# So, you gonna call your congressmen? (As requested by POTUS) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421 "2011-07-26T19:48:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/21 "2011-07-26T22:25:36Z")
My rep is Nancy Pelosi; I don’t think she needs any encouragement from me. My senators are Boxer and Feinstein; likewise them. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/22 "2011-07-26T22:40:55Z")
Nope. Color me cynical but I don’t think politicians on that level care what their constituents want, they’re all bought and paid for in some way or another and they’re ultimately going to do what’s best for them. They’re all crooks! Crooks I say! ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/23 "2011-07-26T22:40:55Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Well, the problem seems to be mostly in the House, and my Representative is already on the same page as I am (given that I’m in Massachusetts, that’s not surprising). I just realized that I (like you) have a Republican Senator. I know this is a House thing, but why not send Scott Brown a bit of a nudge? I’ll do the same. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/24 "2011-07-26T22:42:52Z")
Called, spoke to a staffer on the second try. Republican congresscritter, so I don’t know how much good it will do, but it’s one more data point. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/25 "2011-07-26T22:51:28Z")
I just went to my Rep’s site, and she had an update that she had sent a letter to Congressional leaders and the President this morning urging them to set aside the budget stalemate and at least get the debt ceiling raised to avoid the associated problems, and _then_ work out a new budget. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/26 "2011-07-26T22:52:02Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > Color me cynical but I don’t think politicians on that level care what their constituents want, they’re all bought and paid for in some way or another and they’re ultimately going to do what’s best for them. The Republican Party thanks you for your support. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/27 "2011-07-26T23:09:04Z")
I am represented by democrat Shelley Berkley in the House. I have written her, although I suspect her staff will read my email and just nod their heads in agreement, so I doubt it’ll help much. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/28 "2011-07-26T23:14:13Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > My rep is Nancy Pelosi; I don’t think she needs any encouragement from me. My senators are Boxer and Feinstein; likewise them. > Roddy Mine is George Miller, same senators. I feel the same way. What’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/29 "2011-07-26T23:32:44Z")
Apparently, everyone who listened to Obama last night was a Dem. Well, maybe a few Pubbies were listening, but they were giving the finger to the TV set, and laughing, and doing squeeky imitiations of the President’s phrasing, and walking on tippy-toes. I don’t think a lot of Republican congresscritters are getting outraged phonecalls from their constituents today. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/30 "2011-07-27T00:43:10Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > My congressman is Anthony Weiner–I think we’re already on the same page. Unemployed? My congressman is John Dingell, so I know where he stands. I did, however, go to the Speaker’s page to express my displeasure with his view on this.[I recommend anyone who has a Dem congressperson do this.](http://www.speaker.gov/Contact/) I know we’re not his constituency, but as Speaker, he does have a duty to the nation at large. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/31 "2011-07-27T02:40:53Z")
I emailed my congressman this morning via his web page. No problems. Also no worries, as he’s a solid D. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/32 "2011-07-27T04:36:14Z")
I emailed my fairly liberal Democratic Rep and my Democratic Senator and got through with no problem. Emailing my Republican Senator, though, took awhile. His website was totally down last night, then his email was down this morning. I eventually got it sent after many attempts. I don’t really think it’ll make a difference, though. This: > [@](#): > > Well, maybe a few Pubbies were listening, but they were giving the finger to the TV set, and laughing, and doing squeeky imitiations of the President’s phrasing, and walking on tippy-toes. made me snort my beer. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/33 "2011-07-27T05:20:01Z")
I started to write a letter, but I forgot. Thanks for reminding me! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/34 "2011-07-27T05:44:45Z")
Okay, I just wrote to my Republican Senator as a Republican, since I still technically am one. 😃 (They were the first ones to try to sign me up in college, and I was politically illiterate back then.) I said that I was barely hanging on due to the Tea Party, and wanted our moderates back. I also mentioned his financial backers, who all want the debt ceiling raised. I finally ended it with “Don’t play politics with our livelihoods.” The one to my Republican Representative was similar, albeit more direct since he helped create some of this crap. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/35 "2011-07-27T06:53:20Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I don’t think a lot of Republican congresscritters are getting outraged phonecalls from their constituents today. I called mine today, DesJarlais. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/36 "2011-07-27T07:19:50Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > My rep is Nancy Pelosi; I don’t think she needs any encouragement from me. My senators are Boxer and Feinstein; likewise them. > Roddy My Congressman is Pete Stark, so ditto. I feel like Mick in Street Fighting Man - I want to rail and scream, but Pete is further to the left than I am, so it is rather pointless. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/37 "2011-07-27T13:43:55Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Apparently, everyone who listened to Obama last night was a Dem. > > Well, maybe a few Pubbies were listening, but they were giving the finger to the TV set, and laughing, and doing squeeky imitiations of the President’s phrasing, and walking on tippy-toes. > > I don’t think a lot of Republican congresscritters are getting outraged phonecalls from their constituents today. Mine got one. Told his office I did not like him and would not vote for him, but that if he did not vote for the Reid plan or something like it I would spending every moment I could next fall to seeing him lose his job. But I did so politely. My state representative is also a Republican whom I dislike quite a bit, but I have spoken with his office several times. I have always been polite and to the point, and his staffers have thanked me and I believe that while we don’t agree politically they don’t actually mind talking to me. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/38 "2011-07-27T14:00:23Z")
I’ve emailed both senators (one D, one R) and my representative ®. I don’t think it will make any difference, especially with the rep since I’m in a heavily Republican district, but it’s something. All emails were through their websites. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/39 "2011-07-27T14:18:10Z")
My Congressperson is Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) and she doesn’t get a vote so there is no point in emailing her. I also don’t have senators to complain to. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421/40 "2011-07-27T15:44:28Z")
I’m represented by Republican Judy Biggert. I composed a brief, strongly-worded but polite message urging her to tell Mr. Speaker to quit playing partisan political games with the future of our country. However, I haven’t gotten her “contact” page to load in the last couple of days, and I’ve been too busy to seek out other ways to get my note to her. Maybe I’ll do so this evening. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-gonna-call-your-congressmen-as-requested-by-potus/590421.md?page=3)