If you are planning to call your Senators...

[WilliamPitt]

My two cents are as follows: When writing your Senators, be sure above all else to lean on the words Conyers used in his letter. "I am hoping that you will consider joining us in this important effort," wrote Conyers, "to debate and highlight the problems in Ohio which disenfranchised innumerable voters."

Debate and highlight, not overthrow. This is enough of a political minefield as it is - any Senator who does stand up faces severe attacks from the GOP as well as from go-along Democrats. Debate and highlight allows for political cover, and puts any Senator who stands up under that premise to be the defender of our right to vote.

Tactics are as important as being right in this matter. Just a thought.

[Jersey Devil]

1. Excellent! "Go-along Democrats" fits right in with "Naysayers"

I think it is time for a DU eumphemism contest!

[SlowDownFast]

5. or maybe "limpy-wimpy" democrats, or even

"flacid party-pooping" democrats, or how bout........

just kidding.

[luaptifer]

17. how about republicrats? n/t

[Harlequin]

45. Republicrats?

Dummy-cant's!

[Wilms]

58. How about...

1/2 are Election Fraud targets of own "party" -crats

[luaptifer]

59. kick n/t

[For PaisAn]

2. Precisely

Your pointers are extremely important and valid.

[Jo March]

3. I find that I get through when I turn on my Alabama accent

and say, "Yes, ma'am" and "No, sir" and remember my manners.

"May I fax the Senator some information that my organization has compiled about the election fraud?" "May I leave the Senator a message?" "Will the Senator see this directly before the 6th?"

Then I get chatty and they warm up to me and seem to actually listen and take the message as opposed to wanting me off the phone. :)

And I close with, "Did you and yours have a good holiday? You did? I am so glad. Well, thank you for talking to me. I know how busy you are. Have a great day."

Sounds very "Gone with the Wind" but I don't care. I'll do what it takes to get them to listen to me. :)

[mamalone]

6. LOL! Did your mama tell you..

"You'll catch more bees with honey than with vinegar";-) It's a good thing to listen to your mama!

[Jo March]

9. yep, but I've found that bees really like shit as well

LOL! ;)

[mamalone]

41. ahhh yes, and sadly..

sometimes it's hard to tell the shit from the sugar, eh?;-)

[Jo March]

42. Yes it is but a cat can have kittens in the oven

but that don't make 'em biscuits.

[Jersey Devil]

10. I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies

Funny, but when I tried that in NJ they hung up right away like I was nuts.

[Jo March]

24. Oh, but Jersey Devil, you have to pull it out from somewhere

deep inside - your inner Scarlet O'Hara!

Being from Bama helps me a bit because I've found that many Northerners like a soft Southern accent.

I'm thinking of going into the 900 number business.

[keepthemhonest]

19. geez arnheim

I wish you could do all my calling for me.that is great,you really know how to handle people and not just on the phone either.hee hee

[Jo March]

22. LOL: "With God as my witness, I will never stand for elec. fraud again!"

Picture Tara in the background as the camera pans away from me, out in the field, holding my potato!

It's breathtaking!

[keepthemhonest]

30. you are killing me

ROFLMAO EOM



HOW LONG CAN THEY HIDE IT?

[Jo March]

33. Don't even try it, keepthemhonest! You know that you have an

inner Southern belle in you. You know that you want to swoon!

[keepthemhonest]

34. oh yes

I pick up the accent wherever i live and right now I am in Atlanta again. So I'll be picking up the southern accent again. It is such a nice accent and the people are so much friendlier than where I am from.Sorry Northeners. South has the goods on nice.

Lived inso many places and have such a hodge podge accent that people think I am from minnesota , donchya' know. However I have not ever lived there.

[Jo March]

35. The sleepier I get, the more I sound like Scarlett O'Hara

It does have it's good points. Like I said, Northern men seem to really like talking to me. ;)

[katinmn]

29. You sweet talkin' southerner!

I know from experience that Alabamians have the gift of communication, when you want to turn it on.
:)

[Jo March]

32. Yes, those of us who have two brain cells to rub together

:) I've found that a little sweet sugar goes a long way.

That and wearing the curtains!

[mzmolly]

4. You are 100% correct ! This issue must be framed delicately.

:hi:

[evolvenow]

7. Splendid! "Senator, we invite you to look at the Elephant and Discuss"!

We have to imagine what these people must be going through, and that many of them must want to be a part of an actual Democracy.

:hi:

[KittyWampus]

13. Somehow, Your Post Seem Incredibley Funny!

"Senator, we invite you to look at the Elephant and Discuss"

:D

[evolvenow]

15. Making reference to G. Lakoff's wonderful book...I am very respectful when

writing, or speaking with people. Just having fun with words to show support!
:grouphug:

The most important point is to get everyone to stop, look, and see that indeed, there is an enormous "elephant" , and we had better acknowledge and act in an intelligent manner.

[demodonkey]

8. The corresponding phrase in my own letter was...

"stand up and call for further investigation of these voting problems" Also put a line in about voting being a non-partisan issue central to our Democracy, and about honoring our commitment to civil rights for all Americans.

Was very careful NOT to imply overturn of election results.

Sadly, my Senators are Specter and Santorum... oh well, at least they have a record that somebody from PA cares.

[breadbox]

47. Sanatorium and Spectre?

You're lucky.... I get Graham and DeMint....
as much as I detest Santorum, I'd trade you DeMint
for him any day.... and Specter is more independent
than Graham, as much as Lindsey is trying to be
a NeoStrom.

[CoffeeCat]

11. Ooops...

So, you're saying that the call I made to to my Senator was probably a bit too much?

I said, "Listen up, pansy! We've endured enough of this Republican Hitleresque governance! It's time for you to stand up, be a man and overthrow these scurvy mafia criminals who ripped to shreds our precious democracy. <now imitating Sam Kineson> NOW!!! NOW!!! NOW!!! OHHHH! OHHHHH! OHHHHH!"

So, I went a little past it, there?

/joking.

[keepthemhonest]

18. LOL n/t

[Jo March]

25. SCURVY?? I am absolutely cracking up at that one!

Scurvy! You have made my night. LOL, that is too funny.

[troubleinwinter]

12. Rep. Conyers is a statesman.

It is difficult to get someone to listen to you if you are screaming in their ear. Better to say, "Let's look at this".

On another note: Wow, the food fights and hair-pulling have started on this board in earnest today. I thought it would fall apart on the 7th, but it looks like we are in for serious air turbulence all this week. Sigh.

And another: Have a great time meeting DUers in DC, get someone to take lotsa pitchas to share with us left-coasters and other unable-to-attend-ees.

[Botany]

14. Please can we find just one to stand up for America

I live in Ohio. The fix was in.

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1065

:kick:

[SlowDownFast]

16. kick

[mdb]

20. kick n/t

[KoKo]

21. Very nice...the "subtley resonates." Thanks....(eom)

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. I agree, and the same goes for most other political discourse

We want to convince people to rethink the situation based on FACTS. That will NOT happen if we are screaming at them that they are stupid or corrupt or the pawn of Satan, i.e., their president or their party leadership. We need to keep a rein on our anger and hold on to what our goals really are. Maybe there's a time for venting, but it's definitely NOT while trying to convince an elected official to take our arguments and evidence seriously.

If you yell at someone that they're a corrupt idiot, are they going to listen to your message? Are they going to believe you when you say you are basing your view on objective evidence? If you show contempt, they will naturally be angry and they will reject what you tell them.

This goes double if you are addressing an elected official. They are approached by kooks all the time and are well-versed in brushing them aside. They will listen ONLY if they are approached calmly and with a carefully prepared argument accompanied by evidence organized so as to not waste their time. Even then, they may not listen unless they also hear from people whose judgment they trust that the argument is legitimate.

Insults and abuse may feel good as temporary personal vents, but they are disastrous in trying to reach out to other people with a different point of view. In fact, I sometimes wonder if some of the most inflammatory posts on this board may come from people who are trying to discredit DU as a bunch of vindictive crazies. This is a public forum and what we write is available to anyone who looks.

We need to avoid falling into the Neocon trap of seeing everything in black and white, including our judgments of people. The people populating Congress have a wide array of personalities, characters, and beliefs. We have something in common with each of them, some more than others, and we need to have more. Making our case with respect and professionalism is essential if we are going to change any minds. It's the only way we are going to build the kind of coalition that is needed to turn this country back onto the path of law.

[Jo March]

26. Although some are pawns of Satan

Well they are.

[Nothing Without Hope]

28. LOL! But let's not put that into our letters and calls, eh?

n/t

[Jo March]

31. I'm erasing that as we speak! nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

36. Besides, they might prefer to see themselves as rooks or bishops! n/t

[Jo March]

39. Spawn. Pawn. PotaTO. PoTAto. ;) nt

[bywho4who]

55. it goes past

Pawn kid. balee-dat

[FreepFryer]

27. My favorite framing -

"I am writing/calling/faxing to ask the Senator to review Rep. Conyers' report detailing the irregularities found in the '04 Election, and to then exercise his own judgment as to whether to join Conyers in challenging the Electoral Vote certification on Jan 6."

Makes very clear what your opinion is without presuming to dictate a judgment to the Senator.

[Amaryllis]

37. Will, is anyone besides activists talking about contesting FL, NM etc.?

[WilliamPitt]

46. Never doubt that a small group

etc.

[Amaryllis]

48. Not doubting, just wondering if anyone considering officially

doing it; Conyers only mentioning OH.

[Amaryllis]

38. Dupe. Sorry.

[ihelpu2see]

40. E-Mailed Senator Dodds and Lieberman

Im sorry to say that the Help America to Vote Act did not seem to help the innumerable voters in Ohio that tried to vote on Nov. 2nd 2004. I know you supported this legislation and want to see that every fairly cast vote counts.

I, therefor am hoping that you would consider standing with Rep. Conyers of Mich. on Jan. 6th to debate the disenfranchisement of the voters in mostly democratic districts of Ohio.

Rep. Conyers has clearly proven that there was mishandling of the election resources in Ohio and Sec. of State Blackwell, Presidents Bush's election co-chair in Ohio, has not answered any of Rep. Conyers questions regarding this matter.

Again, I would hope that you would consider, on this most important day in American Democracy, to stand with Rep. Conyers and others to highlight what missteps were done in Ohio and to further prevent every vote from counting.

[delphine]

43. May I add that theories based purely on

statistical anomalies and "they coulda hacked it" and "they touched the machines" are not going to get anyone very far with a skeptical senator with his/her job on the line?

The real travesty is the lack of voting machines that meant that more than 50% of some precincts would not have logistically been able to vote unless they stood in line for 10-15 hours AFTER the polls closed.

(1500 voters/3 machines/est. 20 per hour/needs 25 hours)

This is hard, factual evidence that does not require a leap of faith on the part of senators. People suffered to vote or were unable to vote.

That's not democracy.

And it's not tin foil hat time, either.

And please don't harangue your senators. That will just piss off his/her staff and hurt the cause.

[madbelgiancow]

44. kick for good tactics

true, too

[Harlequin]

49. Planning to call my senators...

I'm planning to call my bastard senator a liar, and my lying senator a bastard. Furthermore, I'm prepared to level my ray at Kerry for backing out early, for Gore at backing out Early, and even to the venerable Reverend Pitt, who encourages cow-towing to this absolute nonsense of conformity and protocol in the face of the bald-faced theivery of our republic. How dare each of them encourage this culture of cowardice. How dare the media turn a blind eye to the greatest error on record since the last election? How dare Mr. Clinton remain silent during this whole thing? How dare each and any of us form this kind of idoltry:? Damn each and every one of them for tip-toeing around the living room pretending the drapes aren't aflame.

Here is what one should do. It says in the bible, don't premeditate your thought -- just walk up the steps, and let God move you to speak. Tell them all that they're damn liars, and they all (except Pitt) deserve nothing less than retribution at the hand of the almighty. Let them know fear as we, those who have become confused between humility before mankind, and humility before our maker, have been led into dark alleyways of fear and misty ideals. Let them fear at the hands of the people who made them, let them know the taste of failure and derision and contempt that they deserve. Let them know that the people of the united states are not ones to be bowed and broken by the actions of any man, but stare them in the eye as they slap insults upon our bent and tired bodies in the ruse of leadership. Accuse them rightly before your maker that they were willing to take oaths in The Almighty's name, and tell them to step down off their false perches of righteousness, of political seduction and the practical and financial destruction of the common man.

These are not Men: they have cloaked themselves in guilty silence, and decieved where it served them. They are servants of all the things this world has to offer, none of which has served to help them develop a true character which clear-as-a-bell resonates with all the sufferings shared by their common man.

Know, DU's, that though these men walk among us, they are all the same, for they drink from the same wellspring. Just as all cows are grey in the night, politicians are all the same shade of liar.

[phylny]

50. I e-mailed my two senators,

Rodham Clinton and Schumer. I always hear back from Hillary (via a pre-written response) and have never heard back from Schumer. I'll share her/his response here.

[WilliamPitt]

51. .

[molly]

52. You rock!

:yourock:

there's an old saying about bees, honey and vinegar. Leave out that vinegar!

[ashmanonar]

53. kick!

[indigonation]

54. Thanks for the good advice.

I just wrote Senators Stabenow and Levin urging them to join Congressman Conyers Jr. "to debate and highlight the problems in Ohio which disenfranchised inumerable voters."

I hope I did something. Will we get a single Senator?

[valis]

56. WilliamPitt you are my hero!!!!

Great tips, as usual!!! Why aren't YOU Prez, damnit????

[Wilms]

57. What is this thread doing on page 2?

x(
Kick, damn it!

[HEAVYHEART]

60. Kick!! n/t

[Wilms]

61. Don't just read...Kick! n/t