Occasional Words from the Resistance
…from the desk of R.E. Vanella.
So I’ve been having real trouble trying to describe my emotions lately. I’m a bit of a spaz anyway. Nervous energy. Broader-line Frenetic.
I’ve been wound up even more lately, but at the same time exhausted. A lot has to do with the state of the neighborhood, I’m sure. From three doors away to three time zones away.
I’m starting to think it’s survivor’s guilt. Affluent white guy with no kids. I could keep my head down and my mouth shut and with any luck get through this dangerous circus OK. But this is some very nasty business that simply cannot be ignored. People are going to be broken soon. For those already broken I can hardly imagine.
Already I’m starting to not like what I see. My wife and I live in the neighborhood adjacent to the enclave near the park. Home to Messrs. Coons and Purzycki, among others. So it just so happens the WPD now patrol the area with a K-9 unit, a kitted out Tahoe, dark tint and all, trolling for suspicious persons rummaging unlocked cars for loose change at 3am. Also on the most wanted list are afternoon parcel thieves. Bane of the Highlands. If mommy doesn’t get her Amazon Prime order someone’s getting it! My missus was trailed two days ago for a few blocks because our vehicle “matched a description.”
Is this a coincidence? Some areas have witnessed the most violent January in a string of pretty fucked-up Januarys and Mayor Mike assuages the fears of the good folks near the park. The local ‘hood social media thing my wife tracks shows the lieutenant in charge of this detail has been posting twice daily updates! (He’s called Lt Dan, I shit you not, and he is apparently a very nice fellow.)
Do our neighbors dodging brass in Quaker Hill or Eastside get this white-glove attention? (I would love for someone to confirm that they do…) Maybe that consultant Ramsey can look into it for a six-figure fee.
I’ve decided to channel this into something and to not let it wear me down. I’m standing up, everday. I urge you all to do the same.
Today I’ll be delivering a personal message to the Wilmington office of Christopher Andrew Coons. I was encouraged after going in person to Carper’s last week that Timid Tom actually turned up at PHL last weekend. It was politically expedient, sure, but that’s the point. We must make it in their interest. Feel me?
To that end, I’m considering a once weekly personal trip to our Congressional representatives Wilmington offices. Just a five-minute check-in. I think it would be a good idea to go in small groups of three or four. Nothing nasty or confrontational, just the added pressure of a squad. One person delivers a message signed by the others who remain silent. We could have coffee afterwards. I would name it the airing of grievances if it wasn’t already taken. Far more juice than an email or phone call.
Who’s interested?
I feel you, am absolutely interested, think it’s a great idea but not at the expense of the job I hold and need. I am available almost every Tuesday morning, early.
“Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho has been receiving so many anti-Trump visitors at his Boise office (as well as calls) that he’s closed the office to visitors and asked anyone who would like to visit the office to make an appointment in advance.”
If Idahoans can flood the offices of their GOP Senator, Delawareans have no excuse.
If anyone is interested send a brief note with your email address through the tip line in the menu bar above. (The “Got a Tip?.)
Elaine – I understand not everyone can take time during the day. I work in the city so it’s easier for me to pop out. The offices generally don’t open till 9am. I try to go slightly before or slight after the lunch hour. That’s when I have better luck getting someone at the desk.
I’ll will mention this phantom routine Coons pulled on Tillerson as well as his weak public comments on the SCOTUS nominee. Also his overall unwillingness to harden-up and really have a good go.
I’m game. Should I wear the Trump Sucks sweatshirt, or would that be too confrontational?
So my personal visits are complete for today.
First I went to Carper’s. I passed along two messages. 1.) We appreciated seeing the senator on in the street with the people over the weekend at the airport. 2.) If any Democratic senator filibusters anything we expect Senator Carper to stand in solidarity with that Senator.
(I used the ‘we’ construction to speak for you all. Hope you don’t mind.)
Then to Coons’. Oh boy! Desk guard stopped me in the lobby. I say I looking for Senator Coons’ office and I want to pass along a message to the Senator. He says they’re only seeing people by appointment. I said OK I’ll make an appointment. He said he’d have to do it for me. I said OK I’ll wait. He said other people have turned up today but they’ve been “in meetings” and were unavailable all morning. I stood my ground.
Guard rang up to the office and the aide agreed to have the guard escort me up. So the guy chaperones me up one floor (from the lobby to “floor 1.” It’s in the IM Pei building so one up from street level is 1. Fancy.) He swipes his card and keys in the code (security is tight over at Chris’).
Aide comes out and I say:
Could you please pass an important message to the Senator? We feel his public statement lately have been quite squishy. (Again with the plural, and I did indeed say “squishy.”) If a Democratic Senator stands to filibuster anything, we expect Mr Coons to stand in solidarity with that Senator.
Seen?
She said she would be happy to pass it along.
On the elevator ride down to the lobby I told the guard/chaperone that he, “may be seeing more of me, because the time for emails and phones calls is over, and the time for turning up in person has just begun.”
Also of note, Carper’s aide Ms Cameron had to fetch a new notebook to take down my message. The one she was using was full. She said the phone hasn’t really stopped.
Keep it up. Resistance. All day.
Thank you for the report REV! You can definitely count me part of your “we.” They should know my name by now from my calls, so feel free to mention Paula if they ask who “we” are. I’ve taken to mentioning all the “like-minded people” I’m discussing the issues with.
Possibly I could join you in March and beyond for a few visits. As a freelancer, I have to take the work when I can get it (and I got it this month), but by March I’ll be ready for a break.
Thanks, Paula. As I mentioned if you’d like to organize please pass your email address to our contributors via the “Got a Tip?” link. I’m mulling over some ideas and I’ll have a personal email out to those who are interested. Probably Sunday evening.
@REV- I failed the captcha-type tests on “Got a Tip?” Please email me@ 00elainesmith@gmail.com with what you/your group is doing regarding the weekly visits to Senators C & C. I’d like my voice to be heard even if through you/the group. I’m sorry my work schedule doesn’t allow for my presence at the visits. What’s up with his Coons’ No vote on Sanders “OK to import less expensive Rx from Canada” action? If his response is “we can’t be sure those Rx are safe” I’ll be tempted to believe his rationale is to please his BigPharma donors. Is there more to the truth than hungrily licking the hand that feeds him? Thanks.