Political Wisdom

Test post.

Senate Democrat Contact Info and Statements of Position

This "contact info" list is not complete yet -- it's formatted inconsistently, and is still missing some of the senators' local office phone numbers and email/webmail links. But it contains every senator's main phone number, most of their email/webmail links, and can be printed out and used as a "checklist" to keep track of who you've called or written. And where individual district office numbers are given, constituents have a place to call that's not lost in the DC shuffle (or even make multiple calls, one to each number).

It seemed better to post it, incomplete, than not to post it at all. I'll have time to finish it soon, hopefully Monday evening, and will update it then. Thanks!

(CLICK HERE TO VISIT VICHYDEMS)

Democratic and Independent United States Senators
(Incomplete; draft 0.2. Updated to remove erroneous phone number.)

http://democrats.senate.gov/senators.html

Akaka, Daniel (D-HI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6361
DC office fax: 202-224-2126
Honolulu office phone: 808-522-8970
Honolulu office fax: 808-545-4683
Hilo office phone: 808-935-1114
Hilo office fax: 808-935-9064
Campaign office phone: 808-522-8972
email: senator@akaka.senate.gov

Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2651
DC office fax: 202-224-0515
Billings office phone: 406-657-6790
Billings office fax: none given
Bozeman office phone: 406-586-6104
Helena office phone: 406-449-5480
Missoula office phone: 406-329-3123
email: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm

Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5623
DC office fax: None given on website
Indianapolis office phone: 317-554-0750
Evansville office phone: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne office phone: 260-426-3151
South Bend office phone: 574-236-8302
email: http://bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Biden, Joe (D-DE)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
202-224-5652
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Biden's D.C. office direct line: 202-224-5042
Wilmington office telephone: 302-573-6345
Milford office telephone: (302) 424-8090
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax 202-224-0139
Wilmington office fax: 302-573-6351
Milford office fax: (302) 424-8098
Senator Biden webmail link

Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5521
DC office fax: 202. 224. 2852
Albuquerque office phone: 505-346-6601
Las Cruces office phone: 505-523-6561
Roswell office phone: 505-622-7113
Santa Fe office phone: 505-988-6647
Campaign office phone: 202-314-3222
email: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov

Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) Position Statement: Supports the Filibuster!
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Boxer's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Boxer webmail link

Byrd, Robert (V-WV)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3954
DC office fax: 202-228-0002
Charleston office phone: 304-342-5855
Charleston office fax: 304-343-7144
Campaign office phone: 202-546-9292
email: http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3441
DC office fax: 202-228-0514
Seattle office phone: 206-220-6400
Seattle office fax: 206-220-6404
Spokane office phone: 509-353-2507
Spokane office fax: 509-353-2547
Vancouver office phone: 360-696-7838
Vancouver office fax: 360-696-7844
Tacoma office phone: 253-572-2281
Tacoma office fax: 253-572-5879
Everett office phone:425-303-0114
Everett office fax: 425-303-8351
Campaign office phone: 202-314-3225
email: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Carper, Thomas (D-DE)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2441
DC office fax: 202-228-2190
Wilmington office phone: 302-573-6291
Wilmington office fax: 302-573-6434
Dover office phone: 302-674-3308
Dover office fax: 302-674-5464
Georgetown office phone: 302-856-7690
Georgetown office fax: 302-856-3001
Campaign office phone: 202-546-0909
Campaign office fax: 202-546-6916
email: http://carper.senate.gov/aemail.htm

Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Clinton's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Clinton webmail link

Conrad, Kent (V-ND)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Conrad's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Conrad webmail link

Corzine, Jon
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Corzine's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Corzine webmail link

Dayton, Mark (D-MN) Position statement: Dayton is opposed to censure, saying that while he thinks the President is doing wrong, he refuses to play "presidential politics" by supporting Feingold's motion. Of course, what that really means is that he doesn't support Feingold for President, and is willing to allow the President to continue breaking the law if that's what it takes to defeat Feingold -- so Dayton, not Feingold is the one putting "Presidential politics" about principle. Don't waste your time trying to change his mind, but remember this the next time Dayton seeks grassroots support.
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Dayton's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Dayton webmail link

Dodd, Christopher
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Dodd's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Dodd webmail link

Dorgan, Byron (D-ND)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2551
DC office fax: 202-224-1193
Bismarck office phone: 701-250-4618
Bismarck office fax: 701-250-4484
Grand Forks office phone: 701-746-8972
Grand Forks office fax: 701-746-9122
Fargo office phone: 701-239-5389
Fargo office fax: 701-239-5112
Minot office phone: 701-852-0703
Minot office fax: 701-838-8196
email: senator@dorgan.senate.gov

Durbin, Richard ("Dick")
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Durbin's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Durbin webmail link

Feingold, Russell (D-WI)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Feingold D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-5323
Middleton office telephone: (608) 828-1200
Milwaukee office telephone: (414) 276-7282
La Crosse office telephone: (608) 782-5585
Wausau office telephone: (715) 848-5660
Green Bay office telephone: (920) 465-7508
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD):
D.C. office TDD (202) 224-1280
Middleton office TDD (608) 828-1215
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax (202) 224-2725
Middleton fax: (608) 828-1203
Milwaukee fax: (414) 276-7284
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov

Feinstein, Dianne
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Feinstein's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Feinstein webmail link

Harkin, TomPosition statement: supports censure!
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Harkin's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Harkin webmail link

Inouye, Daniel (D-HI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3934
DC office fax: None given on website
No local offices given on website (talk about a "Beltway" politician!)
email: http://inouye.senate.gov/webform.html

Johnson, Tim (V-SD)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5842
DC office fax: 202-228-5765
Aberdeen office phone: 605-226-3440
Aberdeen office fax: 605-226-2439
Rapid City office phone: 605-341-3990
Rapid City office fax: 605-341-2207
Sioux Falls office phone: 605-332-8896
Sioux Falls office fax: 605-332-2824
email: http://johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfm

Kennedy, Edward ("Ted")
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Kennedy's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Kennedy webmail link

Kerry, John
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Kerry's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Kerry webmail link

Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5653
DC office fax: 202-224-9787
Milwaukee office phone: 414-297-4451
Milwaukee office fax: 414-297-4455
Madison office phone: 608-264-5338
Madison office fax: 608-264-5473
Eau Claire office phone: 715-832-8424
Eau Claire office fax: 715-832-8492
Appleton office phone: 920-738-1640
Appleton office fax: 920-738-1643
Campaign office phone: 414-276-5645
email: http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

Landrieu, Mary (D-LA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5824
DC office fax: 202-224-9735
New Orleans office phone: 504-589-2427
New Orleans office fax: 504-589-4023
Baton Rouge office phone: 225-389-0395
Baton Rouge office fax: 225-389-0660
Lake Charles office phone: 337-436-6650
Lake Charles office fax: 337-439-3762
Shreveport office phone: 318-676-3085
Shreveport office fax: 318-676-3100
email: http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3224
DC office fax: 202-228-4054
Newark office phone: 973-639-8700
Newark office fax: 973-639-8723
Camden office phone: 856-338-8922
Camden office fax: 856-338-8936
email: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

Leahy, Patrick (D-VT)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Leahy's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Leahy webmail link

Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6221
DC office fax: 202-224-1388
Detroit office phone: 313-226-6020
Detroit office fax: 313-226-6948
Lansing office phone: 517-377-1508
Lansing office fax: 517-377-1506
Saginaw office phone: 989-754-2494
Saginaw office fax: 989-754-2920
Grand Rapids office phone: 616-456-2531
Grand Rapids office fax: 616-456-5147
Traverse City office phone: 231-947-9569
Traverse City office fax: 231-947-9518
Escanaba office phone: 906-789-0052
Escanaba office fax: 906-789-0015
email: http://levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Lieberman, Joe (V-CT) Position Statement: Opposes Censure. Don't waste your time trying to persuade the Vichiest Vichy of them all; donate to his challenger, Ned Lamont, instead.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4041
DC office fax: 202-224-9750
Hartford office phone: 860-549-8463
Hartford office fax: 860-549-8478

Lincoln, Blanche Lambert (D-AR)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4843
DC office fax: 202-228-1371
Little Rock office phone: 501-375-2993
Little Rock office fax: 501-375-7064
Texarkana office phone: 870-774-3106
Texarkana office fax: 870-774-7627
Dumas office phone: 870-382-1023
Dumas office fax: 870-382-1026
Jonesboro office phone: 870-910-6896
Jonesboro office fax: 870-910-6898
email: http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

Menendez, Robert (D-NJ):
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4744
DC office fax: 202-228-2197
Newark office phone: 973-645-3030
Campaign office phone: 201-271-1661
Senate Email: none given
Campaign office email: bob@menendezforcongress.com

Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD): Still sitting on the fence, but vulnerable to pressure:
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-4654
DC office fax: 202-224-8858
Salisbury office phone: 410-546-7711
Salisbury office fax: 410-546-9324
Greenbelt office phone: 301-345-5517
Greenbelt office fax: 301-345-7573
Annapolis office phone: 410-263-1805
Annapolis office fax: 410-263-5949
Hagerstown office phone: 301-797-2826
Hagerstown office fax: 301-797-2241
Baltimore office phone: 410-962-4510
Baltimore office fax: 410-962-4760
email: http://mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html

Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2621
DC office fax: 202-224-0238
Seattle office phone: 206-553-5545
Seattle office fax: 206-553-0891
Spokane office phone: 509-624-9515
Spokane office fax: 509-624-9561
Everett office phone: 425-259-6515
Everett office fax: 425-259-7152
Vancouver office phone: 360-696-7797
Vancouver office fax: 360-696-7798
Yakima office phone: 509-453-7462
Yakima office fax: 509-453-7731
email: http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Nelson, Ben (V-NB)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6551
DC office fax: 202-228-0012
Omaha office phone: 402-391-3411
Omaha office fax: 402-391-4725
Lincoln office phone: 402-441-4600
Lincoln office fax: 402-476-8753
Chadron office phone: 308-430-0587
Scottsbluff office phone: 308-631-7614
Campaign office phone: 202-546-8100
Campaign office fax: 202-546-7493
email: http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Nelson, Bill (D-FL)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5274
DC office fax: 202-228-2183
Miami office phone: 305-536-5999
Miami office fax: 305-536-5991
Orlando office phone: 407-872-7161
Orlando office fax: 407-872-7165
Tampa office phone: 813-225-7040
Tampa office fax: 813-225-7050
Tallahassee office phone: 850-942-8415
Tallahassee office fax: 850-942-8450
Campaign office phone: 202-547-0010
Campaign office fax: 202-547-3419
email: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm#email

Obama, Barack
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Obama D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Obama webmail link

Pryor, Mark (D-AR)
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-2353
DC office fax: 202-228-0908
Little Rock office phone: 501-324-6336
Little Rock office fax: 501-324-5320
email: http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/

Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Reed's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Reed webmail link

Reid, Harry (D-NV) Position statement: Reid is the Senate Democratic Leader; well-intentioned and good at posturing but weak at enforcing party discipline and unhappy about Feingold bringing this resolution without telling him first. Tell Reid to put that behind him: you not only want him to vote for censure, but you want him to exercise leadership for a change and rally the other Senators to do the same.
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
D.C. office direct line: 202-224-3542
D.C. office direct line toll-free from Nevada: 866-SEN-REID (866-736-7343)
Carson City office telephone: 775-882-7343
Reno office telephone: 775-686-5750
Las Vegas office telephone: 702-388-5020
Fax numbers
D.C. office fax: 202-224-7327
Carson City office fax: 775-883-1980
Reno office fax: 775-686-5757
Las Vegas office fax: 702-388-5030
Senator Reid webmail link

Rockefeller, John D. IV ("Jay") (D-WV) (Ranking Democratic member and Vice-Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee; knight in shining armor, encourage him to keep fighting and not cave in)
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6472
Beckley office phone: 304-253-9704
Charleston office phone: 304-347-5372
Fairmont office phone: 304-367-0122
Martinsburg office phone: 304-262-9285
Fax numbers
DC office fax: 202-224-7665
Beckley office fax: 304-253-2578
Charleston office fax: 304-347-5371
Fairmont office fax: 304-367-0822
Martinsburg office fax: 304-262-6288
Senator Rockefeller webmail link

Salazar, Ken (D-CO): Anti-Alito but won't support a filibuster. D'oh! Urge him to show party loyalty by abstaining from the filibuster vote.
Main Senate switchboard no.: 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-5852
DC office fax: 202-228-5036
Denver office phone: 303-455-7600
Denver office fax: 303-455-8851
Pike's Peak office phone: 719-328-1100
Pike's Peak office fax: 719-328-1129
Fort Collins office phone: 970-224-2200
Fort Collins office fax: 970-224-2205
Pueblo office phone:719-542-7550
Pueblo office fax:719-542-7555
email: http://salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Sarbanes' D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Sarbanes webmail link

Schumer, Charles ("Chuck") (D-NY)
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Schumer D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Schumer webmail link

Stabenow, Debbie
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Stabenow's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Stabenow webmail link

Wyden, Ron (D-OR)Position Statement: Officially undecided but probably will support censure if enough others do
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Wyden's D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Wyden webmail link

Jeffords, James (I-VT)Position statement: I don't know his position; note that he is an independent who usually votes with the Democratic Caucus
Tone Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
Telephone numbers:
Senate switchboard, toll-free: 888-355-3588
Jeffords' D.C. office direct line: (202) 224-
office telephone:
office telephone:
office telephone:
Fax numbers:
D.C. Fax
office fax:
office fax:
office fax:
Senator Jeffords webmail link


(CLICK HERE TO VISIT VICHYDEMS)

GUEST BLOGGER: CHUCK PENNACCHIO, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SENATE FROM PENNSYLVANIA

Please visit our sister site, VichyDems, for Chuck Pennacchio's guest blog.

Roots Project: NSA Surveillance Hearings Campaign Update

For fuller information and discussion, visit http://vichydems.blogspot.com/

Originally posted: Monday March 6, 10:46 am PT. Last Updated: 2:55 pm PT

The Intelligence Committee hearing will begin at 2:30 pm ET Tuesday March 7.

Here’s an update on how our NSA Surveillance/Senate Intelligence Committee campaign is doing:

IMPORTANT: It’s still unclear how Senator Snowe intends to vote tomorrow. Some readers have reported (and Glenn Greenwald has duly passed along their reports) that Snowe’s office says she will vote FOR hearings. But as of the time of this posting, her office has told me she has issued NO STATEMENT one way or the other. I don’t know whether this is a miscommunication within her office or whether she’s backsliding, but it’s not good news.

At this point, therefore, I’m continuing to list both Snowe and Hagel as UNDECIDED on the question of whether the Intelligence Committee should hold hearings into the NSA surveillance. I have left voice messages for both senators’ communications directors and will let you know as soon as I have updated information. Meanwhile, keep up the phone calls, emails and faxes.

In other news:

Rockefeller’s office forwarded a copy of Reid’s press release to me over the weekend, via Blackberry -- so they’re not only on top of the situation, but using newly-licensed proprietary technology to do it!

Glenn Greenwald has another excellent post on the topic.

Ethan Heitner at TomPaine.com has picked up the battle cry, as has eriposte at The Left Coaster.

And the current calling campaign (with VichyDems riding Glenn’s coattails) even made the front page of Liberal Oasis today.

More updates as events warrant. Please keep working the Game Plan.

UPDATE, 11:40 AM PT: Thanks to Glenn Greenwald and his reader Ommzms, here's a link to a solid New York Times editorial today taking our side.

UPDATE, 12:12 PM PT: In case you don't think what we do makes a difference: in the last hour, this site has had visits from at least two people in Washington, D.C., one whose ISP is the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms (the Senate ISP) and who surfed over from Glenn Greenwald's most recent post on Frist's machinations, and one whose ISP is the Library of Congress Information Technology Service and who surfed over from TomPaine.com. 2:38 pm: Make that three: someone in D.C. whose ISP is the Administrator of the U.S. Courts, who surfed here from Glenn's. Yeah, I know, probably a bored District Court law clerk, but I prefer to think it's Sam Alito, quavering in his boots about the prospect of the People rising up.

We have the attention of people in government. That makes a difference. So please keep working!!

UPDATE, 2:55 PM PT: Snowe's and Hagel's office still are keeping mum on their positions. My best bet? Frist is close to pulling off an upset, with major pork heading to Maine and Nebraska if Snowe and Hagel play ball, and they're keeping their cards close.

And Sen. Rockefeller's office doesn't seem to have any better info than we do at this point; here's word I just received from them:

Wish I had some insight for you, but it’s really unclear what’s going to happen. My best guess is Republicans will come up with some alternative proposal for a review and that they’ll try and get Hagel and Snowe to vote for that version. It’s really up in the air at the moment.

Roots Project: ALL HANDS ON DECK

For fuller information and discussion, visit http://vichydems.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 6, 2:55 pm PT: STATUS REPORT HERE. THEN PLEASE COME BACK HERE AND KEEP WORKING! --Thersites

We're not just in Kansas anymore, Toto. Bill Frist is threatening to unilaterally change the Senate Intelligence Committee’s rules to cut out the minority’s role unless the ranking Democrat, Jay Rockefeller, caves in on his demand for hearings on the warrantless NSA spying program. We have to move fast to make our voices heard.

I've written about how Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) promised ranking minority member Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) not just a vote on Rockefeller's motion for hearings into the warrantless NSA surveillance program, but hearings themselves. I've written about how Roberts broke that promise and infuriated Rockefeller here, what the "inside politics" were here and here, and how Roberts was "stung" by the negative feedback he received, especially from the major newspapers inside Kansas, here. I've written about the three crummy Republican proposals to bury the whole scandal here, and I've written about the heavy pressure Bill Frist, Roberts and others are bringing to bear on the two independent-minded (and Constitution-respecting) Republicans on that committee here.

Apparently those two honest Republicans are holding firm so far, because now Glenn Greenwald tells us that Bill Frist is threatening to bypass the Committee altogether by rewriting the rules to avoid hearings. Of course, Frist calls it necessary to ensure "oversight" due to Democratic "partisanship", but that's just Orwell-speak: it's really a partisan Republican effort to "disappear" the NSA scandal to avoid catastrophic Republican losses in next November’s Congressional midterm elections.

Basically, Frist is threatening to do to the Intelligence Committee what he threatened to do to the judicial filibuster: rewrite the Senate's rules to ensure the minority has no power and no voice. Godwin's law be damned: it's fascism, pure and simple, and it cannot be allowed.

One of these days the Democratic Senate leadership will figure out that bullies keep bullying until you punch them in the nose. Had they stood up as a group and successfully filibustered Alito, and stood their ground in the subsequent nuclear winter, we would not be having this problem. But they didn't, and we are, and so we citizens are back on the firing line, trying to give our leaders spine transplants. (Update: ReddHedd at FDL reports that Harry Reid did fire back rhetorically at Frist; let's hope he follows words with deeds.)

This means our current Maine-Nebraska Roots Project, and our recent Kansas Roots Project, are opening up. We need to fight on several fronts now:

1. EVERYONE: Read Glenn Greenwald's excellent piece. It's long, but you need to understand what's happening. Then take action:

2. RESIDENTS OF KANSAS, MAINE, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND TENNESSEE: Take state-specific action, as follows:

KANSANS: If Frist succeeds, Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Pat Roberts will LOSE power, because the committee he chairs will have been neutered. If he wants to remain a player in Republican party politics instead of a reliably-impotent lapdog, as well as honor his oath of office to respect and defend the Constitution, he needs to stand up to Frist and demand that his committee's rules be left alone. Kansans need to email, fax and call Roberts' DC and District offices and demand that he not permit the Intelligence Committee's rules to be changed. IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A KANSAN. Contact info for Pat Roberts is under “Bad Guys.”

MAINERS AND NEBRASKANS: It's too late now to have Letters to the Editor published. Instead, email, fax and call Olympia Snowe's and Chuck Hagel's DC and local offices to praise them for standing firm and reinforce that we want them to resist Frist's meddling with the Intelligence Committee's rules AND to keep demanding real hearings into the NSA program, not just the whitewashes that DeWine, Specter, and Graham are proposing. IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A NEBRASKAN OR MAINER. Contact info for Snowe and Hagel is under “Moderates/Swing Votes.”

NEVADANS: Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate, is well-intentioned but weak when it comes to party discipline. Remind him how the Republicans are still stalling on the Iraq War Intelligence report, and urge him to support Jay Rockefeller and demand REAL hearings this time. Contact info for Harry Reid is under “Good Guys.”

WEST VIRGINIANS: Your Senator, Jay Rockefeller, is doing great work. Email, fax and/or call and tell him so, and urge him not to cave in and compromise on either the Committee Rules or on his call for hearings. We’re tired of compromise and want to fight, and damn the torpedoes. Contact info for Jay Rockefeller is under “Good Guys.”

TENNESSEEANS: Call, email and fax Bill Frist’s DC AND District offices and politely give him hell, both for trying to change the Intelligence Committee's rules and for trying to whitewash the NSA program instead of holding fair, bipartisan hearings. Let him know you’re a Tennessee voters and you’ll remember how he handles this situation when you vote next November. Contact info for Bill Frist is under “Bad Guys.”

3. EVERYONE ELSE IN AMERICA: This is no longer a primarily local effort. All Americans have the right to be heard, so make calls. Just run down the Contact Information list below: Good Guys (praise and encourage to stand firm); Moderate/Swing Votes (praise and encourage to hold hearings); Bad Guys (tell them you know what they’re up to with the Intelligence Committee rule change threat, and shame, shame, shame).

EVERYONE: USE YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND WORDS: We're not Republicans and don't have an echo chamber, which makes us both more honest and more persuasive.

Fight hard and have fun. It all comes to a head Tuesday when the Intelligence Committee meets.
*******
CONTACT INFORMATION

MAIN CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: ALL D.C. OFFICES CAN BE REACHED TOLL-FREE HERE: 888-355-3588

U.S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
Committee direct telephone number: (202) 224-1700

GOOD GUYS:

Harry Reid (D-NV) (Senate Democratic Leader; well-intentioned but weak at enforcing party discipline. Tell him to stand up to Frist’s threat to change the Intelligence Committee’s rules; ask him to fight for a change even if it means a showdown, and to support Jay Rockefeller however he can.)
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
D.C. office direct line: 202-224-3542
D.C. office direct line toll-free from Nevada: 866-SEN-REID (866-736-7343)
Carson City office telephone: 775-882-7343
Reno office telephone: 775-686-5750
Las Vegas office telephone: 702-388-5020
Fax numbers
D.C. office fax: 202-224-7327
Carson City office fax: 775-883-1980
Reno office fax: 775-686-5757
Las Vegas office fax: 702-388-5030
Senator Reid webmail link

Rockefeller, John D. IV “Jay” (D-WV) (Ranking Democratic member and Vice-Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee; knight in shining armor, encourage him to keep fighting and not cave in)
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-6472
Beckley office phone: 304-253-9704
Charleston office phone: 304-347-5372
Fairmont office phone: 304-367-0122
Martinsburg office phone: 304-262-9285
Fax numbers
DC office fax: 202-224-7665
Beckley office fax: 304-253-2578
Charleston office fax: 304-347-5371
Fairmont office fax: 304-367-0822
Martinsburg office fax: 304-262-6288
Senator Rockefeller webmail link

MODERATES/SWING VOTES:

Olympia Snowe (R-ME) (Member, Senate Intelligence Committee; swing vote; encourage)
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
Washington, D.C. office direct telephone: (202) 224-5344
Washington, D.C. office toll-free from Maine (800) 432-1599
Auburn office telephone: (207) 786-2451
Augusta office telephone: (207) 622-8292
Bangor office telephone: (207) 945-0432
Biddeford office telephone: (207) 282-4144
Portland office telephone: (207) 874-0883
Presque Isle office telephone: (207) 764-5124
Fax numbers:
Washington, D.C. office fax: (202) 224-1946
Auburn office fax: (207) 782-1438
Augusta office fax: (207) 622-7295
Bangor office fax: (207) 941-9525
Biddeford office fax: (207) 284-2358
Portland office fax: (207) 874-7631
Presque Isle office fax: (207) 764-6420
Senator Snowe webmail link

Chuck Hagel (R-NE) (Member, Senate Intelligence Committee; swing vote; encourage.)
Telephone Numbers:
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-4224
Omaha office (402) 758-8981
Lincoln (402) 476-1400
Kearney (308) 236-7602
Scottsbluff (308) 632-6032
Fax Numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-5213
Omaha office (402) 758-9165
Lincoln (402) 476-0605
Kearney (308) 236-7473
Scottsbluff Office (308) 632-6295
Senator Hagel Webmail link

BAD GUYS:

Frist, Bill (R-TN) (Senate Majority Leader; leaning hard on moderate Republicans Snowe and Hagel to cave in on NSA hearings; threatening to change Senate Intelligence Committee rules to torpedo hearings if necessary to keep White House wrongdoing out of the limelight.)
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
DC office direct line: 202-224-3344
Nashville office telephone: 615-352-9411
Chattanooga office telephone: 423-756-2757
Jackson office telephone: 731-424-9655
Kingsport/Tri-Cities office telephone: 423-323-1252
Knoxville office telephone: 865-637-4180
Memphis office telephone: 901-683-1910
Fax numbers
DC office fax: 202-228-1264
Nashville office fax: 615-352-9985
Chattanooga office fax: 423-756-5313
Jackson office fax: 731-424-8322
Kingsport/Tri-Cities office fax: 423-323-0358
Knoxville office fax: 865-637-9886
Memphis office fax: 901-683-3610
Senator Frist webmail link

Pat Roberts (R-KS) (Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee; weak-kneed, encourage to rebuff Frist’s attempt to change the rules, and insist on having hearings rather than whitewash)
Telephone numbers
Main Capitol switchboard number (all Congressional offices): 888-355-3588
Washington, D.C. office direct telephone: 202-224-4774
Dodge City telephone: 620-227-2244
Overland Park telephone: 913-451-9343
Topeka telephone: 785-295-2745
Wichita telephone: 316-263-0416
Fax numbers
Washington, D.C. fax: 202-224-3514
(Also consider addressing faxes to Jackie Cottrell, Roberts’ Chief of Staff)
Dodge City fax: 620-227-2264
Overland Park fax: 913-451-9446
Topeka fax: 785-235-3665
Wichita fax: 316-263-0273
Senator Roberts webmail link

Monday, March 6, 2:55 pm PT: STATUS REPORT HERE. THEN PLEASE COME BACK HERE AND KEEP WORKING! --Thersites

GAME PLAN: SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, THIS TIME FOR KEEPS

Duplicate of post originally published on http://vichydems.blogspot.com; please visit there for more background, status reports, comments, and discussion.

The Roots Project is an effort by a loose group of bloggers, including VichyDems, Glenn Greenwald, Jane Hamsher, John Amato of Crooks & Liars, and Digby of Hullabaloo, to work with local bloggers in each state to mobilize local grassroots/netroots/”netboots” efforts.

Today we’re rolling out an ambitious plan: to turn out both national and in-state activists, for two states (Nebraska and Maine), on two fronts (calls to senators and letters to editors). Here’s the skinny:

The Issue: Warrantless NSA surveillance of American citizens. More specifically, calling for the Senate Judiciary Committee -- which punted the ball last time (more here, here, and especially here) -- to commit to holding hearings into the NSA’s wiretap program.

The Timeline: The Senate Intelligence Committee meets next on March 7. We’re hammering them between now and then, including at night and over the weekend.

The Senators: The two key senators here are Olympia Snowe in Maine and Chuck Hagel in Nebraska. Both are moderate Republicans who have expressed unease with the NSA program. Both sit on the Senate Intelligence Committee (whose chair, Pat Roberts, we targeted in our Kansas effort last week). While we’re at it, we’ll also tell those states’ other two senators, Ben Nelson (D-NB) and Susan Collins (R-ME), that we want Congressional oversight into the NSA issue. They don’t sit on the key Intelligence Committee, but still have important voices in the overall discussion.

The Media: Contact information for the key newspapers in both states is included in today’s Game Plan. We want them flooded with enough Letters to the Editor that at least a few get through, hopefully stimulating more public debate and possibly influencing the policymakers’ decisions. At the very least, we won’t allow the issue to be ignored, the way the White House wants.

The Goal: Congressional hearings into the NSA issue -- and ones that are as broad as possible, NOT merely to amend the law to retroactively make illegal activity legal.

A little detail: the White House wants to either ignore the whole mess or, if they can’t, to get the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (“FISA”) amended to, as Glenn Greenwald put it, “simply exempt the whole warrantless NSA program from the requirements of FISA.” White House lackey Mike DeWine (R-OH) is pushing for the “make Bush King” approach. We have to make clear that we reject the DeWine approach: WE WANT REAL HEARINGS INTO THE NSA PROGRAM, AND REAL OVERSIGHT BY CONGRESS TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS.

Get more background info on the NSA fiasco on Wikipedia, then read Jane and Glenn and John for talking points and more detailed analysis of the issues.

Who Can Participate? What’s the Game Plan?
EVERYONE can participate in this one, NOT JUST MAINE AND NEBRASKA RESIDENTS. This is a national issue, so this is a national Game Plan. But we’re breaking you into teams:

Residents of Maine or Nebraska, or who have roots there: Politicians pay a lot more attention to in-state feedback, since what they really care about is votes. So residents of those states get to do the whole shebang. We want you writing letters to the editor using your local addresses; those are much more likely to get published. We also want you emailing, webmailing, faxing, and telephoning your senators, at BOTH their DC AND DISTRICT (in-state) offices. Be sure to tell the staffers what your connection to the state is.

Everyone else: Feel free to write letters to the editor if you have some reason to believe they might get published, and to call the key senators during business hours if that’s more convenient for you. But if the phones are very busy during the daytime, that might mean that in-state callers aren’t able to get through. In that case, please consider making your calls at night and over the weekend, and leaving voicemails. Why? (1) Local callers will have an easier time getting through during business hours, when they can engage with staffers on a personal level, and (2) There’s no one there on the weekends to ask where you live, so you don’t have to tell them in your message. But don’t overstress on “who calls when.” The important thing is to make the calls.

That’s it! All the contact info you’ll ever need is below; and to make it even easier, I’m proving internal links to help you jump to the right spot:

Maine Senators’ contact info

Nebraska Senators’ contact info

Maine newspapers and media outlets

Nebraska newspapers and media outlets

Go to! Have fun! Take back your country!

*******

MAIN CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: ALL D.C. OFFICES CAN BE REACHED TOLL-FREE HERE:
888-355-3588

MAINE SENATORS:

Susan Collins (R-ME) (Chair, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), which has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA)
Senator Collins webmail

Senator Collins Telephone numbers:
Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-2523
Augusta Office (207) 622-8414
Bangor (207) 945-0417
Biddeford (207) 283-1101
Caribou (207) 493-7873
Lewiston (207) 784-6969
Portland (207) 780-3575

Senator Collins Fax Numbers:
Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-2693
Augusta Office (207) 622-5884
Bangor (207) 990-4604
Biddeford (207) 283-4054
Caribou (207) 493-7810
Lewiston (207) 782-6475
Portland (207) 828-0380


Olympia Snowe (R-ME) (Member, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Snowe previously indicated she supported amending FISA in some fashion, but voted with Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) to adjourn the committee without considering a motion to hold NSA hearings.)
Senator Snowe webmail

Senator Snowe Telephone Numbers:
Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-5344
Washington, D.C. toll-free from Maine (800) 432-1599
Auburn office (207) 786-2451
Augusta (207) 622-8292
Bangor (207) 945-0432
Biddeford office (207) 282-4144
Portland office (207) 874-0883
Presque Isle office (207) 764-5124

Senator Snowe Fax Numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-1946
Auburn office (207) 782-1438
Augusta (207) 622-7295
Bangor (207) 941-9525
Biddeford (207) 284-2358
Portland (207) 874-7631
Presque Isle (207) 764-6420

NEBRASKA SENATORS:

Chuck Hagel (R-NB) (Member, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.)
Senator Hagel Webmail

Senator Hagel Telephone Numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-4224
Omaha office (402) 758-8981
Lincoln (402) 476-1400
Kearney (308) 236-7602
Scottsbluff (308) 632-6032

Senator Hagel Fax Numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-5213
Omaha office (402) 758-9165
Lincoln (402) 476-0605
Kearney (308) 236-7473
Scottsbluff Office (308) 632-6295


Ben Nelson (D-NB) (Not on any relevant committees at this time; simply register your gneral desire to see hearings and oversight of the NSA program. FWIW, Sen. Nelson is a conservative Democrat who voted with the Republicans last year than he did with the Democrats, and who voted not only for cloture, but for Samuel Alito's nomination itself. "Party loyalty" approaches won't work with him. Appeals to the principle of checks and balances and to the dangers of a completely unsupervised Executive, however, might.)
Senator Nelson webmail

Senator Nelson Telephone Numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-6551
Omaha (402) 391-3411
Lincoln (402) 441-4600
Chadron (308) 430-0587
Scottsbluff (308) 631-7614

Senator Nelson Fax Numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 228-0012
Omaha (402) 391-4725
Lincoln (402) 476-8753

MAINE NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER MEDIA:

Bangor Daily News
PO Box 1329
491 Main Street
Bangor, ME 04401
Guidelines : Max 300 words. Mailing address, town of residence and telephone number required.
How to Submit : Snail mail to the above address, or
Email to letters@bangordailynews.net

*******

Lewiston Sun Journal
Letters to the Editor,
Sun Journal,
P.O. Box 4400,
Lewiston, ME
04243-4400
Guidelines : Max 250 words. Name and telephone number required; I suggest including address as well, to establish local connection.
How to Submit : Snail mail to the above address, or
Fax to 207-777-3436, or
Letters webform, or
Email to letters@sunjournal.com

*******

Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier (weekly)
P.O.Box 1894
Biddeford, ME 04005
Guidelines: None given; I recommend including name, address and telephone to establish local connection.
How to Submit: Snail mail to the above address, or
Fax to 207-282-4339, or
Email to news@biddefordsacooobcourier.com
Due Monday 5 pm

*******

York County Journal Tribune
Guidelines: None given; I recommend including name, address and telephone to establish local connection.
How to Submit :
Fax to 207-282-3138, or
Email City Editor Nick Cowenhoven at ncowenhoven@journaltribune.com

*******

Portland Press Herald
P.O. Box 1460
Portland, ME 04104-5009
Guidelines : Max 250 words. Name, address and home and work phone numbers. Readers will be contacted before their letters are published.
How to submit : Snail mail to address above, or
Fax to (207) 828-8154, or
Email to letterstotheeditor@pressherald.com

*******

The Republican Journal (no, I’m not kidding! Give it a shot!)
Guidelines: None given; I recommend including name, address and telephone to establish local connection.
How to submit :
Email Editor Daniel Dunkle at trjmail@courierpub.com

*******

The Times Record
Box 10
Brunswick, ME 04011
Guidelines : 350 words max. I recommend including name, address and telephone to establish local connection.
How to Submit : Snail mail to the above address, or
Fax to (207) 721-3151, or
letters@timesrecord.com

NEBRASKA NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER MEDIA:

The Omaha World-Herald
1334 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68102
(402) 444-1187
Guidelines: Max 200 words; first and last name, address and telephone number required (address and phone not printed)
How to submit: Snail mail at above address, or
By fax to 402-345-4547, or
By email to pulse@owh.com

*******

Lincoln Journal Star
Editorial
P.O. Box 81689
Lincoln, NE 68501
Guidelines: Max 250 words; must include name, address and both daytime and evening phone numbers for verification purposes
How to submit: Snail mail at above address, or
Letters Webform, or
By fax to (402) 473-7291

Welcome to the NetBoots

We've all heard about the Netroots, but there's a movement to translate online talk into something more tangible: grassroots activism, blogs empowering "boots on the ground" politics. NetBoots.

At our sister site, Vichy Democrats aka VichyDems, which began shortly before the Alito filibuster and was active in that fight, we post on two related but distinguishable topics: (1) articles and links about the Vichys, DINOs, triangulators, accommodationists, Blue Dogs and other marginal Democrats that sometimes just need to reminded what they stand for and other times drag the Democratic Party down; and (2) detailed "Game Plans" that empower people to take action, including talking points, strategies, links to other action groups, and the most detailed contact information available on Congressional representatives, newspapers -- whoever we're trying to inform or persuade.

Here at NetBoots, we hope to streamline things by hosting and posting ONLY the second of the above -- the Game Plans. The same information will always be cross-posted at http://vichydems.blogspot.com, and we encourage people to visit there early and often. But sometimes folks just want to cut to the chase and take action. If you're one of those, we're not gonna stand in your way. Want to know what you can do to reclaim American democracy (and Democracy)? Don't want a lot of talk cluttering up your commitment to taking action? Want to continue the momentum that drove us all so compellingly during the Alito filibuster fight? Then this is the place for you. There always will be a Game Plan underway here, so any time you feel the urge to make a difference, swing by, see what's currently underway, and dig in.

You'll be glad you did, we'll be glad you did, and together we will change the world.

Welcome

Thersites