Today I posting not for myself, but on behalf of
DC for Democracy, of which I am a member. DCFD is calling on all Kossacks to help "Change the Course" and urge their Representatives to do their jobs and actually hold a 17-hour debate on what we are going to do about the situation in Iraq for the
first time since 2002.
On Monday, wmtriallawyer posted a great diary about H Res 543, a bill that would allow the consideration of H J Res 55 17 hours of debate on Iraq.
DC for Democracy recently started a nationwide, grassroots campaign called "Change the Course" - and with the blessing of DFA we have just expanded from 3 pilot states to 30 states. We have been lobbying Reps here, and local DFA groups in other states, like MD, CA, NY, PA, and NJ, have been lobbying in their home districts. There are 72 signatories so far - we need 218 according to House rules.
We need your help! Read on for the nitty-gritty, go here for info on how to take action, or e-mail ChangetheCourseinIraq@yahoo.com.
If nothing else, please recommend so this will get max exposure....
More on the flip...
Local DFA groups are great, but we need
all the bodies we can get. Notice the key word:
Bodies. E-mails are okay, but speaking with your Rep is better: Call, take a large and diverse group of friends and relatives to visit your Rep in his/her home office, or go to a town hall meeting.
We (DCFD and DFA) had a conference call last week with state DFA group coordinators and Rep Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), the original sponsor of HR 55, gave a rousing speech. He spoke about his Dear Colleague letter signed by members of both parties. He also mentioned the fact that the only debate being had right now is by pundits, NOT by Congress.
[UPDATE: Full audio is available on DC for Democracy's website. Worth a listen to the whole thing, some money quotes toward the end. When you get to DCFD's page it's in the second news item]
If your Rep signs, it is going to be because a diverse and large group of constituents visits his or her home office during the April 10-23 recess. Young, old, men, women, veterans, soccer moms, house dads, religious congregations, college students, everyone who cares about the miserable mess we are in.
We have spoken with Dem and Repub reps and had some success, but a lot of pushback on both sides. Reasons:
- I don't like having a withdrawal date
- It'll never pass
- I'm waiting for Murtha
- I don't sign discharge petitions
- (Dumbest of all) I want to give things more time
The answer to ALL of these arguments is this: "All we're saying is, let's have a debate on Iraq on the House floor."
There are several bills out there that broach this subject in some way.
So, why H R 543 over the rest? It's the only one that is seeking an open debate, vs. plugging a particular policy. Congress isn't ready (yet) to unite on solutions. All we can agree on right now is this: We have a problem.
FACT: 543 calls for 17 hours of debate.
FACT: 543 requires any and every amendment brought up by any Rep from either side to be considered and voted on.
FACT: 543 does not indicate support for any particular policy.
FACT: There hasn't been any real debate on the floor of the House since 2002.
Note: On April 5, a bipartisan group of Representatives are going to hold a formal press conference and march over to sign the discharge. Our Dems can sit around picking their butts and saying well, "I don't like this particular nitpicky item" for a few more weeks or months, but the public tide is turning, and out of the blue (or Red), in a week, or a month, or two months, the Repubs are going to swarm out of the woodwork and bring this to the floor themselves.
It is our duty as citizens to call our Congress Members - Republican AND Democrat - to stand up and be counted. If not now, When?
[I edited this to correct the April recess dates, 10-23!]