Over at Swampland, Karen Tumulty makes an interesting point about the upcoming "September deadline" for reviewing the Iraq debacle and why it may actually have some impact:
...on my calendar at least, September is the month that comes after August. And August is the time when Congress has its longest recess of the year. This is when lawmakers have to hear from their constituents face to face, in feed stores and American Legion halls and Rotary Club luncheons and when they go to the grocery store. If they come back to Washington with a lot of stories like Domenici's, there may be nothing else that matters.
She points out that this direct contact with voters - rather than any reports from the Pentagon - has the potential to swing more Republicans against the ongoing Iraq occupation.
So here is where the opportunity for the netroots comes in!
Congress will be on recess August 6 - September 3 this year.
We have to start NOW to organize a coordinated effort to contact and influence these lawmakers over their August recess, when we have the chance to meet them face to face.
We need to insure that EVERY Congressperson and Representative hears from their constituents over the recess.
We need a 50 STATE STRATEGY to ensure that Congress hears loud and clear that they need to take action.
ESPECIALLY any Republicans. In fact, the more recalcitrant and reactionary your representative, the MORE input they need to hear. Have a particularly obstinate Republican representing you? Nominate him or her for special, focused attention over the August recess.
The feedback needs to be polite and respectful as well as passionate and intense:
GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ!
This feedback needs to be consistent, organized and effective.
It needs to happen every day in August that lawmakers are on recess.
It needs to reach every member of Congress.
And we need to start organizing NOW!
ACTION ITEMS:
- Go to the members’ websites (www.senate.gov and www.house.gov) or call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to get the phone number for the district office.
- Arrange a meeting with your Members of Congress over the August recess.
- Tell them to get our troops out of Iraq!