I've called - yet again - Speaker Pelosi's office . . .

[Bullwinkle925]

and am shunted to a voicemail line to leave a message. Is this representation?

:shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Better than no answer

[Bullwinkle925]

3. Yes - just one step above no answer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I do think you have reason to be concerned

I have several friends who have been in DC for 6 months lobbying against the war and they have been told if they come in Pelosi's office anymore, they will be arrested. And a couple of them WERE arrested. For entering Pelosi's office.

Yes, the Democrat Speaker of the House had citizens arrested.

Yet here on DU some wonder why we don't bow down and worship Queen Nancy.

So no, it doesn't surprise me in the least that she is not answering her phone today. I am kinda surprised that she left the answering machine on.

[Webster Green]

20. Why shouldn't they be arrested?

I wouldn't expect that she would just let protesters take over her offices. Even if they had an appointment they would certainly be liable for arrest if they didn't leave when asked.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. They weren't protesting

They walked in, asked to see the speaker and were threatened with arrest. I was there. It is now apparently illegal to talk to the speaker.

[Webster Green]

27. Wouldn't proper protocol suggest making an appointment?

She is a big-shot, after all. Should Speaker Pelosi be required to meet with anyone who chooses to show up at any time? I don't get it. That wouldn't work very well.

BTW, I'm all for protesting and occupying offices or whatever kind of civil disobedience it takes, but I don't think one should be surprised if the effort result in arrest. That goes with the territory.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. She refuses to make appointments with them

She has completely shut them out.

When I was in DC I stopped by to see a couple reps and their office staffs were warm and welcoming. I would think Pelosi could learn a thing or two from either of them.

[ORDagnabbit]

our "representatives" can vote and do anything they like.....we dont matter corporations, power and

money do.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. What's the problem?

you were able to leave a message, right?

[Bullwinkle925]

4. LOL - yes . . .

most likely for deaf ears!

:rofl:

[MonkeyFunk]

7. well

how would having an intern transcribe your message be any better?

[Bullwinkle925]

8. that's assuming interns actually do listen to the messages, transcribe and . . .

forward them on to Speaker Pelosi - myself? - I have my doubts, but it makes my soul feel better for at least making an attempt.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. No I'm saying

what's the difference between leaving your message on a machine, or leaving a transcribed message with an intern?

I honestly don't understand your complaint. at least leaving a message on tape leaves a reliable record of what you wanted to say.

[Bullwinkle925]

14. It's just so frustrating to not have a 'real' voice respond in kind . . .

even an intern's - just to get the feedback that your voice is actually being heard. Voicemail is that big black hole where I fear all the frustrations and appeals are falling into unheard and definitely not cared about. Pelosi is the representative of my daugters and son who live in San Francisco as well as many of my friends. They are all calling her as well and getting the voicemail. Perhaps it is time to make frequent personal visits to her office in the city.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. Please see other thread on "please speaker resign" for my message this week!

[Bullwinkle925]

11. I plan on dropping the 'resignation' bomb tomorrow and every day afterwards . . .

when i place my calls to her office.

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

28. Good call.

A newly installed Speaker Steny Hoyer is just aching to move forward with impeachment. Or maybe Speaker Rahm Emanuel will be more open to the concerns of the Internet.

Have you even thought about, despite the totally nil chance of a Pelosi resignation, what would happen next if this plan your so feverishly working toward actually happened?

[tularetom]

9. Is Pelosi listening to her constituents?

Forget the rest of the country. She comes from an overwhelmingly Democratic district. Are they not beating her to death on this? And if so why the hell is she not responding?

I don't get it. Impeachment talk is not confined to a few "wacko leftists". A sizeable majority of the citizens of this country want these douchebags out. The administration has clearly wiped its ass on the constitution and has told the rest of us to go cheney ourselves.

Does somebody have pictures of Pelosi? Have her kids been threatened? It wouldn't excuse her lack of action but at least we'd understand why.

[Bullwinkle925]

13. You know - those thoughts have entered my mind as well . . .

what does Rove, et al, have on her and others in the House? Is it the 'McCarthy' effect all over again - that they shiver in their boots/stilettos over the thought of angering KRove? I am trying very, very hard to understand the lack of action by these so-called people's representatives. I JUST DON'T GET IT and I so very want to have an understanding.

[jobycom]

10. Is she your rep?

Some reps will only take messages directly from their own constituency.

Given all the "Call Congress right fucking now!!11" posts, she may be overwhelmed, too. Or short-staffed.

As for your question: Is this representation? I answer no, but I don't blame Pelosi. My rep wouldn't care about my phone call, either. They don't have to--they each have such large districts that they are less able to, and probably less willing to, respond to each of their constituents. The House needs to be doubled in size, to make representation less of a myth, and a little closer to reality. I don't know the numbers or dates, but I'm sure that when the House was limited in size, rather than allowed to grow proportionally to the population, representatives had to face their voters more directly. Getting a meeting or an audience with a Congresscritter these days is slightly more difficult than meeting your favorite pop star or celebrity. THAT's not representation.

[Bullwinkle925]

15. No - she is not my direct Rep - . . .

I live across the bridge from SF - but she is my children's rep who are registered voters in SF - as well as many of my friends who live in the city. I mentioned that fact - plus the fact that they also are making phone calls to her voicemail line. Fortunately - (or unfortunately) - my Rep. is Barbara Lee - calling her would be like preaching to the choir. Having said that, however, I will be calling her as well.

[ISUGRADIA]

16. She represents residents of her district, not you

[Bullwinkle925]

17. I'm aware of that - and I left the message on her line that members of my family are indeed . . .

in her district and are registered voters and feel the same as myself. (They call as well).

[ISUGRADIA]

21. I have relatives who live in Barbara Lee's district so I could

call her and say the same thing and I live in MN.

With so many cell phones in use now with free long distance or land line services offering free long distance congressional offices get a huge volume of calls compared to ten years ago without any relative increase in staff. So if calls are going to voice mail, people calling out of district are a big reason.

You could make a bigger impact by stopping by her office in SF sometime and letting the staffers there know your concerns. Maybe drop off a letter while there.

[Bullwinkle925]

30. Believe me - it is on my agenda to run across the bridge.

Besides - Nancy Pelosi is also Speaker of the House - so in a way - she does represent all of us when having to deal with each and every Representative in the House. I feel that everyone in this country has the right to give her a call!

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. You know who Adam Kokesh is?

He is the marine who was threatened with losing his honorable discharge for participating in anti-war protests. He was here in Kansas City for his hearing and I spent most of a weekend with him and his supporters. A friend of mine emailed me and suggested I ask Adam who his Congress rep was so we could all write him/her letters to ask that Adam be supported.

So I asked Adam who his rep was. He looked me right in the eye and said "ALL of them are my reps!"

Now that is the truth. They ALL represent ALL of us and I was ashamed that a 26 year old had to remind me of that. And I promised Adam I would NEVER forget that.

[KansDem]

31. But doesn't she, as Speaker of the House, represent *all* within her party?

:shrug:

Just curious...

[Bitwit1234]

18. WRITE A LETTER.............AND REQUEST AN ANSWER

Get signatures of everybody you know and attach it to the letter.

[Bitwit1234]

19. Better yet send a telegram..................

[PBass]

24. They just keep a tally, nothing more. You don't have to persuade the staffer,

they are just part of a phone bank. They probably send you to a voice mail because they are getting a lot of calls.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. She represents the people who live in her district, not you

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

26. But she's the freaking Speaker of the freaking House

That should count for something, shouldn't it??

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. Sure. But it doesn't mean she has to listen to you

She has to listen to her constituents and the members of Congress who elected her. Want to change her mind? Get your Congressman to tell her to change her position.