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119th congress: must be at least 75 to chair a committee!
Handyman
Hug someone you care about...
You want to know why no one trusts DC...look into how the leadership of both parties cut a deal to not censure bad actors. The Dems got tbeir "Epstein Friend" from the Virgin Islands off and the GOP got Cory Mills off.
The cancer goes beyond the fascistis...the whole system is rotten.
The cancer goes beyond the fascistis...the whole system is rotten.
ticapnews
Never graduate.
86 House Democrats vote to condemn Socialism
From Ken Klippenstein:
From Ken Klippenstein:
People in this thread and others have talked about this lead the Democrats have ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections but anticipate between gerrymandering and vote suppression the Republicans will survive. Do not underestimate the ability of the Democrats to sabotage themselves without any assistance from the GOP.
FadeToBlack&Gold
Microlot Marxist
If "STOP SAYING SOCIALISM!" Spanberger is the next generation of leadership, I'm out. C'ya.
Handyman
Hug someone you care about...
Keeping in mind that The Dems are always able to screw things up...
I dont think the Gerrymandering will save the Republicans. In fact I think Texas got bailed out because they were creating too many districts that were now in play. That is why you saw Indiana fail to make it work. Florida doing it is worthless in the face of California. And I dont think the SCROTUS is going to weigh in unless they block it all.
The Dems get lucky (only way they do the right thing) on that one. Doesnt mean they won't do something dumb though. (i.e. Making yourself look foolish defending a Rep who got texts from Epstein in 2019 in real time while questioning Michael Cohen in a hearing)
I dont think the Gerrymandering will save the Republicans. In fact I think Texas got bailed out because they were creating too many districts that were now in play. That is why you saw Indiana fail to make it work. Florida doing it is worthless in the face of California. And I dont think the SCROTUS is going to weigh in unless they block it all.
The Dems get lucky (only way they do the right thing) on that one. Doesnt mean they won't do something dumb though. (i.e. Making yourself look foolish defending a Rep who got texts from Epstein in 2019 in real time while questioning Michael Cohen in a hearing)
aparch
Acetaminamerican
ticapnews
Never graduate.
Vote Blue No Matter Who!!!*
Offer not valid in all states. Void if the candidate has ever said anything remotely socialist or displays an ounce of empathy.
Kepler
Si certus es dubita
As the resident Democratic Socialist, I am all for "not saying socialism" if we govern with socialism.
Call it American Apple Pie Economics. Call it Freedom Fiscal Policy. I don't care about the label.
Just tax billionaires at 99% and put food, clothing, health, education, transportation, energy, bodily autonomy, personal privacy, and shelter into the Constitution as fundamental, inalienable rights.
Call it American Apple Pie Economics. Call it Freedom Fiscal Policy. I don't care about the label.
Just tax billionaires at 99% and put food, clothing, health, education, transportation, energy, bodily autonomy, personal privacy, and shelter into the Constitution as fundamental, inalienable rights.
Deutsche Gopher Fan
New member
I wrote one of my senators a few weeks ago. Wish I could say the staff response surprised me but...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the President's executive branch nominations. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on these important nominations.
The Senate plays an important role during the confirmation process, a critical aspect of our nation’s system of checks and balances. The Framers recognized the importance of the Senate’s role to provide a check on the executive branch by requiring “advice and consent” over key positions in our government. I take this obligation seriously and evaluate each nominee’s qualifications and respect for the mission of the agency or office they have been chosen to lead.
I strongly opposed and voted against the confirmation of a number of President Trump’s nominees, including Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of Intelligence, Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Pam Bondi to be Attorney General, Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, among others. In addition, I oppose the nominations of Frank Bisignano and Mehmet Oz. After closely reviewing their records and current work, I continue to be extremely concerned about their ability to faithfully execute the missions of their respective agencies.
In the United States of America, the power comes from the people. And despite everything, the American people are resilient. Your energy, passion, voice, and determination have never been more important. I urge you to contact Republican representatives who are not standing up to President Trump. It only takes four Senate Republicans to protect our democracy from these harmful actions.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I continue to be humbled to be your Senator, and one of the most important parts of my job is listening to the people of Minnesota. I am here in our nation’s capital to do the public’s business. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the President's executive branch nominations. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on these important nominations.
The Senate plays an important role during the confirmation process, a critical aspect of our nation’s system of checks and balances. The Framers recognized the importance of the Senate’s role to provide a check on the executive branch by requiring “advice and consent” over key positions in our government. I take this obligation seriously and evaluate each nominee’s qualifications and respect for the mission of the agency or office they have been chosen to lead.
I strongly opposed and voted against the confirmation of a number of President Trump’s nominees, including Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of Intelligence, Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Pam Bondi to be Attorney General, Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, among others. In addition, I oppose the nominations of Frank Bisignano and Mehmet Oz. After closely reviewing their records and current work, I continue to be extremely concerned about their ability to faithfully execute the missions of their respective agencies.
In the United States of America, the power comes from the people. And despite everything, the American people are resilient. Your energy, passion, voice, and determination have never been more important. I urge you to contact Republican representatives who are not standing up to President Trump. It only takes four Senate Republicans to protect our democracy from these harmful actions.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I continue to be humbled to be your Senator, and one of the most important parts of my job is listening to the people of Minnesota. I am here in our nation’s capital to do the public’s business. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator
Deutsche Gopher Fan
New member
if you think the point of my message was to get a personalized response from her, I don't know what to tell you.
St. Clown
Ideas Posted are Likely Not My Own
As soon as the “Senate plays an important role…” line, I knew that couldn’t have been Tina Smith’s staff. Tina seems to be less suave on the pleasantries that ultimately support the status quo and more apt in conveying polite bluntness of a situation. I’d wager that trickles down to the pre-penned replies to constituents.
Kepler
Si certus es dubita
This is one of those rare times where we have access to true information. I talked to Dr. Mrs. She worked Leg Affairs for Senator Akaka (D-HI) in the 2000s. Here is her advice:
0. Identify yourself as a constituent of the addressee, specifically.
If you aren't, they don't care. You would be amazed at how many people cc the entire Congress. That goes right in the bin. When talking to a Senator also give your district. It helps them communicate info to Members or gives leverage against opposing Members. Don't give your name.
1. Call. If you can't call, email. If you can't email, write a letter.
Immediacy matters. Calling is the biggest PITA and shows commitment. It is also least able to be faked by spam.
2. Notice what is NOT on the list. Don't go to the office.
Going to the office only says "I am a nutbar." The exception is if you have a group of > a dozen or more like-minded constituents. Then, call the Member's local (NOT DC) office and make an appointment. You will be seen by local staff. They will take you extremely seriously.
3. How to be effective: Be brief. Be polite. Be clear.
All the obvious stuff. Staffers are wildly over-subscribed. Summarize your concern in short, clear sentences. If you call, be on no more than a minute. If you email, no more than I dunno whatever a normal email is. Certainly not one of mine!
Things to know:
They listen. The issue count on the contacts they receive redirects their agenda. Akaka held a meeting every Monday where they gave the contact count on every issue, and what the tone was. Dr. Mrs. has seen bulk contact rates affect a Senator's tactics. It motivates their course of action. The Member is also wildly oversubscribed. They go where the noise is. Squeaky wheel.
0. Identify yourself as a constituent of the addressee, specifically.
If you aren't, they don't care. You would be amazed at how many people cc the entire Congress. That goes right in the bin. When talking to a Senator also give your district. It helps them communicate info to Members or gives leverage against opposing Members. Don't give your name.
1. Call. If you can't call, email. If you can't email, write a letter.
Immediacy matters. Calling is the biggest PITA and shows commitment. It is also least able to be faked by spam.
2. Notice what is NOT on the list. Don't go to the office.
Going to the office only says "I am a nutbar." The exception is if you have a group of > a dozen or more like-minded constituents. Then, call the Member's local (NOT DC) office and make an appointment. You will be seen by local staff. They will take you extremely seriously.
3. How to be effective: Be brief. Be polite. Be clear.
All the obvious stuff. Staffers are wildly over-subscribed. Summarize your concern in short, clear sentences. If you call, be on no more than a minute. If you email, no more than I dunno whatever a normal email is. Certainly not one of mine!
Things to know:
They listen. The issue count on the contacts they receive redirects their agenda. Akaka held a meeting every Monday where they gave the contact count on every issue, and what the tone was. Dr. Mrs. has seen bulk contact rates affect a Senator's tactics. It motivates their course of action. The Member is also wildly oversubscribed. They go where the noise is. Squeaky wheel.
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Kepler
Si certus es dubita
Read below, silly.
Kepler
Si certus es dubita
They are templates. A low level staffer reads the first page*, tops, then files the count as "judicial nominations" and the tone as "pissed off." The machine whirrs and a template is sent back.
Akaka's office received 700 letters a week, and thousands of emails. 2 or 3 staffers are assigned to them as one of many other duties. That's all the time you're gonna get. The more brief you can be the better.
* It amazes me, OK not really, people write 50-page screeds. Page 2+ are never read.
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Deutsche Gopher Fan
New member
oh I know. one of my besties was Amy's COS for years. I always use facts and am polite when I write these, as I know they wouldn't be read otherwise.
I just think even Amy's canned response is pathetic.