i just called senator burr's office

[barbtries]

and told the young man answering the phone that i was calling to urge the senator to work on passing the jobs bill immediately. i then added that i heard on the news that a republican was quoted as saying that the republicans were against passing the bill because it would mean a "win" for the president. i mentioned that passing the bill would also constitute a "win" for republican lawmakers by demonstrating to the electorate that they are actually there to govern and not just to obfuscate the president and preclude a second term. most importantly it would constitute a "win" for the country and the people who need jobs and need them now.

not my exact words but for once i said what i wanted to say precisely.

he said, "okay, i'll pass it on." didn't ask my name or anything. i suppose it all goes into the circular file and like all republicans this one has got his fingers in his ears saying nanny nanny nanny. spitting in the wind no doubt.

but...what if a million or so people did the same thing? couldn't that possibly make a difference? :(

[Broderick]

1. Glad to see some people are excited about the jobs plan

I just can't get all worked up about it.

[barbtries]

3. well maybe you should

just get worked up enough to contact your republican lawmakers and tell them to get off their asses and start doing what they were elected to do.

can't hurt; might help.

[Broderick]

7. See, that is part of my problem with it

It is more trickle down stimulus that doesn't work like trickle down economics. If anything it is a Republican's wet dream. The only part I like is some of the revenue tax increases on those over 200K in income. Maybe I should focus on that, but I am afraid that will be stripped out when we capitulate to the Republicans. Why is EVERY bill or program founded on Republican principles? It is like the starting point, and then we strip out Democratic ideals when it gets watered down. I will do what I can and make a phone call because I appreciate the efforts from folks like yourself supporting our president, but I am not too thrilled with it. I would rather see either direct stimulus or direct job creating than more of the trickle down stuff that will be bilked and robbed by the robber barons before the nickles and dimes eventually make it to where it is really needed.

[barbtries]

12. at this point

i don't have to be thrilled with it. i just know it needs to pass. it's better than nothing but if they can nothing is all the republicans will do. hopefully they can be shamed into passing this bill.

disclaimer: i have not read the bill. i do however find it hard to believe that it's worse than nothing. and i saw that Paul Krugman is endorsing it so that goes a long way for me.

[Broderick]

17. Mr. Free trade cheerleader?

What has free trade and nafta done to wages and blue collar jobs? Now we want to reward companies by lowering tax rates on out of country profits. It's all about wall street.

[barbtries]

18. that wasn't my point

though admittedly you seem to be better informed than i am. no, what it means to me relates to the fact that krugman only very rarely has anything good to say about the president or his initiatives.

[Broderick]

19. I hear ya

He has been all for more free trade and I get sad everytime jobs are ripped from this country.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Well, we want other people to "work", don't we?

UPDATED: The American Jobs Act: Greater than Expected Impact
http://macroadvisers.blogspot.com/2011/09/updated-american-jobs-act-greater-than.html


or don't you? :shrug:

[Broderick]

10. Sure I do. Trickle down economics doesn't work in my humble opinion

And for the most part that is all this is. Try and try again. It's Republicanism. We need direct stimulus and direct jobs to those who need it. Not more tax breaks in hopes someone might hire someone, etc. Read above, I will make a phone call or two to my reps, but again it seems like everything proposed in government originates in Republican ideas ever since Reagan was president. Toss in more free trade, tax breaks to companies that operate facilities out of the country and we got the makings of more money being bilked from Americans under the guise of "jobs". Where are the jobs from the last Stimulus that predated this one, that was twice as large? Every household could get a check for 4000 dollars with this kind of money, but I frankly know where that 475B is going to mostly end up - right in the pockets of the 1% and the rest of us serfs hang out hoping for a dime to fall out of their pocket.

[CC]

2. I contact my Congress critter

weekly now a days and they ask my name each time. I would follow up the phone call with an email and maybe even a snail mail stating the same and that you are following up because the person you talked to did not ask for your name or info. I have a Club for Growth aka I got mine screw you Congress critter so I doubt my calling makes much of a difference but hoping others like me do it anyway. Our silence just makes it that much easier for them to deny facts and stay in the alternative reality. Love what you had to say too.

[barbtries]

4. i email him all the time.

when i do that i am not so diplomatic when i tell him about himself and his republican cohorts.

[G_j]

5. do you have a link to his comment?

I'm in NC also. I would like to see the quote before writing him about this.

[barbtries]

11. it wasn't his comment

if i recall correctly it was on Rachel Maddow. i don't even know if it was attributed to a particular person.
but then wasn't it mcconnell who said all he and the republicans had to do was make sure that Obama did not make it to a second term? i don't doubt that the sentiment was stated. and no doubt shared by most if not all of the congressional republicans. they just don't give a rat's ass about this country.

[veganlush]

6. absolutely. Everyone should call as you did, and repeatedly.

as for him saying "ok, I'll pass it on" , I always ask them for a written response, that way they'll take your name and address (if they are your rep.) and send you a form letter eventually. At least that way they are keeping track. If you request a written response you'll get one. Thanks for calling your rep, i'm glad to see some people are doing it. Despite what they nay sayers here and elsewhere say, we must all participate in our democracy if we want to be represented.

[barbtries]

15. that's a good idea.

will do that in future. by and by they'll probably be saying, oh barbtries, we have your address...

[zazen]

9. and he and Obama will talk about golf on Air Force One

and Burr will vote against it.

But I'm glad you called.

[AngryAmish]

13. tell him to cool it with hamilton

nothing good will come of it

[barbtries]

16. lol

did i say aaron burr??? what the hell is this guy's first name anyway?

[Avalux]

14. I am beginning to think it won't make a difference.....

our 'elected' officials - specificially mine - Republicans - don't care what we want or think. They are working for the rich; are bought and paid for; so are their election 'victories'.