Whenever I call my Congressman and my Senators.....

[OwnedByFerrets]

and I talk to an assistant(phone operator), how do I know that my message gets to the Senators and the Congressman. If my message doesnt agree with said persons personal views, cant it just be ignored or forgotten? How do we know?

[daa]

1. If you are e democrat and live in Georgia

they don't care what you think. Trust me, I have given up calling. I can hear them not even write it down, just thanks for calling and not even ask my name. Bubba Chambliss, Isaikson, fair tax Linder, Price, all members in good standing of the buttholes for bush club.

[madokie]

2. substitute oklahoma and you have the same thing

I get the same form letter from my own senator, dr tom coburn, no matter the question I ask or the statement I make

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. Well, I live in AL and have to put up with the idiots

Shelby and Sessions. Its infuriating.

[rateyes]

12. I hear that...

by the way, his name isn't Bubba...it's SUXby. And, the other one is ISUXson

[OneBlueSky]

4. generally what they do it keep "for/against" tally sheets on each issue . . .

no matter how eloquent your argument, all it will count for is a check mark in the "for" or "against" column for whatever issue you are expressing yourself on . . .

[daa]

11. But they always asked your address

to be sure you were a constituent and would often reply my mail.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. All the organizations I've worked with agree that...

most of the time, if it's a verified constiuent, the phone person basically runs a "yea" "nay" tally on issues. So, if you call with a 5 minute tirade about Iraq-- your call will simply be noted as "against war."

No matter what your congresscritter's personal stake in things, he or she is interested in whether or not the voting public is being seriously pissed off. How interested? Depends on the district and all the other things that get them re-elected.

If you are NOT a constituent and are calling from outside the district or state, your call will be not only ignored, but positively piss off the people in the office for wasting their time. Trust me on this-- a Californaian calling the Alabama Senators to rag on them will not get the desired results.

Best time to call is when important votes are coming up. Call whatever office you can get through to, give them your zip or whatever else proves you're a constituent, and a short, simple, and reasonably respectful note how you would prefer them to vote.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. I don't even bother talking to my criminal useless piece of crap repuke Congressman Weller.

He doesn't care what I think. Why bother. It's a waste of time, effort and money. However, I always get a response from Durbin and Obama.

I was listening to Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Randi Rhodes the other day and she said that emails, letters and phone calls DO matter to the elected officials. She also said to keep sending them.

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. I heard her say that too............

but I have also heard others say NOT to send emails because they are being regularly ignored.

[bdamomma]

10. Obama wants to end the invasion.

[Dark]

7. I have to give Steve Chabot this, he always responds to my letters/calls. n/t

[OwnedByFerrets]

9. You are fortunate then......

because even with the dozens of times I have called and given my opinion of an issue, I have NEVER gotten a response from any of them.