Do the Democrats have a problem with their base?

[Barrister]

I always thought that people who "write to their congressmen" are by far and large lunatics and extremists. No sane people would consider that a sensible and efficient way of dealing with an issue.

From my political experience, "writing/calling your MP" is tremendously effective.  People who are motivated enough to call are motivated enough to tell all their friends, to donate, and to volunteer.

Now certainly while getting a whole series of identical pre-printed letters doesn't do much, but 100 heartfelt letters from constituents is just about the most powerful message you can send a politician.

[Razgovory]

 

[dps]

Ah, ain't it cute how the MoveOn types think that they're the Democratic base?

The Republicans would love to convince the Democratic rank-and-file that MoveOn and the like really are the Democratic base.

Republicans also seem to think that MoveOn.org is the base.  Or the leadership.  Or something.  Cause you hear them bitching about them on a regular basis.

Of course they bitch about it.  What part of, "The Republicans would love to convince the Democratic rank-and-file that MoveOn and the like really are the Democratic base" did you not understand?

[KRonn]

I always thought that people who "write to their congressmen" are by far and large lunatics and extremists. No sane people would consider that a sensible and efficient way of dealing with an issue.

From my political experience, "writing/calling your MP" is tremendously effective.  People who are motivated enough to call are motivated enough to tell all their friends, to donate, and to volunteer.

Now certainly while getting a whole series of identical pre-printed letters doesn't do much, but 100 heartfelt letters from constituents is just about the most powerful message you can send a politician.

This is my take on it as well, and I've heard politicians say pretty much the same thing. The people who take the time to contact a legislator are listening and watching the issue(s). As long as the writer/emailer presents their issue rationally and respectfully.

[Razgovory]

Ah, ain't it cute how the MoveOn types think that they're the Democratic base?

The Republicans would love to convince the Democratic rank-and-file that MoveOn and the like really are the Democratic base.

Republicans also seem to think that MoveOn.org is the base.  Or the leadership.  Or something.  Cause you hear them bitching about them on a regular basis.

Of course they bitch about it.  What part of, "The Republicans would love to convince the Democratic rank-and-file that MoveOn and the like really are the Democratic base" did you not understand?

Much of it.

[alfred russel]

The party in power always has trouble with the base, because once the party gets power its base loses delude themselves into thinking that the party is going to enact their agenda. Also, nothing fires up a base like outrage of what the other side is doing or may be able to do.

[DontSayBanana]

Extremes on both sides have a problem with the base.

[Admiral Yi]

Republicans also seem to think that MoveOn.org is the base.  Or the leadership.  Or something.  Cause you hear them bitching about them on a regular basis.

MoveOn is a decent proxy for the peacenik portion of the Democratic base.

[saskganesh]

Ah, ain't it cute how the MoveOn types think that they're the Democratic base?

The Republicans would love to convince the Democratic rank-and-file that MoveOn and the like really are the Democratic base.

Republicans also seem to think that MoveOn.org is the base.  Or the leadership.  Or something.  Cause you hear them bitching about them on a regular basis.

certainly. that's what languish told me.

now I am confused what "languishizing" means. I bet it means something like "vietnamization."

[LaCroix]

Which senator do you work for?

By the way are you new? An old Languishite with a new tag due to the forum update?

i've been interning for a few months now in d.c. with mccain. i'm not exactly new, i had an account on the old forum, but i was not very active

From my political experience, "writing/calling your MP" is tremendously effective.  People who are motivated enough to call are motivated enough to tell all their friends, to donate, and to volunteer.

Now certainly while getting a whole series of identical pre-printed letters doesn't do much, but 100 heartfelt letters from constituents is just about the most powerful message you can send a politician.

i'm not sure how it works in canada, or with the more local political bodies in the united states, or even with other senate offices (though i would imagine that they are not too radically different).. but in the office i work in, the constituent has very little influence. naturally, form letters, petitions, and just plain crazy letters (keywords for craziness = czar, communist/socialist, ranting, calling people idiots or worse, etc) are just thrown out before they reach anyone important. well thought out/informed letters are kept, placed in a pile, given a code (health care: HEGE, for example), and then scanned and distributed among the legislative assistants based on the code. those assistants then respond to the letter by sending out a letter template they have already constructed. with voice mail, there is a tally sheet to mark down people's views on issues, but nobody really pays much attention to it. the impression i have is that letters are only given a response so that they don't get angry that their senator is not paying attention to their demands. even then, the senator never directly hears from the constituents. whether a staff member ever tells the senator something along the lines of, "okay, sounds like people want YES on hr.4821," i don't know

[KRonn]

Kind of sad actually then. I guess things are even worse with those who represent us in government policy! They don't really even pay attention when people take time to give their views! It's like they have their own little fiefdom, their own Oligarchy! Oh, wait....     

[Fate]

Or the signal to noise ratio is so low that you're worse off from listening to constituent mail. You can't really expect an honest politician to legislate based on the whim of Beckers and Truthers, can you?

[KRonn]

My state representative responds pretty well. He will sometimes send out an email response outlining his ideas, why he feels that way, and such. I realize it's a form letter but he or his staff do seem to take the time to put together a well versed letter on a political position and explain it.

My Senator, Kerry, never responds. Go figure! What a surprise. "Oh Buffy.... the plebs are hounding me again, meddlesome creatures."   

Senator Kennedy was good about dealing with us little people, even if I didn't agree with many of his political views.

[Admiral Yi]

Johnny H.'s seat is ultra safe.  He's going to pay less attention to mail and calls than most elected officials.

But the conventional wisdom is that they do pay attention to whining.

[derspiess]

I wrote my congressman in Delaware three times. 

Once for a firearms bill that did not end up coming to a floor vote-- he (or his staffer anyway) replied to respectfully disagree-- he got bonus points for at least having the courage to tell me his position & not just ignoring me.

Once during the Clinton impeachment.  I received no response but wasn't really expecting one-- he voted the way I wanted him to even though he was one of the GOP 'moderates' whose votes were in question.

And then once when I was having problems getting the INS to keep moving forward on my wife's green card.   One of his staffers responded & offered to help in any way they could, but shortly thereafter we got things moving again.


I haven't felt compelled to write to ol' Jean Schmidt or Rob Portman before her, since I moved to Ohio.