Vichy Democrats: January 2006

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Okay, here's a link that will let you auto-generate a thankyou message to every senator who supported the filibuster. I'll let you use it :-) if you PROMISE you'll ALSO send the more targeted messages -- including phone calls -- that I'll be posting here either later today or early tomorrow! It's like we did over the weekend: use the mass resources AND do our own personal advocacy, too.

I'm cooking up a lot of fun stuff -- a new website with room for more bloggers, plus a "thank you" and "screw you" note gameplan, plus some initial thoughts on overall strategy for elections. But let's use the MoveOn link above to do something today. Thanks!!

The Final Tally

From the U.S. Senate website: how each senator voted.

Democratic Yeas on Cloture (i.e., bad guys):

Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)

Nays on Cloture (Good guys):

Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting:

Ensign (R-NV)(car accident -- no credit to him)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)

Anyone know why Hagel abstained? Was it intentional, or was he stuck somewhere? (Heck, I probably blogged about it sometime in the last 72 hours, but I have no recollection!)

I'll get a "contact" list of the good guys up soon, so we can say thank you.

Also, I'll be posting more about the Gang of 14 and how, basically, they've sold the family farm to a strip-mining company in exchange for jobs in that mine. But for starters, please visit Kos and compare the Gang of 14 list to the list of traitors above. Chew ten times, and let me know what you think!

SUPPLEMENT, FEB. 6, 2006: Thanks to The Black Jew, here's a list I hadn't thought to post: the supposedly pro-choice Republicans who voted against the filibuster:

Chafee (R-RI)
Collins (R-ME)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)

Soliciting Thoughts on Website

Several people has expressed interest in posting here, and I've had the thought that it might be a good idea to convert VichyDems into a home base for multiple blogs.

The idea would be to have a front page with the best or most topical posts up front, and links on the sidebar to individual blogs (ideally with short headlines under each of those links so people visiting the front page can quickly decide where they want to go). Theme consistent theme would still be Vichy Dems: ie, debating who they are, who we can afford to risk losing and who we need to keep for now, regaining a majority while still moving the Party and the country left where they belong, etc.

I think I can pull this off with my own limited technical knowledge, but I'd be reinventing the wheel. I'd love to hear from you:

A) Whether you like the general idea, and/or have any different or better suggestions or improvements, and

B) If you have the technical know-how to help me do it, HELP!

I've also had some ideas about a strategic vision for both reclaiming the majority and still stomping on those nasty Vichys that keep scuttling out from under the fridge -- I don't think they have to be contradictory goals. And I want us to show good manners by thanking the Senators who did the right thing on the filibuster -- which means I need to ID who they are, and get up a list of contact info, just like we did during the fight. I'll have both of those up here either later today or first thing tomorrow.

Please, let me know your thoughts about the site -- and please keep coming back!

Monday, January 30, 2006

VichyDems Email List

I know that 5,000 of you aren't going to drop by Vichy Dems every day just to watch a game plan for unseating Vichys unfold slowly over the next couple of months. However, I figure some of you might want to at least receive periodic notices about what topics are being discussed here. If you'd like to be added to a mailing list for Vichy Dems -- which will never be sold, never spammed, never abused, never used for any purpose other than occasionally sending you a list of links -- then please send an email to vichydems@safe-mail.net, with "sign up" in the subject line.

Thanks!

A Nice Piece of Tripe for Supper

"Judge Alito looked me in the eye and told me that he will not conduct himself based on an ideological agenda," Conrad says. "He promised me that he would judge each case based on its merits and protect and defend the liberties set out in the Constitution. And finally, Judge Alito has assured me that the president is bound by the statutes passed by Congress and that he supports the system of checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution."

My 10 year old daughter isn't that gullible. Sen. Conrad? Buh-bye!!

The Vichy 19. Do Any Of These Have A Really Good Excuse? I'm Really Asking.

The 19 Democrats who voted against the filibuster were: Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), Max Baucus (Mont), Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Robert Byrd (W. Va.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Thomas Carper (Del.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Byron Dorgan (N.D.), Daniel Inouye (Hawaii), Tim Johnson (S.D.), Herb Kohl (Wis.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), John D. Rockefeller (W. Va.) and Ken Salazar (Colo.).

72-25

Here's the good news: SIX DAYS AGO I started this site to start identifying and harassing the Vichy Dems in Congress and in the statehouses. A couple of days after that, I decided to help organize resources for the filibuster debate. Today alone, as of this writing, this site has received over 5,500 hits, most staying long enough to make a few calls or to print the Game Plans. We got over 8,000 hits just in the last four days. Together, I estimate we made between 10,000 and 50,000 phone calls, faxes and emails. Hell, we even attracted conservative trolls, which is always a sign that one is on the right track! That's astounding. That's powerful. If even a few of you will hang around after today, we can keep the inertia and make a difference in our Party and in our Nation.

Here's the bad news: So many Democrats defected that the final vote on the filibuster was 72 for cloture, 25 against. Republican Jim DeMint is on the Senate floor now, riffing on our defeat to accuse Democrats of moral failure on everything from ANWR to Iraq. Imagine: a freshman Senator lecturing Ted Kennedy on moral politics!

72-25. Most Americans won't have any idea how close this issue really was. And the ones that do understand how "duck and cover" politics work, are learning the lesson that Democrats are cowards who, when the count starts to go against them by 2 or 3 votes, will run for cover instead of stand on principle. Any question why the Rs keep kicking our ass?

But all is not lost. Sports teams have what are called "rebuilding years." Instead of having losing season after losing season, 5-6, 5-6, they make a decision to sacrifice now to win in the future. They fire the marginal players, bring new guys on board, winnow them out, eat a season or two with only 2 or 3 wins, but come out with a stronger team and win championships.

I started this site because I got so sick of the Vichy Democrats that I realized I was willing to risk losing again in 2006, if that was what was required to throw out the Liebermans, Ben Nelsons and Inouyes and replace them with real leaders. Maybe we can do both: win a majority and replace the weak links. But I'm confident that if we can winnow the ranks and install some Dems with courage, voters will respond by giving us overwhelming victories. Voters reward testosterone. They will reward us if we're bold, and they'll NEVER respond to us if we fold, 72-25, while the Constitution burns.

Over the next couple of days I am going to post detailed analysis of who was a Vichy in this battle, and who responded to our concerns. I am going to float some strategies for taking our party back -- for without a real party, we'll never get the country back to where it should be. I'll consider practical politics -- for example, hitting the most susceptible Vichys, like Joe Lieberman, hard in the primaries, yet backing almost all Democrats who survivie the primaries when it comes to the general elections. But I don't want to talk to myself. I need to have several people willing to sign on as "team members" and do their own posts, and others to comments, criticize, challenge, improve, and inform those ideas.

In other words, what I want to do is take those 8,000 hits and turn the people behind them into truly engaged citizens, working on this forum to make sure that debacles like this never happen again. The Vichys have awakened a sleeping giant. They have no clue that we're as angry at them as we are at Bush. But they're going to learn, very soon, what the consequences of today's betrayals mean when it comes to fundraising, ground troops, and votes on election day. We can make a huge difference, and the Alito filibuster was the start -- our Boston Tea Party, our March On Selma, our Stonewall.

So what, in the end, am I asking? That you follow the new Game Plan for Taking Our Country Back:

First, keep coming back here and sounding off about what you think, feel, and want to do about what happened today. We should have more comments over the next week than we did last week, because now we have time to think and type and share ideas.

Second, let me know if you'd like to be added as a "team member" able to contribute to this site. I'd like to have several blogs working here, overlapping, sharing ideas and arguing and hashing out a game plan. I said here back on Day One that this was a "communitarian" blog. Anyone who has (or can) demonstrate that they're responsible and serious can become a blogger here. Just lodge a comment here with your disguised "{at}" type email address, and I'll set things up (then I'll delete the comment quickly to keep it away from the trolls). (I've tried posting my address, but the trolls picked it up right away -- luckily for you, I'm the one they want to harass!)

Third, and this isn't exactly tangible but IS important: think hard about how you can improve the Democratic Party at the national, state, and local levels. Know what? Today proved that our party sucks. But history proves that our party really has better ideas than the opposition. We beat theDepression, we won World War II, we finally established civil rights laws, we passed the first "good government" laws, we created safe workplaces, we balanced the budget. Every good development in American history over the past century, we did. So why are we so fucked up now, and how can we get the mojo back? Please think about it, tell us your ideas here, and then get ready to ACT in your own communities.

I know. This is a long ramble from a guy who's had a martini before 3 in the afternoon. But it's what I always wanted from this site, and it's the only way I can think of to move forward instead of jumping off something really high onto someplace really hard and jumbly. So please, take me seriously. Systematically work through steps 1-3 above, and we'll turn this debacle into a movement that changes the world. No shit.

And, I really am going to post more detailed after-action reports on the filibuster, the traitorious Gang of 14 that screwed us, etc., so it's worth checking back here off and on over the next few days even if you think all the rah-rah stuff above is hooey.

Finally: thank you. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. You are amazing patriots, and I'm proud to have met and worked with you.

Thersites

MONDAY: SHORT STROKES

Blogger is bogging down under all the edits and traffic the last post is getting, so I need to start a new one as we reach the endgame.

Current status: The Republicans are down to 54 Party votes, with John Ensign in a car accident (not seriously injured, thankfully, but unable to attend). Independent Jim Jeffords supports the filibuster, as does Mark Dayton, and Tom Harkin will abstain.

Joe Lieberman has been jerking us around: for the filibuster, against the filibuster, not sure about the filibuster, what's a filibuster again?

On the downside, Kent Conrad is solidly against it. And we've definitely lost Ben Nelson; it's not worth calling him anymore, but we'll replace him with a real patriot during his next primary!

The Gang of 14 is meeting or has met, and likely is investigating whether they can reach a deal before the vote in less than 40 minutes. They don't understand that we WANT the nuclear showdown, and I fear a compromise that undermines everything we've done. So the message for the next half hour needs to be directed at the swing votes on the Gang of 14 and a handful of others, and it needs to say: WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF A NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN. SHOW SOME GUTS FOR A CHANGE. EITHER SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER, OR ABSTAIN.

On that theme, here's who I'd like to target our efforts at now, in the final push:

Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut: UPDATE: HE WILL VOTE FOR CLOTURE. I told his staff that I will send a check for $100 to Ned Lamont, his challenger in the primary. Fuck his black Vichy heart.

Mary Landrieu, Louisiana: might be weakening in her oppo to filibuster; push abstention HARD.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5824
New Orleans office phone: 504-589-2427
Baton Rouge office phone: 225-389-0395
Lake Charles office phone: 337-436-6650
Shreveport office phone: 318-676-3085

Daniel Inouye, Hawaii
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3934

Mark Pryor, Arkansas: probably a lost cause but ask him to abstain.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2353
Little Rock office phone: 501-324-6336

Ken Salazar, Colorado. UPDATE: Lost cause; will not support the filibuster.

Tim Johnson, SD
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5842
Aberdeen office phone: 605-226-3440
Rapid City office phone: 605-341-3990
Sioux Falls office phone: 605-332-8896

Bill Nelson, Florida
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5274
Miami office phone: 305-536-5999
Orlando office phone: 407-872-7161
Tampa office phone: 813-225-7040
Tallahassee office phone: 850-942-8415

Olympia Snowe, Maine (Republican)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5344
Auburn office phone: 207-786-2451
Bangor office phone: 207-945-0432
Portland office phone: 207-874-0883
Presque Isle office phone: 207-764-5124

That's it. Please continue to report here if their staffs commit one way or the other.

And then I'm buying you all Virtual pitchers of beer while we watch the count on C-Span. Remember, this isn't just about Alito; it's about sending a warning shot across the bows of both the Republicans and the Democratic leadership in case Bush gets to appoint another Justice, and about identifying who the Vichys are, and most of all about waking up our party's leaders to the reality that they'd DAMN WELL BETTER PAY ATTENTION TO US. In all those ways, we've already won. But let's keep working to win the filibuster, too!

Thanks, and keep plugging away down the home stretch!!

MONDAY ALITO FILIBUSTER GAMEPLAN: URGE ABSTINENCE!

Last updated: 12:13 am Pacific. Big recent developments: Four up, one down, one big fracking sissy: Republican Senator John Ensign in car accident, unable to attend cloture vote -- that's effectively one more for our side! Independent Jim Jeffords commits to support the filibuster! Tom Harkin will abstain from the cloture vote! Dayton will vote no on cloture. On the downside, Kent Conrad is solidly against filibuster. Joe Lieberman is waffling big-time: several staffer have confirmed to me and others that he is voting AGAINST filibuster, but now they're back to saying he's undecided. I'm putting him back on the "call" list, but I gotta say: Damn. Damn. Damn. His. Vichy. Soul. (See the entire site's slogan, above.)

Also, there's a C-Span poll on whether the filibuster will help or hurt the Dems. Vote now!

“The Woodstock of Politics”
– a caller to The Young Turks radio filibuster for filibuster,
about the grassroots Alito activism.

First, THANK YOU for your hard work over the weekend! As far as I can tell, all key Senators' D.C. voicemails, and over 90% of the voicemails in their various District offices, were filled up by the end of the weekend. I started hitting random extensions and leaving messages for poor hapless staffers. Every Senator will get the message on Monday morning. Awesome!

For today, I want to back away from the shotgun petitions. It's frustrating that no one in the Dem leadership will tell us who the "Alito 8" are (the Democrats who aren't hewing the party line), and we don't know how well Kerry and Kennedy are doing at moving them around to our side. But we can make an educated guess, and focus on those key Senators. In addition to calling their offices, we're also going to target their re-election campaign HQs. (A great idea thought up by our friend and fellow-traveler, Bob Fertik!) Finally, we're going to hammer away at a simple, but politically powerful, message.

Our theme today is: Lead, Follow, Or Get Out of the Way. In political terms, that's:

EITHER SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER
OR ABSTAIN FROM THE CLOTURE VOTE,
BUT DON'T GET IN OUR WAY.

The plan is simple:

FIRST, as each office opens (8:30 or 9 am Eastern, later for District offices as you move West), call every office (DC and District) of YOUR OWN Democratic Senators and urge them to support the filibuster by either voting NO on cloture or by ABSTAINING from the cloture vote. Be short and sweet but hit every office listed below. (If they're not listed here, they're probably not a problem -- but feel free to make sure!) If you can get their staff to commit to a position, please post a comment here.

SECOND, call the "URGE ABSTENTION" Senators identified immediately below and do the same -- say that you hope they vote NO on cloture this afternoon but if they can't, urge them to ABSTAIN from the cloture vote by doing something good that most Republicans would never do, like visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital instead. (God knows the Republican leadership would never want to draw any attention to the costs of their war!) Doing so will be just as good as a "no" vote but will give them political cover with their conservative voters back home. Again, call their DC AND District offices. And again, if their staff will commit to a position on cloture and/or abstention, please post a comment here.

THIRD, rinse and repeat. That is, go through the "Urge Abstention" list twice, at least for those offices that don't take detailed caller info like names and addresses.

That's it. Simply hammer your own Senators and the key Senators. Report back so I can keep things updated. Then watch C-Span at 4:30 Eastern to see what happens! (And please check back here on Tuesday for an after-action report and a strategy for dealing with the result. Win or lose, we are taking this momentum forward to win back our Party and our Nation.)

AGAIN: THANK YOU for doing Yeoman's work the past few days! You folks are restoring my faith in America. No kidding. Regardless of the outcome of this particular battle, we are waking up the Democratic leadership to the fact that they MUST EITHER PAY ATTENTION TO US or STAND ASIDE so real, responsive leaders can take their place. And that makes me excited. It makes me think that the American Experiment still might succeed.

Okay, here goes!:

URGE THESE SENATORS TO EITHER SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER
OR ABSTAIN FROM THE CLOTURE VOTE

Nelson, Ben (V-NB) Nelson says he is voting FOR Alito. But that doesn't mean he can't show party loyalty by abstaining from the cloture vote. Hammer his office HARD with requests that, notwithstanding his intended floor vote, he STAY AWAY during the cloture vote this afternoon.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6551
DC office fax: 202-228-0012
Omaha office phone: 402-391-3411
Omaha office fax: 402-391-4725
Lincoln office phone: 402-441-4600
Lincoln office fax: 402-476-8753
Chadron office phone: 308-430-0587
Scottsbluff office phone: 308-631-7614
Campaign office phone: 202-546-8100
Campaign office fax: 202-546-7493
email: http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Johnson, Tim (V-SD) Johnson says he is voting FOR Alito. But that doesn't mean he can't show party loyalty by abstaining from the cloture vote. Hammer his office HARD with requests that, notwithstanding his intended floor vote, he STAY AWAY during the cloture vote this afternoon.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5842
DC office fax: 202-228-5765
Aberdeen office phone: 605-226-3440
Aberdeen office fax: 605-226-2439
Rapid City office phone: 605-341-3990
Rapid City office fax: 605-341-2207
Sioux Falls office phone: 605-332-8896
Sioux Falls office fax: 605-332-2824
email: http://johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfm

Byrd, Robert (V-WV) Byrd, formerly known as "The Conscience of the Senate", says he is voting FOR Alito. But that doesn't mean he can't show party loyalty by abstaining from the cloture vote. Hammer his office HARD with requests that, notwithstanding his intended floor vote, he STAY AWAY during the cloture vote this afternoon. Point out that by doing so, he will make a strong statement about Congress' power under the Constitution, and ensure his honorable legacy as the Constitution's defender.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3954
DC office fax: 202-228-0002
Charleston office phone: 304-342-5855
Charleston office fax: 304-343-7144
Campaign office phone: 202-546-9292
email: http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

Chafee, Lincoln (R-RI) A Republican, usually moderate, so don't play the "Democratic activist" card. UPDATED MONDAY, 11:03 AM PACIFIC: Chafee is voting NO on Alito but YES on cloture. His office IS asking where you're calling from. If you're from Rhode Island, call to urge him to ABSTAIN from the cloture vote, since a "yes" on cloture is a "yes" on Alito.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2921
DC office fax: none listed
Providence office phone: 401-453-5294
Providence office fax: none listed
Newport office phone: 401-845-0700
Newport office fax: none listed
email: http://chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

Conrad, Kent (D-ND) UPDATE MONDAY 11:18 AM PACIFIC: Staffer definitely confirms he is voting FOR Alito. (He previously was con.) And against filibuster. Solid Vichy. Taking him off the list; not worth our time.

Pryor, Mark (D-AR) UPDATE, MONDAY 11:08 PACIFIC: DC staff says he's voting against Alito but FOR cloture. Damn. I urged him to consider abstaining instead.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2353
DC office fax: 202-228-0908
Little Rock office phone: 501-324-6336
Little Rock office fax: 501-324-5320
email: http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/

Salazar, Ken (D-CO): Anti-Alito but won’t support a filibuster. D’oh! Urge him to show party loyalty by abstaining from the filibuster vote.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5852
DC office fax: 202-228-5036
Denver office phone: 303-455-7600
Denver office fax: 303-455-8851
Pike’s Peak office phone: 719-328-1100
Pike’s Peak office fax: 719-328-1129
Fort Collins office phone: 970-224-2200
Fort Collins office fax: 970-224-2205
Pueblo office phone:719-542-7550
Pueblo office fax:719-542-7555
email: http://salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Landrieu, Mary (D-LA) UPDATE MONDAY 11:10 AM PACIFIC: Baton Rouge staffer confirms she's still anti-filibuster. She seemed to be baffled at the idea of abstaining. Keep pushing that option!
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5824
DC office fax: 202-224-9735
New Orleans office phone: 504-589-2427
New Orleans office fax: 504-589-4023
Baton Rouge office phone: 225-389-0395
Baton Rouge office fax: 225-389-0660
Lake Charles office phone: 337-436-6650
Lake Charles office fax: 337-439-3762
Shreveport office phone: 318-676-3085
Shreveport office fax: 318-676-3100
email: http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Nelson, Bill (D-FL) UPDATE MONDAY 11:13: Staffer confirms he remains against the filibuster. Damn: he was on the fence. Keep urging him to abstain.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5274
DC office fax: 202-228-2183
Miami office phone: 305-536-5999
Miami office fax: 305-536-5991
Orlando office phone: 407-872-7161
Orlando office fax: 407-872-7165
Tampa office phone: 813-225-7040
Tampa office fax: 813-225-7050
Tallahassee office phone: 850-942-8415
Tallahassee office fax: 850-942-8450
Campaign office phone: 202-547-0010
Campaign office fax: 202-547-3419
email: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm#email

Akaka, Daniel (D-HI) Probably anti-Alito but leaning against the filibuster. Urge him to show party loyalty, withoug sacrificing his political cover, by abstaining from the filibuster vote and visiting Walter Reed Army Hospital instead.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6361
DC office fax: 202-224-2126
Honolulu office phone: 808-522-8970
Honolulu office fax: 808-545-4683
Hilo office phone: 808-935-1114
Hilo office fax: 808-935-9064
Campaign office phone: 808-522-8972
email: senator@akaka.senate.gov

Dorgan, Byron (D-ND) Probably anti-Alito but leaning against the filibuster. Urge him to show party loyalty, withoug sacrificing his political cover, by abstaining from the filibuster vote and visiting Walter Reed Army Hospital instead.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2551
DC office fax: 202-224-1193
Bismarck office phone: 701-250-4618
Bismarck office fax: 701-250-4484
Grand Forks office phone: 701-746-8972
Grand Forks office fax: 701-746-9122
Fargo office phone: 701-239-5389
Fargo office fax: 701-239-5112
Minot office phone: 701-852-0703
Minot office fax: 701-838-8196
email: senator@dorgan.senate.gov

Snowe, Olympia (R-ME) A moderate Republican, so don't mention being a Democratic activist. Is leaning against the filibuster. Urge her to allow the process to work itself out by abstaining from the filibuster vote. GOOD IDEA FROM BOB FERTIK: "Olympia Snowe is up this year too: 207-799-0221. She has always been supported by pro-choice groups like the Women's Campaign Fund (202-393-8164) and Republicans for Choice (703- 212-0890) - urge them to convince Snowe to oppose Alito."
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5344
DC office fax: 202-224-1946
Auburn office phone: 207-786-2451
Auburn office fax: 207-782-1438
Bangor office phone: 207-945-0432
Bangor office fax: 207-941-9525
Portland office phone: 207-874-0883
Portland office fax: 207-874-7631
Presque Isle office phone: 207-764-5124
Presque Isle office fax: 207-764-6420
email: http://snowe.senate.gov/contact.htm

Menendez, Robert (D-NJ): Menendez is America’s newest Senator – appointed to fill a vacant seat just this month – and will be up for reelection in November. Let’s get him started on the right foot: as a warrior for justice, not as a triangulating polltaking Vichy. Hammer away!! Let him know what we need in order to support him in November, and that our support is indeed at stake! Tell him to either support the filibuster or to abstain, but NOT to vote for cloture.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4744
DC office fax: 202-228-2197
Newark office phone: 973-645-3030
Campaign office phone: 201-271-1661
Senate Email: none given
Campaign office email: bob@menendezforcongress.com

OTHER POSSIBLE SWING SENATORS. CALL THEM:

Lincoln, Blanche Lambert (D-AR)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4843
DC office fax: 202-228-1371
Little Rock office phone: 501-375-2993
Little Rock office fax: 501-375-7064
Texarkana office phone: 870-774-3106
Texarkana office fax: 870-774-7627
Dumas office phone: 870-382-1023
Dumas office fax: 870-382-1026
Jonesboro office phone: 870-910-6896
Jonesboro office fax: 870-910-6898
email: http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

Carper, Thomas (D-DE)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2441
DC office fax: 202-228-2190
Wilmington office phone: 302-573-6291
Wilmington office fax: 302-573-6434
Dover office phone: 302-674-3308
Dover office fax: 302-674-5464
Georgetown office phone: 302-856-7690
Georgetown office fax: 302-856-3001
Campaign office phone: 202-546-0909
Campaign office fax: 202-546-6916
email: http://carper.senate.gov/aemail.htm

Inouye, Daniel (D-HI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3934
DC office fax: None given on website
No local offices given on website (talk about a “Beltway” politician!)
email: http://inouye.senate.gov/webform.html

Harkin, Tom (D-IA) UPDATE 10:33 AM PACIFIC: HARKIN'S LOCAL OFFICE CONFIRMS HE WILL ABSTAIN FROM THE CLOTURE VOTE! THAT'S ONE MORE FOR US -- AND THE ABSTENTION MESSAGE IS GETTING THROUGH!

Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5623
DC office fax: None given on website
Indianapolis office phone: 317-554-0750
Evansville office phone: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne office phone: 260-426-3151
South Bend office phone: 574-236-8302
email: http://bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD): Still sitting on the fence, but vulnerable to pressure:
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4654
DC office fax: 202-224-8858
Salisbury office phone: 410-546-7711
Salisbury office fax: 410-546-9324
Greenbelt office phone: 301-345-5517
Greenbelt office fax: 301-345-7573
Annapolis office phone: 410-263-1805
Annapolis office fax: 410-263-5949
Hagerstown office phone: 301-797-2826
Hagerstown office fax: 301-797-2241
Baltimore office phone: 410-962-4510
Baltimore office fax: 410-962-4760
email: http://mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html

Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD) CONFIRMED MONDAY 12:06 PACIFIC: NO ON CLOTURE! Taking him off the list. Good work, gang!!

Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6221
DC office fax: 202-224-1388
Detroit office phone: 313-226-6020
Detroit office fax: 313-226-6948
Lansing office phone: 517-377-1508
Lansing office fax: 517-377-1506
Saginaw office phone: 989-754-2494
Saginaw office fax: 989-754-2920
Grand Rapids office phone: 616-456-2531
Grand Rapids office fax: 616-456-5147
Traverse City office phone: 231-947-9569
Traverse City office fax: 231-947-9518
Escanaba office phone: 906-789-0052
Escanaba office fax: 906-789-0015
email: http://levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Dayton, Mark (D-MN) CONFIRMED: DAYTON WILL SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER!

Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2651
DC office fax: 202-224-0515
Billings office phone: 406-657-6790
Billings office fax: none given
Bozeman office phone: 406-586-6104
Helena office phone: 406-449-5480
Missoula office phone: 406-329-3123
email: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm

Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ)(SUNDAY UPDATE: Lautenberg's spokesman says he has no doubt filibuster will fail on Monday. Fatalistic loser! Make it clear that it'll only fail if we let it fail, and insist that he support the filibuster! If you're Italian -- no, I'm not kidding -- also make it clear that you won't hold it against him at the polls for not supporting Alito as another Italian. It's come up. Jeebus.)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3224
DC office fax: 202-228-4054
Newark office phone: 973-639-8700
Newark office fax: 973-639-8723
Camden office phone: 856-338-8922
Camden office fax: 856-338-8936
email: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5521
DC office fax: 202. 224. 2852
Albuquerque office phone: 505-346-6601
Las Cruces office phone: 505-523-6561
Roswell office phone: 505-622-7113
Santa Fe office phone: 505-988-6647
Campaign office phone: 202-314-3222
email: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov

Reed, Jack (D-RI) UPDATE, 12:33 PACIFIC: REED SUPPORTS FILIBUSTER.

Leahy, Patrick (D-VT) UPDATE 6:15 AM PACIFIC: PER READER CAROLYN URBAN, LEAHY'S DC OFFICE SAYS HE WILL VOTE "NO" ON CLOTURE!! YEE-HAW!! HE'S COMIN' OFF THE LIST; I'LL POST A NEW LIST TO SEND "THANK YOU NOTES" TO TOMORROW OR WEDS. KEEP FIGHTING -- IT WORKS!!

Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3441
DC office fax: 202-228-0514
Seattle office phone: 206-220-6400
Seattle office fax: 206-220-6404
Spokane office phone: 509-353-2507
Spokane office fax: 509-353-2547
Vancouver office phone: 360-696-7838
Vancouver office fax: 360-696-7844
Tacoma office phone: 253-572-2281
Tacoma office fax: 253-572-5879
Everett office phone:425-303-0114
Everett office fax: 425-303-8351
Campaign office phone: 202-314-3225
email: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2621
DC office fax: 202-224-0238
Seattle office phone: 206-553-5545
Seattle office fax: 206-553-0891
Spokane office phone: 509-624-9515
Spokane office fax: 509-624-9561
Everett office phone: 425-259-6515
Everett office fax: 425-259-7152
Vancouver office phone: 360-696-7797
Vancouver office fax: 360-696-7798
Yakima office phone: 509-453-7462
Yakima office fax: 509-453-7731
email: http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5653
DC office fax: 202-224-9787
Milwaukee office phone: 414-297-4451
Milwaukee office fax: 414-297-4455
Madison office phone: 608-264-5338
Madison office fax: 608-264-5473
Eau Claire office phone: 715-832-8424
Eau Claire office fax: 715-832-8492
Appleton office phone: 920-738-1640
Appleton office fax: 920-738-1643
Campaign office phone: 414-276-5645
email: http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

Rockefeller, John D. IV (D-WV)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6472
DC office fax: 202-224-7665
Beckley office phone: 304-253-9704
Beckley office fax: 304-253-2578
Charleston office phone: 304-347-5372
Charleston office fax: 304-347-5371
Fairmont office phone: 304-367-0122
Fairmont office fax: 304-367-0822
Martinsburg office phone: 304-262-9285
Martinsburg office fax: 304-262-6288
email: http://rockefeller.senate.gov/services/email.cfm

Jeffords, James (I-VT) . UPDATE MONDAY 10:33 AM PACIFIC: JEFFORDS COMMITS TO SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER! Off the list he comes. Keep those calls, emails and faxes coming -- they're working!!

Stevens, Ted (R-AK) A conservative Republican, and frankly a nutcase, but Ted Kennedy says we should lobby him, so maybe there’s something in the wind that we don’t know about. A phone call can’t hurt!
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3004
DC office fax: 202-224-2354
Alaska district offices: none given. (Sad, huh?)
Email: http://stevens.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Collins, Susan (R-ME) A mainline Republican, but Ted Kennedy says we should lobby her, so maybe there’s something in the wind that we don’t know about. A phone call can’t hurt!
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2523
DC office fax: 202-224-2693
Caribou office phone: 207-493-7873
Bangor office phone: 207-945-0417
Augusta office phone: 207- 622-8414
Lewiston office phone: 207-784-6969
Biddeford office phone: 207-283-1101
Portland office phone: 207-780-3575
Email: http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCollins.Email

Lieberman, Joe (V-CT): Joe Lieberman is waffling big-time: several staffer have confirmed to me and others that he is voting AGAINST filibuster, but now they're back to saying he's undecided. I hate him, and hate wasting time on him, but let's keep hammering away demanding a "no or abstain" filibuster vote.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4041
DC office fax: 202-224-9750
Hartford office phone: 860-549-8463
Hartford office fax: 860-549-8478

Sunday, January 29, 2006

A New Alternative to Calling District Offices

If you're tired of calling, faxing, and emailing District offices, and need a break, go visit our excellent friend Bob Fertik, who has had the brilliant inspiration to list key senators' campaign contact numbers! Go tell their campaign people that you won't give squat to a Vichy.

Just make sure you come back here Monday first thing for the highly-focused Monday gameplan.

MY READERS ROCK!!

FINAL: ALITO FILIBUSTER WEEKEND GAMEPLAN

MONDAY MORNING: THERE'S A NEW POST WITH A NEW GAME PLAN FOR TODAY; PLEASE SWITCH TO IT!! THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND FEEDBACK!!

ALSO: HERE'S A NEW FAXING TOOL, WHICH USES EMAIL. LET ME KNOW IF IT WORKS WELL FOR YOU OR NOT! Fax By Email

“The Woodstock of Politics”
– a caller to The Young Turks radio filibuster for filibuster,
about the grassroots Alito activism.

Sorry it took so long, but here’s the comprehensive game plan for WEEKEND activism. Please take time tonight and Sunday to fill up Senatorial inboxes.

There is a wonderful thing about calling your Senator on a weekend: HIS OFFICE IS CLOSED AND CANNOT ASK YOU YOUR ADDRESS. Leave a voicemail saying you’re a constituent (it’s true – you’re an American), and want a filibuster. They’ll believe you. Take advantage of it. Emails have the same benefit.

There will be a Monday Morning Game Plan waiting for you when you wake up Monday morning, and everyone should be awake and caffeine-fueled by 8:00 a.m. Eastern time to hammer these guys ALL DAY MONDAY before the 4:30 pm (Eastern) cloture vote.

WHAT MAKES THIS RESOURCE SPECIAL? Easy: it has the LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE CONTACT INFO FOR EVERY KEY SENATOR. And their emails. And all their fax numbers. So fill up their Washington voicemail inboxes. Then fill up every district office inbox. Then fill up every fax machine. Then send emails to every one. Then sign the petitions and auto-faxes at the bottom of this post. YOU CAN GET YOUR MESSAGE TO ONE SENATOR TEN TIMES INSTEAD OF JUST ONCE. And they won’t know whether you’re one stupidly dogged person, or ten different people. Leverage, folks, leverage.

WHAT TO SAY: When you call, fax, and email, don’t waste time explaining why you don’t like Alito. Just make your points and get off the line so someone else can get through.

What do we say?

1. We are the hardworking Democratic base, and we are sick to our souls of supporting incumbent Democrats who don’t have the courage to stand up and do the right thing even when it’s hard.

2. We want a filibuster EVEN IF THERE AREN’T 41 GUARANTEED VOTES supporting it, and EVEN IF IT MEANS FACING THE NUCLEAR OPTION.

3. If they aren’t willing to vote against cloture, then ASK THEM TO SIMPLY ABSTAIN – preferably, go visit veterans at Walter Reed Hospital at 4:30 Monday when the cloture vote takes place. ABSTAINING IS AS GOOD AS A “NO” VOTE ON CLOTURE.

If they ask for your zip code or address, give it. Some people advise giving false, local info (basically, just riffing on the area code and zip code info for that Senator’s local office); I’ll leave that up to you and your personal decision as to whether it’s immoral or whether it’s a necessary act of civil disobedience. Personally, I’m being honest, emphatic and sincere.

ENOUGH BLATHER. HERE IT IS: THE WEEKEND GAME PLAN

FIRST, click on the poll and auto-fax links here, here, and here to get your message out quickly and easily.

SECOND, call the Democratic National Committee at 202-863-8000 and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at 202-224-2447. You can also fax the DSCC at 202-969-0354 and email it at info@dscc.org. Tell them you’re a Democratic activist who is disheartened by the lack of courage in Washington, that you feel like giving up, and that your donations, and the hours of footwork you invest to elect Democrats every other November, are hinging on whether the Alito filibuster succeeds. Tell them you’ll support Nader before you’ll support a Vichy Democrat, and you want to see your damn party show some backbone for a change.

THIRD, call each Senator’s voicemails – first DC, then their main local number, then each branch office number – and leave a voicemail on each one. IF YOU GET A MESSAGE SAYING ANY MAILBOX IS FULL, PLEASE POST A COMMENT HERE WITH DETAILS AND I’LL CROSS THAT NUMBER OFF THE LIST.

FOURTH, when the voicemails are full, start sending emails. Again, if you get a message saying the Senator’s mailbox is full, please post a comment here and I’ll cross that email off the list.

FIFTH, send a fax, especially if you live in that Senator’s state. If you don’t have a fax machine, there are fax websites here and here. You also might have faxing software in your Windows or Mac OS. Again, if you get a message saying the fax is out of paper, post a comment and I’ll cross that email off the list too.

SIXTH, check back here between 8 am and 9 am Monday morning for that day’s game plan. I’ll have updated info on each Senator’s status.

Our goal? By Monday morning, to fill every voicemail, email, and fax machine, in every key Senator’s Washington AND District offices, to overflowing. Then rinse and repeat.

******************

HERE ARE THE SENATORS COMMITTED TO FILIBUSTER: DON’T BOTHER THEM UNTIL TUESDAY, WHEN YOU’LL CALL TO SAY THANKS:

Kerry, John (D-MA) (Filibuster leader)
Kennedy, Ted (D-MA) (Filibuster co-leader)
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Feingold, Russ (D-WI)
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)(she was AGAINST filibuster, but we’ve changed her mind!!)
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT)
Durbin, Dick (D- IL)
Sarbanes, Paul (D- MD)
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)(she was waffling, but we brought her around!!)
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)(she was against filibuster, then we hammered her office, and now she says she was never against filibuster and will support it!!)
Wyden, Ron (D-OR)

WEAK SISTERS:

These are Dems who say they support the filibuster, but may be undercutting it behind the scenes. Thank them for their support and generally lend them a backbone!

Reid, Harry (D-NV) is pro-life but is the Democratic Leader in the Senate. Be nice. He initially was against a filibuster, and probably screwed us before we started by calling this as a “conscience vote” instead of a “party line” vote. But now he says he’ll support Kerry and Kennedy, though he doesn’t think it’s winnable. Our message: it IS winnable if he would only change this to a “party line” party-discipline vote and lean hard on the Vichys!! Let him know the base cares more about this one than he realized at the beginning.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3542
DC office fax: 202-224-7327
Carson City office phone: 775-882-7343
Carson City office fax: 775-883-1980
Las Vegas office phone: 702-388-5020
Las Vegas office fax: 702-388-5030
Reno office phone: 775-686-5750
Reno office fax: 775-686-5757
email: http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

Lieberman, Joseph (V-CT), 202-224-4041 (The Dean of Vichy Democrats. Some sites say he’s announced as pro-filibuster, but I’m not convinced yet. Anyone who has solid info, let me know.)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4041
DC office fax: 202-224-9750
Hartford office phone: 860-549-8463
Hartford office fax: 860-549-8478
email: http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding=issue

Obama, Barack (D- IL), 202-224-2854 (was rumored to be anti-filibuster, then as pro-filibuster. Get him to commit.SUNDAY TALKSHOW UPDATE: Obama commits to support filibuster, but reluctantly. Call and thank him for doing the right thing, to reinforce his spine.)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2854
DC office fax: 202-228-4260
Chicago office phone: 312-886-3506
Chicago office fax: 312-886-3514
Springfield office phone: 217-492-5089
Springfield office fax: 217-492-5099
Marion office phone: 618-997-2402
Marion office fax: 618-997-2850
email: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/

Schumer, Charles (D-NY) (a real anti-Alito warrior on the Judiciary Committee, but rumored to be anti-filibuster now, though other sites have his as ambivalent. Get him to commit!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6542
DC office fax: 202-228-3027
New York City office phone: 212-486-4430
New York City office fax: 212-486-7693
Albany office phone: 518-431-4070
Albany office fax: 518-431-4076
Buffalo office phone: 716-846-4111
Buffalo office fax: 716-846-4113
Long Island office phone: 631-753-0978
Long Island office fax: 631-753-0997
email: http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm

Biden, Joe (D-DE) (Wants to be President; remind him he’ll never get there without our support in the primaries and our legwork in the general election, so he’d better be responsive to our needs!)(has stated will PROBABLY not support a filibuster, but open to persuasion, so keep chasing down! SUNDAY UPDATE: Biden told Wolf Blitzer this morning that he WILL support the filibuster for "one more round" of debate. This would deny Bush his glory moment in the State of the Union on Tuesday night and is a good thing. But he still needs to be convinced to keep it going, not just one more round. I'm moving him from "Leaning Against Filibuster" to "Weak Sister." Now, call and praise him for his courage, to keep that temporary spine in place!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5042
DC office fax: 202-224-0139
Wilmington office phone: 302-573-6345
Wilmington office fax: 302-573-6351
Milford office phone: 302-424-8090
Milford office fax: 302-424-8098
email: senator@biden.senate.gov

DEMOCRATIC TURNCOATS WHO SAY THEY’RE VOTING FOR ALITO:

Call and give them a polite but stern scolding about courage, commitment to the Constitution, and party loyalty. Let them know they will pay a price for not supporting a filibuster – but that you trust them to do the right thing when the moment for courage comes!

Nelson, Ben (V-NB)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6551
DC office fax: 202-228-0012
Omaha office phone: 402-391-3411
Omaha office fax: 402-391-4725
Lincoln office phone: 402-441-4600
Lincoln office fax: 402-476-8753
Chadron office phone: 308-430-0587
Scottsbluff office phone: 308-631-7614
email: http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Johnson, Tim (V-SD)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5842
DC office fax: 202-228-5765
Aberdeen office phone: 605-226-3440
Aberdeen office fax: 605-226-2439
Rapid City office phone: 605-341-3990
Rapid City office fax: 605-341-2207
Sioux Falls office phone: 605-332-8896
Sioux Falls office fax: 605-332-2824
email: http://johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfm

Byrd, Robert (V-WV) (formerly “The Conscience of the Senate” and committed to the Constitution; take a little time to talk about that little Constitution he carries in his pocket at all times, and how Alito doesn’t respect it. He’s 88 years old; challenge him politely to do the right thing and ensure an honorable legacy.)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3954
DC office fax: 202-228-0002
Charleston office phone: 304-342-5855
Charleston office fax: 304-343-7144
email: http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

FLAT-OUT AGAINST FILIBUSTER. CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

(Feinstein did, so it CAN be done!). Don’t forget to be pleasant: use honey, not vinegar.

Chafee, Lincoln (R-RI) (a Republican, usually moderate; remind him that Alito will weaken Congress’ role in the balance of power, and urge him to do the right thing as an American citizen).
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2921
DC office fax: none listed
Providence office phone: 401-453-5294
Providence office fax: none listed
Newport office phone: 401-845-0700
Newport office fax: none listed
email: http://chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

Conrad, Kent (D-ND) (anti-Alito but won’t support a filibuster. D’oh!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2043
DC office fax: 202-224-7776
Minot office phone: 701-852-0703
Minot office fax: 701-838-8196
Grand Forks office phone: 701-775-9601
Grand Forks office fax: 701-746-1990
Bismarck office phone: 701-258-4648
Bismarck office fax: 701-258-1254
Fargo office phone: 701-232-8030
Fargo office fax: 701-232-6449
email: http://conrad.senate.gov/webform.html

Pryor, Mark (D-AR) (anti-Alito but won’t support a filibuster. D’oh!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2353
DC office fax: 202-228-0908
Little Rock office phone: 501-324-6336
Little Rock office fax: 501-324-5320
email: http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/

Salazar, Ken (D-CO): (anti-Alito but won’t support a filibuster. D’oh!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5852
DC office fax: 202-228-5036
Denver office phone: 303-455-7600
Denver office fax: 303-455-8851
Pike’s Peak office phone: 719-328-1100
Pike’s Peak office fax: 719-328-1129
Fort Collins office phone: 970-224-2200
Fort Collins office fax: 970-224-2205
Pueblo office phone:719-542-7550
Pueblo office fax:719-542-7555
email: http://salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Landrieu, Mary (D- LA) ( anti-Alito but won’t support a filibuster. Isn’t that bright, and her thinking is flawed. But persuadable...)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5824
DC office fax: 202-224-9735
New Orleans office phone: 504-589-2427
New Orleans office fax: 504-589-4023
Baton Rouge office phone: 225-389-0395
Baton Rouge office fax: 225-389-0660
Lake Charles office phone: 337-436-6650
Lake Charles office fax: 337-439-3762
Shreveport office phone: 318-676-3085
Shreveport office fax: 318-676-3100
email: http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

LEANING AGAINST FILIBUSTER:

Nelson, Bill (D-FL) (Has actually ASKED for more Democratic constituent calls as political cover, because he’s being flooded with calls from fundamentalists!)(has stated will PROBABLY not support a filibuster, but open to persuasion, so keep chasing down!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5274
DC office fax: 202-228-2183
Miami office phone: 305-536-5999
Miami office fax: 305-536-5991
Orlando office phone: 407-872-7161
Orlando office fax: 407-872-7165
Tampa office phone: 813-225-7040
Tampa office fax: 813-225-7050
Tallahassee office phone: 850-942-8415
Tallahassee office fax: 850-942-8450
email: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm#email

Akaka, Daniel (D-HI) (has stated will PROBABLY not support a filibuster, but open to persuasion, so keep chasing down!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6361
DC office fax: 202-224-2126
Honolulu office phone: 808-522-8970
Honolulu office fax: 808-545-4683
Hilo office phone: 808-935-1114
Hilo office fax: 808-935-9064
email: senator@akaka.senate.gov

Dorgan, Byron (D-ND) (has stated will PROBABLY not support a filibuster, but open to persuasion, so keep chasing down!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2551
DC office fax: 202-224-1193
Bismarck office phone: 701-250-4618
Bismarck office fax: 701-250-4484
Grand Forks office phone: 701-746-8972
Grand Forks office fax: 701-746-9122
Fargo office phone: 701-239-5389
Fargo office fax: 701-239-5112
Minot office phone: 701-852-0703
Minot office fax: 701-838-8196
email: senator@dorgan.senate.gov

Snowe, Olympia (R-ME) (a moderate Republican who sometimes does the right thing. For her, don’t mention being a Democrat, but talk about your fear of an Imperial Presidency diluting Congress’ rightful power.) (has stated will PROBABLY not support a filibuster, but open to persuasion, so keep chasing down!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5344
DC office fax: 202-224-1946
Auburn office phone: 207-786-2451
Auburn office fax: 207-782-1438
Bangor office phone: 207-945-0432
Bangor office fax: 207-941-9525
Portland office phone: 207-874-0883
Portland office fax: 207-874-7631
Presque Isle office phone: 207-764-5124
Presque Isle office fax: 207-764-6420
email: http://snowe.senate.gov/contact.htm

UNDECIDED, AND NEED PRESSURE:

Menendez, Robert (D-NJ): SUNDAY UPDATE:I had put Menendez down as pro-filibuster. However, latest reports are that he won’t say his position, either on the floor vote or on the filibuster, until he gives his floor speech on Monday. Menendez is America’s newest Senator – appointed to fill a vacant seat just this month – and will be up for reelection in November. Let’s get him started on the right foot: as a warrior for justice, not as a triangulating polltaking Vichy. Hammer away!! Let him know what we need in order to support him in November, and that our support is indeed at stake!
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-4744
DC office fax: None given
Local offices: None given
Email: none given

Also for Menendez: HIS OLD ELECTION CAMPAIGN REMAINS UP AND RUNNING! This lets us hammer away at his campaign contacts, too. Campaign is 201-271-1661 (press 2 for the Finance Director who collects the checks) and bob@menendezforcongress.com. (God Bless Bob Fertik for this gem of an idea!)

Lincoln, Blanche Lambert (D-AR)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4843
DC office fax: 202-228-1371
Little Rock office phone: 501-375-2993
Little Rock office fax: 501-375-7064
Texarkana office phone: 870-774-3106
Texarkana office fax: 870-774-7627
Dumas office phone: 870-382-1023
Dumas office fax: 870-382-1026
Jonesboro office phone: 870-910-6896
Jonesboro office fax: 870-910-6898
email: http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

Carper, Thomas (D-DE)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2441
DC office fax: 202-228-2190
Wilmington office phone: 302-573-6291
Wilmington office fax: 302-573-6434
Dover office phone: 302-674-3308
Dover office fax: 302-674-5464
Georgetown office phone: 302-856-7690
Georgetown office fax: 302-856-3001
email: http://carper.senate.gov/aemail.htm

Inouye, Daniel (D-HI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3934
DC office fax: None given on website
No local offices given on website (talk about a “Beltway” politician!)
email: http://inouye.senate.gov/webform.html

Harkin, Tom (D-IA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3254
DC office fax: 202-224-9369
Des Moines office phone: 515-284-4574
Des Moines office fax: 515-284-4937
Davenport office phone: 563-322-1338
Davenport office fax: 563-322-0417
Cedar Rapids office phone: 319-365-4504
Cedar Rapids office fax: 319-365-4683
Dubuque office phone: 563-582-2130
Dubuque office fax: 563-582-2342
Sioux City office phone:712-252-1550
Sioux City office fax: 712-252-1638
email: http://harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5623
DC office fax: None given on website
Indianapolis office phone: 317-554-0750
Evansville office phone: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne office phone: 260-426-3151
South Bend office phone: 574-236-8302
email: http://bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD): Still sitting on the fence, but vulnerable to pressure:
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4654
DC office fax: 202-224-8858
Salisbury office phone: 410-546-7711
Salisbury office fax: 410-546-9324
Greenbelt office phone: 301-345-5517
Greenbelt office fax: 301-345-7573
Annapolis office phone: 410-263-1805
Annapolis office fax: 410-263-5949
Hagerstown office phone: 301-797-2826
Hagerstown office fax: 301-797-2241
Baltimore office phone: 410-962-4510
Baltimore office fax: 410-962-4760
email: http://mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html

Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD) (some sites list him as pro-filibuster; if anyone has confirmation, please let me know.)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4524
DC office fax: 202-224-1651
Baltimore office phone: 410-962-4436
Baltimore office fax: 410-962-4156
Silver Spring office phone: 301-589-0797
Silver Spring office fax: 301-589-0598
Salisbury office phone: 410-860-2131
Salisbury office fax: 410-860-2134
Bryans Road office phone: 301-283-0947
Bryans Road office fax: 301-375-8914
email: http://sarbanes.senate.gov/pages/email.html

Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6221
DC office fax: 202-224-1388
Detroit office phone: 313-226-6020
Detroit office fax: 313-226-6948
Lansing office phone: 517-377-1508
Lansing office fax: 517-377-1506
Saginaw office phone: 989-754-2494
Saginaw office fax: 989-754-2920
Grand Rapids office phone: 616-456-2531
Grand Rapids office fax: 616-456-5147
Traverse City office phone: 231-947-9569
Traverse City office fax: 231-947-9518
Escanaba office phone: 906-789-0052
Escanaba office fax: 906-789-0015
email: http://levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Dayton, Mark (D-MN) (SUNDAY UPDATE: Dayton's leaving the Senate in November. He thinks the filibuster is a bad idea strategically, but there's NO DAMN REASON he can't vote bravely since he's not up for reelection!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3244
DC office fax: 202-228-2186
Fort Snelling office phone: 612-727-5220
Fort Snelling office fax: 612-727-5223
East Grand Forks office phone: 218-773-1110
East Grand Forks office fax: 218-773-1993
Biwabik office phone: 218-865-4480
Biwabik office fax: 218-865-4667
email: http://dayton.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2651
DC office fax: 202-224-0515
Billings office phone: 406-657-6790
Billings office fax: none given
Bozeman office phone: 406-586-6104
Helena office phone: 406-449-5480
Missoula office phone: 406-329-3123
email: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm

Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ)(SUNDAY UPDATE: Lautenberg's spokesman says he has no doubt filibuster will fail on Monday. Fatalistic loser! Make it clear that it'll only fail if we let it fail, and insist that he support the filibuster! If you're Italian -- no, I'm not kidding -- also make it clear that you won't hold it against him at the polls for not supporting Alito as another Italian. It's come up. Jeebus.)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3224
DC office fax: 202-228-4054
Newark office phone: 973-639-8700
Newark office fax: 973-639-8723
Camden office phone: 856-338-8922
Camden office fax: 856-338-8936
email: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5521
DC office fax: None given
Albuquerque office phone: 505-346-6601
Las Cruces office phone: 505-523-6561
Roswell office phone: 505-622-7113
Santa Fe office phone: 505-988-6647
email: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov

Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4642
DC office fax: 202-224-4680
Providence office phone: 401-528-5200
Providence office fax: 401-528-5242
Cranston office phone: 401-943-3100
Cranston office fax: 401-464-6837
email: http://reed.senate.gov/contact/thoughts.cfm

Leahy, Patrick (D-VT)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4242
DC office fax: None given
Burlington office phone: 802-863-2525
Montpelier office phone: 802-229-0569
email: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3441
DC office fax: 202-228-0514
Seattle office phone: 206-220-6400
Seattle office fax: 206-220-6404
Spokane office phone: 509-353-2507
Spokane office fax: 509-353-2547
Vancouver office phone: 360-696-7838
Vancouver office fax: 360-696-7844
Tacoma office phone: 253-572-2281
Tacoma office fax: 253-572-5879
Everett office phone:425-303-0114
Everett office fax: 425-303-8351
email: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2621
DC office fax: 202-224-0238
Seattle office phone: 206-553-5545
Seattle office fax: 206-553-0891
Spokane office phone: 509-624-9515
Spokane office fax: 509-624-9561
Everett office phone: 425-259-6515
Everett office fax: 425-259-7152
Vancouver office phone: 360-696-7797
Vancouver office fax: 360-696-7798
Yakima office phone: 509-453-7462
Yakima office fax: 509-453-7731
email: http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5653
DC office fax: 202-224-9787
Milwaukee office phone: 414-297-4451
Milwaukee office fax: 414-297-4455
Madison office phone: 608-264-5338
Madison office fax: 608-264-5473
Eau Claire office phone: 715-832-8424
Eau Claire office fax: 715-832-8492
Appleton office phone: 920-738-1640
Appleton office fax: 920-738-1643
email: http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

Rockefeller, John D. IV (D-WV)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6472
DC office fax: 202-224-7665
Beckley office phone: 304-253-9704
Beckley office fax: 304-253-2578
Charleston office phone: 304-347-5372
Charleston office fax: 304-347-5371
Fairmont office phone: 304-367-0122
Fairmont office fax: 304-367-0822
Martinsburg office phone: 304-262-9285
Martinsburg office fax: 304-262-6288
email: http://rockefeller.senate.gov/services/email.cfm

Jeffords, James (I-VT) (an Independent who used to be a Republican, so call as an American citizen worried about the Constitution, not as a Democrat demanding tribute!)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5141
DC office fax: None given
Burlington office phone: 802-658-6001
Montpelier office phone: 802-223-5273
Rutland office phone: 802-773-3875
email: http://jeffords.senate.gov/contact.html

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Here's What VichyDems Will Do This Weekend...

Sorry to be silent for the past half-day; sleep, daughter needing to go to friend's house, etc. The damn non-virtual world...

Here's my plan for the site:

Sometime in the next few hours, I'll put up a new "game plan" list of key senators, with their voicemail and fax numbers and email links. The idea will be that Saturday night and all day Sunday, we'll fill their VMs to overflowing, then fill their email boxes to overflowing, then start sending ridiculous numbers of faxes. If readers will keep me updated, I'll try to indicate whose VMs are full, whose inboxes are full, etc. as it happens.

Then, starting at about 5 am my time (8 am Eastern) Monday morning, when the DC offices start opening again, we'll go back to live phone calls to real people, to FLOOD them with calls all the way to the 4:30 pm cloture vote.

For right now?

1. Sign the Kerry petition here.

2. Vote in the CBS poll here.

3. Send the automatic fax to a bunch of Senators here.

4. Check back here in about 3 hours for the new "game plan."

Thanks for your patience, and for your hard work!!

Friday, January 27, 2006

Call Akaka. His Office is Still Open.

Apparently he has said he opposes filibuster. The nice woman who answers the phone in his Honolulu office didn't know, but took my request that he support a filibuster no matter what. Even though I live in Oregon!

Remember to be polite. This is Aloha.

Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 3-106
Box 50144
Honolulu, HI 96850
Tel: (808 ) 522-8970
Fax: (808 ) 545-4683
E-mail: senator@akaka.senate.gov

Both call and email. Why not?

Vote In This Poll, Please

CBS poll. Yes we should filibuster Alito!

And then visit this site to fax a whole bunch of Senators with just a few clicks:

Save The Court

Thanks!

Immediate Phone Calls, Please!!

The overall game plan is one post down, but here are the hottest of the hot, thanks to patrioticliberal at Majority Report:

Ben Nelson (NE) originally stated he would vote Yes for Alito. But it looks like he is putting his finger in the wind. He is now taking calls and tallies as well: 202-224-6551 .

Bill Nelson (FL) SAYS HE IS NOT HEARING FROM ENOUGH CONSTITUENTS! DC Phone: 202-224-5274 . He is hearing from tons of right-wingers who are saying that he should not filibuster!

Ken Salazar (D-CO) is taking your calls now regarding whether or not he should support the filibuster! Call the toll free line - 1-888-355-3588 (PRESS 2) . OR FAX: Senator Salazar: 202-228-5036 (DC FAX) .

UPDATED: The Anti-Alito Game Plan for Fri., Jan. 27 (Ver. 1.1)

UPDATED 2:21 PM PACIFIC TIME: Cloture vote is Monday, 4:30 pm Eastern. Breaking news: after saying she wouldn't support a filibuster, then going back on the fence, DiFi has committed to vote no on cloture!! Good on us!! Similarly, Clinton is back on the good side.

On the dark side, Conrad has announced he's anti-filibuster and might be pro-Alito. Punish him. Remarkably, Chuck Schumer has been using MoveOn to ASK voters to flood the switchboards in support of a filibuster, to bolster the weak-kneed!!

Bold Senators below are my "hot buttons" to call now. Lists below are updated.

Thanks, readers, for all the input!!

OVERVIEW: Senate Minority Leader made a huge blunder by telling the Democrats that Alito is a “conscience vote” instead of calling for party unity. Nevertheless, John Kerry is considering leading a filibuster – but wants to know he has 41 votes first. The current vote count says he’d lose: we don’t have 41 votes to avoid cloture. We need to help him find those votes.

So, here's the game plan:

First, sign and e-circulate the John Kerry filibuster petition.

Second, start making phone calls. The Capitol switchboard, toll-free, is: 888-355-3588. Even over the weekend, fill the voicemail boxes. Then we'll start with emails (I'll post those links later).

Call the right people, tell them you want a filibuster of Alito, and that you’re paying attention to which Democrats really fight and which ones just pay lip service. Ask for a filibuster even if there aren’t a guaranteed 41 votes against cloture, because at least we could see clearly which Democrats are real fighters, and which ones are Vichy accommodationists who need to be replaced in their next primaries.

Here are the details of how the key Senators break down:

Weak-Kneed Scotus-Lickers:
Three Democratic Senators have announced they will vote to confirm Alito. I doubt they can be convinced BOTH to change that vote AND to support a filibuster, so don’t waste much time on them, but one call to give them a ration of shit might be worthwhile. They are:

Nelson, Ben (V-NB)

Johnson, Tim (V-SD)

Byrd, Robert (V-WV)

Pasty-Polled Fencesplitters:
Six Democratic Senators now are splitting the difference, suggesting in various ways that they oppose Alito BUT WON’T SUPPORT A FILIBUSTER. We need to work hard to change their minds, because a vote for cloture (i.e., against filibuster) IS a vote for Alito. Hammer them with calls and emails. These “I was against Alito before I was for him” Senators are:

Obama, Barack (D-IL). Obama is "rumored" to be OPPOSING any filibuster for "strategic reasons." We must tell him to stop fighting Kerry and SUPPORT a filibuster.

Landrieu, Mary (V-LA)

Salazar, Ken (V-CO) (Late Friday: Staffer insists he's definitely not supporting a filibuster. Pester him for the hell of it but don't waste much time. He makes the Vichy list of Dems to unseat for being unresponsive to his base.)

Joe Biden (DE) (remind him that if he wants to be President, he needs our votes in the primaries, and WE WANT A FILIBUSTER NO MATTER WHAT.

Dorgan, Byron (ND)(Actually, Dorgan says he OPPOSES A FILIBUSTER and MIGHT EVEN SUPPORT ALITO. Hammer him.)

Conrad, Kent (ND), who was undecided, said on Ed Schultz that he is AGAINST filibuster and MIGHT EVEN SUPPORT ALITO. Let's punish him. Remind him of Tom Daschle, who took an “accommodationist” stance and lost his seat as a result.

Unknown Quantities: Make Them Take A Stand:
Several other Democratic Senators MIGHT oppose a filibuster; we just don’t know. We need to call their offices, ask whether they’ll support a filibuster, and pester them until they commit to it. (If you get a firm answer one way or another from any of these, please post it here as a comment and I’ll update the list.) These “question marks” are:

Bayh, Evan (IN)(Remind him: if he wants to be President, he needs our support!)

Cantwell, Maria (WA)(Should be low hanging fruit -- liberal D, blue state)

Dayton, Mark (MN)(no on Alito, but undecided on filibuster. LOW HANGING FRUIT!)

Levin, Carl (MI)(no on Alito, undecided on filibuster. LOW HANGING FRUIT!)

Lincoln, Blanche (AR) (opposes Alito, undecided on filibuster. LOW HANGING FRUIT!)

Nelson, Bill (FL): No on Alito but an intern says he opposes filibuster. LOW HANGING!

Pryor, Mark (AR) undecided on both Alito and filibuster.

Lautenberg, Frank (NJ)

Menendez, Bob (NJ) America’s newest Senator: let’s urge him to start right!

Rockefeller, Jay (WV)

Hey, Anyone Might Be Saved If They Hear the Gospel...
Three Republican Senators haven’t announced yet whether they’ll support Alito and are moderate enough that they might be worth a phone call. They are:

Lincoln Chafee (RI)

Susan Collins (ME) (? If anyone knows whether she’s declared, please tell me.)

Olympia Snowe (ME)

Presidency-Seekers We Hope Are Sufficiently Sycophantic:
Finally, we need someone to actually do a filibuster. John Kerry is thinking about it, but needs to be convinced to do it EVEN WITHOUT 41 VOTES. Other Democratic Senators who are considering running for President, and who therefore need to build up their base by showing some spine and should be pestered about helping a filibuster, are:

Russ Feingold (WI)

Finally, Harry Reid needs to be told (a) to rescind his “conscience vote” directive, and to make Alito a party unity vote; and (b) to back a filibuster EVEN IF there aren’t 41 votes to support it.

Muchas gracias to Bob Fertik and his commenters at democrats.com for a lot of good info and ideas I stole and updated here.

Now, go get ‘em!!

Vichy Democrats