Urgent - Please read

I'm cross posting this here from the TCOT (topconservativesontwitter.org) site. It's important from the bailout perspective, but perhaps the most important takeaway point is that there's a chess match going on in the Senate, and if Gregg accepts the cabinet post it's theoretically game over for us. Read on:



We are preparing to battle MoveON.org. We are fighting for the hearts, souls and votes of the Republicans who represent our states in the Senate.

Members: 100
Latest Activity: 4 minutes ago
Objective: SECURE 100% "NO" VOTE ON S.1 BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS; COAX A FEW DEMOCRATS TO DO SAME; COUNTER MOVEON.ORD ATTACKS AGAINST REPUBLICAN SENATORS
Welcome to “Operation Move Over Move ON”.

In response to MoveON.org’s attack on the 5 Republican senators up for re-election in
2010 (listed below), and in light of the pending bill S.1. (aka the pork ladened stimulus
package), we propose the following actions:

1. Blitz these 5 Republican senators and assure them that as long as they remain true
to the basics of conservatism (smaller government, lower taxes, self-reliance & gun
ownership) they will continue to enjoy our support.

2. Rally and encourage the remaining Republican Senators to vote against S. 1. Hold
them accountable to vote for the conservative principles that we elected them to up-
hold.

3. Seek out and encourage right leaning Democrats and Independents in the Senate
that may be prone to vote against this bloated piece of legislation.
Details:

MoveOn.org, the liberal activist group funded by George Soros, is focusing an ad
campaign to turn around 5 Republican Senators. They are using radio and television
ads to encourage people to contact these Senators and tell them to vote for S.1. The
targeted Senators are:

(1) Collins - Maine
(2) Snow - Maine
(3) Gregg - NH *
(4) Murkowski - ALASKA
(5) Grassley - IDAHO

*Gregg presents a special problem as he is being considered for a position in President
Obama’s cabinet. If he took it, it would leave an open spot that would be filled by a
Democratic Govenor thus insuring a 60 person majority. He must additionally be en-
couraged to turn this position down.

Plan of Attack:

1. Phones. As we did in Operation Melt the Phones in DC, we are going to keep up a
steady stream of phone calls to these Senators offices and report back on the TCOT Ac-
tion Project site what the senators are saying. This time, however, we want to also call
their local state offices. Each Senator has several in their state and they should be
pressured as well. The numbers are listed by state at the bottom of the page as well as a sample script. We recommend calling each of the Senators offices every day. We will be issuing daily talking points for you to question the senate aid about. Be polite, but assertive.

2. Faxes. This time we will add faxes to our blitz. Many out of state people wishing to
send a letter to a senator were stymied by the Senate e-mail system not allowing them.
We have posted fax numbers next to phone numbers for those wishing to use that
method. A sample text is listed at the bottom of the page for use in drafting e-mails and faxes. Again, we would like each person to fax each office daily emphasizing that days talking points.

3. E-mail. If you live in the senators state, we encourage you to send daily e-mails to
the senators giving them reasons to vote against this piece of legislation. Links to each Senator’s webpage are on the Phone/Fax list at the bottom of the page. Use the Fax/E-mail text suggestions to know what to say.

4. Blogging and local media. We do not have George Soros’ money. We will have to
be more grassroots than that. We are wanting all conservative bloggers to post this Ac-
tion Project on your blog. We are also wanting TCOT members to call their local talk
radio programs, send letters to the editor and notify local media of what you are doing.
Our hope is that some will be picked up as human interest stories and we can re-
broadcast them over the internet. We have made an outline/talking points list available
to you for your reference. There a link at the bottom of the page that takes you to a website that lists many radio/print addresses and e-mail. Please use that list as a starting point. We are still building this list, so report back the anyone you contact not on the list to help us expand the list.

5. Vulnerable or undecided Democrat Senators. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) has said that he doesn’t know if Democrats will be able to support the stimulus bill. He invited Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Amy Klobachar (D- ) to be part of a new “Gang of 14”. He must think they are open to the idea of compromise. We are asking for suggestions of whom you feel could be swayed.


Above all else, be polite. Passion is encouraged, foul language is not. Be aggressive,
but not abusive.

Resources:

Senate Phone/Fax numbers (with links to e-mail) can be found at:

http://moveovermoveon.posterous.com



Sample phone script:

“Hello, my name is __________, and I am a member of a conservative social media group called Top Conservatives on Twitter. I’m calling today to find out how Senator _____ intends to vote on S. 1, the stimulus package. (write down and report back the response. If the answer is “Vote Yes”) I’d like to encourage him/her to vote against this piece of legislation because it is too large and will be ineffective in boosting the economy. I especially don’t like (the talking point of the day). Please let Senator ______ know that I would like for him to vote “NO” when this piece of legislation is offered.”


Sample fax/e-mail text (please copy and paste these to your e-mail):

To the Honorable Senator _________,

My name is ____________, and I am a member of a conservative social media group called Top Conservatives on Twitter. I am writing today to ask you to vote against S. 1, the pork ladened stimulus bailout. This is a bill that is full of wasteful spending and will not effectively boost the economy. In its current form, the stimulus bill will be more expensive than the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. It is a bill that is being marketed as an immediate response to a national emergency, but many economist have agreed that it will do nothing but prolong the recession. It reflects the "Christmas wish-list" of the Democrats most powerful interest groups more than the needs of the country. I urge you to keep the country's best interest in mind, and not the desires of liberal interest groups, in mind as you vote against this bill.

Sincerely,

_____________________

Blogger/Media Talking Points:

These will change daily. We will tweet them out and post them here.--Wendy

1. Tax Relief. Tax relief is predominately for people who do not pay taxes. “For individuals, the plan would cut taxes for most workers this year through a $500 tax credit that would be delivered by reducing paycheck withholding, a key proposal from Mr. Obama's team. But to reduce the cost of the proposal, House lawmakers pared down that benefit so that higher-income workers are excluded. The credit would begin to phase out at $75,000 for individual taxpayers and at $150,000 for couples.” WSJ, 1/16/08

2. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) is Obama’s top pick for Commerce Secretary. “Mr. Gregg's appointment to the post could give Mr. Obama and his Democratic Party a victory in the Senate, clearing the way for them to pass legislation without fear of a Republican filibuster. It also would provide the administration a strong ambassador to the business community in Mr. Gregg, who devised the $700 billion banking bailout package last year.” WSJ 1/31/09 Is he really the best man for the job, or is Obama trying to undercut the Republican party?

3. Illegal aliens will be qualify for cash payouts. “The legislation, which would send tax credits of $500 per worker and $1,000 per couple, expressly disqualifies nonresident aliens, but it would allow people who don't have Social Security numbers to be eligible for the checks.Undocumented immigrants who are not eligible for a Social Security number can file tax returns with an alternative number. A House-passed version of the economic recovery bill and one making its way through the Senate would allow anyone with such a number, called an individual taxpayer identification number, to qualify for the tax credits.” AP 1/29/09

4. Expanding health care and Medicaid coverage. “The new Medicaid Coverage for the Unemployed program is supposedly a temporary program to cover laid-off individuals via Medicaid. And the $30 billion COBRA coverage provision, provides assistance in paying for COBRA for individuals making up to $1 million a year. All of these short-term benefits, once granted, will be hard for any Congress, of any party, to take away.” The Weekly Standard 1/29/09

Keep in touch. Let Wendy Herman (@txskirt) or Mike Leahy (@michaelpleahy) know if
there are any problems. Good luck.