of the tremendous interest, we have gotten a little behind in processing signed copies of the books, particularly given how busy we have been with the DSM and other pressing matters. I have signed many books and am about to mail those out, and I hope to get to the remainder as soon as possible. Rest assured you will receive your signed copy, and soon, I hope. My apologies for the delay.

Second, because of the overwhelming number of replies I have received to my recent posts, I have not been able to scrutinize and reply to them individually as I would like too. Again, as things quiet down I hope to be able to return to my previous practice.

Thanks again for all of your support and thoughts.

Blogged by JC on 06.18.05 @ 09:57 AM ET

Link: http://www.conyersblog.us/


I can't wait to get my book, and Mr. Conyers is forgiven. I know he has been just a little busy. :)

[goclark]

1. What a classy hero!!

[Hugin]

2. Yup...

Just set mine in his office for a few minutes and
send it along...

All I ask is for my country back... Not a tall order.

;)

[burned]

4. burned

Most of his last post's replies are nothing that he needs to read.
We need to convince him to do a registration and get some serious moderation in place, because it's getting real hard to swim through the muck. I realize that is the intent of the trolls, but the fact is it's working on me.

Conyers is such a great guy, I hate to have that crap spread all over his blog. It pains me deeply.

[Hugin]

6. Sounds like something needs to be done.

I'm sure relevant and constructive feedback is important
to him...

[Senior citizen]

7. Here's the letter I just sent to Skinner:

We need a Conyers & other Congresscritters forum.

Unlike other forums, threads in this one could only be initiated by verified elected Democratic representatives. Anyone could respond, of course.

I missed Conyers' post on DU the first day because it was snowed under with responses. If others hadn't mentioned it and provided the link, I'd never have seen it.

His blog is getting freeped. They seem to lack the experience and knowledge it takes to keep a board freep-free.

When a Congresscritter reaches out to us, I think we should meet them more than half way--it is so rare it is almost unheard of. If we make it easy for Conyers, I'll bet others will follow.

Imagine the shock of the MSM to see representatives interacting with their constituents publicly. Peeps have talked about electronic democracy for decades--this is an opportunity to make it happen.

Make it happen, David!

--Mark

[Sapphire Blue]

8. Like this one?

John Conyers Group: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=340

[Senior citizen]

10. Almost, but not quite!

This should be a forum where only Conyers and other elected Democratic Congresscritters could INITIATE threads.

The Conyers forum is fine for those working with him or wanting to discuss what he is doing and how we can help.

The Congresscritters forum should be a place where John Conyers and our other elected Democratic reps can speak directly to us without interference--only verified reps could INITIATE threads. Anyone could respond (except freeps, of course).

[MelissaB]

11. I think that's a great idea.

The way it stands now, Mr. Conyers can't start his own thread.

[MelissaB]

12. On second thought, if it is a forum it would be isolated.

How about a special icon or something and privileges of being able to start a thread in GD or GDP where it will get a lot of exposure.

[Senior citizen]

15. Gotta go stuff flyers for a Save Democracy conference.

I'll be back in a couple of hours to see if this went anywhere.

[Sapphire Blue]

19. That would be great!

I wonder if such a forum ('GD - Democratic Leaders' or 'Democratic Party Leaders') could be added to 'Top of the Page' or 'Admin Picks' categories... or tacked up at the top of GD?

[Hugin]

9. Superb idea!

If the moranic media won't provide an untainted
forum of communication with our representatives.

I guess it's up to us!

Great idea.

:)

[Senior citizen]

13. And no speeches or other canned stuff allowed.

They have to speak directly to us, like Conyers did.

Of course they could post stuff like, "Here's a link to my latest (speech/newsletter/legislation/etc.)--what do you think of it?"

But they can't just use this to post their mass-production stuff.

And we could let each one who is verified and posts, appoint one (1) staff member to post for them, if they happen to be out of the country or on the floor or otherwise away from their keyboards, so long as the staff member posts under their own name instead of the Congresscritter's.

Man, wouldn't the freeps who pay big money for access to THEIR Congresscritters just WEEP!

[TeeYiYi]

18. Do you have . . .

. . . a link to Conyers' post at DU? I missed it.

Thanks Mark.

~TYY

[MelissaB]

21. Post #58

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3879052#3886311

[Kevin Spidel]

3. When we met with him this last week...

he went through the entire meeting while signing books! He wanted to sign each one individually, and get them back to his supporters as soon as possable. We were the for a full hour and not once did he let up from signing.

[MelissaB]

5. That is a heck of a lot of books to sign.

I :loveya: and admire this man more than I can say. Thank you for the story, Kevin!

[chalky]

14. My God. What a contrast to Rumsfeld

who couldn't even be bothered to sign condolence letters to the families of soldiers with his own hand.

[kittenpants]

16. exactly what I was thinking & did he even apologize?

probably not.

[noamnety]

23. Is he mailing them from DC or Detroit?

Geesh, if he just needs a pair of hands to package and mail stuff in the Detroit area, I could go in and volunteer for a few hours.

[Straight Shooter]

17. I would like to see his blog better moderated, than for him to post here.

My concern is that the man seems to be carrying a very heavy burden as it is. DU has some terrific moderators. Perhaps Skinner could confer with Mr. Conyers to see if he would like the assistance of qualified moderators. Then Skinner could go through his current list of recent moderator applicants, and contact them to see which ones would be willing and capable of moderating Conyers' blog.

Just a thought.

[IndyOp]

25. I LIKE your idea Straight Shooter --

The way that freepers have been working the ConyersBlog is HORRIBLE. I would love to see experienced mods working for JC! He deserves respect and there is a BIG difference between posting material that conflicts with his opinion versus posting personal attacks.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Senior citizen]

26. I agree with IndyOp

Something has got to be done to defreep the Conyers blog and to give him better access here.

I hope we can keep kicking this around until we get it fixed -- so far I like both my own suggestion and Straight Shooter's. Both seem possible. And maybe by now people from here have already volunteered to help--I just got back from stuffing flyers and haven't had time to check anywhere else but this thread.

[Straight Shooter]

27. I'm open to suggestions, anything to help John Conyers and his blog.

Anyone want to ask the Admins about this, or maybe I can later :)

[rateyes]

20. How about one of these for a presidential ticket?

Conyers/Rangel.

Conyers/Nadler.

Conyers/Boxer.

[AuntiBush]

22. Oh No, Sir... We "THANK YOU!" You're a true Patriot Statesman!

[frictionlessO]

24. Very interesting ideas being kicked around in here! Nice post Melissa! n/t