Everyone Listen Up! POST-FILIBUSTER GAME PLAN, PART I

You thought you were done lobbying your Senators for a while? Hah! Think again!

Over the past several days, we all spent hours and hours telephoning, faxing and emailing our demands to our Senators. Now, being progressives and liberals and therefore having good manners, we need to call the good guys and tell them, "thank you. Thank you for hearing us. Thank you for representing the people. We won't forget come reelection time. Thank you."

There are two reasons we NEED to do this. First, as I said, it's simply polite. Someone does you a favor, you show gratitude. A bunch of constituents saying "thank you" with sincerity is at least as powerful as a free meal at Jack Abramoff's restaurant, "Signatures." The problem is, we don't usually do it. (Anyone ever see Lenny Bruce's cartoon "Mask Man", where the townspeople have to corner the Lone Ranger to get him to accept their thanks? Hilarious. But I digress.)

Second, and more strategically: we need to communicate that not only did we pay attention to the runup to the cloture vote; we paid attention to the outcome, and to precisely WHO voted HOW. It never hurts to remind our public servants that we're paying attention, and that we reward those who do well. This is the nicest possible way to send that message. (What about the nasty calls to the Vichys, you ask? Later, my dears, later... I want them to think all the fuss is behind them, then reappear and haunt them for months.... But that's for a later phase.)

In this phase, we praise the good guys. I know, it's boring, and you're fried, and all those long-distance calls get expensive. I'm in the same boat. But do it anyway. Call at night, when rates are lower and you can just leave a message. The phone bills won't come for a couple more weeks anyway, right? So just do it. Please.

So here's the very simple, low-calorie, Post-Filibuster Game Plan, Part I:

Today, call the DC office of every Senator below and say, "thank you for your vote on cloture." And send an email.

Tomorrow, call all the local district offices for two or three Senators and do the same.

And two or three more the day after that, and the day after that, until every number for every right-voting Senator has been called. We'll generate a flow of gratitude lasting a week or more, which will send a subtle but powerful message for good (and make their staffers a little happier with us, too!)

If you want to mix it around a little (some DC, some District), that's fine, too; just keep track so that every number gets called over the next week or so.

Everyone on board? Go to it! And have fun. You're talking to the good people this time!

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

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

Biden, Joe (D-DE) (Strategy note: has Presidential aspirations. Nothing wrong with telling him that his responsiveness to our needs will earn him our respect and support in that effort.)
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

Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-3553
DC office fax: none given
San Francisco office phone: (415) 403-0100
San Francisco office fax: (415) 956-6701
Los Angeles office phone: (213) 894-5000
Los Angeles office fax: (213) 894-5042
Sacramento office phone: (916) 448-2787
Sacramento office fax: (916) 448-2563 fax
Fresno office phone: (559) 497-5109
Fresno office fax: (559) 497-5111
San Diego office phone: (619) 239-3884
San Diego office fax: (619) 239-5719 fax
San Bernardino office phone: (909) 888-8525
San Bernardino office fax: (909) 888-8613
Webmail link

Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) (Strategy note: Clinton's office initially said she was undecided about the filibuster, then that she was against it, then (as the calls came in) that she was undecided and had never said she opposed it, then finally that she was for it. A specialist, these days, at triangulation, she nevertheless did the right thing. Give her some sugar!)
Main Senate switchboard number: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-4451
DC office fax: (202) 228-0282
Albany office phone: (518) 431-0120
Albany office fax: (518) 431-0128
Buffalo office phone: (716) 854-9725
Buffalo office fax: (716) 854-9731
Long Island office phone: (631) 249-2825
Long Island office fax: (631) 249-2847
NYC office phone: (212) 688-6262
NYC office fax: (212) 688-7444
Lowville office phone: (315) 376-6118
Lowville office fax: (315) 376-6118
Rochester office phone: (585) 263-6250
Rochester office fax: (585) 263-6247
Nyack office phone: (845) 613-0076
Nyack office fax: (845) 613-0110
Syracuse office phone: (315) 448-0470
Syracuse office fax: (315) 448-0476
Hartsdale office phone: (914) 725-9294
Hartsdale office fax: (914) 472-5073
Webmail link

Dayton, Mark (D-MN) (Strategy note: Dayton's leaving the Senate in November. He thought the filibuster was a bad idea strategically, but still did what we asked. Thank him for that.)
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

Dodd, Chris (D-CT)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-2823
DC office fax: (202) 224-1083
Wethersfield office phone: (860) 258-6940
Webmail link

Durbin, Dick (D-IL)
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-2152
DC office fax: (202) 228-0400
Chicago office phone: (312) 353-4952
Chicago office fax: (312) 353-0150
Springfield office phone: (217 ) 492-4062
Springfield office fax: (217) 492-4382
Marion office phone: (618) 998-8812
Marion office fax: (618) 997-0176
Webmail link

Feingold, Russell (D-WI)
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-5323
DC office fax: (202) 224-2725
Milwaukee office phone: (414) 276-7282
Milwaukee office fax: (414) 276-7284
Middleton office phone: (608) 828-1200
Middleton office fax: (608) 828-1203
Lacrosse office phone: (608) 782-5585
Wausau office phone: (715) 848-5660
Green Bay office phone: (920) 465-7508
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov

Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA) (Strategy note: DiFi initially said she would oppose the filibuster. However, she was bombarded with calls, and Cindy Sheehan announced she would run against her if she did not support it. More due to our calls, I think, Feinstein was the first one to change her mind. Make sure she knows how much courage it took to reverse course when she became aware of how strongly her constituents felt about Alito, and tell her we won't forget.)
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-3841
DC office fax: (202) 228-3954
San Francisco office phone: 415/393-0707
Los Angeles office phone: 310/914-7300
Fresno office phone: 559/485-7430
San Diego office phone: 619/231-9712
Webmail link

Harkin, Tom (D-IA) (absent during vote, which effectively supported the filibuster; we don't know whether strategic or just coincidental, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt, since we were asking Senators to abstain.)
Main Senate switchboard: 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
Cedar Rapids office phone: (319) 365-4504
Cedar Rapids office fax: (319) 365-4683
Davenport office phone: (563) 322-1338
Davenport office fax: (563) 322-0417
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
Webmail link

Jeffords, James (I-VT) (Strategy note: Jeffords is the former Republican who switched to Independent in order to give the Democrats brief control of the Senate early in Bush's first term. He paid quite a high political price for doing that. Praise him for consistently putting principle and respect for the Constitution above political expediency, and reassure him that we'll remember and do what we can to support him in the future.)
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

Kennedy, Edward M. (D-MA)
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4543
DC office fax: 202-224-2417
Boston office phone: 617-565-3170
Boston office fax: 617-565-3183
Webmail link

Kerry, John
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-2742
DC office fax: (202) 224-8525
Boston office phone: (617) 565-8519
Boston office fax: (617) 248-3870
Springfield office phone: (413) 785-4610
Springfield office fax: (413) 736-1049
Fall River office phone: (508) 677-0522
Fall River office fax: (508) 677-0275
Webmail link

Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ)(Strategy note: initially a holdout, partly because Alito's from NJ and he didn't want to lose votes there. But he did the right thing in the end.)
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

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

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

Menendez, Robert (D-NJ): (Strategy note: Menendez is America’s newest Senator – appointed to fill a vacant seat just this month, and I believe his maiden speech on the Senate floor was his anti-Alito speech on Monday. He was rumored to be reluctant to oppose Alito for the same reasons Lautenberg was, but he did the right thing. Menendez will be up for reelection in November. Let’s praise him for starting his Senate career as a warrior for justice, not as a triangulating polltaking Vichy, and promise that we won't forget as his election campaign gets under way.)
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
Campaign phone: 201-271-1661
Campaign email: bob@menendezforcongress.com.

Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD)
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

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

Obama, Barack (D- IL)
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/

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

Reid, Harry (D-NV)
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

Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD)
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

Schumer, Charles (D-NY)(Strategy note: Schumer was wonderfully aggressive in questioning Alito in the Judiciary Committee hearings, but apparently was opposed to the filibuster afterward. Nevertheless, he voted no on cloture. Good for him for doing the right thing.)
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

Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: (202) 224-4822
DC office fax: none given
East Lansing office phone: (517) 203-1760
Detroit office phone: (313) 961-4330
Grand Rapids office phone: (616) 975-0052
Flint office phone: (810) 720-4172
Marquette office phone: (906) 228-8756
Traverse City office phone: (231) 929-1031
email: senator@stabenow.senate.gov

Wyden, Ron (D-OR)
Main Senate switchboard: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5244
DC office fax: none given
Portland office phone: (503) 326-7525
Eugene office phone: (541) 431-0229
La Grande office phone: (541) 962-7691
Medford office phone: (541) 858-5122
Bend office phone: (541) 330-9142
Salem office phone: (503) 589-4555
Webmail link