Whew! I just phoned EVERY SINGLE Democratic Senator re: FISA

[gateley]

A few of the staffers said they are getting SOME calls, and others said they were getting a LOT (Reid, Webb, Kohl, Biden).

Clinton, Dodd, Feinstein, Feingold, Nelson (FL) were all busy -- couldn't get through at all.

Couldn't get through to Obama - mailbox full. Goodbye.

Harkin kept me on hold for over two minutes with irritating music, so I hung up because I wanted to work my way down the rest of the list before their offices closed.

I had to leave a message for about 6 of them.

And interestingly, I called my Senators (Republicans and I KNOW how they're gonna vote) and I told Burr's staffer that I knew Burr probably didn't care what I thought, but I'd like him to vote against FISA. The staffer said "Senator Burr DOES care what his constituents think, and I'll pass along your message that you'd like him to support the FILIBUSTER". That was interesting, because I didn't even mention the filibuster, so that leads me to believe his office has been receiving calls on it!

Also - calling Senator Byrd's office it occurred to me I didn't know how he's doing health-wise. The staffer said he's doing fine, and I said "so he's back in the saddle?" and he said Yes. So happy to hear that!

EDIT TO ADD -- of the few I asked, nobody could "predict the floor schedule" so I didn't get a definite day.

[EFerrari]

1. gateley, you're a saint.

:applause:

[gateley]

13. No - it was easy and took me less than an hour -

I just went down the list alphabetically from senate.gov

[SharonRB]

2. What did Levin's office say?

His brother voted against it in the House. I hope he follows suit.

[gateley]

10. I didn't ask how they were going to vote, just that I was calling to

request that the Senator vote against FISA -- so can't give you any insight.

Except for Kerry -- I said "I assume Senator Kerry is going to vote no on FISA" and the staffer say 'YES!' - so I asked him to pass along that he and the others have millions of us supporting him, and to thank him for us.

[PassingFair]

38. I would eat my own liver if Levin voted for this bill...

Stabenow, though....

it's anyone's guess how she
will vote.

Sometimes the DLC lets her off
the hook to do the right thing.

[SharonRB]

40. You're so right

I'm never sure what she's going to do. I just pray that Carl votes like Sandy did.

:hi:

[PassingFair]

80. Liver....

it's what's for dinner.




Levin voted FOR cloture.

So did Stabenow.

:puke:

[Eurobabe]

3. Good on you gately, I called Casey and Specter yesterday

morning. Reid's VM was full.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Great job.

[Dogtown]

5. Good job, Gately

I'll try to follow your excellent example, albeit in a lesser way.

:hi:


K&R

[gateley]

12. I have flat rate Long Distance, so it didn't cost me any more than I pay every month.nt

[Dogtown]

15. That's a good deal

Glad for that.

I have to admire your patience and tenacity, however.

Thanks again, & I'll at least call the GA republicans who (don't) represent me.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

6. Big Rec for you. Nice work!

[AndyTiedye]

7. I Called Barbara Boxer, Got Voicemail, Been Trying to Call DiFi, Got Busy Signals

[EFerrari]

9. Might try a different office? SF put me on hold but eventually got through.

Other local offices may not be so busy. Thanks, Andy.

[gateley]

11. I got Boxer's VM -- and thanked her for her stance on the vote and filibuster,

but didn't get through to Feinstein -- busy.

Maybe Boxer's staffers LISTEN TO and EMPTY OUT her mailbox, and DiFi's staff doesn't. :evilgrin:

[gateley]

16. DELETE - Wrong place.

[truedelphi]

25. That has been my experience also.

Got switched to the comments line, and then when I started to leave a message, I got tossed out.

Clearly, the circuitry is overworked. <Hmm - could it be that if the spying wasn't going on, the lines wouldn't be so jammed??>

[wtmusic]

8. .

:yourock:

[global1]

14. Just Curious - Did You Call Ted Kennedy's Office? And Will He....

be around for the vote or is he still in recovery mode? What did they say?

[janet118]

17. I called Ted's office . . .

They said he was strongly supporting the filibuster. I assume that means he's okay. I told the staffer to thank him and tell him we are all rooting for his full recovery.

[gateley]

23. Thanks for that --

and I know none of us are surprised he's taken that stance.

I miss him. :(

[gateley]

18. I didn't call Kennedy's office.

I figured he wouldn't be on the floor :(. If he IS, we know how he'll vote, though -- he was there on the floor helping Dodd filibuster in Feb.

[gateley]

19. I have an embarrassing confession:

After the first couple of offices that asked me my zip code, or county (some wanted my name!) and when I said I didn't live in the state they seemed to lose interest, I started saying (when asked) that I was moving there before the end of the year and since Senator X would be representing me then, I wanted him/her to know my feelings.

When I used that on Nelson of Nebraska, the staffer asked me WHERE I was going to move, I said Nebraska! (hoping that's what NE stood for), and he said WHERE in Nebraska? I said WHY??? "It helps us to know what area...blah blah blah". I couldn't for the life of me think of a name of a city in Nebraska, so I said "I don't know where exactly yet, but you can be sure he'll hear from me once I arrive."

After that, I looked up the capital of every state I was calling if a city name didn't come to mind. Sheesh!

[huskerlaw]

20. That's because they didn't believe

that anyone would ever willingly move to Nebraska! ;)

(I kid. I was born and raised there...I live in Los Angeles now...for a reason.)

[gateley]

22. That's funny! nt

[jillan]

24. gateley - you are the BEST!

:pals:

[Randypiper]

35. Next time say springfield

I've heard there's one in every state.

[gateley]

37. Ha! Great -- I can use it for every State! :-) nt

[The Doctor.]

68. "Springfield"

Always say 'Springfield'.

You can't miss.

Oh, covered already.

[Inuca]

69. LOL!!

Thanks for the laugh with my morning coffee :-)! ANd congrats for your perseverance.

[gorfle]

74. I do this all the time

On many congressional web email pages they ask you your zip code and state. If you don't live in the constituents area, the email won't proceed.

I just look up the elected official's own mail contact information and use it - it's usually on the same web page down at the bottom in fine print.

[Eric J in MN]

21. Thank you. NT

NT

[Hissyspit]

26. Wow, gateley. I'm impressed.

Good job. Thanks for the report.

[gateley]

27. I'm really not deserving of all the kudos --

It was really easy, fast, didn't cost me anything, and I was sitting here listening to Jonathan Turley and John Dean on Randi when I did it.

But thanks. :hi:

[OwnedByFerrets]

28. Thank you very much for your diligence....

I, thankfully, was able to get thru to Sen Obama's office and talked to a very nice person.

www.wearableablenow.com

[gateley]

29. Excellent --

any input as to what he's going to do?

[OwnedByFerrets]

55. SS, none at all....we will just have to wait and see...nt

[Jakes Progress]

30. Now there's a patriot.

Thank you. I got to about 15, but now I am inspired by your dedication. There goes the rest of my day.

[gateley]

31. I just went to senate.gov

and clicked on the Senators link.

Then By name, and worked my way down the list alphabetically. While one line was ringing, I was clicking on the next Senator's name and info.

It took me less than an hour -- and I kept my message to "please ask Senator X to oppose the new FISA bill". I figure they don't care about all my comments, just whether to put a check in the FOR or AGAINST column.

And 15 is a LOT -- you done good! :headbang:

[rucky]

32. From this and from Pelosi's statement earlier...

I think the stage is set for some serious theater in the Senate

[gateley]

34. I just looked up her statement -- WTF?

Are you referring to her saying it would be 'healthy' for the Senate to debate it? Again - WTF? How about the House, Nancy?

And, I remember when Dodd filibustered in February. There were about 4 people in the 'audience' -- those who filibustered with him.

I'm afraid this might die with a whimper, too. :grr:

[jtrockville]

33. Thanks so much!

[spanone]

36. fantastic....hard work

thanks

[bonito]

39. Awesome!!!

The senate is full of fear to the extent of making bad (wrong) choices, now we did have a 911 maybe they don't want to provoke another, remember bin been forgotten hasn't been found yet hmmm... and possibly could cause another attack just to keep us in line with our involvement in the middle east ya know.

[gristy]

41. Thank You!

:thumbsup:

[barbtries]

42. i gotta hand it to you for doing that

i left messages for obama and feingold and have recently also contacted my reps regarding impeachment. thank you for your commitment. make me feel weak in comparison...

[WheelWalker]

43. You're a fuck'n ANIMAL ! k&r

[bobbolink]

44. What could I do to get this many people to call Senators about the Housing Trust Fund?

How can I make it important to people?

[gateley]

46. I will call every Senator for you -- including Republicans if you want me to.

Just give me what to say, and give me 'til the end of the week. (And give me a city in every state so I can "fib" about moving there if I'm asked again :7)

[bobbolink]

47. Thank you! Ask them if they co-sponsor S. 2523. If so, thank them. If not, ask them to.

And also if not, prod them to vote for the danged thing.

Sounds like they'll vote on it before the July 4 break, so time is of the essence.

Thanks! :yourock:

Oh, and edited to add: ask all your friends and email list to do the same.. at least with their senators.

:) Thanks!

[gateley]

52. I'll get on it in the morning! nt

[bobbolink]

81. Thanks so much!

:yourock:

[maryf]

49. Here's the link

to Bobbie's thread! so you know all about it!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3497906

[gateley]

53. Thanks! nt

[bobbolink]

82. thanks, Mary. I guess some background info could be of help...

:blush:

:hug:

[Truth2Tell]

58. I'll call mine first thing tomorrow morning bobbo. nt

[lonestarnot]

45. Great job Gately!

:applause:

[rosesaylavee]

48. Good for you!

:applause:

[bdamomma]

50. thanks gateley, I will make my call to Whitehouse, Reed and Dodd

to Dodd just to say thank you.

[gateley]

54. Yeah, we need to remember to THANK the good ones! Thanks!! nt

[robinlynne]

76. and BOXER!

[yellerpup]

51. Props to you, gateley!

What an inspiration you are!!! K&R! :kick:

[Mira]

56. Good on you Gately - Did you call Liddy Dole, too?

It gets discouraging for me to call those two. I surely don't ever feel represented by them.
But you are inspiring me to keep doing it anyway.

[gateley]

65. Yeah - I always call Liddy

and I joke that she's going "don't tell me -- gateley's going to not vote for me AGAIN" because I do use that threat when I call my own Senators. Her staff is always very polite, though.

Not once have either of them ever voted the way I've "suggested". They probably know they'd never get my vote anyway, but I can't bitch about them if I don't try.

[Canuckistanian]

57. Wow, good job!

And a nice tidbit about the fiilibuster.

Maybe it's really gonna happen.

:thumbsup:

[PatSeg]

59. Way to go Gateley!!!

You are an inspiration to us all!

[WheelWalker]

60. Yahoo !!! Front page Greatest !!! And so you are, my friend. And a DUzy, to boot.

[dailykoff]

61. Hmm.. supporting the filibuster is not the same as voting no.

Sounds like the staffer was programmed to toss out a little diversion.

Anyway, you rock!

:yourock:

[AllyCat]

62. Glad people are calling Kohl. He'll probably ignore us,

but we have to try.

[EFerrari]

63. "First, they ignore you . . ."

:)

[UrbScotty]

64. Now that's what I call Dedication!

:patriot:

[gateley]

66. Actually, it's fury. I'm so pissed at the Dems in the House --

that's what got me fired up.

[livvy]

67. Of course I'm sure I want to rec. this thread. Sometimes that posting question is so silly!

Thanks for doing this, Gateley. Glad to hear Byrd's doing ok.

[kaygore]

70. I have called every senator in any state in which I have ever lived

so I hope the pressure has some effect.

We have to target DLC and corporate-owned senators and congress members with good, honest candidates next time and get these traitors out of office and (my dream) send them to jail for failing to uphold the Constitution and selling the country down the river, literally!

[a kennedy]

71. Wow, guess I'll call both mine if you can call ALL.

:hug: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[electropop]

72. I wrote to mine (Webb and Warner)

Any updates on what Senators are planning?

[bdamomma]

73. well I called and faxed my Senators this am.

Reed and Whitehouse better do the right thing.

[robinlynne]

75. Gately you rock! I went to feinstien's office yesterday and the day before, each day

with a letter from 200 people saying if she votes yes on this one we will go for censure again. (politely worded)

[bdamomma]

77. keep calling you guys.

[Papa Boule]

78. Yeoman's work. WTG. n/t

[bluerum]

79. Many thanks to you, guardian of freedom.