I've been on dKos for nearly a year, but this is my first diary. It's a story I just have to share with the gang...
I got home from work tonight having picked up our two kids, and dialed up our voicemail. One of our messages was the following:
"Hi folks, this is Tommy Lasorda. Listen, for older folks like me Social Security will be fine, but for our kids and grandkids it has big problems. Pres Bush has stepped up to the plate and is showing strong leadership to fix Social Security before it goes bankrupt. His idea for personal retirement accounts gives younger workers a choice in investing while not affecting those at or near retirement. His critics know there's a problem, but they only offer complaints and scare tactics. Please call your Congressman right now. Tell him to support the President's plan to strengthen Social Security for every generation."
Okay, first of all...I'm supposed to come home from work, get this message, and go, "Hey, if retired Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda thinks that privatizing Social Security is a good idea, then sign me up! I hope Don Zimmer calls me tomorrow to tell me what he thinks about the Senate abolishing the filibuster for judicial appointments."? WTF? It sounds like something from Futurama "Hi, this is the head of LA Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda..." When you start relying on retired baseball managers to push your once-in-a-generation pillaging of the public good, you know you're getting desperate.
Second, Tommy might want to put the ixnay on the are-tacticsxay references during the "Social Security is going bankrupt! Booga booga booga!" rap. Just something to consider.
Third, my wife and I aren't Republicans (obviously). We both voted for Kucinich in the NJ primary. We're in our mid-30s. How the hell did we end up on a target list for this?
So far, the call smells of desperation and lameness. But here's the kicker. Tommy finishes up his inspiring rap by introducing his pal:
"Here is Brian, President of Progress for America with the phone number."
"Brian" then got on the line to leave me the contact number for Congressman Jim Saxton.
Jim Saxton isn't our Congressman -- our entire zip code is in Rob Andrews' district. So even if by some miracle I'm persuaded by this idiotic robocall, the payoff phonecall will be completely useless!
So the GOP cuts this idiotic roborap, spends money to leave it on the voicemail of someone they couldn't possibly think is a potential supporter, and then gives me name and number of the wrong Congressman. Hell, for all I know that number they gave for Saxton is actually Tommy's favorite cheesesteak place.
And I'm supposed to trust these people to "reform" Social Security?