http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6928774debbierlus (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 05:45 PM
Original message
Speaker Pelosi: THIS WON'T GO UNANSWERED - Please read & kick & recommend
I am so angry now I could spit. My hands are shaking as I write this....
I called Speaker Pelosi's office in California about 15 minutes ago. I politely started to state my concerns about the removal of single payer debate on the House floor (the Weiner amendment) & the removal of the Kucinich amendment (allowing states to implement single payer). With just one word: hold, I was put through by the office staff to the answering machine. I left a message on the machine and then called the Washington office.
I got right through and the second I told them what the call was about, I was directed to an answering machine. I wasn't even told to hold.
So, I called right back and I said, I am calling to ask a question. Has Nancy Pelosi directed her staff to not speak directly with those who call about the Weiner Amendment or the Kucinich Amendment?
He told me the office has been INUNDATED with calls about these amendments for the past two weeks and do to the volume of these calls, they just put them through to voicemail.
So, I said that people who were calling to express their very concerns about these issues were being relegated to an answering machine?
Pelosi's official staff policy is for her staff not to speak with those who call about Single Payer. I wonder if they even listen to the messages or they just go to automatic delete!
Anyway, at this point, I told him that Pelosi is ignoring these callers and the issue of Single Payer and real health care reform at her own peril. I told him the democratic/liberal base that the party has taken for granted for so long is on the verge of breaking and that the health care reform will be the final straw. I told him that the democratic leadership so poorly represents the views & beliefs of their liberal base (the majority of people) that they are giving us no reason to support the democrats. I told him that the smartest, most creative part of the democratic party (the progressive base) is seriously on the verge of third party and if this is the way we are treated when we call about a life or death issue, they have made the decision for us. I then told him that I will be making a video and letting the blogosphere know that the Speaker is LITERALLLy ignoring mass numbers of calls about these two amendments.
I will not let this type of disdain to the people go unanswered. 
This is where we are at people. They don't give a rat's ass what policies we want - they don't even want to hear our voices. Even though the MAJORITY of Americans want a REAL public option (one where the actaul public can enroll), we will not get it; just a ironic joke piece of legislation that creates a phony public option that is more expensive then private insurance and only 2% would be eligible for anyway. They get FLOODED...INUNDATED with calls for the Weiner amendment and the Kucinich amendment...
They won't take your call. Even when the lines aren't busy and their staff is free to taalk. I got through to both offices on the very first ring, all three times I called.
So, KNOW that the people are speaking. Know that the calls are being made and that the lines are ringing off the hook for real health care reform.
They just won't pick up the phone.
Pssst,Pelosi only cares about what her district think and in San Fran she is safe.
pnwmom (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 05:49 PM
Response to Original message
2. The problem is that the base may be very liberal -- but the Democratic majority includes
Edited on Wed Nov-04-09 05:49 PM by pnwmom
moderates and centrists and even Independents.
The same is true of the Rethugs. Their base is very right wing -- but to win a majority they have to get support from centrists and moderates and even Independents.
The real majority is in the middle, not with the base of either party.
Not allowed to think like that.
jgraz (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 05:52 PM
Response to Reply #2
8. The problem is that the Democratic Congress includes cowards
If they don't want Single Payer, then stand up and vote on it. Let them go on the record as voting against the core interests of their constituency. All this back-room nonsense does is allow the stealth corporatists to keep hiding.
robinlynne (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 06:01 PM
Response to Reply #2
17. really? Or might the problem be simply corruption? money from the corporations
which they use to maintain their power.
The eeeevil,all powerful bogeyman again.
Sebastian Doyle (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 06:06 PM
Response to Reply #2
24. Bullshit
I am so ****ing tired of this DLC "centrist" excuse for everything. Over 75% of this ****ing country wants a public option, according to any poll NOT funded by the ******* insurance criminals.
Please show us those polls.
debbierlus (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. I called Kucinich's office and told on her! Maybe he can mention this when he goes on tv
I called his staff (so polite, so respectful, so empathetic - night and day with the Pelosi cowards)...
I told the staff that he ought to know Pelosi has made it her policy to NOT take calls about the Weiner & Kunicin, they say they have received so many, the staff just puts them through to voicemail. I wanted him to know that people are listening and calling to the point of inundation. And, I wanted to let him know that even when we call, they refuse to talk to us.
I thought if he was on tv, he might point this out to the American public.
Uhmm no,he will kiss Nancys ass because she has the power to completely let him become an irrelevant nutcase local congressman.
global1 (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 06:17 PM
Response to Reply #23
31. Exactly - Let The WH Know That If They Don't Support Us In The Form Of......
single payer or at least a very strong public option - we won't support them. I'm sorry. I hope the WH got the message last night. I think they were taking us for granted - still riding off the glow of last year. But they've got to see that we're smarter than they give us credit for - and if they don't listen to us people - the voters - then they might just be looking for a different job next election. We have the power and if they don't think we have it in us to vote them out - Yes We Can.
Jkid (514 posts) Wed Nov-04-09 05:59 PM
Response to Original message
13. There's also one alternative. Visit her office yourself.
She will probably not listen to your voice messages. And if she refuses to answer or stonewalls you in anyway, you expose that to your local media and everyone you know.
If that day comes and Nancy refuses to consider a debate, her political carrier is finished of dereliction of public duty of her constituents.
That sounds like reasonable advice,wonder how well it will be received.
debbierlus (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 06:02 PM
Response to Reply #13
20. Hmmmm.
Something tells me she doesn`t live in Nancys state much less district.
Slit Skirt (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-04-09 06:41 PM
Response to Original message
39. same thing happened to me about 1 wk ago
and then i got pissed sent emails to all i could think of...no kucinich amendment, no weiner vote...no STRONG PUBLIC OPTION...YOU WILL ALL PAY HEAVILY IN 2010 and 2012. I mean it too. i will work my ass off for an independent whoever....i am sick of this crap
