A reader just wrote me that Stephen Lynch’s “no” was basically absolute yesterday, but today Lynch’s staffer hedged a lot more about his problems with “the Senate bill”. When pressed about how how he would vote on the bill as it will probably come up on Sunday she wouldn’t say. Movement? Call and find out tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, many Congressional Dems will have their offices open Saturday to give more people a chance to comment. Tell family and friends that they have one more chance to make this happen!
Also. Too. Another reader tells me that the free fax site faxzero is a handy way to get your message through when phone lines are tied up.
Dreggas
I also HIGHLY recommend, just for pure motivation, Blackwaterdog’s diary on the GOS.
rob!
I’m watching Hardball right now, and they’re talking about Fred Phelps and his disgusting, repugnant crew.
Is there any chance this HCR bill, once its passed, personally puts the Phelps Family in front of the Death Panels we all know are secretly in the bill?
Sentient Puddle
If I may add a whip count update here…
Kosmas and Ellsworth are now yes (both previously nos).
Stupak also holding a press conference tomorrow on god knows what. Maybe to whine about losing his block.
Violet
You can try MyFax as well. They still do the 30 day free trial. I used it for several months and it worked well for me.
Violet
@Sentient Puddle:
Yes, please do. I am happy to phone people who have flipped from No to Yes to thank them, if that will help. I’m not so comfortable bugging Reps other than my own, unless I’ve got a specific tie.
demkat620
Keep calling people.
Final March for Reform has an email tool.
Let’s do this!
Pass the Damn Bill
mcc
I’ve been trying to connect a call to Arcuri’s office all day. Busy signal every time.
— one other thing. A couple days ago in here we were talking about how A Certain Website had got 1,000 readers to raise $16,000 for Dennis Kucinich when he was a no vote on the bill, and now is asking for it back. My response was, hell, if that’s what’s important I’ll donate to Kucinich.
I mention this because I find from a DailyKos diary that somebody made a “Thank you, Dennis” ActBlue page to thank him for supporting health care reform. Just in case anyone here is interested. I am looking at it like this: Maybe this isn’t the best use of my donation money? But if those 1000 people are taking back their $16,000 from Kucinich, that’s $16 per person. If defeating reform is worth $16 to each of those people, then passing reform should be worth $16 to me.
Polish the Guillotines
I called my rep (John Garamendi), who’s a solid “yes” vote, but the staffer clearly appreciated the support. I joked that they must be fielding a ton of KSFO listeners (that’s the Bay Area’s wingnut radio station). He kinda laughed.
Even if your rep is a solid yes, call and give ’em an “ay, atta-boy.”
General Egali Tarian Stuck
All of Teagues phones are tied up and have been all day. But did finally get thru to his Socorro office, and still no firm decision, but I was told he is leaning against it. No surprise, the frothing tea baggers in SE NM are no doubt on his ass like the plague they are.
mcc
Oh, and when I called my own Congresswoman’s office (Zoe Lofgren) they just said “we will add you to our tally”. This is I think a sign that this time, at least, it’s worth calling your rep even if you know how they’re going to vote. Lofgren was going to vote for that bill no matter what. But the office still is keeping track of how the calls are going, and that information could mean something to them later.
kdp
@mcc:
@Polish the Guillotines:
Called stark’s office to express my gratitude and staffer said most of hostile callers were out of area. I’ve had better luck past few days dialing direct rather than thru switchboard.
Brooklyn Johnny
If there are any Brooklynites out there, please call your reps! I just spoke with Anthony Weiner’s office and the nice person on the phone said that Weiner has not made a decision yet and that most of the calls have been against the bill. Have not been able to get through to Velasquez or Clarke yet. But they need to know that they have constituents who are counting on them to pass this bill!
Jules
Hey, that Free Fax is handy.
I’ll now go send Mike Ross (the bastard) a few faxes.
(I promise to be nice)
My Name Here
I phoned my representative today, who was already a yes, just to thank him, and the staffer seemed bored. However, when I phoned Harkin’s office the staffer was really excited to hear from me. But why I’m writing this is to say that engaging in the process in this way has made me feel really good, and turned what was a so-so day into a fantastic one. I really recommend everyone phone their rep. Representative democracy is fun. Thanks for pushing me to do this over the past several weeks.
Violet
Scott Murphy, D-NY has flipped from No to Yes. Link
Lisa K.
Please, sweet Jesus. I don’t believe in you and I have never asked you directly for anything before, but if you make this come to pass, and severely freak out all the screaming teabagging assholes who are predicting the end of the world as we know it, I promise you I will go from door to door carrying little pamphlets that say, “Find out why Christ died for you” and asking the lasy of the house if I can have just a few minutes of her time to talk about the Glory of the Lord…
TooManyJens
You guys, lookit all the flips:
talkingpointsmemo.com/live/countdown-to-reform-wire/
I also profoundly hope that Stupak’s press conference tomorrow is going to be an announcement that his faction have decided they can support the bill. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but a) a number of his bloc have peeled away and b) I guess he *could* have a press conference to say, “Nope, still voting no,” but it’s a little hard to picture. I bet they cut some kind of deal on a separate vote.
cincyanon
The general congressional number was busy the many times I tried it today. So was Congressman Driehaus’ from OH 01. I had to be satisfied with an email.
TooManyJens
I couldn’t get through to a human at Kathy Dahlkemper’s DC or PA offices at all today. I was finally able to leave a voicemail at the PA office. I read somewhere that Congress was getting 100,000 calls/hour today.
Max
@mcc: good idea. I put in for $16.
On an earlier thread, someone mentioned that it feels like the point in the primary when all the super delegates started to climb aboard the Obama-train. That is an excellent analogy.
I cruised a few PUMA boards out of boredom and they seem to be apopletic about HCR passing. They can’t seem to handle that health care will be known as “Obamacare” in a good way.
Looks like we’re spending Sunday watching Cspan.
mcc
@TooManyJens:
Does Stupak still have a faction, exactly? Sorta looks like his faction is flipping without him. Given, he may go ahead and follow the rest of “his” faction now that it’s clear he’s lost? That would be pretty funny.
Dunno if it will save him from getting his ass kicked by a fourth grade teacher, though.
Lisa K.
@mcc:
Cracks me up, since over at FDL there have been posts about how he is the only one with any integrity in this process…
TooManyJens
@mcc:
That’s pretty much what I’m picturing.
geg6
Another march today at Altmire’s office. We had about 50 of us and no Teabaggers in sight. The staff at the office were wonderful and gracious and let us each come in and sign a comment sheet for Jason. The one receptionist says she has taken a tally of everyone who stops in. So if you are near your rep’s local office, stop in. Many plan to be open tomorrow morning, we were told. Then we marched out to the main road and chanted and waved signs. Most of the passing cars honked or waved. It felt good. Only one asshole out of hundreds flipped us the bird. Keep up the pressure folks.
FormerSwingVoter
My letter to Congressman Lynch:
Dear Congressman Lynch,
As a constituent who voted for you in the last election, I am very disappointed to hear that you are leaning towards a “No” vote on Sunday’s Health Care Reform package. Considering that health care has been a consistent part of the Democratic Party’s platform since before even Civil Rights, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you support this bill if you are to hold office as a member of the Democratic Party.
If reform does not pass, both Medicare and Medicaid will be insolvent in approximately ten years, and will be the largest driving force behind our national deficit. I encourage you to reconsider your position, to ensure the continued financial security of the United States of America.
If you vote against this bill, I (and the vast majority of Democrats elsewhere) will both donate and vote for any opposition you will have in any election, either primary or general. If you vote for this bill, I will both donate and vote for you, and encourage all of my friends and family to do the same.
Quite frankly, if you vote against this bill, Democrats will vote against you based on that decision, and Republicans will vote against you for supporting the earlier House health reform bill.
Thank you for your time. Once again, I sincerely hope that you will reconsider your position.
Toodles
@Brooklyn Johnny:
I am in Nydia V’s district. She was still weighing the various options as of Wednesday. When I called this afternoon, her people told me that she had announced yes in a press conference yesterday.
I also sent an email out to my friends and family this morning. All you have to tell them is the teabaggers are outcalling them, and they will get on the phone.
SiubhanDuinne
I’m very glad to know that a number of offices will be open tomorrow. I will be glad to call. For the most part I haven’t been able to — can’t call from work, and even my cell phone is employer-provided. But I can certainly celebrate the first day of spring by calling from home.
This might have been posted elsewhere (I know Dengre had a thread about it last night or early this morning) but Rep. John Barrow (D GA 12) has now said definitely No, as has Rep. Jim Marshall (D GA-8). However, another wavering Dem, Rep. Sanford Bishop (D GA-2) said today he supports the bill.
Two steps back, one step forward . . . . .
auntieeminaz
Called Rep. Harry Mitchell’s office again today. (AZ-CD-5) It took a lot of redials to get through. The aide who answered sounded very wary when he answered. We ended up having a lively conversation and he was very interested in hearing about my experience with the Tea Party loons at the pro health care rally on Tuesday in front of Harry’s local office.
Bottom line: Harry was on the House floor at the time and would probably make up his mind this afternoon.
auntieeminaz
Just heard from the OFA coordinator that Harry Mitchell is a “yes” vote!