WARNING TO CONGRESS:

By S. J. Miller

'We the People' have determined that being a White House "Bag Man" may be may be hazardous to your Political Health

The votes are counted, and the winner has been inaugurated for "four more years." Before the ink on our ballots was even dry, President George W. Bush was speaking of the "mandate" he believes he has.

Americans are only now learning what this "mandate" means, because the President was very vague (or totally silent) about these changes during his campaign. Even Americans who admit voting for him didn't expect him to be so cocky, dismissing Americans' outrage at his indifference to our opinions.

So far, we've only heard about his "Social Security reform" and amnesty for illegal aliens. Americans' opposition to what we've heard is widespread, recognizing that Bush big-money cronies will benefit at the expense of American taxpayers.

WOULD YOU BUY A USED CAR (OR ANYTHING) FROM THIS MAN?
During his SOTU speech, the President outlined several items he wants Congress to pass during his second term. But our experience during his first term has taught us his word can't be trusted. Regardless of our individual political leanings, we find ourselves unable to put faith in anything that comes from the White House, remembering:

The invasion of Iraq based on Weapons of Mass Destruction that he now claims was "faulty intelligence"

"Medicare Reform & Prescriptions" whose price tag of $534 billion was falsified by the White House down to $400 billion because "that's the maximum that Congress will approve"

Bear Stearns Investment has just released a study giving the true number of illegal aliens in the US as "20 million plus," not the 8-12 million that the Bush Administration keeps citing as eligible for his "guest worker" amnesty.

And those are only three that we've learned about so far!

Would any intelligent citizen accept the President's reassurance on these "reforms?" The Bush "Social Security Reform (including the Social Security Treaty with Mexico)," the Bush "tax reform," the LOST treaty that will allow the UN to tax Americans, the Bush amnesty for illegal aliens, the Bush Military Draft Resumption, the Bush FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) and the Bush invasion of Iran?

Will newly-appointed Secretary of State Rice do a re-play for the UN of Colin Powell's "weapons of mass destruction" slide show to justify our forced "regime change" in Iran?

You haven't heard the President or Congress mention Military Draft Resumption, the FTAA or the Invasion of Iran?

Stick Around. . .

SO WHAT'S NEXT?
Many Americans think, "Well, there's nothing we can do. We're stuck with him for 'four more years.'" Not necessarily.

We've all heard the term "lame duck," describing the loss of political influence by a sitting president during his final two years. But George W. Bush may be losing steam even earlier; even conservative political pundits suggest that Bush may have alienated so many Republicans as to become a premature lame duck.

Working through our members of Congress, "We the People" can speed up that process.

GIVE THE WHITE HOUSE THE COLD SHOULDER.

Don't make phone calls to the White House Comment Line.

Don't sent e-mails or faxes to the White House.

Don't write letters of outrage. By the time they're "sanitized" and actually reach the White House, the President will have done it anyway, no matter that citizens are opposed.

Don't even send a birthday or Christmas card.

Why waste our time on someone who clearly doesn't care what we want? The President has made it clear that he'll pursue his anti-American agenda no matter how many of us are opposed..

The White House can't help but notice a reduced level of e-mail, faxes, and phone calls. Just as increased "chatter" on terrorist channels causes official alarm, reduced "chatter" from citizens should draw attention.from the multitude of White House political analysts.

WHO TO CONTACT
George W. Bush was re-elected President, not King. Even if he doesn't care about Americans, he does care about members of Congress. The President still depends on Congressional cooperation to introduce his legislation and vote for its passage.

And Congress cares about voters (that's where we come in). All 435 Congressmembers face re-election in 2006 - along with the 34 Senators listed below. More than anything, members of Congress care about re-election. They're much less likely to support the Bush agenda if they believe it endangers their re-election.

By making it clear that members of Congress will alienate voters by doing the President's bidding, we'll make it that much harder for the President to get the Congressional cooperation he needs to enact his "mandate."

Here's how "we the people" can achieve that:
(1) Send a weekly e-mail or fax to your 2 US Senators and 1 Congressman, telling them:

You've stopped contacting the White House, since the President has made it clear that he'll do what he wants despite citizens' objections.

You oppose all the President's agenda (or the specific items you oppose) because you don't believe the President is protecting American citizens' interests.

You'll be voting in 2006, and refuse to vote for anyone who introduces the President's legislation or votes to support them.

Begin your letter with "Subject: WARNING TO CONGRESS--"We the People" have determined that being a White House "Bag Man" may be may be hazardous to your Political Health."

Send comments on other issues separately. Limiting this message to the "WARNING TO CONGRESS" will make this one more effective.

Captain of his own sinking ship!

(2) Follow up your weekly written message with a phone call. You'll find the local office number in your phone directory or on the website.

(3) Contact your governor and the state branch of your political party (Republican or Democrat) with the same message.

(4) Repeat the process each week; let them know your resolve won't fade over the months.

If you don't know your senators and congressman, you'll find them on www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. Their phone numbers (local and Washington DC), addresses and e-mail pages are on their websites or your local phone directory. If you don't have your own FAX or e-mail, send a "snail-mail" letter to their local office and avoid the "sanitizing" delay to Washington.

IMPORTANT: Don't use web-based FAX systems like capwiz, NumbersUSA or FAIR for this letter. They're intended for specific legislation campaigns, but they're useless for this effort. I've actually been told by Senator Kyl's office that these "blast faxes" aren't even read, much less answered. (I then realized that I've never received a reply to any "blast" fax I've sent). Better to send e-mail from their congressional websites than "blast faxes."

SENATORS FACING RE-ELECTION IN 2006:
Democrats: CA-Diane Feinstein, CT-Joe Liebermann, DE-Thomas Carper, FL-Bill Nelson, HI-Daniel Akaka, MA-Ted Kennedy, MD-Paul Sarbanes, MI-Debbie Stabenow, MN-Mark Dayton, NE-Ben Nelson, NM-Jeff Bingamon, NY-Hillary Clinton, ND-Kent Conrad, NJ-Jon Corzine, WI-Herb Kohl, WVa-Robert Byrd, WA-Maria Cantwell

Republicans: AZ-Jon Kyl, IN-Richard Lugar, ME-Olympia Snowe, MS-Trent Lott, MT-Conrad Burns, MO-James Talent, NV-John Ensign, OH-Mike DeWine, PA-Rick Santorum, RI-Lincoln Chafee, TN-Bill Frist, TX-Kay Bailey Hutchinson, UT-Orrin Hatch, VA-George Allen, WY-Craig Thomas

Independent: VT-James Jeffords

THE PRESIDENT ISN'T AS OBLIVIOUS AS HE APPEARS
The President is well aware of citizens' opposition to Congressmembers who promote his agenda. Several who introduced his "guest-worker" amnesty for illegal aliens during the last Congress experienced narrow 2004 election victories. Congressmen Dave Dreier (R, CA), Jim Kolbe (R, AZ), and Chris Cannon (R, UT).

The President can't let his "shills" be pink-slipped by outraged voters, or the rest would desert like rats on a sinking ship. I'm convinced that's the reason for Kolbe's consideration as trade representative, and anticipate similar presidential appointments for Cannon, Dreier, and perhaps even Senator Jon Kyl.

Congressional Republicans can always hope that loyalty to the White House will get them an appointed office if their defeat seems likely at the 2006 election. That will allow them to continue feeding at the taxpayers' trough through Bush Term #2. Democrats are out of luck if voters boot them out, so they're likely to be more sensitive to voters' outrage.

But that's a problem for Karl Rove and the White House.

We Americans have a country to save. So let's roll.

POLL: Should President Bush Grant Amnesty to Illegal Aliens?

Results: 2/21/05

Yes: (647,112) 8%

No: (7,230,802) 92%

TOTALS: 7,877,914 total votes since 02/07/05

~ About the author ~

S. J. Miller is a former veteran of the IT industry who sought another career rather than "follow the jobs" abroad, and a lifelong resident of border states, California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.

(c) S. J. Miller, 2005. All Rights Reserved

"Published originally at FederalObserver.com: republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact."