So one of the dirtbags actually answered me

[madame_zora]

DC complains about not hearing from his senators when he bugs them, but here's why I'm sorry I bother to write mine:



March 2, 2006


Dear Jana:

Thank you for contacting me. As you know, following the attacks of
September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush authorized the National
Security Agency (NSA) to begin monitoring international phone calls in
which one party is in the United States and one party is a member, or
suspected member, of a terrorist organization. In a time of national
emergency, I expect the President to take such actions to protect our
Nation, even if those actions are not specifically authorized by
statute.
Public and congressional awareness of the program now has caused a
great
deal of debate and has sparked a series of hearings in the Senate
Judiciary Committee and briefings in the Senate Intelligence Committee;
I
am a member of both committees and have participated fully in these
hearings and briefings.

There are legal and constitutional questions about whether the
President
must, after a period of time, come to Congress for statutory
authorization
of the NSA program. Certainly the country and the President would be
stronger with such authorization. I believe that statutory
authorization
and congressional oversight for this program would avoid a divisive
debate
in Congress and throughout the Nation. That is why I am drafting
legislation that would authorize the surveillance of terrorist
communication, but would also ensure substantial congressional
oversight.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me
anytime with additional questions or concerns.

Very respectfully yours,
MIKE DeWINE
United States Senator

RMD/bf



Disclaimer: The email account that this message originated from does
not
accept inbound messages, therefore please send all electronic
correspondence through our webform located at:
http://dewine.senate.gov.

 

[RideRocket]

Did it at least have an original signature or his 'approved' rubber stamp?

 

[madame_zora]

Naw, just a crappy email answering the crappy email I sent. I would have thought it was an auto-response, but my letter was sent two weeks ago. Looks like someone at least acknowledged receipt, for all the good it did me. The bastard is still going to vote away my rights.

 

[mindseye]

Keep writing, though, Jana. Not just to DeWine's office, but to local media outlets, Ohio-owned businesses, and anyone else who'll listen.

SurveyUSA shows that, as of February, Mike DeWine is 96th out of 100 senators in his net approval ratings. (Even among Republicans, only 57% approve!) He's one of only five senators to have more of his own constituents disapprove of the job he's doing than approve. He's got to be feeling the heat, and I appreciate you adding a little heat yourself.

 

[Onslow]

Now I'm jealous--I e-mailed the President and never even received a simple thank you.

 

[DC_DEEP]

DC complains about not hearing from his senators when he bugs them, but here's why I'm sorry I bother to write mine:

March 2, 2006


Dear Jana:

Thank you for contacting me. As you know, following the attacks of
September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush authorized the National
Security Agency (NSA) to begin monitoring international phone calls in
which one party is in the United States and one party is a member, or
suspected member, of a terrorist organization. In a time of national
emergency, I expect the President to take such actions to protect our
Nation, even if those actions are not specifically authorized by
statute.
Public and congressional awareness of the program now has caused a
great
deal of debate and has sparked a series of hearings in the Senate
Judiciary Committee and briefings in the Senate Intelligence Committee;
I
am a member of both committees and have participated fully in these
hearings and briefings.

There are legal and constitutional questions about whether the
President
must, after a period of time, come to Congress for statutory
authorization
of the NSA program. Certainly the country and the President would be
stronger with such authorization. I believe that statutory
authorization
and congressional oversight for this program would avoid a divisive
debate
in Congress and throughout the Nation. That is why I am drafting
legislation that would authorize the surveillance of terrorist
communication, but would also ensure substantial congressional
oversight.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me
anytime with additional questions or concerns.

Very respectfully yours,
MIKE DeWINE
United States Senator

RMD/bf

And this, Jana love, is why I say you have to be persistent. The proper follow-up letter would be something like:

Dear Mr. DeWine,
With all due respect, you are entitled to your beliefs and thoughts. However, those are not the basis for legislation - adherence to the US Constitution is. Mr. Bush, whether you think it was right or wrong, violated federal law. He has no authority to disregard the details of FISA. I agree that a strong and secure nation is imperative, but I do not agree that it should be accomplished through blatant disregard of standing law and Consitutional protections. The rights of the citizens of this great nation MUST be preserved. National Security must be maintained by means other than stripping the rights of our citizens. Please keep in mind that Congressional salaries are paid with tax dollars - your voice in the Congress is not your own, but that of your constituents.

Yours truly,
etc etc

 

[B_Stronzo]

Janna,

That is one truly dismal response.

At least when I write to my senator I can be fairly sure I'll find a sympathetic ear in John Forbes Kerry however much good it doesn't do me.

 

[RideRocket]

Janna,

That is one truly dismal response.

At least when I write to my senator I can be fairly sure I'll find a sympathetic ear in John Forbes Kerry however much good it doesn't do me.

LOL - There's a cliche I always hear in the military, "False motivation is better than no motivation."

Sounds like all you have to do is replace 'motivation' with 'sympathy'.

 

[madame_zora]

And this, Jana love, is why I say you have to be persistent. The proper follow-up letter would be something like:

Dear Mr. DeWine,
With all due respect, you are entitled to your beliefs and thoughts. However, those are not the basis for legislation - adherence to the US Constitution is. Mr. Bush, whether you think it was right or wrong, violated federal law. He has no authority to disregard the details of FISA. I agree that a strong and secure nation is imperative, but I do not agree that it should be accomplished through blatant disregard of standing law and Consitutional protections. The rights of the citizens of this great nation MUST be preserved. National Security must be maintained by means other than stripping the rights of our citizens. Please keep in mind that Congressional salaries are paid with tax dollars - your voice in the Congress is not your own, but that of your constituents.

Yours truly,
etc etc

I may just copy and paste that my friend!

@Mindseye- since it's well established that I have no life and never sleep, you can rest assured I write everyone on earth. As a member of MoveOnPac it's easy, they even provide linky-links to your local government offices, as well as local and national papers. I had at least one letter to an editor published in Dayton, but I never heard back from any of the others.

Anyone wants to find out more about MoveOn, click here:

http://political.moveon.org/

 

[B_Stronzo]

LOL - There's a cliche I always hear in the military, "False motivation is better than no motivation."

Sounds like all you have to do is replace 'motivation' with 'sympathy'.

But, you see, it wouldn't work that way. I've always found the Senator's sympathy real contrary to how many painted him during the last presidential race.

 

[B_Stronzo]

Anyone wants to find out more about MoveOn, click here:

http://political.moveon.org/

Been involved for the last 4 years for all the good it's done us.

But that link's valuable Janna, thanks.

 

[EnglishGentleman]

But don't you all realise this legislation is necassary if humans are to co-exist with fish?

Seriously though, this sort of shit is happening over here in the UK too, with legislation being pushed through to make all internet privacy a thing of the past, Civil Identity Cards and a Prime Minister who gives the police "the powers they ask for."

Democracy just ain't what it used to be (if it ever was).

 

[Dr Rock]

I emailed my MP last year to say "fuck off, you worthless piece of shit"

i haven't heard back yet

 

[madame_zora]

Ha, I've got to be on every watchlist coming and going, I'm not surprised I got a response.

Don't worry, Rock, I'm sure your letter's in the mail...

 

[Pecker]

I emailed my MP last year to say "fuck off, you worthless piece of shit"

i haven't heard back yet

Pols the world over have the "fuck off, you worthless piece of shit" messages put into one file.

He just hasn't gotten to yours yet.

 

[hotnmpls2000@yahoo.com]

DC complains about not hearing from his senators when he bugs them, but here's why I'm sorry I bother to write mine:

So you didn't say MZ...are you voting for him....?
:usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1:

I edited cause I had to many american smiley's for one row accross. I'm neurotic like that.

 

[madame_zora]

So you didn't say MZ...are you voting for him....?
:usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1: :usa1::usa1: :usa1:

I edited cause I had to many american smiley's for one row accross. I'm neurotic like that.

I'd vote for a fence post first. Sadly, I'm in Ohio and may have to choose one fencepost over the other.

 

[DC_DEEP]

I may just copy and paste that my friend!

Oh, please please please do!!!!!

I have offered on 3 different occasions to help anyone on this board compose workable correspondence with their House and Senate representation. This is the closest I have come so far to having anyone take me up on that offer.

You have to understand that most of these guys are lawyers, so they have a different world view than real people. And you also have to understand that they are ALL politicians, and have forgotten who pays their salaries and who puts them where they are. Every time I post on this subject, there are lots of replies of "nice idea, but they won't listen to ME." Well, consider this: the freako fundy organizations (AFA, Concerned Women, etc etc) rally their members to send waves of letters and emails to their representatives, and they get "power in numbers." If we don't make our voices heard, also, then we are outnumbered. The leadership in those organizations make it clear to the members that each and every letter makes a difference. Those of us who value our rights and freedoms absolutely MUST make the same realization.

 

[hotnmpls2000@yahoo.com]

I'd vote for a fence post first. Sadly, I'm in Ohio and may have to choose one fencepost over the other.

Dirtbag A over dirtbag B? Oh well, at least we get to vote.:biggrin1: :biggrin1:
:bsflag:

 

[SurferGirlCA]

I'd vote for a fence post first. Sadly, I'm in Ohio and may have to choose one fencepost over the other.

You do have that fencepost-with-the-big-bow-in-her-hair, but hopefully that's not your district, MZ.