Yet another wouldn’t it be nice if progressive groups did that… post. I clicked through a black-background ‘stop health care arrogance’ ad today, inviting me to give Jason Altmeyer my mind (not my Rep, but close), to see what happened. On the other side is a simple page with one big ad and fields for your address and phone number. Hit ‘ok’, and some astroturf firm’s server will ring your phone and automatically connect your Rep’s office on the other end. Swank!
No wonder wingnuts are absolutely kicking our ass on the phones. A staffer for a key Senator wrote today to tell me that hysterical in-state teabaggers outnumbered calls in support by over a hundred to one.
If you want to keep this fight even, get on the phone tomorrow. Call your Senators as well.
***Update***
For what it’s worth the AFSCME ads in our left sidebar apparently use the same tech. Click those instead! The mailing list you get on won’t be nearly as unsavory.
Robin G.
Spiffy. The Wingnutosphere’s tech is finally catching up with Left Blogistan.
JSD
Since the Capitol switchboard phones are closed, you probably need something to do.
Mass Effect 2 for the PC is on sale over at Impulse. $30.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
The wingnuts can’t compete with a large dem majority faced with a choice of going against highly charged wingnuts calling and screaming at them morning noon and night and the fact that they are democrats dependent on the dem party no matter what the wingers do in their states and districts. Not on this issue anyways, and some of them are facing some sizable tea bag constituencies, but in the end, they are smart enough to know that this is more tribal ideology motivating the frothing wingers that any deep concern over deficits or anything else. And further, that no matter what they do, the right wing is not their friend and will not give them points for voting no nor will they vote for anyone else not in the gooper tribe come election day.
It is over in the House, but the senate recon. process holds the possibility of serious surprises, but I am certain that all stops are being made to see that doesn’t happen, but no one can be sure until the thing starts.
iLarynx
It appears to be having an effect:
mai naem
@iLarynx: wahhhhhhh, wahhhhhhhh, wahhhhhhhh. Maybe somebody needs to tell Shtupak that nobody held a gun to his head to run for office. Also too, there’s no fucking abortion provider in all of Shtupak’s district. He just needs to go cheney himself and waste all of that see-men. BTW when’s Shtupak going to go off and get a bill passed make masturbating by guys illegal.
joes527
STOP. Right there.
I don’t care what else happens after that. But I do know that a lot of folks are signing themselves in to the mother of all mailing lists.
Screw HCR, this is a marketer’s wet dream
jibeaux
that’s the panic setting in, my friends.
fucen tarmal
i have a deep thought.
perhaps the representatives, knowing how the inflow of calls, texts, e-mails of a spammy similar style, etc, are a product of an organized effort, take the volume with a grain, or a huge roads and bridge, environmentally unfriendly unless you want dolphins swimming in the rivers, pile of salt…
doesn’t the theoretical efficacy of such efforts, particularly the mass overload, dramatic coordinated communications bomb, rely on the offices of the representatives targeted being dumb enough to equate all of the calls, mail, texts etc, with someone, on their own communicating their concerns completely individually?
perhaps educating the hired help, the representatives etc how to discern the difference would be a better effort. i may call my congressman to tell them to stop caring so much what thousands of jammed e-mail batches and switchboards say, to pay attention to the actual, individual voice that calls because of their own initiative….
nah i don’t suppose they will listen.
mai naem
Why hasn’t Ensign resigned? Are the Dems waiting to go after him closer to the election to help Reid?
Tim F.
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
@fucen tarmal:
The short answer is no. Calls make a difference. Constituent calls in particular; outside calls just annoy the staff.
You can hate the fact but you can’t change it.
MikeBoyScout
Altmire should know better.
PA-04 is not a swing district unless its Dems stay home on election day. His worst possible political move is to not join his caucus in support of the bill.
Cripes, why would he expect support if he can’t find a way to get on board in his professed area of expertise?
General Egali Tarian Stuck
@Tim F.: Well, I didn’t say to not call as I did with Teague today and will continue tomorrow, but should have added a disclaimer on my comment to note that.
kay
@mai naem:
It’s much, much better for Democrats if he doesn’t resign. There’s a grand jury seated, and they’re issuing subpoenas.
Just let that roll right along.
patrick II
“most of which don’t come from his constituents”
If he could figure out a way screw up health care for just his constituents, that would be a reasonable complaint, but since he can’t and he is attempting to screw just about everyone else in the country I couldn’t care less about his whine.
Corner Stone
There is nothing better than that fake AFSCME ad with the faux-mob guy doing the voice over and cursing. I love that damn ad.
KDP
@fucen tarmal: When I called Boxer’s office the other day (or maybe it was Feinstein), I discussed this very point with them. The pleasant staffer with whom I spoke was pleased to receive a supportive call, and indicated that allowances were made for the tenor and tone of callers.
TimF – May I second the expression of thanks given to you on another thread? Your posts have kept me active and engaged in the political process, and I feel involved in the process.
Thank you.
John Cole
See the change.org thing on the top right of this page.
Yeah.
ug
I live near Arcuri’s district and got robocalled earlier this week. A script that was full of lies and fear-mongering. They must have blanketed not only his district but every phone exchange that was included. Massive operation. Unfortunately it seemed to have worked. Arcuri is kind of a weasel… but still.