Energy Rally for America: Update 9.15.08

Dear Friends of the Energy Rally for America ...

Since our last update, we have worked tirelessly to make our plan work.

The Facts:

• Contact was made with a nationally recognized major player in the energy awareness and drilling issue. An intermediary made a pitch for us to them asking for their help in emailing to their membership and/or giving them our idea to use on their own. No reply was received.
• We made a personal contact with another national organization asking for their assistance in reaching their supporters. No reply was received.
• Our media connections seemed to be dying out. The problem was that the media wanted us to have more participants before they would give us air time to get our message out...yet, we needed the air time to get more participants!
• On September 5, 2008, we were told by two media persons that we were using the wrong type of advertising. We had chosen print media, and they told us we needed to blog!
• On September 6, 2008, we contracted with a blogging media specialist to "get our message outquot; through a different means.
• On September 8, 2008, our group delivered the Energy Rally for America Pledge, with a cover letter, to the Washington, D. C. offices of all U. S. Representatives and Senators. When we mentioned a Rally in their District, the staffers definitely perked up wanting the details and date.
• On Wednesday, September 10, at 5:00 p.m. we had received only 13 signed pledges.
• On Thursday, September 11, 2008, we phoned the offices of all the Republican Representatives and a great majority of the Democratic Representatives. While everyone was very courteous, some were clearly "too busy to be bothered by our interruption.quot;
• By mid-day Thursday, after the many futile conversations, the Committee seemed demoralized and had little hope that anyone in Congress was going to take us seriously unless we had the capability of showing up in their District offices with 50 to 100 people and the press in tow. We don't even come close to those numbers of participants.
• On Monday, September 15, 2008, we have received a total of 20 signed pledges. We applaud the following U. S. Representatives who have committed to voting in support of the will of the American people: Boehner, J; Boozman, J; Burton, D; Chabot, S; Dreier,D; Fallin, M; Feeney, T; Goode,V; Graves,S; Herger,W; Jordan,J; McHugh,J; Mica,J; Myrick,S; Pence,M; Pryce,D; Scalise,S; Tiberi,P; Wamp,Z; Westmoreland,L.
• The blogging seemed to work - with more people coming to our website on a daily basis. However, no one registered to participate!

Our Opinion:

• You, our registered participants, are not the problem. You have been willing to get involved and take action to make Congress accountable. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough of you out there...or , as we would prefer to believe, we weren't able to reach enough of you out there to make our rally successful. Or, is it that people just don't care? Do they think they can't effect change?
• When, through our phone calls we could not even get the Representatives who were sponsors of the American Energy Act to sign our pledge, we were totally puzzled. Did they object to the "No Earmarkquot; statement? If not that, then why wouldn't they agree to support something that they had seen fit to co-sponsor?
• The system seems to have won the rally. The obstacles seem insurmountable. The layers of people that you have to go through to actually speak with a Congressman/woman are overwhelming.
• It is a Presidential Election year, and therefore, neither side is going to work with the other. No thought is being given to what is really good for this country and the American people. Their only thought is what is going to look the best to get their Presidential Candidate elected! The American people can wait on a solution – when it is convenient for their Party's political future.
• The American people better wake up and pay VERY close attention to who we are putting in office. Let them know you are watching and make them accountable to you the voters in your district.
• We must pass an energy bill that allows drilling in the ANWR, offshore and in the oil shale; encourage conservation; develop nuclear, wind and solar and alternative sources of energy.
• Please continue to call and write your Congressmen and women. Ask for a meeting with them so that you can tell them one-on-one how you as an American feel about their leadership.

The Outcome:

• We have put up our own money to support this entire venture. At the outset we said that we would rather try and fail than to not try at all. None of us are used to failing, so please be assured that we are extremely frustrated and disappointed.
• However, with only 39 Districts covered out of the 435 plus 100 Senators needing to be covered, we cannot possibly think that we are going to be able to be a political force. We cannot ask you to take the time to participate in something that has no possibility of being successful at effecting change. Therefore, we are canceling the Rally on September 19th.
• We have definitely learned a lot. You cannot count on the media to get your message out unless you have some quirk that catches their eye. Our local talk shows were very supportive, and we thank them. However, it just wasn't enough. To be successful, you must be extremely wealthy or be prepared to raise a lot of money to place your own radio and TV ads such as T. Boone Pickens - or be a well-known figure such as Newt Gingrich.
• With our PAC being named, Making Congress Accountable, Inc., we just may be back with another issue important to the American People.
• Finally, to our respected talk show host, Laura Ingraham, our "Power to the Peoplequot; moment is over. It is very costly and definitely not easy to have the everyday, common folk's voice be heard.

Thank you for your commitment and your leadership! You are an inspiration to all!

Respectfully,
Patti

Please email your response to info@energyrallyforamerica.com

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