I AM BACK. Have you called your congressional delegation?

[PretzelWarrior]

I just got off the phone with the Washington DC offices of Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkeley and my U.S. Congressman David Wu. I told them I want the public health option that will be able to compete with private insurers.

I told them I want insurance that allows affordable coverage for all--even those who cannot afford to pay.

I told them I want a plan that in the end is cheaper for our government to support (Medicare) and cheaper for employers and employees to support.

This was based on an email I got and I'm sure many of you received from Barack Obama's "Organizing for America" group.

Have you called? I hope so. Did they take down your name and info down? Great. These calls matter. Wyden's phone switchboard is in backlog mode. I think it is because he is seen by Oregonians as the most "CORPORATE-FRIENDLY" and therefore the one who needs the most convincing he could easily get brought down in his next election.

If you haven't called....it is so easy. Less than 5 minutes on the phone to register your human voice in opposition to the cluster fuck the Congress would try to foist on us.

Here's some suggestions for how to TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click on this link:

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Then click on your state. (Or if you don't know where your state is on the map--YIKES!--then type in your address).

You will see the listing of your two senators and the representatives of your state along with telephone and fax numbers for their Washington DC offices.

Pick up the phone, dial a number, and then when staffer answers, try to get commitment from them that:

A)the elected official supports an overhaul of health care that involves a robust public option
B)the elected official supports a dramatic reduction in health care costs in this country
C)the elected official supports health care available to all--including those without health insurance or jobs right now.


Once you determine where they stand and give them your info you could go to Organize for America to post your feedback on how the call went.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/callcongress/healthcare/?source=actioncenter

This organize for America link also has great ideas about how to frame your call.

[Pirate Smile]

1. I also called my Senators after I got the e-mail. I hope Grassley's phones were very busy.

[PretzelWarrior]

3. it is fun. way more fun than reading idiotic threads.

that's why I am only dropping in briefly to post this and get back to work away from DU where the real action is. No disrespect. :evilgrin:

[vaberella]

2. WB...I knew you couldn't stay away for long.

I'll contact Rangel, but I've already contacted Schumer and Gillibrand.

[PretzelWarrior]

4. I'll probably submarine back into lurking mode again for a bit.

I just couuldn't pass up the opportunity to invite participation from like minded "activists" posting and reading here at DU who want to DO something and not just gripe

[vaberella]

7. Don't lurk keep postign. I think this post is invaluable.

I'll most definitely be pushing my Congreemen/women. I have a lot...darn it New York. :D

Thanks again for the link and info and the push to get more active. I did some, but not enough on this. I've been spending time harassing the ones who are hurting the PO. And we can't drop the ball on any of them.

[PretzelWarrior]

9. I think it would be fun to have a "Call Senator Reid" day

or "Call Max Baucus" day....we'll really need to let these leaders know that our money talks too.

Can you imagine if Reid's primary opponent was suddenly infused with millions of dollars of cash from across the country? Hoo boy. Take that has-been boxer out if he doesn't want to step in the ring to deliver a knock out punch to GOP stagnation.

[Flying Dream Blues]

18. Nice to see you back...don't stay away too long, PW! nt

[PretzelWarrior]

22. thanks so much for the encouragement

:toast:

[PretzelWarrior]

5. LET ME MAKE IT REALLY SIMPLE!!

Click on this link:

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Then click on your state. (Or if you don't know where your state is on the map--YIKES!--then type in your address).

You will see the listing of your two senators and the representatives of your state along with telephone and fax numbers for their Washington DC offices.

Pick up the phone, dial a number, and then when staffer answers, try to get commitment from them that:

A)the elected official supports an overhaul of health care that involves a robust public option
B)the elected official supports a dramatic reduction in health care costs in this country
C)the elected official supports health care available to all--including those without health insurance or jobs right now.


Once you determine where they stand and give them your info you could go to Organize for America to post your feedback on how the call went.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/callcongress/healthcare/?source=actioncenter

This organize for America link also has great ideas about how to frame your call.

[Cha]

11. Thanks, n/t

[treestar]

6. Yep. Thomas Carper D-Del.

[Oregone]

8. hehe

"I told them I want insurance that allows affordable coverage for all--even those who cannot afford to pay.

I told them I want a plan that in the end is cheaper for our government to support (Medicare) and cheaper for employers and employees to support."



Sounds single-payerish, eh?

[PretzelWarrior]

17. it does....but do you really think they can muscle single payer?

ain't gonna happen this round. I've already seen the light on that one. The coalition they've mostly pieced together would fall apart if that were the non negotiable position.

[BigBearJohn]

10. First useful post I've seen in a long time (including my own!). Thanks! K/R

[Jennicut]

12. Hey PW. Good to hear from you again.

I think Dodd is for public option but Loserman is a lost cause here in CT. 2012 is getting closer everyday....

[PretzelWarrior]

13. don't count out loserman. call him. he buckles under pressure a lot actually.

so....why not? You remember those secret meetings back when Reid met with him? There could be a lot of strings attached like "If he doesn't go along with this type of stuff, he will be stripped of everything he's ever had including any shred of dignity hiding somewhere in his rumpled frame."

[Jennicut]

14. LOL. Stripping Joementum of his dignity...has he any left?

I will give it a try for you, my friend.

[damntexdem]

15. Have I called them what?

My Congressional delegation won't do shit that's useful.

[PretzelWarrior]

16. still. if even THEY are getting hounded by their constituents...

and Barack has PROOF OF IT based on your feedback, then the conversations at the White House and Capitol Hill become much more interesting and highly leveraged affairs.

Please give it a try. It could be cathartic to tell them how you feel anyway.

[Uzybone]

19. glad to see you back PW

[PretzelWarrior]

23. thanks. it's good to dip the toe in the shallow end

and try the DU waters again.

[Peacetrain]

20. Pretzel good to see you back...

:toast:

[PretzelWarrior]

24. thanks for the kind words.

[PretzelWarrior]

21. a kick for the late nighters and tomorrow a.m.ers.

because I think us getting "off the couch" so to speak is a way to clear our heads and not just compulsively post things back and forth to each other.

[PretzelWarrior]

25. i'm kicking this again. it is actually more important than the other stuff

I posted (in my opinion) because it is a specific call for others to help the debate beyond these boards by taking LITERALLY less than 5 minutes of their time to call elected representative and/or senators to tell them how you feel on health care reform.

[Cha]

26. Kick! n/t

[havocmom]

27. staff in Baucus' office sounded stressed out

Good work, America! I was on hold for a spell, AGAIN. Very good work, America.

[PretzelWarrior]

28. lol. I think tomorrow should be "Call Reid and Baucus" day

I will try to post something because I would love for us to go viral with that across progressive blogosphere. Just hammering them with phone calls declaring our allegiance to single payer, public option, or whatever our individual descriptions of "affordable health care reform" happens to be.

[havocmom]

30. 'cept it's the staffers who get punished. We need to find a better way

Had a workshop with some former Hill staffers not too long ago. They pointed out that befriending staff while pummeling pols is the way to be effective. If staff hates you, your message does not get through.

Just something to keep in mind when one calls. The person on the other end is not the enemy. Be thoughtful, make sure they know you are not aiming at them, you have empathy for them. It's the pol you have strong words for. You would like to support the pol, but their position on such and such just doesn't sit well and you would like the pol to know they are wrong. ;)

[PretzelWarrior]

36. I agree. I will make that known in my next message. Barack's Oranizing for America

has great pointers about being polite. But I'll mention that about how to empathize with the staffer while getting your message across to the pol.

[davidpdx]

29. I didn't know you were from Oregon as well

Good to have you back. I called Wyden's office from Korea today and left a message since it was after hours (the time difference makes it hard to call during their office hours). Unfortuantely I'm registered down in Medford since that is my mailing address, so I have a repuke for a representitive. I'll call Merkley's office tomorrow and leave a message for them.

[PretzelWarrior]

34. greetings from Oregon. I'm glad you did! that is awesome!

especially if you mentioned the sacrifice you made to call from out of country. Yeah. Southern Oregon is almost like a different state.

[backscatter712]

31. Went to both of my Senators' offices in person.

Both Mark Udall and Michael Bennet are kind of on the fence as far as health care reform goes - I don't think they'd dare piss off their base by voting against it, but they're hemming and hawwing and giving out weak-assed "We support a 'non-profit' option" statements.

Not. Good. Enough.

Fortunately, dozens of protesters were there to let them know they needed to be more aggressive. Pretty good showing, I'd say.

[PretzelWarrior]

35. that is even better, of course.

can you imagine if senators started having to deal with 100 people outside their office every day specifically to protest or make their presence known on this one issue?

[Bluenorthwest]

32. Hey thanks for riding the Oregon contingent in DC

All I can do is call. So that is very nice indeed!

[Jackeens]

33. Delighted you're back PretzelWarrior, missed ya!

:toast:

[Peacetrain]

37. Pretzel, you bet I have been calling. Grassley is one of my senators

and Steve King one of the my congresscritters. Got to keep an eye on them 24/, because especially King is loopy and basically the male version of Michelle Bachmann

[PretzelWarrior]

38. I'm happy to hear it, Peacetrain.

I'm thinking of calling Reid on Monday along with Max Baucus.