Keep calling! I called my teabagger representative and was surprised what I was told.

[antigop]

The staffer said that I was not the only one expressing these views. They are getting a ton of calls.

Here's a tip: make sure when you call that you preface your call with a statement that you are not directing your disgust at the person answering the phone. Tell the staffers you understand they are just the message-takers. You'd be surprised at their reaction. I even got a "thank you". The staffers are getting an earful. Don't take your anger out on them.

[mucifer]

1. K and R

[Snake Plissken]

2. The staffers might care, but the baggers themselves have been bought and paid for.

If they display even a glimmer of sanity their owners with fund someone else GOP primary to defeat them.

[truebluegreen]

11. On the other hand, the US Chamber of Commerce has just come out

and said they will fund a primary defense of any congresscritter who votes to open the govt/lift the debt ceiling...

Not my favorite ally but kinda delicious and what the hay?

[leftyohiolib]

15. posted by bluegrassstateblues

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that it will make campaign donations to Republicans that vote to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, putting it at loggerheads with the Tea Party.

from bluegrassstateblues http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023799300

[bigbrother05]

44. Just their attempt to keep the economy afloat and keep the Repubs in office

Notice the offer is only for the GOP? They realize that primaried candidates will be weakened and could lead to a Dem House.

[antigop]

18. politics makes strange bedfellows, so they say. nt

[Lasher]

37. That is a very interesting development.

A shot over the bow fired by corporate mercenaries over the bow of the SS Teabag.

[magical thyme]

23. nope. the 1%ers are unhappy with them too.

A default will damage them as well. They're threatening to take their backing to moderates.

[pansypoo53219]

39. funny. the monster THEY created in the mistaken belief that the teabags would let them keep

ALL THEIR MONEY. not realizing by hoarding it, they are making less. and now they are being threatened w/ the whole system crashing. HA HA!

[awoke_in_2003]

57. Dr. Frankenstein's monster went crazy, too. nt

[global1]

3. It's These Staffers That Work For The Senators And Congressmen That Make Washington D.C. Work.....

too bad they couldn't organize as a group and walk off their jobs. That would cripple the Legislative Branch of government and make in immobile. Most of these Senators and Congressmen couldn't find their way to their next meeting.

These staffers should use extortion on these guys like these guys are using on the President.

Please DC staffers - organize and walk off your jobs today.


As an aside - isn't it ironic - that the staffers still have their jobs during this shutdown? I wonder if they were somehow exempted because these Senators and Congressmen know that they couldn't find their way out of a paper bag without them.

[BluegrassStateBlues]

4. Yes, I would imagine that not all staffers hold the same views

of the representative for which they're working.

[niyad]

60. then why would they be working for these soulless cretins?

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

5. FLOOD their phone lines, both in DC and in their District Offices.

Yes, be polite, Thank the staffer and remind them that you are fighting so that they, like other poorly paid workers, can have access to affordable health care. Urge them to count your vote as a constituent. Always give your Zip Code so the staffer knows you are a constituent in their district.

If you live in a Democratic district, also call. Thank your Representative for representing you and urge your Representative to stand strong.

We ALL need to be doing this on a regular basis and we all need to be urging our friends and neighbors to do the same.

Beg your out-of-town friends to do this regardless of the district in which they live.

It works.

[antigop]

6. +100. Thanks,IBW. nt

[rdking647]

43. i called my senators and representative to express my disgust at the GOP actions

but i live in teahaddists texas

[santamargarita]

7. And be sure to call them teabaggers.

[frazzled]

9. Really?

So, you think a Democratic representative in a blue district would respond well to being called a "libtard" or some such thing? Do you think this would help the caller's cause or position on an issue? Think hard.

When you call a senator or representative's office, you should remain respectful but firm, and keep the conversation entirely on the policy issue (or sometimes, on the process issue, when it's relevant).

[bobGandolf]

13. Agree n/t

[antigop]

14. Thanks, frazzled. I agree...even though the OP says "teabagger representative".

I would not advise calling them "teabaggers" when you call. To be clear, I did not use "teabagger" when I called.

[pangaia]

31. They call THEMSELVES teabaggers.

It was their own ignorant name, so it is accurate.

[7962]

65. I'm thinking maybe he was being sarcastic? Hopefully? Otherwise, you're exactly right!

[Peacetrain]

21. Never ever attack the person answering the phone

that is stupid.. Make your position known, be firm, but be a decent human being to the other person on the line. Calling people names gets you no where. That is the province of the tea people.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

34. No.

Bad advice.

[msanthrope]

8. Always be polite to the person answering the phone. nt

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. I'll call my Rethuglican dingbat again this week.

[Gman]

12. That's very important not to yell at whoever answers the phone.

They didn't do this.

[antigop]

16. exactly. But I know people are really angry and disgusted and it's easy to get angry at the staffer

nt

[Gman]

20. We are not the wing nuts. We're bigger than that.

[Kaleva]

17. I called last week and I was polite.

Also sent a follow up e-mail.

[antigop]

26. thanks, Kaleva. Keep calling if you can. nt

[flamingdem]

19. Great info

We all need to be calling !!!!!!!!!!

[calimary]

32. Yes we do! If they think you don't care, they won't, either!!!!

If all they hear from is their fellow idiots and bad guys, what do you expect them to conclude from that? What would be the takeaway from that? What kind of results do you think that would give us?

[Peacetrain]

22. Always call your representative in DC

That is exactly what the other side does.. they do not call up and bawl out some local office person who has nothing to do with nothing.. they go straight to the source. GOOD OP!!! Let them know as a voter in their district.. what you expect of them.

[antigop]

25. thanks, Peacetrain. The "good" news is even in a "teabagger" district, the rep is getting lots of

calls that express our views.

[Peacetrain]

27. You just made my day when I read that

I have had the same experience with our reps. And the people who answer the phone are almost in shock.. because they are not used to getting calls from our side. No wonder they think they have some silent majority. Because we have been silent in talking to our reps. This is good.. very good. thank you so much for putting this up

[antigop]

29. I'm wondering if the Republicans in the district are calling and saying the same thing.

Maybe we have some "sane" Republicans in our district?

Don't know. One can hope..

[Peacetrain]

30. From your lips to Gods ears

that would be an awesome outcome..

[calimary]

24. That's an excellent point. They're just the poor schmucks who have to answer the phones.

Don't take it out on them directly. But MAKE SURE you pass along your frustration and disgust WITH THEIR BOSSES!

Also, please note the TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers in my sig line. If their offices are closed to the shutdown, you can probably leave a message.

AND PLEASE REMIND THEM:::::::: The Dems DID compromise. The budget numbers we're trying to vote on - are THE GOP's! The Dems tried all summer to bring the GOP to the table to talk about this and eric cantor held out - KNOWING he had to keep this card available to play. BECAUSE THIS WAS THEIR STRATEGY FROM THE BEGINNING. They can't come to us wide-eyed and batting their eyelashes at us and claiming nobody wants to work with them or have a "conversation" with them. President Obama has reached out to them nonstop, ad nauseam, since he first got there, inviting them over for cocktail parties and state dinners and screenings during Oscar season and Super Bowl viewings and NCAA Championships viewings - EVERYTHING. And they've turned him down. He's extended his hand REPEATEDLY for FIVE YEARS. And every single time they've spit in it. Or have spat in it. Or hell, have shat in it. Whatever the grammar. They keep moving the goalposts.

[whttevrr]

28. Yes... call... be polite... and tell them how you feel.

http://www.house.gov/representatives/

[FourScore]

33. Also, remember most staffers aren't getting paid right now. n/t

[Seedersandleechers]

35. No need to call my rep

Emanuel Cleaver. A Democratic rep in a red state. My state (Mo) didn't accept the government funds for medicaid expansion.

[SunSeeker]

38. Yes, you should call even in a red state.

Don't let them be able to say they have heard no opposition from their constituents. They maintain stats on how many calls coming in and the position of the caller.

Senator Heidi Heitkamp justified voting against background checks for guns that 90% of Americans support because calls to her office opposed background checks by a ratio of 7 to 1.

[dixiegrrrrl]

45. I am not convinced they pay attention to calls.

Heltkamp could have just SAID she got 7 to 1 against.

We called and wrote and protested against TARP...TWICE...and our reps ingnored it and voted for the banks.
I will never ever ever forget that.
Not to mention the subsequent betrayals since then.

[SunSeeker]

49. Don't give up and leave the baggers as the only voice.

And even if you do, please don't discourage others who have not given up by telling them their voice doesn't matter. It does.

[dixiegrrrrl]

59. "please don't discourage others"

I am not so egotistical that I have the power to make people think a certain way
but I am experienced enough to know that differing opines are allowed on this site.

[SunSeeker]

62. If you really believed your opinion did not matter, you would not bother to express it. nt

[Gore1FL]

50. Red state but blue district n/ t

[calimary]

40. Not true. You NEED to call him and let him know you have his back.

The good guys need calcium supplement for their budding backbones!

[bread_and_roses]

36. ICY courtesy is appropriate; those staffers CHOOSE

to work for their deranged bosses.

A severe and strict courtesy is usually very effective.

[PatrynXX]

41. kinda do the same thing with clerks

was something I learned really good in a biz class.

[Cha]

42. Good tip, antigop.. and Thank YOu! nm

[Hamlette]

46. my teaparty congressman has recording that says "call Obama, its his fault"

it says they can't work (???) because of the government shutdown and I should call Obama (gives number) and tell him to reopen the government.

brother.

[antigop]

48. oh, good grief. Seriously? nt

[MFrohike]

47. Agreed

It's best to be polite so you don't give unintended offense. Save the intended offense for their bosses.

[freshwest]

51. Great job, antigop.

[davidpdx]

52. Fortunately my senators and representatives are all D's

We do have one R and that's Walden. Doubt he'll change his mind.

[Laelth]

53. Good advice. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[eilen]

54. My congressperson is a Democrat

But even the neighbor district which has a Republican congressman --he is already on the record for wanting to vote for a clean bill-Congressman Richard Hanna.

[B Calm]

55. Calling mine today, thanks for the good advice!

[malthaussen]

56. "Don't take it out on the staff" is one of the most valuable life lessons...

... it applies to many fields.

-- Mal

[antigop]

58. absolutely! nt

[PassingFair]

61. I sold a newspaper ad to a Republican state senator here, and when his COS called to arrange payment

... I mention to her that I thought her guy did the right thing, going against
his party here and voting to relax the medicaid eligibility caps.

She was STUNNED. She felt she was under attack from the teabaggers,
"And I thought they were my FRIENDS!" They had heard nothing but threats and jeers.

When she dropped by the office with the check, she hugged me and broke down in tears.

[caseymoz]

63. I still don't think this will end before October 17.

Call me pessimistic, but I doubt the people who did this (Tea Partiers, the Kochs, the GOP) can get themselves together enough to stop this. Yes, their popularity will plunge, but that only means that they'll try to hold on more dearly to the one "bargaining chip" or advantage they have. That is, the fact that they can make or break the world economy. To anybody who's desperate, that's going to seem like a lot of power, and once they give it up, they'll have nothing. They'll have no prospects for staying in office, and the conservative ideology will be as out of fashion as the Hitler mustache.

They're going to try to get something out of this, anything to make it less than the total defeat it has to be. And, yes, I believe they'll take the world economy down trying to do it. It's not like even the Koch Brothers can afford to lose this.

I'm afraid this is going to be the 21st century's version of World War I, where everybody's trapped in their own bad decisions.

[Uncle Joe]

64. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, anitgop.

[hamsterjill]

66. Day 7 of trying, and I still can't get through to anyone in Ted Cruz's office.

I live in Texas. All I (continue) to get is voicemail. I want to speak with a human being.

If Ted's so tough, he should at least have his phones answered. I think he's a big chicken and is in hiding. Pock...pock...pock...

It's not the shutdown either as his message tries to say because Cornyn's office is answering phones.

I also called Boehnor's office and held forever until finally relenting and leaving a recorded comment.

[StlMo]

67. Kicked and Recommended