What Your Elected Representatives are Hearing
They say that if you’re an elected official in Washington D.C. for too long, you start to live in a bubble. You’re in your own little white marble world and you are in danger of losing the pulse of what’s going on outside. That’s true of all of us to a certain extent. We all have our bubbles. It’s understandable.
But, they are the ones running the show. And they’re human, just like you and me. They go to work, and they hear from people. And that’s how they gauge what’s going on out here, on the other side of their bubble.
So, ever wonder what kind of things get faxed to your representatives? I’m on a mailing list for TeaParty.org, and every once in a while, I shake my arms out, and do a little deep breathing, and I peek in the door and see what’s going on with the Tea Party crowd, so you don’t have to.
Right at the top of the email is this picture:
And here’s what they’re telling all their members to send to elected officials in Washington.
>>YOU ARE FIRED<<WE HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO DOWNSIZE GOVERNMENT SO YOU HAVE GOT TO GO! After pulling that stunt when you voted for Obama-Care you left me with no choice but to FIRE you and send you home in disgrace.It is obvious you don’t know what your job is. You worked against the Will of the People, and you don’t have a clue who you answer to!
I was hoping you would figure out that you answered to ‘We The People‘ not the minions in the Socialist Congress. We The People were wrong to trust you with our most precious commodity – FREEDOM.
You have left us no choice – YOU ARE FIRED!
I AM GOING TO TAKE GREAT ENJOYMENT FIRING YOU IN NOVEMBER
IF YOU ARE NOT IN MY DISTRICT OR STATE, THEN MY FRIENDS IN THE TEA PARTY WILL FIRE YOU FOR ME!
You have violated the U.S. Constitution, refused to listen to me and dirtied the name of America. You are a disgrace to everything our nation stands for. And to think I had high hopes for you, but in the end you showed your true color, YELLOW.
I want to make one thing clear. YOU ARE FIRED. NOVEMBER CAN’T COME FAST ENOUGH.
If you received this fax and didn’t vote for Obama-Care then let this be a warning, because next time you could be the one sent home in disgrace.
Signed:
Your NameAddressCity, State Zip
Hmmm. Sounds like SOMEbody needs a bran muffin!
I’m not really sure how voting somebody out of office is “downsizing” the government, unless they plan on not replacing them. And then that would put a wrench in that whole “representative democracy” thing.
So, if you’re ever sitting around with an extra moment or two, consider writing your congressperson, or senator, and if you like them and you think they’re doing a good job, tell them so. And if you’d like them to do something different, tell them. Better yet, offer constructive ideas that you’d like to see put in place.
Because, if you got stuff like that all day, you’d probably really enjoy hearing from someone who was… I don’t know….rational. It would probably feel like finding a pearl in a big pile of elephant poo.
And if your representative is one that you don’t like, work hard for the person running against them – in the primary, or in the general election. Give to people with the message you like. Hold a sign for them. Knock on a door for them. Tell your friends about them.
And if your friends are the people sending the faxes like the one above, perhaps a little peace offering is in order.
And it is so easy to fill out the web forms for each senator or house member. http://www.senate.gov or http://www.house.gov. We should try to send each of them a reasonable and constructive message once every month or two.
Nitwits. With stuff like this they are truly showing how little in the know and how truly out of touch that they are. Those letters when received will be laughed at and laughed about and thrown away. I especially like “dirtied the name of America”. Gag me.
this from crooks and liars, if only it weren’t April Fools!
http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/tea-party-thanks-obama-for-tax-cuts
I love how the “will of the people” are their people. Forget the ten million more who elected a president on reform of the health care system.
But I do have a warm place in my heart for the baggers–uh no wait,
that was the lasagna I had for lunch. Nevermind;-)
Rosemary and Olive Oil Triscuits are very tasty and have LOTS of fiber! Maybe they could snack on a few of them and take care of the blockage that’s obviously making them so cranky and unreasonable.
Funny thing…none of those teapartiers asked ME what I think of how things are going. Frankly, some of what members of the Obama adminstration and those on the left side of the aisle have done in the past week or so – health care reform, nuclear reduction treaties, visiting troops in Afghanistan, student loan reform, etc – are perfectly fine with me.
If I remember correctly, there’s this neat concept called democracy where whoever gets the most votes gets to make the decisions. And yes, I know that idea was trashed by the Supreme Court and Dubya in 2000, but MOST of the time that’s how it works here in REAL America (sorry TPers, but this country does NOT belong to you!), sooo…..
Suck it up, buttercups!!!
And have a nice day!
Yeah, democracy to teabaggers is only their people are in charge.
They seem to forget that a majority of Americans voted in November 2008 to put the Democrats in charge.
No use trying with irrational twits.
You guys read my mind…I am so sick of them telling me what “America” wants…at least half of America wants something completely different from them, and I’d hazard a guess that the percentage is higher than that.
What are the Teahadists…last I’d read they were like 7% of the 21% who still consider themselves Republicants…or 1.4% of the voting population!
They can sure throw one doozie of a temper tantrum, though!
How is it that Real Americans-backwards, racist country folk- are more in touch with the “will of the people” than the rest of us-the tyrannical majority?
Dragging these reactionary hillbillies-kicking and screaming-into the 21st Century really is a thankless task. What a burden!
I just emailed Chrisa Carney.
I hope every politician in dodos sites wins by a landslide. That woman gets nuttier every day.
Wonder who she’s going to “interview” for next weeks show? ;-0
AKM, thank you.
@ 7 In Kansas, I’m tired of people telling me that all of America was against health care reform, too. I know people on both sides of the issue, and if they were honest, they do, too. If all of America wanted what they want, we would not have a Democratic majority in congress, or Obama as our president.
People always think that their representatives aren’t listening to them if they don’t vote their way. It doesn’t seem to register that their elected officials are also hearing from people on the other side of the issues.
Oh, look, it’s Kansas Day at mudflats!
We must have a celebration – at least three rational, intelligent people in this red state. Nah, there are lots more, but we are quiet folks. Even if we ride motorcycles or sail or – date I say it? – have Obama stickers on our cars, we are a little bookish, rather polite and such. Some people even mistake us for Canadians. There’s something about being progressive in a regressive state that sort of makes others step away, look for exits, and give you concerned glances. Well, okay, I speak for myself and hope for others.
Loved the bran muffin!
So people have time to FAX an angry, ranting diatribe to their representatives, but they’re too lazy to check and see if the person they’re faxing even did the thing they’re being accused of doing?! Good lord.
Too bad Pelosi doesn’t accept E-mails from outside of California. But after reading this, maybe I understand why.
What a bunch of Morons!
I just want to make a comment about an elected official in Australia that is annoying me today – Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister.
He got all ticked off because Robin Williams called Aussies “English rednecks” on Letterman 2 night ago. He was all “Aussies are NOT rednecks! People from Alabama are REDNECKS! WAAAHHHH”
I mean, seriously? Really, dude? Do I need to send you some homework to do cuz clearly you’re just hanging around Parliament House twiddling your thumbs!
UGH.
Now look – to be fair – to Aussies, the term “redneck” literally means “people from the southern part of the US”. Because that is the majority of what we see on telly, on the news i.e. SP and reps/senators from typically red states who tend to say really out there/moronic things. But Aussies are nothing without a sense of humour so I really think that most Aussies would have laughed hearing that Robin Williams joke. Plus – it’s a JOKE.
So – to Mr. Rudd, from an expat – Lighten up, mate, it was just a joke. Have a beer and relax. You’re starting to sound like Sarah Palin.
It IS Kansas day – that’s my home state. Although the real Kansas Day celebration should have been on January 29, when Kansas became a state. (We celebrated it every year when I taught 2nd grade.)
I don’t know about the bran muffin, though it looks tasty. I think there’s already enough elephant poo (love that, btw, AKM) being spread around.
I am really sick of them telling all of us what we should do, and saying that’s what everyone wants. The trouble is, even the repub strategists sound like they believe everything they hear from the baggers. And it’s even more irritating when they show just how ignorant they are. I wonder how many have actually read the constitution they are so fond of trying to defend. I bet most don’t know much more than the 2nd Amend, and I’m not sure they really get the historical implications of that anyway.
What I have found rather entertaining is how the repub party is self-destructing over the latest RNC “expenditure” at the questionable club. It’s not even so much that someone was stupid enough to turn that in on their expense account and that someone else was dumb enough to pay it, it’s that it really flies in the face of the family values lecture we always get from the repubs and the teabaggers. So now the family values org (can’t remember the name) has told their people not to donate to the RNC anymore. Actually, I agree with them. If an organization doesn’t live up to their values, whatever they are, and that’s why you supported them in the first place, then you should withhold your money and speak out about it. (I just don’t think any one group should be telling everyone else what their “family values” should be. Mind you, mine are pretty tradtional and conservative, but I don’t go around condemning those who disagree with me.)
I say let’s bake some bran muffins, with E-Lax instead of raisins. Because I’m in that kind of a generous mood today.
Excellent post, AKM.
We need more writers of your caliber across the entire USA.
Aaarrrgggghhhhhh! Thanks, AKM, for daring to tread where so many of us don’t go. Thank you, merci, gracias, obrigada, arrigato, grazie.
I write to my Congresswoman regularly, as well as signing on to letters others have written, and personalizing them. She’s one of the good ones, and I always let her know I appreciate it. She always answers (form letters) also, too.
My Senators are OK, too. And no, red-staters, I’m not gloating.
Health and peace.
#
16
nswfm Says:
April 1st, 2010 at 2:32 PM
I say let’s bake some bran muffins, with E-Lax instead of raisins. Because I’m in that kind of a generous mood today.
***********************************************************************************
lol….. good to see you NSWFM. missed you
#
17
BigSlick Says:
April 1st, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Excellent post, AKM.
We need more writers of your caliber across the entire USA.
****************************************************************************
BigSlick….can you imagine if we could clone AKM?
Well i shouldn’t wish to clone Bigpup but i wish many more people knew about the ‘flats. Even if we are not from Alaska we benefit from learning from AKM and each other.
Alrighty then. Since I both fell asleep and woke up to Miss Quittypants on my TV, I am in rare form today.
THIS is what I have to say to all of the people screaming that health care reform is unconstitutional:
Here is the preamble to the United States Constitution (taken from the government website):
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Let us do a little lookin’ at the words herein. We could start with “domestic TRANQUILITY”. I could use a little of that these days. But more importantly, how about “promote the general Welfare”. Let’s just look at what the word “welfare” means (and I am not talking about sitting at home and collecting a check).
From the Encarta World English Dictionary:
welfare (noun): Etymology: Middle English, from the phrase wel faren to fare well.
definition: well being: somebody’s state or condition with respect to whether he or she is HEALTHY, safe, happy or prospering.
synonyms: well-being, safety, HEALTH
Chew on that with your bran muffin.
And, because I am in SUCH a good mood today, I think that I might just send my Republican Senator and Representative a letter asking them to please get some work done. If I sat around all day with my arms crossed and said “No” to everything I was hired to do, I would not have a job. Quit acting like babies and “pull yourselves up by the bootstraps” and get back to work or you will be the ones getting fired. Full stop.
Sorry AKM: This kind of stuff does not make me feel charitable to my fellow citizens. I am sick and tired of paying Don Young and Lisa Murkowski to sit around and find ways to grind the work of government to a halt. That is NOT what we pay them for.
nswfm #16
When my dad was in the Navy, Mom would send him choclate cake, which he shared with his shipmates, so he got only one piece himself.. SO.. she sent two cakes, one for him, and one for the mates… she made the shipmates’ cake with Ex-Lax… the results were so devastating, they never asked him for another piece of cake when she sent any after that !
guess I’ll have to send Boxer and Feinstein some “attaboys” I just LOVE living in Cal !!
benlomond2, I agree. Let’s make sure Boxer isn’t voted out.
The tea partiers are not the majority. The majority voted Obama in. The majority supports health care reform. This is a situation where if all you can hear around you is yelling and screaming negative statements, that’s what you think everyone is doing. What a false conclusion!
AK Raven – here’s what I don’t get. Even if the teabaggers live in a bubble of Fox News All the Time, Every day – how could they have missed the 2008 election results?
I think there has to be some very deliberate denial on their part to say without any irony that Obama is not a legitimate president. Birth certificates and ACORN are just a smokescreen I think, for them to avoid facing the painful truth: they lost.
I saw a sign that explains most of it- I think. It was in a news article and read something like “Obama’s goal white slavery”. Can you believe that? Most of this angry, violent demonstrating is being done by Klansmen and white supremacists and those who can’t stand the thought of a black man being president. They are racists at the very least. There is no way they will accept it. We just have to accept that and make sure Obama is well protected.
@BigSlick
AKM is across the entire USA!!!
Another Kansan here, right in the middle of the donut hole. Surrounded by “real americans.” I don’t think a bran muffin could move some of these people.
I’m surrounded by “real americans” too. I used to live in Kansas, but now I live in Idaho. Some days I just want bash my head against the wall with all the lies and misinformation I hear from FAUX viewers. Although some of it might be self inflicted because I read the comments section of our local newspaper. I’m looking for one sane and rational person who doesn’t spout the FAUX talking points. I think I might have better luck getting struck by lightning.
I’m so tired off teabaggers claiming to speak for me and I’m sure my reps are pretty tired of it to. So I’m thinking they could use a good chuckle. Emails to my reps will be short and sweet.
Dear congressman/congresswoman,
Release the Kraken!
Thank you.
And speaking about what our elected officials are hearing from us, what about what the poor GOPers are hearing from their ‘leaders’? The GOP seems to have cornered the market on chit for brains on this one…and the results are just too funny! beth.
“RNC Mailer Typo Directs Recipients To Phone-Sex Line” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/01/rnc-mailer-typo-directs-r_n_521921.html
The Tea Party makes great theatre, but lousy politics. There isn’t a lot of deep thinking in this bunch. Even an “extended family member” said one day, “I like Rush Limbaugh, but I don’t know why he has to be so mean!” Geesh.
A bigger concern is why Faux News is so pervasive, when the country didn’t vote that particular party line. Every bank, coffee shop, even (nice!) hotel elevators pump the hepped up rhetoric at the huddled masses. Thank goodness for the pajama bloggers, who really do exercise freedom of the press.