I HOPE YOU ALL HEARD THAT BATTLE CALL! Obama clearly instructed

[rainy]

us to get on the phone and email our representatives. He always said it was not him that got him elected it was us and he needed us to get things done. He really does need us. Now is the time to cover his back. Lets get on the phone all day tomorrow and email all of our representatives. We can do this. Call all day as much as we can.

See you at the barricades!

Rainy

[Windy]

1. Agreed! I've already emailed my reps. nt

[avaistheone1]

126. Goody! Goody! A call for a balanced plan from Obama to take from the poor and middle class and

give the rich! Precious and how balanced!!

:puke:


I have called my reps and I've told them I am furious and "not" to support the Obama/Republican plan.

[Sherman A1]

130. Precisely

I don't call this bizarre mess a deal at all. I have some other names, but they are not printable.

[MichiganVote]

2. Yup. Now is not the time to whine.

[Cleita]

3. Already did it earlier today. Not only did I phone but

I followed up the calls with faxes stating my position and my disgust. They still passed the Cut, Cap and Balance bill anyway.

[trueblue2007]

142. I just phoned Boner's office

i called and shared my story of husband my financial and insurance situation. i said YOU CAN'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE MIDDLE CLASS AND POOR. You have to approve the debt ceiling and FAST. The world is looking at the USA. America can NOT turn into a 3rd world county and you HAVE to stop helping only the wealthy.

i WAS ALMOST IN TEARS, I FEEL SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THESE POLITICIANS DOING THE RIGHT THING. we didn't elect them to help the rich, bail out the banks. we elected them to SERVE AMERICA.

[abelenkpe]

4. K & R nt

[mahina]

5. Mine are all on board.

[FreakinDJ]

6. Already sending out Emails

[spooked911]

145. you should call

email is too easily ignored

[uppityperson]

7. k&r

[shireen]

8. i personally spoke to my senator this weekend

Ran into her at the deli counter at my neighborhood supermarket. I was soooo surprised to see her there! Anyhow, we're both on the same wavelength. My other senator and Congressman are also progressive Democrats so i know where they stand.

[progressoid]

9. Waste of time with my rep - Steve King

But I'll contact my Senators!

[jberryhill]

12. Do it anyway

[EffieBlack]

13. Yes, DO IT ANYWAY!

One of the reasons they are so firm and cocky in their positions is that they only hear from the people who agree with them. Stay on him. It may not change is mind, but it might make him less confident and smug when he's trying to convince the press and public that his view has overwhelming support.

[MrsCorleone]

18. Why are you going to let Steve King off the hook? Repubs need to feel the wrath more than ever.

King, Steve, Iowa, 5th ph:202/225-4426 fax: [phone]

:hi:

[progressoid]

34. I've met him,

been to his town hall meetings etc. I used to contact his office but after being face to face with him, I've decided not to waste my time with him. To say he's intractable would be an understatement.

He's in the same league as Palin and Bachmann.

[Critters2]

100. He wants to stay in office. He needs to know his whole district isn't a bunch of sheeple. nt

[Chan790]

144. Steve King is the sort of fellow...

who if he could figure out how to get away with it would set up roving death squads in his district to kill liberals then try to claim he was a hero because they were all Al Qaeda sleeper agents.

He's a psychopath in wolf's clothing.

He's the guy who said that if the Debt Crisis occurs that the President must be impeached...yeah, Steve, because you played no part in the debt ceiling crisis you bloviating shithead who said repeatedly that you'll vote for no increase.

[Enthusiast]

134. He is completely insane.

Why even bother? You will just hear the same shit I hear from my right wing representatives -all lies!

[handmade34]

22. not a waste of time!!

[quaker bill]

42. But how much time do you waste on other things?

It does not take that long.

[Pacifist Patriot]

55. Never a waste of time.

I love making the interns on the phone squirm. Now, I'm very cordial and even banter with them from time to time. But I do enjoy giving them a message I know their boss is not going to want to hear.

[NewJeffCT]

59. No, it's not a waste of time - because

if nobody calls him/contacts him, he can then really say, "well, nobody contacted my office about supporting Obama's plan/the Democrats' plan"

[Doctor Hurt]

78. do it just to annoy him

if for no other reason.

[Critters2]

101. That alone is worth the effort. nt

[tavalon]

107. All of this is a waste of all of our time

That said, it's a responsibility on our part. Congress has proven themselves to be asshats once again, but that doesn't absolve me from my responsibility as a citizen of this flawed Republic.

[latinattack78]

111. In case you want to add energy to change Kings status

http://christievilsackforiowa.com/

[The Hitman]

139. On behalf of every other congressional district in the country...

I'm so sorry.

[tblue]

10. He said call and urge them to "work together."

In other words, compromise. I think the Dems have compromised enough so, no, I won't be calling my rep & senators, who happen to be Dems, to urge them to compromise to please the Republicans more. Not impressed by this speech. Sounded like he's at his wits end and he just wants a deal, ANY deal, so he can move on. I don't want just any deal. I want entitlements taken out of the debt equation where they belong.

[Fearless]

11. +1000

[MrsCorleone]

24. Ahhhhh, geeez! Seriously?

Call your representatives and bitch them out! Let YOUR views be known to them!

Please don't be part of the problem.

Not to lecture, but we can't just sit back and expect issues to magically go our way.

That said, :hi:

[Sheepshank]

66. Absolutley...my Senator is Mike Lee

He's arrogant enough to think he knows what everyone wants. He has to hear differently. One call will likely not make a difference, but tens of thousands cannot be ignored!

[RaleighNCDUer]

84. ...tens of thousands cannot be ignored.

Uh, yes, they can. They have been for years.

That does not mean, of course, that we should not try, but is falling of deaf ears. They only hear comments from people that have big contributions.

[Sheepshank]

113. So you are saying that we should do nothing but post and whine on DU?

You really think that a wake up call that his consituents are not happy won't make a difference? Hey may chose not to act on the calls, but it will certainly make himrealize when he is voted out why it happened, and what can be done the next time a majority asks him to act a certain way. Whether the tens of thousands of consituents make an impact and gets Lee to change his stance, this time, on this bill, is immaterial to me.

I think this grifter wants another term. It's make him stop and think. But what he needs is to have is more people telling this to change than telling him to hold the Tea party line without fail.

[RaleighNCDUer]

118. I said, go ahead and call. I just also said, don't expect any results.

MILLIONS hit the streets to protest the invasion of Iraq. We were ignored.
Millions marched and called and protested for REAL health care reform. We were ignored.
We called for weeks, for months, to allow the tax cuts for the rich to expire. We were ignored.

A definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions and expect different results.

I do not expect different results.

That does not mean the action is not worthwhile in its own right.

[Inuca]

44. You do know, don't you, that

what is not being pushed is Reid's (and Pelosi's) plan that does NOT touch any of the entitlements, right?

[Pacifist Patriot]

56. I do admit, that's not exactly what I did. My phone calls...

were short, sweet and very pointed. Never once mentioned compromise or working together. My emails and letters look like this:

-----------------

I am fairly certain the majority of Congress is well aware the debt crisis has been manufactured for political theatre. I also believe the majority of Congress understands “shared sacrifice” is a meaningless phrase since the very wealthy will neither be asked to sacrifice in a way that honors the definition of the word, nor would they feel a pinch should they actually be expected to contribute more to the United States Treasury.

Most of our elected representatives are probably aware of rather simple ways to resolve this “crisis” though less than a handful seem willing to admit it. This may be one reason why Congress’ approval ratings are so low.

I would like to spell out one way that is quite simple and requires four easy, but courageous actions on Congress’ part. Courageous because it entails doing the right thing at the potential expense of a handful of choice campaign contributions. Which naturally leads to a particularly pointed question. What is more important to you, the welfare of our nation or personal power politics? If you care about the people you represent and the nation you serve, I highly recommend considering the following:

Raise Revenue
1. End the Bush-era tax cuts on the wealthy.
2. Raise or eliminate the cap on Social Security contributions.
3. End subsidies to corporations reporting record profits.

Reduce Spending
4. Reduce investment in death and destruction and instead invest in life-affirming programs. In other words, bring an end to U.S. military interventions. Our actions are morally reprehensible, contrary to international law and devastating to our financial stability.

You see, there really is no reason for your constituents to sacrifice anything. Though you might feel better if Congress stopped sacrificing their integrity. Naive? Probably.

Please tell both political parties Social Security and Medicare should never be “on the table.”

[Raksha]

135. That's an excellent letter. I hope you don't mind if I steal it to send to my rep.

[Pacifist Patriot]

157. Not at all. Feel free.

[Richardo]

96. Missing the point

[Sportsguy]

14. Ready & Reporting For Duty Sir!

:patriot:

[flamingdem]

15. Tally Ho! To the phones, email, letters, yessssss nt

[southernyankeebelle]

16. I have been doing that for days now. I have called senators, congressmen and emailed the president.

No one is listening.

[The Traveler]

17. Exactly.

And where the f**k were when when the tea baggers were jamming up health care reform?

Gots to hold them all accountable ... even him. But we can't blame him over much when WE don't back his play.

Trav

[styersc]

19. Seemingly Senate/Congress servers are swamped.

I can't get through and Ed Shultz show just mentioned such. May be up late waiting in line to e-mail, and one of mine goes to my Senator DeMint and the other goes to my Sen Lindsey Graham and my Rep Joe "You Lie" Wilson.

I know, but I contact them regularly just to let them know this voice still cries out in the wilderness!!!!!

[Marrah_G]

20. I've been emailing urging them not to allow SS and Medicare to be messed with...

and to tell them to insist that increases in the taxes of the wealthiest citizens and the closing of loopholes MUST be part of any "deal"

[lordcommander]

21. My Rep and Senators are all on board too! nt

[handmade34]

23. mine also

Bernie, Leahy and Welch are all fantastic... that doesn't stop me from calling reps in the other 49 states... just have to have a state address

[handmade34]

25. dupe

but really can't be said enough... contact your reps!

[marlakay]

26. Can't get through to mine

but I will keep trying, he is a republican but I will find a way to say something.

[Loki]

94. 'Ive been trying to reach my Republican rep

since 7:00 am this morning. His webpage site is down and all his numbers are busy. Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, I hope you are getting an ear full. Will keep trying and urge all DUers to do the same. I live in Texas which might be a no brainer as far as having any government that has my interests at heart, but they all need to hear from us, and it appears that they are.

[DeepModem Mom]

27. Got through to one of three so far. Will keep trying. nt

[Kaleva]

28. Sending out e-mails tonight & I'll be calling tomorrow.

Even though my congress critter is a teabagger fav who had been endorsed by Sarah Palin and Ted Nugent, I'll call his office tomorrow. I really wish Stupak hadn't retired.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SadPanda]

33. Transparent arguement

I like how you conveniently leave out any REAL specifics.

You mention war. But you don't mention the troop withdrawal out of Iraq or the announced reduction in troop force in Afghanistan. Or that he saved tens of thousands of lives in Libya (and counting)

You mention no real health care. All of the evidence suggests elsewise. It is the single biggest cash infusion into the American Health Care System in HISTORY. Period.

You mention a "cover up" of the Bush era "crimes." I guess you want a US President to take power and immediately arrest his predecessor? On what charges? War crimes? Like take George W Bush in front of a world court and try him for lying about WMD? Or argue about torture? And how do you expect to pass any bills through congress while that is happening? And Obama signed a LOT of bills in his first two years. Heck, repealed DADT. Biggest Health Care Bill EVER. wtf is wrong with the progressive community to call this guy a conservative? REALLY?

YOU MENTION CONTINUING RAIDS ON MARIJUANA CLINICS? REALLY? This is a state issue now. Those raids are being conducted by local and state law enforcement. The Feds aren't the ones pushing, it's the locals. Find me a grower who was operating under the law present who is being prosecuted by the Feds. A clean one with no out of state transfers.

Eh, I have to stop. Tired of reading these generic bash posts.

[demgrrrll]

36. Thank you

[zipplewrath]

77. Okay, let's be specific

"You mention war. But you don't mention the troop withdrawal out of Iraq or the announced reduction in troop force in Afghanistan. Or that he saved tens of thousands of lives in Libya (and counting)"

What he did in Iraq was to keep Gates around to continue to advocate for the Bush negotiated SOFA, and has continued to execute it even though it was at odds with "promises" he made on the campaign trail for a shorter commitment. And now his administration (Panetta) is encouraging the Iraqi's to ask for us to stay. You really want to make the case that he campaigned on such a strategy such as this?


You mention no real health care. All of the evidence suggests elsewise. It is the single biggest cash infusion into the American Health Care System in HISTORY. Period.

You can't really make that case, unless you are going to include the cash from the increase costs to some, the mandates to others, and the people that can now buy it that couldn't/didn't before. The administration claims (rightfully) that they "saved" huge amounts of money (approaching 450 billion over 10 years) in medicaid costs. That's a huge REMOVAL of cash from the system. Potentially a defensible one, but hardly an infusion. As I say, you have to include all the money out of the private sector that is now mandated (a position that he ran AGAINST during the campaign) in order to make such a claim. And let's acknowledge that the VAST majority of that cash is funneled through the insurance companies. And he left medicare drug negotiation behind in the process, something he DID campaign upon.

"You mention a "cover up" of the Bush era "crimes." I guess you want a US President to take power and immediately arrest his predecessor? On what charges? War crimes? Like take George W Bush in front of a world court and try him for lying about WMD? Or argue about torture? And how do you expect to pass any bills through congress while that is happening? And Obama signed a LOT of bills in his first two years. Heck, repealed DADT. Biggest Health Care Bill EVER. wtf is wrong with the progressive community to call this guy a conservative? REALLY?"

He went over to the CIA and said he "had their backs" on torture. There was a conspiracy to commit torture, that at the very least involves Yoo and a few others. The evidence is out there that they knew what they were doing was wrong. It would not have began with the White House, it may have ended there, but he worked very hard (as did Panetta) to prevent any of this from happening. And he personally advocated the continuation of Gitmo, albeit moving it to another location, and the continued holding of people without trial indefinitely. You really want to make the case that he campaigned upon such a position?

I can understand to some extent, without agreeing, the point of view that he has somehow "correctly" changed his position on many issues since the campaign. But one must also acknowledge that many of the people who voted for him, donated to him, and worked for him found those positions important, and don't agree with his new, or nuanced, positions and feel they have been abandoned. Furthermore, one would have to acknowledge that the president stepping out and suggesting that people that don't agree with these new opinions are drug addled, retarded, or sanctimonious also hasn't contributed to gaining their support for future positions.

He has been at odds with the progressive community since he appointed Rahm, kept gates, honored Warren, and kept single payer "out of the room". And that was the first 4 months. What's wrong is that unlike Clinton, who did similar things, is that he has been unwilling to acknowledge that he is doing it.

[LiberalLovinLug]

93. Very well answered

On the last point; I would add that the "how do you expect to pass any bills through congress while that is happening?" argument for NOT pursuing War Crimes charges against the previous administration is something I cannot accept either. Some things historically are even more important than those positive bills he got through, like the seemingly permanent alteration of what a nation has stood for up until now. Obama has squashed any recourse for justice for millions of dead, injured and displaced Iraqis, thousands of killed and wounded Americans, and the massive war debts placed on the taxpayer for an unnecessary and illegal invasion of a sovereign country and lying about the threat. Not to mention setting a precedent for the acceptance of torture, elimination of habeus corpus, detention without trial, extraordinary rendition, open-ended wiretapping...etc.

So whatever "good" bills he passes or any future President passes, it will be passed in a country that is a shell of what it once was and stood for. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT. A great leader would have said "hold up here" when he got in office and shelved any ideas about passing healthcare bills for the time being until he had set the country on a path back to honor and respectability, even if it meant he would be crucified in the MSM and lose any hope of having a second term.

[apostman]

119. Sneakered Hard Copy to my REP²

I hand carried a hand written letter to my Republican Rep.

Basically if he does not complain about this gridlock, I will make sure my Democratic committeman will be well versed on his voting record as I will publish it on the internet. Then I gave him the URL...

[JimDandy]

153. Feds ARE instigating raids on marijuana clinics.

The message you replied to has been deleted, so I don't know what the thrust of their post was, but just want to say that the recent raids on the medical marijuana clinics in Spokane, WA were conducted by the federal govt. Federal indictments came down last week on five Spokane dispensary operators who had opened their doors with permits in place, were operating under the rules of the state's recently passed medical marijuana bill and then were raided by the DEA in April. Christine Gregoire, WA's democratic governor, ended up vetoing the bill when two republican U.S. attorneys threatened to arrest and prosecute state employees involved in regulating the dispensaries.

I am not a smoker--of anything--and was leery about whether ONLY those persons really needing the drug would be the only ones given it, but I think the bill should have become state law simply out of compassion for those who were suffering.

[MadMaddie]

57. Perhaps you should view what the President has succeeded in getting done

If a quote is applicable why not use it? It's called strategy, they claim that Reagan is their hero yet they do not understand his philosopy. I hated Reagan but that quote was right....

So good luck and vote for folks like the Wicsonsin and New Jersey government, better yet don't vote and then complain about how you are getting screwed over.



http://obamaachievements.org/list

Here are a few things..

1.FUNDING:
2.Provided $12.2 billion in new funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act though the American Recovery and investment Act. ref
3.TARGETED ACTIONS:
4.Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; Instituted equal pay for women. ref, ref, ref
5.Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. ref , ref , ref , ref
6.Presidential Memorandum protecting gay and lesbian partners’ visitation/healthcare decision-making rights (4/15/2010). ref
7.Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. ref
8.Supported the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT). ref
9.Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. ref
10.Established White House Council on Women and Girls (Executive Order 13506 ). ref
11.Financial agencies must establish Offices of Women and Minorities to promote more diverse hiring.
12.Increased minority access to capital. ref
13.Pushing through settlement in the black farmers lawsuit against USDA. ref, ref
14.Signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. ref
15.Increased Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Exec Order)(celebrating 20th anniversary of the ADA). ref, ref

[Lasher]

133. You forgot the dog.

PolitiFact gave him credit for a Promise Kept because he got his girls a puppy.

[dionysus]

58. awwwww.

isn't that special.

:rofl:

[Richardo]

112. Oh well.

:nopity:

[livetohike]

31. E-mails are sent

Calling in the morning, too.

[handmade34]

32. also

http://action.ourfuture.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=153

[glinda]

35. Thanks! I used it!

[beac]

53. Thanks for the link! Used it and passed it on. n/t

[tosh]

97. Nice. Thanks!

[sundancekid]

37. heard the call and answered - I am a deep believer in Obama -

because WE ARE THE CHANGE ...

[lamp_shade]

38. K&R. I'll be there.

[Heathen57]

39. Gotta Love it !!

So many heard and called in that they overwhelmed the servers for the house.

I won't hold my breath that they will care or even read those emails, but sheer volume should tell Boner and company something. "Maybe they don't like us no mo'?" Damn straight, as if we ever did.

[Warren Stupidity]

40. I'm supposed to urge them to vote for cuts in SS and Medicare?

Nope.

[quaker bill]

41. The call was for balance

so you could just call to tell them to tax the rich. That is the part of "balance" that is missing. I think even you would be ok with that.

[jeff47]

45. The problem is there is no need for balance

The entire debt crisis is an artificial creation designed to create a panic environment so they can cut the social safety net.

There is no debt problem. We're borrowing at 3%. There is a jobs problem. There is a war problem.

[woo me with science]

46. +100000

I called, but I called to tell them exactly that.

[Warren Stupidity]

52. exactly.

[quaker bill]

152. That aside, what's wrong with taxing the rich?

I agree that there is no debt problem. We never pay it off anyway. We own the money and most of it is "owed" to us.

There is a jobs problem and a war problem - true.

The way you fix all this stuff is to tax the rich. If passive capital gains were taxed higher than profits from building businesses and making jobs, the rich would be doing that instead of market manipulation. As long as speculation in assets is taxed at 15 percent and business profits are taxed at 35 percent, you will have an economy built on bogus financial transactions. Taxing the rich, in particular, taxing their capital gains is the answer.

As far as war is concerned, a surtax on wealth to fully fund any war would make the whole proposition far less popular. It is a sound idea on many dimensions, any war worth doing should also be worth paying for.

Tax the rich is a solution with a great many applications.

[jeff47]

156. There's multiple solutions

For example: If you want to get your war on, we'll need more revenue, which taxing the rich solves. Alternatively, we could not get our war on.

[avaistheone1]

124. This fake crisis should not be balanced on the backs of Social Security and Medicare

No way!

[Sheepshank]

62. Then tell them so

BUT, what they need to also hear so that there MUST be a revenue side to these final discussions.

[demwing]

140. Thank you

I don't support the President on this, why should I help?

[Skip Intro]

147. Evidently. Now go! Rah Rah Rah! nt

[jeff47]

43. So he wants me to pressure my reps to cut SS and medicare so he can have his grand bargain.

No.

[Inuca]

47. To all who are saying that they will not call

because they do not want to encourage their D representatives to support cuts in SS, etc.

We are really on the brink now. Obama may have still talked about issues that were part of the "big deal" last night (a mistake, IMHO), but the fight now is not to fall into the damn precipice. It is about what Reid put on the table yesterday or something close to that. And Reid' plan DOEA NOT TOUCH SS, MEDICARE OR MEDICAID in any way. Yes, it is infuriating, because on the surface at least, the Rs get almost everything they wanted in the first place. Almost, because they did want to gut the entitlements, and they are NOT getting that.

So please stop grandstanding and do the right thing, or at least stop beating a dead horse, there are live horses to be saved.

[woo me with science]

49. I will not support any plan that includes a "Super Congress."

The Super Congress is a blatant strategy to gain accolades for avoiding SS and Medicare cuts now, while putting into place a structure that will decrease our ability to defend ourselves from such cuts in the near future.

Second, Obama knows we will not get the Reid plan anyway. His speech urged "compromise" and mentioned adjustments to "entitlements." He is still very much open to a big deal that WILL cut entitlements.

[Inuca]

50. Super COngress is nothing but a catchy phrase

similar things, i.e., bills coming out of committees that cannot be later be ammended on the floor, are not that unsual an occurence. Based on what I know, that's all that the this "super congress" is. Not great, but nothing to get particularly upset about either.

[woo me with science]

51. No, you are wrong. It is not "just a catchy phrase."

If it were irrelevant and had no purpose, they would not need to push for it. It is an extremely dangerous mechanism to put in place specifically for this purpose, because it removes the crafting of legislation into the hands of a selected group of the most powerful Congressmen with corporate connections, and makes it easier to push through legislation that they would not have been able to achieve through normal, representative channels.

We *already* have Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid on the table. It is beyond comprehension that Democrats would fall for this ploy to grease the skids and make it even easier to shove through cuts that the normal legislative process will not support.

Obama knows we will not get the Reid plan anyway. His speech urged "compromise" and mentioned adjustments to "entitlements." He is still very much open to a big deal that WILL cut entitlements.

[Inuca]

81. I di dnot say it is irrelevant

I simply said that it is not as new and unheard of as the catchy phrase may suggest

[woo me with science]

115. No, you argued that nobody should get excited about it.

But to suggest that because committees have been used before for other types of legislation makes it a routine matter to put a Super Congress in place for DEBT reduction(!) is jaw-droppingly naive. Look at the trauma this country has been through just in the past two weeks, with Medicare and Social Security on the table.

If you put a Super Congress (Read: twelve of the most powerful representatives of the moneyed interests in Congress - you can bet your life Sanders or Frankin will not be on this panel...) in charge of cutting the debt, you are inviting more draconian cuts than we can even imagine with the system we have now. No, it is NOT business as usual to allow a committee to fast-track and shove through legislation targeting the debt and entitlements. The use of this committee process will allow pushing through of legislation that would not be passable in the regular representative process...and you want to hand over DEBT REDUCTION...in this political climate?!

Wake up and look at who we are dealing with. We are already fighting like hell to protect core programs that should never, ever have been on the table in the first place. To suggest that handing debt reduction over to a Super Congress would be just like using a committee for any other purpose, at this time and in this political climate, is beyond all logic and comprehension.

I will say it again: people need to wake up and realize who we are dealing with. The Republicans are out to bring the country down, but too many Democrats are also disturbingly prepared to soak the poor for the benefit of the wealthy (did you see madfloridian's post about Hamiltonian Democrats? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1540315).

The situation of our poor and elderly is so precarious, and the voices defending them so few and far between, that to remove debt reduction from the ENTIRE Congress and put it in the hands of a moneyed few will be signing a death warrant for these programs. We are not getting the Reid plan. The President wants a "compromise," which will likely mean cuts in entitlements PLUS the Super Congress to ensure that future cuts are easier to push through.

We have entered a very dark age for protection of the most vulnerable among us.

[JimDandy]

155. I totally agree ... N/T

[neoralme]

73. I'll support Reid's plan, but I can no longer support a man who

opens up a budget discussion with cutting Medicare and Social Security, the two mainstay programs of the Democratic Party.

[jeff47]

103. Reid's plan is DOA at the house.

Heck, it's doubtful he can even get it through the Senate.

The least-damaging result of this crisis is to force Obama to use the 14th amendment to ignore the debt limit. Any other solution to this artificial crisis is an attempt to destroy the safety net.

[woo me with science]

48. I called to tell them

to end the damned wars and tax the rich. I told them that the rest of us have already had our share of austerity.

I also told them that they have lost my support and that of my entire family if they touch Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid, or if they push through a Super Congress to grease the skids for such cuts in the future.

[Vattel]

105. exactly the right message to send

[Lasher]

132. And that's the exact same message I'll send tomorrow.

[Pacifist Patriot]

54. I've emailed my Senators, but I cannot get through to my Representative.

His server is overloaded and phone lines tied up. Not sure what to make of it since he represents a highly conservative district.

[polichick]

60. Unless you're a Republican, it won't matter. Teabaggers couldn't care less what we think.

[tpsbmam]

61. I've already called & written....on this and many, many more issues

I don't need him to rally me. He only remembers the little people when it suits him. I do my duty as a citizen -- most of the time, that gets belittled by his administration. NOW, because he says so, it's no longer the wacko leftists who are raising hell? Sorry, I'm tired of him and his bullshit reaching out only when it suits him and when we're once again needed. Same is true of election time....what I have to say and what I have to contribute is brushed aside, excluded and demeaned. That is unless he wants my vote and my money.

Fuck this shit. We should ALL be calling and writing our reps whether or not he says so. Sorry, I'm just totally burned out on the guy.

[catbyte]

63. My call was wasted on that POS bagger "rep" Amash. What a

waste of molecules.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[Kaleva]

64. E-mailed last night and just called a few minutes ago.

[Firebrand Gary]

65. K&R...........I Emailed late last night and I will be calling this AM.

[bowens43]

67. By all means, lets help Obama cut medicare and social security.....

No thanks.

[dbonds]

68. I'm not pushing anyone for THAT deal.

[neoralme]

69. Thank you. No. His intial presentation of the budget problem was

when he volunteered to make severe changes to Medicare and lesser changes to Social Security. Not Democratic things to do, regardless of whether he's playing chess or not. Obama will be remembered as the President who began the dismantling of the Social Network and some of the Commons. I am a Democrat. I vote only for Democrats. Get a Democrat representing our Party and I will vote for him. Not a Corporatist DINO.

[Dr Fate]

70. Did it during the HCR debate, did it during BP, I'll do it now.

This time it MUST work.

[BigD_95]

71. Im not sure we should?????

Why email my rep to take his deal to make cuts to the big 3??

[neoralme]

72. We're being played Good Cop, Bad Cop, which is understandable

as long as there's a Good Cop.

[Fire1]

74. My rep is a democrat. He already knows what to do. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

75. What is he asking us to call and advocate for?

[caraher]

76. Done.

My rep is a freshman Republican but I challenged him to show that his love of America exceeds his hatred of Obama.

[rms013]

79. Right

Call all you want. It is both an exercise in modern American Democracy and in futility. Phone calls, petitions all fall on deaf ears. What changes...nothing. Lobbyists have access as they have money, they even write legislation. This is a government of the people in name only. Think of all the pressure put on our 'representatives' to end the illegal invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, or the repeal of the Bush Tax cuts for the wealthy. How is that working out for you.
The golden rule is applicable: "He who has the gold, makes the rules".

[queenjane]

80. Your Reps Do Not Care What You Think

You (meaning all of us) are not stroking them huge checks for their reelection coffers. You are not going to give them cushy, lucrative lobbyist jobs when they decide they've done enough damage to their country (at least for the trifling salary of a "public servant").

[Avalux]

89. So we are to sit here and do nothing? Sorry....

I'd rather take action and have it be ignored, than do nothing.

[Name removed]

120. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Inuca]

82. Anybody else still experiencing overloaded

congressional sites? I was trying to get my climate-change denier representative and got a "page cannot be found". Can get to the House site, but not to his personal one.

[Daemonaquila]

83. Hell no, I won't help him sell out to the fat cats.

I will, however, go to the barricades to get legislators with a shred of humanity left to vote no, and instead finally get a pound of flesh out of corporations and the wealthy.

[Wait Wut]

85. Been at it...will become obnoxious, now!!!

No, it won't do a damned bit of good. I'm owned...er...represented by the Rs and teapers here.

But...I promise to call, fax and email REGULARLY!!!

[jwirr]

86. Just a thought. Would it be any help to email the RNC? If we could

get the home office scared maybe they can handle the idiot freshmen. Also your local state committee offices. Anyone have any emails for this bunch?

[florida08]

87. I like these threads

Really I do love to see people get fired up about supporting the president. Wish I could join you but I can't support this notion of a Super Congress.

"Nevertheless, separate proposals put forward by Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday each included versions of a Super Congress -- referred to on the Hill as a Super Committee -- that would write laws that could not be amended by the regular Congress, only voted up or down. In Boehner's version, the debt ceiling would be raised a second time if Congress approved the cuts decided on by the Super Congress."

Am wondering why you do..

[Avalux]

88. Ok - so you call/email anyway.....and tell them what YOU want.

It's fairly simple really. You don't have to say you endorse the notion of a Super Congress. :shrug:

[florida08]

90. well I guess it's not necessarily a twofer

thanks..we really should make some noise about it..but you're right I can chew gum and walk :hi:

[seeker4ever]

92. Because no one looks behind the curtain. It's a fucking scam.

[yellerpup]

91. Battle met.

My letter to my Senators & Reps today:


Dear Senator :

Please don't allow the nation to default. I don't need to tell you all the reasons why this tactic is wrong in every way. We need for our safety nets to continue to function and the best way to make sure they are funded now and in the future is to create jobs. I need not point out that the Bush tax cuts have resulted in fewer jobs and lesser jobs, so the assertion that allowing the wealthy to pay lower taxes to create jobs has proven false.

There are other ways to save money and here are a few: end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, close tax loopholes that allow corporations making billions of dollars to avoid paying taxes altogether, eliminate mortgage deductions on second, third, and fourth homes, stop subsidizing corporations with our tax dollars, especially since many of them seem to be buying Congressional votes with our money.

Politics are unimportant. Good government is what we want and need. I am happy with the job you are doing; please don't let us down on this.

Very truly yours,

Yellerpup

[seeker4ever]

95. Mark My Words...

Democrats will lose this battle but they will call it a win.

Let's understand something; Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid have no Earthly reason to be in jeopardy. They were put there by Democrats, namely, Barack Obama.

It's clear, even to this Uniparty, that Americans are not quite as numb and stupid about these programs as they hoped. They (those in favor of social programs and Barack Obama) are however still married to the idea that the interests of those grass roots Democrats and Democrats that helped get Obama elected ARE represented by those same parties--they are not.

The ploy here is to pretend like whatever happens it was the best Democrats could do. It isn't and it won't be.

If this administration has learned anything from their predecessors and financial owners it is that you never admit to real defeat but rather use excuses and inversion to sell your actions.

Inversion? Claim we HAD to have Super Congress... we had no choice... the Republicans, the Republicans, the Republicans!

The upshot of nearly every move our Democrats in Washington make moves us right not left, just slower rather than faster.

[florida08]

98. that is my worry as well

Both voting parties want their medicare and ss left alone and Medicaid too.

[unionworks]

99. Man the phones...

Like I did for the Obama campaign in 2008? I will, even though from what has happened thus far in my heart it will feel an exercise in futility. George Carlins dire prediction has come to pass..."now they're after Social Security, they want your retirement, so they can give it to their criminal friends on wall street. And they'll get it"!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

102. Did somebody say "Instructions?"

[rhett o rick]

104. I am doing it but think it is useless. Until we can cause the Corps pain via boycotts or picketing

they will never capitulate. Time for sit-ins and marches that they notice.
I strongly advocate against violence. That will only play into their hands. Follow MLK Jr. lead.

The Revolution is Waiting.

[seeker4ever]

131. Agree! Economic punishment! The trouble is that Americans won't sacrifice... or will they?

[demwing]

141. Boycotts only undescore your redefinition from citizen to consumer

We have to go further. The system as we know it must end. Choosing to not buy one product in favor of buying another product does nothing to change the real issue of consumerism. We are not consumers

We are citizens

[tavalon]

106. Done

Not that it's any different from a usual week. I call and or email between one and four times a week. I don't do it with nearly the enthusiasm I once did, but it's part of my responsibility as a citizen and I don't take such responsibility lightly.

[Name removed]

108. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Atypical Liberal]

109. I heard and answered!

Emailed my reps this morning.

[onestepforward]

110. Done!

[Riley18]

114. I emailed and called them. Tried last night but their server crashed.

[unionworks]

116. I HAVE HEARD THE BATTLE CALL!

Let's GO!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwFADi4Y38

[unionworks]

117. Where Debt Ceiling Fights

Are colorful sights and only the poor take a lickin', where you know who all turn CHICKEN! :sarcasm:

[apostman]

121. Sneakered my complaint to my REP²

I hand carried a hand written letter to my Republican Rep.

Basically if he does not complain about this gridlock, I will make sure my Democratic committeman will be well versed on his voting record as I will publish it on the internet. Then I gave him the URL...

[spooky3]

122. I emailed Warner (D-VA). Server was overloaded the first three times I tried to send it.

Let's hope we outnumber the wingnuts.

[readmoreoften]

123. At the barricades? Obama's people need to stop cheapening leftist history.

This is not "the barricades", this is a cheap and easy phonecall to self-serving politicians. If the working-class of the US really went to the barricades, Obama and the rest of congress would shit their collective pants.

[marlakay]

125. I finally emailed on backup site he has

that is a .com instead of the house.gov one. I said a bunch of stuff about compromise and that he needed to talk to his fellow republicans but I ended with....

This is reminding me of a marriage fight where one person is fighting for the marriage and willing to go to counseling and do the hard work but the other person
just wants a long dragged out nasty divorce....

[cui bono]

127. I will call them and tell them to do what Bernie Sanders wants.

Not what Obama wants. Obama is a corporate tool playing us for fools. Don't be a fool.

[cui bono]

128. Oh, and... Battle Call my ass. Obama doesn't battle, he moderates.

He's no leader and I will not follow him into right wing madness.

[Marnie]

129. He screws us over and over and over

and now he wants our help?

Where's the health care? Why did he cut SS withholdings and call it a "tax" cut? Why has he doubled the number of wars after promising to end Dubhys's two?

Why has he tried to turn the debt ceiling issue into a drunken Walmart shopping spree/game of chicken with the Repubs?

He has succeeded in muddying the water with so much trash (relative to the importance of the main event) that all he is likely to get is what he has gotten, a huge multi trillion dollar screw over of most Americans: a mess that he can't control and can't straingten out and can't bring back to focus on the main issue, because he chose to do it that way.

Damn him, he is ruining my SS and my future and the country faster than the Republicans.

[Lorien]

136. Both plans fuck us over royally. nt

[The Hitman]

137. The Orangeman's e-mail and phones are down

So I faxed him. [phone]

[BlueIdaho]

138. Done!

House members - check.
Senate members - check
White House - check

[Misskittycat]

143. Last night, I emailed my Repug Rep; today, went to protest at different Repug Rep where I work.

[nuxvomica]

146. I called at lunchtime

I didn't think it would do any good with my congressman but I did it anyway and I had a good conversation with the staff member. I feel like I got some of my points in. It may have had little effect but it's better than keeping silent.

[jillan]

148. Done.

[McCamy Taylor]

149. Done.

[DesertRat]

150. I emailed my rep,, Ben Quayle

And I receive a canned, condescending response which basically blamed the Dems and called the Repubs. plan "Bold". Whatever. :puke:

[unionworks]

151. proud member

Of the Fukawee tribe since 1976! One of the first 18 year olds to cast a ballot for Carter, a right won for 18 year olds by the service of under 21 servicemen in lVietnam! (Thank you all) the tribe got it's name when it came to the edge of the cliff the GOP was going to drive the economy over in the great 2011 deficit fight. The party (er, tribe) leaders lood around and said "were the Fukowee"?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

154. Right! You get it! He never said "Yes, I Can!" He said "Yes, WE can!"

And yet, people think this is a dictatorship! It is the very thing that the Founding Fathers fought against. They hated the King George III regime.

That is why the U.S. President doesn't have a lot of power. Much of that power was reserved for the Congress. And that's why it baffles me why people can't understand simple Civics 101. The authority to pass legislation and to exercise the "power of the purse" specially resides in the U.S. Congress, not the presidency!!