It's too bad we couldn't have a "Reader's Digest" version of DU for our C-Critters

[Atman]

I honestly think that if our reps and Senators had the slightest inkling of what those outside their DC cocktail party set were saying, we'd have some hope of an impact. To actually be able to persuade, and change some minds. I know the critters themselves wouldn't read, but they do have staffers who are their official finger-in-the-wind-ers. But DU is virtually impossible to casually wade into. There is simply too much stuff. Hundreds of forums, thousands of posters, and 80% of the really good stuff disappears within hours, just falls off the page as the twenty-seventh "Chris Matthews sucks balls!" thread appears.

I'd love to see a condensed, Congress-Critter version of DU which could be sent to them on a daily basis, even via fax or carrier pigeon if that's what it takes, which featured only the meat. The dozen or so truly inspirational, provocative, nail-on-the-head posts each day that sum up the general malaise and disgust of us peons in the real world they've forgotten.

I really don't think people like Nancy or Harry (now adding Dianne and Chuck to the list) have the slightest clue what is really being said about them. They go to there little parties and sip cocktails with the very news media who is supposed to be scrutinizing them, and all they hear is how wonderful they are. While the truly disgusted are preaching to their choirs on sites like DU and KOS and Brad Blog. Seriously, consider how much time the average hard-core DUer spends on the site. No one can reasonably expect the Senators to be able to log on and wade through the myriad Britney posts and the "Did you just see the idiot on (insert show here)!" posts. But if we could send them a daily compendium...the DU "Why We Think You Suck!" newsletter (okay, so we'd need a better title), then I really do believe a few eyes would be opened on The Hill.

But then again...maybe it's just late and I'm delirious...they'll never get it, no matter what.

.

[Occulus]

1. A Blog Digest for Congress is actually a pretty good idea

It's a good idea for state reps, or even city councils, if the city is big enough.

I hate to say it, but one thing I think tends to be forgotten in the daily bursts of passion I see on this site is that the people in Congress are actually pretty busy people, and it's really very easy for some small but very important detail (such as, for example, inherent contempt) to slip past them.

K&R!

[AuntPatsy]

2. As nice as that sounds, I personaly believe they know very well the negative

reactions from most of American citizens and we will continue to be ignored until we get much louder than the likes of the present media blitz of repeating only those words that seem to say something and yet say nothing at all.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. I believe some know nothing that isn't covered by a Democracy Corps poll

I've come to believe they rely so heavily on this type of 'tried and true, trusted pollsters' now that they've lost touch with us, the real citizens of the United States.

[AuntPatsy]

8. I think you give some too much credit, we have many good voices shouting for us up on capital hill

surely the others are not so immune that they are not even listening to thier own?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. There are good Democratic leaders who are listening

I didn't mean to imply that there are not.

What I meant was that you don't see a unified or mostly unified (Democratic) stand on an issue that isn't already polled to be a winning stance.

By some I meant those who only get on board if they believe it's safe enough to warrant the venture. They also tend to be the same faces who vote with the Republicans when the polling is less than conclusive.

An example being their recent stand on SCHIP. I recall reading an article which referenced a Democracy Corps poll which showed the Dems leading in public opinion 60-35 and that knowing that the Dems would make this an election issue.

[Mojorabbit]

3. What a wonderful idea!

I like it. I think it is do able.

[zabet]

4. Good idea,

but, if many will not read the bills they vote on, could
you really hope that they would read it? I get the impression
our Congress critters could not give a flying fuck about what any
of us thinks.

[alittlelark]

5. Dianne has always been on the list

Her hubby is a defense contractor. We in the Northern portion of the state want her GONE!!!!

[orleans]

6. i like the idea. a condensed version for their staffers.

how many staffers do these people in congress get to have? surely they have at least one who monitors media/internet--dontcha think?

if we could get even one staffer who has the ear of the rep it would be a good idea.

[lurky]

9. It might look like this:

begin loop:
"Hillary Sucks!"
"No, You suck!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
end loop.

[silverojo]

11. Don't worry, they know what we're thinking

They just don't give a damn. :grr:

[Perry Logan]

12. It would sadden them to see all the ignorance here.

"President Bush's success rating in the Democratic-controlled House has fallen this year to a half-century low, and he prevailed on only 14 percent of the 76 roll call votes on which he took a clear position.

"So far this year, Democrats have backed the majority position of their caucus 91 percent of the time on average on such votes. That marks the highest Democratic unity score in 51 years."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1728952&mesg_id=1728952
http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002576765.html

Don't let the media rhetoric fool you. The Democrats have acquitted themselves quite well--especially given their bare majority in both houses, and a relentlessly obstructionist Republican minority.

this 110th Congress has had more roll call votes this year than any
other Congress in history, almost doubling the number under the previous Congress overseen by Boehner
and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL):
The House last week held its 943rd roll call vote of the year, breaking the previous
record of 942 votes, a mark set in 1978. The vote was on a procedural motion related to a
mortgage foreclosure bill. When the House adjourned on Oct. 4 for the long weekend, the
chamber had reached 948 roll call votes, putting Democrats on pace to easily eclipse 1,000
votes on the House floor in 2007.
Last year, the Republican controlled House held 543 votes, and for historical comparison,
the last time there was a shift in power in Congress, Republicans held 885 roll call votes in
1995. The Senate, which has held 363 votes this year, isn’t on pace to break any
records, but has already surpassed the 2006 Senate mark of 279 votes.
Much of the lack of progress can be traced back to obstructionism by conservatives. Approximately “1 in
6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes,” noted a JulyMcClatchy report. “If this
pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous
record number of cloture votes.”
It’s interesting that Boehner is criticizing the 110th Congress as doing nothing. After all, the House, under
his leadership, met for just 101 days during the second session of the 109th Congress, setting the record
“for the fewest days in session in one year since the end ofWorld War II.”