Rejected! Feds won't take notes of readers

[Rose Siding]

After slashing the city's anti-terrorism funds, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff now apparently thinks angry letters from New Yorkers are the real safety threat.
When a Daily News reporter attempted to deliver scores of messages protesting the cuts to Chertoff's Washington office, he was promptly turned away.

The letters, faxes and printed e-mails "would put all the employees here, including the secretary, at risk," said a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman when the delivery was attempted Friday.

She cited the 2001 scare caused by anthrax-laced letters.

Chertoff was not in any immediate danger. He was safe in a Moscow hotel during an official visit.

The dozens of envelopes containing New Yorkers' outrage at losing 40% of their security funds did go through an X-ray machine outside the government complex.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/427614p-360634c.html

[Deja Q]

1. Well, none of us should be surprised by this little development.

[rodeodance]

2. well, they have 'rationale"--but they could solve it with a few brains

working---

[havocmom]

3. We need a link to story about Congress & program to thwart emails

that was brought up a few days ago too. That story and this one need to be together, front & center A LOT so Americans can appreciate the fact that the GOP just doesn't intend to listen to anything.

Democracy doesn't work this way and people need to see this shit so they understand what the game is.

[havocmom]

9. DU thread on Congressional plan to thwart our emails to THEM

Tip of the hat to DUer Up2Late for this gem that didn't get enough attention

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2679873

Combined with Chertoff's blow off of what Americans think and the picture should be coming into focus for all but these with Kool Aide for blood that the junta does NOT serve America.

ACLU to House: Don't Block Constituent Email (6/13/2006)

WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced a move by the House Chief Administrative Officer to use so-called "logic puzzles" to limit the ability of constituents to e-mail their Representatives. According to the Washington Post and Roll Call, the House Administration Committee found that on one day alone, of 8,262 visits to Web sites for citizens to contact members, only 1,568 messages were actually sent.

The following can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:

"E-mail has become the preferred way to contact your representatives in today’s society. Postal mail takes too long and must be screened, and not everyone can make a personal visit or get through with a phone call. Now, some Representatives want to make even that form of communication more difficult. It’s ironic that in the year when ethics issues have plagued Congress because of relationships with high-paid lobbyists, instead of shutting down that gravy train, Members of Congress have decided to shut their constituents out.

"Congress long ago did away with the literacy test qualification to vote. Apparently, Members of Congress acknowledge you shouldn’t have to pass a test to vote for them, but they don’t want you to contact them without taking a quiz. We urge Congress to revisit this policy and take steps to ensure that all concerned citizens - regardless of ability to pass a ‘logic test’ - are able to be heard."

[Rose Siding]

10. Many Reps have always asked that only constituents use their e-mail

That's not sinister. Their phone numbers are prominently placed on every site I've seen.

[havocmom]

11. Last 3 time I called my rep, aide didn't even ask for address/phone#

so not even interested is whether I am actually a constituent or not. Sounded extremely disengaged and just said stuff like yeah, whatever, OK fine, yeah sure THEN HUNG UP on me. I was polite, concise and on my game.

They aren't interested and they are trying to put in programs that will thwart people trying to communicate.

If you call, are they really listening or going through the motions? The latter in my rep's office.

[Rose Siding]

12. I usually let them know right off whether I'm a constituent,

and if not I explain why that congress member's position on whatever committee makes my concern relevant, volunteering my zip and asking that they write it down. If they don't seem interested, I ask for their names (always being *extremely* respectful and non-threatening) Usually, that's enough to make them recognize their responsibility to me. In fact, I've never had to ask to speak with the office mgr, but I would if I didn't feel satisfied that I was being taken seriously. If that didn't do it, I'd be calling local reporters.

One read through DU's "Hate Mail Bag" makes me sympathetic to the sort of thing they probably put up with on a much larger scale.

[havocmom]

17. Me too, but until recently, they always asked for address/phone #

Since I use a calling card for long distance, my home # does not show up on caller IDs either.

Am mentioning it A LOT to folks in my area who tend to vote GOP out of habit. They are not happy with Burns and I want them to know Rehberg's staff doesn't seem to give a rat's ass what issues concern me back home.

[LiberalFighter]

22. Problem now is that some require email to be done with their website

[UpInArms]

4. "Who cares what you think?" GWB Philadelphia 7/4/01

[devinsgram]

5. Like they don't know who

sent the anthrax letters. Let's see, it was government grade anthrax, hmm, and it was sent to mostly democrats and the media who reported things that bu$h and his cohorts did not like, hmm. Yeah I'd say they were in great danger.:sarcasm:

[ixion]

6. some day people will learn that all these so-called 'anti-terrorism'

measures are simply barriers between the corporate theocracy and the people it holds in perpetual indentured servitude. It's a common trait of authoritarian governments, and will not desist, if history is any example.

More and more, the people who govern are using that power to isolate themselves from the people who 'elected' them. Again, this progression has been seen time and time and time again throughout history, but because the populace is apparently too self-engaged to pick up a history book, we walk the same path left bloodied by the scores of empires before us.

I feel like I'm on the road, sitting in the back seat of an aged Ford Galaxy 500© locked in a cage while an emotionally-disturbed group of spoiled brats yammer oxymorons incessantly while careening wildly down the wrong path.

I wake up with this feeling every morning. It makes it very difficult to start the day. :-(

[truth2power]

13. Thank you, Ixion, for that very astute observation....

"I feel like I'm on the road, sitting in the back seat of an aged Ford Galaxy 500© locked in a cage while an emotionally-disturbed group of spoiled brats yammer oxymorons incessantly while careening wildly down the wrong path."

Its taking more and more of my energy just to keep plodding ahead day by day. I don't see any indication that the American people are ready to bestir themselves to take a stand against this Cabal of criminals. It's getting worse. And in my neck of the woods, I'm still seeing Bush/Cheney bumper stickers. But then I live in the armpit of the world, politically.

I went to see "An Inconvenient Truth" last night, and Gore clearly stated what could be done on this one issue (Global Warming) to make real changes. Yet, this morning there's some imbecile from the oil companies yammering some worthless tripe about how nothing can be done about oil prices. I just turned it off; I'm trying to eat my breakfast while typing here, and I don't want to barf all over my keyboard. :(

All these worthless cockroaches in power should burn in hell - and, ironically, they probably will, along with rest of us when our planet comes to resemble the surface of Venus.

Shit!!

[Ian David]

14. Remember how concerned we were about Al Gore and The Clipper Chip?

How quaint... how trivial... that seems in retrospect.

[NYC]

15. Barriers.

" More and more, the people who govern are using that power to isolate themselves from the people who 'elected' them."

They are doing a good job of isolating themselves from us. They want to protect us, but they don't want to hear from us. That would endanger them. Democracy?

[Scooter24]

7. Maybe they should get a team together...

and fax the letters to the DHS.

[Scooter24]

8. dupe...

[Jack Rabbit]

16. So, if you oppose Bush, you are a suspected terrorist

I'm sure they'll take any letters from New Yorkers grateful for having funds slashed, if they get any.

[cornermouse]

18. Can you say royalty?

'Cause that's what it sounds like to me.

[kestrel91316]

19. They're worried about possible anthrax-laced emails and faxes?

I guess that's what comes into one's mind when one does not believe in SCIENCE.

Of COURSE anthrax can be spread electronically...........what was I thinking???

[Bush_MUST_Go]

23. Actually, it's the Daily News reporter that they are afraid of.

"When a Daily News reporter attempted to deliver scores of messages protesting the cuts to Chertoff's Washington office, he was promptly turned away."

Hopefully, he'll take all the messages and send them through the mail just to let Chertoff know he can't be blown off so easily.

[Occulus]

24. Send them certified

I know it's more expensive, but the News should send them all certified so someone at the office has to be tied up signing for all of them.

[shadowknows69]

20. All the more reason to keep sending them.

keep on it NYers and DCers.

[truthisfreedom]

21. HAH. so they think they've created new domestic terrorists with their bad

judgement call on funding NYC. what a bunch of paranoid sissies. what will they do now, cut ALL of NYC's funding and use the remainder to protect themselves from the backlash?

[NYC Liberal]

25. Oh that pesky First Amendment...who needs it?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances