Can the DU have scheduled events which feature our Reps.?

[chknltl]

I think that there are a lot of our Representatives out there who would love a chance to present their views to a group of folks as large as we are. It could be single topic oriented with the honored guest posting a related speech/post ahead of the event, then comes in for questions and answers. All of our questions would likely need to be screened through a bevy of mods.

I realize that only a small % of the DU membership is on board at any given moment but with a bit of publicity here prior to, we could have a pretty good crowd and the thread would remain on the front page for viewing by everyone else.

My suggestion for a first guest rep: Senator Jim McDermott,(Dem Wa.), topic: His recently passed cosponsored Bill on Depleted Uranium.

Any thoughts? Is something like this even possible?

[Lithos]

1. Email Skinner or EarlG

Directly. GD moves way too fast for them to have happened upon this.

Might also consider how this would happen. 90% of the problem for such things is always the communication and organizing. But I'm like you, it would be good to read.

L-

[chknltl]

2. Thank you Lithos

I figure that my notion might fall under the "Too Good To be True" category because of something I am missing here, (I am counting on my fellow DUers to point that item out to me), if not then I shall follow your advice. Thanks again.

[calimary]

3. Hey, I'd go for something like that. My guy is Henry Waxman - I'll bet

he'd have LOTS of interesting things to tell us DUers. LOTS of SERIOUSLY interesting things!

[chknltl]

4. Ok but do you think the DU can do this?

Waxman's fine by me, but do you think the DU can support something like I am proposing here? We are a fast moving forum...I am concerned about the technical details. I suspect that in the (near) future there will be formats like this on-line for all the reps but I am not sure about the DU being able to be one of them...hence this post.

[calimary]

5. I'm not sure about that. I'd guess maybe some sort of conference call?

Unfortunately, the LAST person on earth you'd want to consult for technical advice would be moi. I may have been a Luddite in a previous life... :D

But I've participated in conference calls where there's this one number everybody calls in, first. It's usually some sort of 800 number. You have a pre-arranged code number that you punch in and that gets you to the call you want to join. How they worked that out I have no idea. But seems to me a conference call would serve more people. It'd be a lot more convenient if somebody in Wisconsin or Maryland or Alaska wanted to talk to Henry Waxman, whose district includes the Westside of L.A. 'Cause I would think this would be best undertaken if it served more than just any one representative's constituents, and interested parties would likely be in multiple time zones.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. I think it's a good idea.

First of all, if we do invite someone to DU for a Q&A session, Elad could 'pin' the thread to the top, so that if wouldn't move around during the session.

Second, if it's okay with the site owners, then it is just a matter of inviting whoever it is that you think would be appropriate. In my experience, most politicians love a chance to present their views and interact with voters, especially before an election.

On a local level, I was involved with a community group, and whenever we had a candidates forum or invited a candidate or politician to come to one of our meetings, we were hardly ever turned down.