I just called Boxer’s office. On hold for 7 minutes. Low quality/resolution classical music.
Staffer answers, seemingly pissed.
PP: “What is the Senators position on the torture/detainee bill?”
Staffer: “The Senator has not yet issued a statement on this bill but we are awaiting the vote on the Specter/S.P.E.C.T.R.E.? Amendment now….I can take a message on your views about the bill for the Sentator (still pissed).”
PP: “It would be a shameful day for the United States for this bill to pass in any form. I would be highly disappointed if my Senators voted either for this bill or cloture on debate.”
Staffer: “Well OK thank you..” (hangs up)
PP: Too mad to lambast the insidious cabal of the CCA.
1-800-AMNESTY- ask for the Capitol switchboard, use the pretenses provided below, then COBRA STRIKE FORCE ACTION TEAM on their ass about the CCA, but first the torture. Habeas Corpus, then Habeas Kickus Assus.
UPDATE:
Feinstein’s hold music MUCH higher sound quality. Staffer much friendlier.
PP: “What is the Senator’s position on the current torture/detainee Bill?”
Staffer: “The Senator is highly against the Bill.”
PP: “Is the Senator against the Bill enough to vote against cloture on debate?”
Staffer: almost laughing, tralala like, “Well, I don’t know, that is something we’d have to ask the Senator.”
PP: “I’d like the Senator to know that passage of this shameful Bill would be inexcusable. Even if the Specter Amendement passes on Habeas Corpus rights, there are enough other aspects of the Bill, including the definition of torture, presentation of secret evidence, etc. that I am highly against any vote by Senator Feinstein in favor of this Bill or for cloture on debate. Please pass on my concerns to the Senator in no uncertain terms.”
Staffer: “Thank you for your input.” (hangs up)
PP: Curses! She had me at “we’d have to ask the Senator”- it made it sound like we were going to have a picnic on the Oval and go Pork Snorkeling and have tidbits with the Senator and she got me off my game. I will now lie in wait and get her on the CCA issue later.
UPDATE UPDATE: If John McCain were a phone number, he’d be 9-1-1 as in IS A JOKE. Gregor Samsa says:
GS: Can you explain to me why John McCain voted against the Habeus Corpus amendment to the MCA. I think that this is probably one of John McCain’s most disgusting votes and that says a lot. All of his pandering to the press on this issue in recent weeks appears to be just that pandering for political reasons and not principled reasons. This vote and the MCA are absolutely disgusting.
AK: I let the Senator know.
GS: No. I want an explanation.
AK: McCain hasn’t released a statement yet.
GS: So are you saying that staff is not prepared to address this issue?
AK: No I’m not saying that.
GS: Well then I would like an explanation!
AK: There’s nobody here to provide you an explanation.
GS: Well either McCain’s office is unprepared or they care so little about the issue that they can’t be bothered to address it.
AK: Look I’ll transfer you to Church (I forget his last name) our Military affairs staffer.
GS: OK
Church’s Voicemail: Blah blah blah
GS: Long rant about the Habeus Corpus amendment, with a demand for a call back with a full explanation.
Dials up the McCain DC office again…
AK: Please hold
GS: OK
AK: Please hold
GS: OK
AK: Hello
GS: Did you just transfer me to the Military Affairs staffer.
AK: I don’t know.
GS: I left a voicemail with him. But I want an explanation now for John McCain’s vote on Habeus Corpus.
AK: I gave you the voicemail of the Military Affairs Staffer.
GS: I wan to speak to someone in person and get an answer.
AK: There’s nobody here.
GS: Chief of staff?
AK: Let me try…
AK: Nope not there.
GS: Next person down on the organization chart? Assistant chief of staff?
AK: Look there’s nobody here that can help you.
GS: So you are saying that John McCain’s office is unprepared to address this issue?
AK: You are being irrational! I don’t want to have to hang up on you. We are very busy. I have eight lines on hold.
GS: I AM NOT BEING IRRATIONAL! This is an extremely important issue. You should have anticipated questions on this vote. I want an explanation for this despicable vote!
AK: There is nobody here that can answer your question. I don’t want to hang up on you. You can come down to the office to see for yourself.
GS: I’m in Arizona. You know the state that JM represents!
AK: I didn’t know that. Can you please hold?
GS: OK
Holds….
AK: Please don’t yell any more. I’ve told you there is nobody here to help you. I’m just an intern.
GS: *(first time voice is raised in whole conversation)* Look, I won’t be called irrational by Senator McCain’s office. I would like to point out that you work for us and not the other way around. I’m your constituent. Either Senator McCain’s office is unprepared to address this issue or you care so little about the issue that you won’t address it.
*(Anchors Aweigh Hold Music Plays During Last Rant)*
AK: Ahem
GS: Did you just hang up on me?
AK: No
GS: Why did I hear the hold music?
AK: I accidentally pushed the hold button.
GS: !!!!!!!!!! What’s your name?
AK: Adam
GS: Last name?
AK: Kim
GS: Spell it!
AK: K..I..M..
AK: Look if you’ll hold I’ll try and find somebody to talk to you..
GS: So you bounce me around for five minutes and tell me that’s not an option. That nobody is there to address my concerns. And then you put me on hold while I’m talking? And then I call you on it. You lie about it. And now you offer access? Your actions and the actions of the Senator’s office are absolutely disgusting! *hangs up*
If Boxer or Feinstein vote for cloture, there will be a replay. A painful and awkward replay for some sad staffer.
I am very proud of you! At least you didn’t tell anyone to eff off like AG did to Bank of America yesterday. Speaking of which — that will be a post and ANYONE who keeps an account with them will suffer the wrath of AG.
Oh yeah, Massachusetts voted down liquor sales in grocery stores last night. They tried to say it would increase drinking and driving by 3%. If they really cared, perhaps we could get a bill like what your boy Arnold signed for the enviro yesterday or maybe, you know, reduce smoking! It was all about the Utah blue laws. What next, a permit? Whatevs. If AG wants to be a lush, who is Romney and Camp to decide? Stoopid Mormon — go back to Utah.
No bashing on Mallomars, Mitt can eat it, though. Seriously, we love all kinds at 3B, no matter your religione-
Well played, Pinko.
I faxed my Sens yesterday- a nice letter allows a little more detail and rage to shine through.
But since one of my senators is Mad Russ, I don’t fear too much that he’s on the good side of the issue.
I’m eating a Rolo.
GS: Can you explain to me why John McCain voted against the Habeus Corpus amendment to the MCA. I think that this is probably one of John McCain’s most disgusting votes and that says a lot. All of his pandering to the press on this issue in recent weeks appears to be just that pandering for political reasons and not principled reasons. This vote and the MCA are absolutely disgusting.
AK: I let the Senator know.
GS: No. I want an explanation.
AK: McCain hasn’t released a statement yet.
GS: So are you saying that staff is not prepared to address this issue?
AK: No I’m not saying that.
GS: Well then I would like an explanation!
AK: There’s nobody here to provide you an explanation.
GS: Well either McCain’s office is unprepared or they care so little about the issue that they can’t be bothered to address it.
AK: Look I’ll transfer you to Church (I forget his last name) our Military affairs staffer.
GS: OK
Church’s Voicemail: Blah blah blah
GS: Long rant about the Habeus Corpus amendment, with a demand for a call back with a full explanation.
Dials up the McCain DC office again…
AK: Please hold
GS: OK
AK: Please hold
GS: OK
AK: Hello
GS: Did you just transfer me to the Military Affairs staffer.
AK: I don’t know.
GS: I left a voicemail with him. But I want an explanation now for John McCain’s vote on Habeus Corpus.
AK: I gave you the voicemail of the Military Affairs Staffer.
GS: I wan to speak to someone in person and get an answer.
AK: There’s nobody here.
GS: Chief of staff?
AK: Let me try…
AK: Nope not there.
GS: Next person down on the organization chart? Assistant chief of staff?
AK: Look there’s nobody here that can help you.
GS: So you are saying that John McCain’s office is unprepared to address this issue?
AK: You are being irrational! I don’t want to have to hang up on you. We are very busy. I have eight lines on hold.
GS: I AM NOT BEING IRRATIONAL! This is an extremely important issue. You should have anticipated questions on this vote. I want an explanation for this despicable vote!
AK: There is nobody here that can answer your question. I don’t want to hang up on you. You can come down to the office to see for yourself.
GS: I’m in Arizona. You know the state that JM represents!
AK: I didn’t know that. Can you please hold?
GS: OK
Holds….
AK: Please don’t yell any more. I’ve told you there is nobody here to help you. I’m just an intern.
GS: *(first time voice is raised in whole conversation)* Look, I won’t be called irrational by Senator McCain’s office. I would like to point out that you work for us and not the other way around. I’m your constituent. Either Senator McCain’s office is unprepared to address this issue or you care so little about the issue that you won’t address it.
*(Anchors Aweigh Hold Music Plays During Last Rant)*
AK: Ahem
GS: Did you just hang up on me?
AK: No
GS: Why did I hear the hold music?
AK: I accidentally pushed the hold button.
GS: !!!!!!!!!! What’s your name?
AK: Adam
GS: Last name?
AK: Kim
GS: Spell it!
AK: K..I..M..
AK: Look if you’ll hold I’ll try and find somebody to talk to you..
GS: So you bounce me around for five minutes and tell me that’s not an option. That nobody is there to address my concerns. And then you put me on hold while I’m talking? And then I call you on it. You lie about it. And now you offer access? Your actions and the actions of the Senator’s office are absolutely disgusting! *hangs up*
John Kyl, batter f*cking up!
THANK YOU, GREGOR.
done…although, they claimed Boxer was against torture bill but had no stance on curling
So Boxer is pro-torture. CCA torture of reasonable venues for the FoWoWos!
Feinstein is the one to worry about. She might vote for cloture.
I let Sen Kyl’s office off easy. At least they don’t even pretend to care. I called the Tucson office….MCA?….huh?…what’s that….oh yeah! They haven’t paraded around the country the last several weeks making faux principled remarks about torture and the constitution and then turn around and demonstrate that they flat out just don’t give a rat’s a**. Refreshingly honest in their odious views.
I also got a prompt call back from the DC office with a written statement from Senator Kyl. But again there was nobody in person to talk to. I did take the opportunity to demoralize every staffer that I spoke to about the issue – pointing out that the timing of the vote was for political reasons, that the MCA would allow the president to pick up ANYONE (US Citizen or not) and declare them an enemy combatant, the butchering of first principles under which the US was founded, do you believe in Habeus Corpus….how do you sleep at night….disgusting…unpatriotic…anti-american…immoral…
I think that asking for a personal and immediate response was very effective. It’s amazing how easily the machine gets rattled by one little call…
I don’t see how to get through to Feinstein. She’s too “safe” so she can do whatever looks best regardless of disgruntled callers.
I’ll try a more GS worthy approach
Fulsome, I didn’t mean to toot my own horn! It just seemed that being calm and insistent helped. Don’t accept the brush off. Carefully parsed written statements issued after the vote are useless. Make the staffers work and think for themselves. Make them operate outside their SOPs…that’s when it gets a little interesting.
Credit where credit’s due, sir.
Self-deprecation can go too far.
That’s why we keep the Capt. around
Thanks!!!
Headline on CNN.com…School Hostage Crisis
Headline on MSNBC.com…Wildfires
Can’t we just torture all the senators until they promise to not to pass the torture bill?
nice work GS. I am so depressed about this.
I’d love to contact my own senators about making sure this bill gets squashed, but I suspect Kerrys or Kennedy’s staffers would lecture ME for being such a right winger.
it’s all relative.
and when all hell breaks loose, you can all come live with me in MA, home of John Adams and habeus corpus. I’ve got the room.
I think I want to go live with UC in the Great WHite North.
Home of Rush.
That’s the problem TC they can pick you up any where, any time and for any reason. But Canada does sound nice right about now…for example we’re left with type of crap:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/28/lott-iraq/
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/sep/28/ct_02_courtney_blasts_simmons_volunteer_for_hate_blogging
And yes I called the US Chamber of Commerce and gave them a piece of my mind. Talk about pissy!
Twelve Democrats voted in favor of the Senate bill:
Tom Carper (DE)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Joe Lieberman (CT)
Bob Menendez (NJ)
Bill Nelson (FL)
Ben Nelson (NE)
Mark Pryor (AR)
Jay Rockefeller (WV)
Ken Salazar (CO)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Cobags each and every one.
technically that is 11 Democrats and Joe Lieberman.
Touche!
I don’t understand the votes of Carper, the NJ boys, Rockefeller, Stabenow, Salazar, or Bill Nelson. Their seats seem safe – did they actually believe in the bill?
Torture enthusiasts seem to lurk in the unlikeliest places.
Would ithave helped if we had just paid for a couple of S&M sessions for most of these guys?
I’d be up for that as long as I didn’t have to watch.
Yeah. 11 Dems voting for it. One footstool voting for it. Chafee voted against it. Snowe sat out every vote. Specter acting like, well, Specter – voting for it despite actually knowing what’s wrong with it.
I don’t know New Jersey politics, but isn’t it more likely Menendez just lost his seat rather than kept it?
I don’t entirely agree with Hunter’s piece from yesterday, but it does provide this quote:
Do not think that merely being against barbarism will earn you a single vote, in America. You are dealing with a country that does not believe it is barbaric.
Just what tyrannies do people think the Constitution is supposed to guard against? While it’s pretty clearly been an article of faith for many years, when, in the eyes of its people, did this “republic if you can keep it” cease to be measured by it’s actions and become axiomatically righteous?
I buy Hunter’s argument to a certain extent.
However, I do think that voters and the American people respect principle.
The trick is to be both principled and not allow the wingers to paint you as weak/unpatriotic. I think the correct strategy is to go on the attack (a la Clinton) and state emphatically that America can, should and must do better. The attack has to be unrelenting.
Reverse every winger argument and throw it back in their face….
I believe in America! I believe in the Constitution! We can withstand the cowardly terrorists without throwing out the constitution, without torture, without warrantless wiretapping, and without living in a purposeful culture of fear that causes us to forget our history and abandon our principles. My opponent believes America is weak and that you are weak. My opponent believes that we have to stoop to the level of terrorists to defeat them. Well I believe in our great nation. We can defeat them without becoming them! If elected I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens. We can and must do this together. Do not let my opponent question your patriotism or your resolve just because he/she wants to take the coward’s way out of this battle. Oh and eat it Cobagz1!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I agree with you Plover about the tenuousness of our democracy and repulic. What happened to all the civics lessons we were taught as children. The difficulties of democracies and republics…the tyranny or the majority…defending the rights of the poor, oppressed and different…innocent until proven guilty…habeus corpus… That’s all really amazing and difficult stuff and it’s that which made me well up with pride when I realized the cost of our principles.
And regarding Menendez, I just read MYDD and it appears that he’s running neck and neck with Kean Jr so his seat isn’t as safe as I would have expected. It seems that every year there’s an unnecessarily close race in NJ but that the Dem pulls it out in the end.
AG could share some NJ politics. However, that’s for another day.
AG wasn’t bashing Mallomars, only specifically one that comes to Massachusetts, a state that is NOT interested in Mallomars and pushing around his agenda like banning stem cells. WTF? Maybe he should have been busy dealing with the big dig rather than making out with James Sherley. That is a stoopid Mallomar and AG is going to say it. (AG would have called him a stupid Juice Box if he was a Juice Box. It’s specific to him, not religions.)
GS:
I agree about the tactics. A lot of Dems seem to go out of their way to demonstrate they use sink lettuce for vertebrae. The correct response to “You’re unpatriotic!” is not “No, I’m not!” (It’s also not the correct answer to “You’re so liiiiiiibrul!”, which is something like “Fuck yeah, why aren’t you?”)
I agree with Hunter in the sense that yes, the administration is already engaged in whatever evil and brutality it likes, and from the standpoint of tangible effect, this bill is just lipstick on the iron maiden, but, on the world stage, it also the most abject possible admission of cowardice and ineptness, and of the failure of principle, imagination, and common sense. One could hardly blame other nations for regarding the U.S. as a panicked toddler, the stench from whose diaper is wafting across the oceans. It’s just no one’s worked out any good rules for dealing with nuclear armed toddlers.
Brutality is the answer of the stupid, the lazy, and the thuggish. The real difficulty of democracy is not the day-to-day politics, it’s precisely finding the path to keep the principles of liberty and dignity alive when the system is threatened. The U.S. is just faced for the first time with an administration that would rather destroy liberty and democracy than admit a mistake.
p, you can front page these thoughts you know. I know it will make people think we are serious pants, but I don’t mind if we wear these discussions proudly, in fact I think we should. If the Bulls are seriouspants, the whole f***ing world better take notice, because the magic donut is not going to make everything all better. I think Hunter is sorely mistaken.
… without living in a purposeful culture of fear that causes us to forget our history and abandon our principles. My opponent believes America is weak and that you are weak. My opponent believes that we have to stoop to the level of terrorists to defeat them.
That’s truly beautiful and beautifully true. I’d like to see some of the Dems go for the throat like that.