Webb, Tester, McCaskill - Call Them!!

After yesterday's cowardly vote, in which the above mentioned voted with the Republicans in condemning that very evil, life-changing, liberty-threathening ad by MoveOn.org, you know, the one questioning a General bought and paid for by the White House, I called the above Senators.  Why did I call them, you ask, when I live in NY? Because I donated to every one of them. I gave my hard earned money, money I could have spent on the electric bill, money I could have used for new clothes for my kids, money I could have used to take my family out to dinner. I sent them several hundred dollars, several times. And this is what I get??? A stab in the back, saying that an organization that helped each of them get into office, plus millions of Americans who doubt Petraeus, are traitors?? That is what we get: we were "condemned: for this ad. What - are we a banana republic, where we can't question the generals?? We are getting scarier every day, people. I am really not recognizing my country from 6 years ago.  

Also, the arrogance. Such arrogance. These three senators are forgetting who helped make their victories possible. Their arrogance is highlighted when you call Webb's office: the drone  in the office was rude and dismissive to me. I didn't let her off the hook - I told her she was rude and dismissive, and she just repeated herself, that she will pass my message on, and hung up on me. Who the hell does Webb think he is?? He is acting like Bush, beholden to no one. I realize I am not a constituent, but when someone calls who has donated $$ to you, and is displeased, it might behoove you to be polite and pay attention.

Here are some numbers for you - please call them if you have a few minutes, make them answer for their vote on that absurd resolution.

Webb:
202-224-4024

Tester:
202-224-2644

McCaskill
202-224-6154

•  If you're not in their state, don't call them

  They don't represent you and it's an insult to the people in their states for you to try and subvert their representation.  That's not how our system works.

  Call your own Senators.  

  by VelvetElvis on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:24:29 AM PDT

  •  He did give money to them, though...

    ...so I think he has a right to speak.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    by LordMike on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:25:45 AM PDT

    •  I'd be careful of that argument

      Basically your are saying that Senators should be bought and sold by people they do not even represent. While I am not naive enough to say this is not the case, it is nevertheless a position I do not believe should be adopted and/or endorsed.

      by atomchik on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:31:51 AM PDT

      •  Nope - not bought and sold, but notified

        that with such disloyalty to those that helped them in the first place, I won't be donating again. They had every right to vote for that POS resolution. I have every right to tell them I won't be donating again. What? Are they God, that I can't disapprove?? They are just frail human beings, who did the wrong thing. And I expressed my views.

        by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:34:07 AM PDT

  •  that's a crock

    I gave money and time to jon tester AND jim webb.  I worked the phone banks for moveon that helped raise awareness and bring out voters.

    I have every right to call.  every right.

    by Frenchy Lamour on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:40:44 AM PDT

    •  Amen. And please call if you can. n/t

      by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:41:45 AM PDT

    •  Then register as a lobyist

      by VelvetElvis on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:45:52 AM PDT

      •  Lott

        I suppose you also think people shouldn't have been calling from across the country for Trent Lott to step down. Lott doesn't represent you and it's an insult to the people in Mississippi for you to try and subvert their representation.

        Also, people calling out george Allen for his macaca comments was also uncalled for: Allen doesn't represent you and it's an insult to the people in Virginia for you to try and subvert their representation.

        for that matter, who cares about the jena 6?  When all these people who aren't from Louisiana protest there, "it's an insult to the people in their states for you to try and subvert their representation. "

        If Tester, McCaskill, Webb and the rest were happy to take money from out of state, they can answer to those donors.

        by Frenchy Lamour on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:57:19 AM PDT

        •  And thank god

          I now know that Joe Lieberman is ONLY responsible to Connecticut!  What a relief.

          by SarahLee on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 02:58:41 PM PDT

    •  And their Senate office has every right to hang

      up on you.

      by Geekesque on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:11:22 AM PDT

      •  right

        like I have the right to ignore you.

        why do you hate me for my freedoms?

        by Frenchy Lamour on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:30:43 AM PDT

      •  Absolutely - why pay attention to the peons

        once you are safely in your cushy Senate job??

        With your attitude, I should go find some cake to eat.

        by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:36:11 AM PDT

        •  The Senate office exists to serve their

          constituents, not their out of state contributors.

          by Geekesque on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:58:19 AM PDT

          •  I understand that - but out of staters

            can contribute, so until they refuse my money, they will hear from me.
            :)

            by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 03:47:09 PM PDT

            •  You should call their campaigns.

              Their Senate offices and campaign operations have a firewall set up.  

              by Geekesque on Sat Sep 22, 2007 at 06:48:10 AM PDT

    •  totally agree n/t

      by candace in sonoma on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:05:01 PM PDT

  •  Sure, so I won't give anyone out of my state

    money either. Sorry. I disagree.

    by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:41:16 AM PDT

    •  That's not how it works

      You gave that money no strings attached. If you're thinking that the fact you gave money should buy you some kind of special consideration, go set up on K-street.

      by VelvetElvis on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:48:04 AM PDT

      •  That is patently absurd

        You support people because they tell you the will do certain things, such as fight this war or be progressive on the economy. What these senators did was just pandering to the scary republicans. I said it before, and I repeat it: Cowards.

        by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:32:08 AM PDT

  •  They represent all of us.

    For example, -- their vote helps to kill any son or daughter of this country?  They answer to you and me.  You'd better fucking well believe it.

    by dov12348 on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:53:05 AM PDT

    •  Agree

      This "constituents only" argument is old politics at its worst. Just the excuse for arrogance and the ice berg tip of the the underlying rational that getting re-elected is more important that doing the right thing. What they do (or don't do) in DC effects all Americans. And frankly the rest of the world. I live in London now and personally think George should listen up to the whole rest of the world. There are British kids dying too. Who do their parents call?

      by candace in sonoma on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:21:31 PM PDT

•  When you do call...

  ...please also thank Webb for his amendment that was the best chance at ending the war...

  'Cos, you know, that means a hell of a lot more than symbolic moveon votes....

  Please don't forget that in your rage over a carefully crafted republican trick (which is working wonderfully, BTW)...

  Thanks,

  Mike

  by LordMike on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:25:16 AM PDT

  •  One does not alleviate the other - sorry

    I just don't agree with that.

    by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:42:22 AM PDT

    •  Just remember what George Allen would have done..

      ...in the same situation...

      Thanks,

      Mike

      by LordMike on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:02:28 AM PDT

      •  exactly

        Think about Webb versus Allen and the areas they are in.  You happen to list my favorite Dems.  I don't know why they would vote on this resolution but I imagine it has something to do with their areas and possibly just respect for the military culture.  Webb especially is a military man.  I'm going to ignore this vote personally.

        by BobOak on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:19:47 AM PDT

        •  I respect your right to ignore it

          And I hope you respect my right to not ignore it. It strikes me as arrogant and scornful of those little people who helped them get where they are now that they are in their cushy Senate jobs.

          by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:37:34 AM PDT

          •  sure

            not a problem, I just wish people would remember that Virginia is probably one of the largest military cultures in the US and military culture, which Webb tows the line on 1st and foremost is a different beast.  

            by BobOak on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:42:38 AM PDT

            •  Good - and he can toe the line without my $$$ n/t

              by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:46:31 AM PDT

    •  Don't blame Webb

      John Warner stabbed him in the back on the vote that mattered. Everything else is water under the bridge.

      If you're in VA, call Warner and let him know how much you hate his flip-flopping republican fish guts right now. Too bad he won't care, and you won't even get to vote him out of office for it since he's retiring.

      by cville townie on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:00:21 PM PDT

•  already on it

  Phone Calls to Stupid Democrats.

  I haven't gotten McCaskill or Tester yet. Tester later today.

  by Frenchy Lamour on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:25:41 AM PDT

•  I called, I was very upset..

  she said that webb did not think the ad appropriate. so he is now a critic of ads.

  by lgb30856 on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:29:38 AM PDT

  •  he has every right to personally object to the ad

    and NO constitutional right whatsoever to officially condemn a private organization from excercising their constitutional right to call general petraeus' honesty into question.

    Jim Webb needs to brush up on where his personal objections end and his constitutional duties begin

    by KnotIookin on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:47:42 AM PDT

    •  Actually,

      he has every right to officially censURE the ad if he doesn't like it. Just no right to censOR it or do anything to retaliate against MoveOn or the NYT for publishing it.

      The resolution is a "sense of the senate" and the constitution says basically nothing about it because there is nothing that resolution actually does. Thanks to our Constitution, men with guns don't go out and seize the printing presses when a resolution like that is passed.

      by cville townie on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:05:42 PM PDT

      •  the resolution was a sense of the gop consultants

        and anyone who voted for it codified a blatant LIE

        the LIE that Moveon and their 3 million plus members not only smeared a general but attacked the ENTIRE MILITARY especially the people serving in IRAQ.

        NO SENATOR had a right to do that....none...period...end of democracy if you think they did

        and to name ONE organization to condemn, for purley political reasons....is another step on a very slippery slope into fascism....and banana republicanism

        did Jim webb realize what he was actually voting for when he voted to put the full weight of the US senate behind a politically charged attack, orchestrated by the gop, on a democratically leaning organization that DARED to excercise its constitutional right to speak truth to power....if he did he is of NO USE to those of us who are desperately trying to restore representative Democracy in America...no use whatsoever.

        this bill had no business even being brought UP in the Senate let alone getting a damn vote and getting 22 totally COWED democrats to go along with it.

        the vote, had mr Webb wanted to express official outrage, was the BOXER Ammendment that condemned the idea across the board, but Webb condemned moveon....and codified a LIE, and for that he should be called to account by every member of moveon in America, whether they live in his state or not.

        by KnotIookin on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:15:11 PM PDT

•  Effective or ineffective tactics

  The Moveon ad was not effective in advancing our goal in ending the Iraq war.

  Describing Senator Webb's vote as "cowardly" is likey to be just as effective as the Moveon ad.

  by science first on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:32:37 AM PDT

•  He 's MY Senator,

  bought and paid for.

  by bugscuffle on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:50:37 AM PDT

•  Give them a break

  All three of them come from red states, and at least two (Webb and Tester) were elected with very thin margins.  Normally right-leaning voters took a chance on Democrats, many for the first time in their lives and probably not without serious reservations.  But they did it.  The last thing these senators need is to be associated with exactly the kind of "extreme Hollywood liberalism" that the right-wing spin doctors have been yelling about for the past twenty years.  Yeah, it's bullshit, but it's the kind of bullshit that red state voters eat up.  So if Webb and Tester and McCaskill have to kowtow to the right a little, well, that's politics.

  by Jon Stafford on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:52:26 AM PDT

  •  obama

    obama did the right thing. he called the vote what it was (a set up and a distraction from the real work on Iraq) and refused to take part.

    Any of these others could have done the same. heck they could have just voted "present".

    instead they kicked a major funding and volunteer base in the teeth. that's a bad move.

    by Frenchy Lamour on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:59:25 AM PDT

    •  Illinois is very blue

      It was safe for Obama to do so, also he's running for our presidential nomination, where liberal voters predominate.  You want to drive Webb back into the GOP because he didn't like the children's rhetoric of the MoveOn ad? Be my guest!

      by TLS66 on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:24:37 AM PDT

      •  that has to be the lamest.

        "You want to drive Webb back into the GOP because he didn't like the children's rhetoric of the MoveOn ad? Be my guest!"

        Seriously, do you have a brain in your head?  I'm to hold back on criticism of a public servant because he might take his ball and go home?

        Holy shit. No wonder the Democratic Party has turned into such a group of pussies.  people like you are too scared to call them out when they fuck up because they might quit and go home.

        I guess I should just sit here and do nothing instead, because exercising my right to petition the government for redress of grievances might cause a senator to stomp off in a huff.

        by Frenchy Lamour on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:36:39 AM PDT

        •  I used to be a republican, and I retain the

          belief that republicans have, the belief that your reps should represent YOU, not the other side out of fear. Far too many Democrats, both in Congress and on this site, cower in fear at those big, bad republicans.

          How about this from Webb, Tester, and McCaskill:

          The republicans tried to get me to disavow an ad I had nothing to do with, wasting our time and trying to distract their vote against the troops. They voted against giving the troops the same amount of time home as they have in a combat zone. Their attempt at distraction didn't work. I am going to continue to fight for our troops, and get them the time home that they deserve.

          How about that, instead of that stupid, cowardly vote???

          by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:43:28 AM PDT

  •  Yeah

    and the thin margins they were elected by were the results of Democratic base memebers, many of which belong to Moveon. I can tell you right now I spent valuable time and money to get Webb into office and I didn't do it so he could spned time condemning Moveon members freedom of speech and yes, I AM a constituent and so is my husband.

    by cwaltz on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:13:33 AM PDT

    •  I disagree

      The Democrats in Virginia were going to vote for Webb anyway.  What put him (and Tester and McCaskill) over the top were the people who usually vote Republican, but went Democratic this time due to the scandals and incompetence of the GOP.  I agree that it's a slap in the face to Democrats, and that they could have taken the "Obama way out," but they didn't.  They have a fairly conservative consituent base, and they made the decision (if I may speculate) that, since someone was going to be pissed off no matter what they did, better to not piss off the conservatives, who as a group tend to be a lot more vindictive than progressives.  I just think we're awfully quick to lambaste these people without giving any consideration to the political realities on the ground in their states.

      by Jon Stafford on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:21:23 AM PDT

      •  This statement of your's is so sad and so true

        They have a fairly conservative consituent base, and they made the decision (if I may speculate) that, since someone was going to be pissed off no matter what they did, better to not piss off the conservatives, who as a group tend to be a lot more vindictive than progressives.

        Now, they should fear the vindictiveness of the progressives. I hope they heard me.

        by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:45:19 AM PDT

      •  Eh, don't bother with the conservatives

        I'm more worried about marginal voters and independents who are basically Democrats in all but name, but have a conniption if they think we're "insulting the troops".

        The actual conservatives who hold the grudges you're talking about are probably a lost cause. Some of them will wake up and seriously switch positions, some won't at all. I doubt this ad will make a difference to them either way.

        by cville townie on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:10:29 PM PDT

  •  They could have abstained from voting

    Instead, they ran away from the group that helped them get elected. They pandered to the republicans, who will use this against the Democratic nominees for president. They are afraid of what the republicans will say about them. What - have they no tongues??? If they are afraid of the republicans, how can they fight for us against other enemies?? THAT is what a lot of republicans who voted for them are now saying, and they will go back to their real republican, and give up on their republican lite.

    by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:40:07 AM PDT

    •  No, he didn't

      "The group that helped get him elected" was moderate-to-conservative, Republican-leaning swing voters.  And that group is likely to be far more hostile to the MoveOn ad.  

      Democrats voted for the person with the "D" next to his name.  If Webb had only gotten Democratic votes, he wouldn't be a senator today.  And, like I said, no matter what he did, he was going to piss off someone.  Better to piss off the people who aren't likely to defect to the GOP.

      by Jon Stafford on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 12:02:18 PM PDT

•  it's the United States Senate

  The votes they cast usually affect all of us. I donated to the Webb campaign , and to a few others
  as well. After FISA vote , I emailed  & wrote Webb to let him know of my displeasure. After his most recent collaboration with the current regime , I just clicked on the "spam" button when I received another email whining for money.

  by Abra Crabcakeya on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:02:31 AM PDT

•  Call them for their vote on Feingold-Reid, not

  that stupid waste of time bill.

  by Geekesque on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:11:51 AM PDT

  •  I called him for other votes, too

    The Iraq war funding - I called Webb for that one.

    by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:29:44 AM PDT

•  And tell them what? "You won by a nose hair...

  ..., maybe just a couple thousand votes, but so what? You're a Democrat now, so toe that PROGRESSIVE line!! Besides, you owe me!"

  yeah, right, get real -- these guys' states are about as evenly split as they come -- these are solid purple states, and so, being good representatives of their states' constituentcies, they are going to take a centerist, moderate stance and condemn what they believe, for their people's views, was out-of-line.  And if you weren't a constituent of theirs, I can understand why they've no obligation to give you the time of day.

  If you're from NY, you've got Schumler and Clinton -- they said their piece, they represented their people like you. They did their job.

  Now let Webb, Testor and McCaskill do theirs for their folks.

  by dcrolg on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:29:31 AM PDT

  •  If their job consists of condemning the hands

    that fed them in an absurd, republican bill, if they are that cowardly, then I have a right to tell them this hand won't be holding out any more treats.

    by adigal on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:30:55 AM PDT

    •  They should give up on the war until 2009

      They need to put the domestic agenda front and center.  Fighting a losing batter around the war is bad for morale.

      A lot of solid bills have been getting pased but they don't get noticed.

      See yesterday's FDA bill, for example.

      by VelvetElvis on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:36:13 AM PDT

      •  Yup, they were hired to do more than listen to...

        inconsequential out-of-staters.

        by dcrolg on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 03:16:33 PM PDT

    •  Ultimately the hand that feeds pulls the lever...

      ..in the voting booths in thousands of places in those states.  The senators targeted here took an oath to represent their people and they're doing so.

      Unless you are constituent, or a huge donor which gives jobs to those folks, you're at the bottom of the totem pole, so to say.  You may have a right, but it doesn't mean its a good one to exercise.  Yelling "fire" in a crowded theater doesn't endear one to freedom of speech.

      by dcrolg on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 03:15:25 PM PDT

•  The Faux Outrage Over The MoveOn Ad Was

  a well planned strategy of the Republican Party.  Strategizing is something the Democrats have no clue how to do.  The Republicans started the plan during the Betrayus hearings.  Reference was made to the MoveOn ad by three or more Republicans during the hearing.

  Why aren't Democrats able to successfully strategize politically?

  by kerplunk on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:48:29 AM PDT

  •  its because they suffer from

    gonad deficit disorder.

    by KnotIookin on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 11:50:27 AM PDT