Praise jeebus, the President just stuck his neck way out on the gun issue, and he did it with a set of proposals that non-lunatics will find pretty damn reasonable. Obama’s main problem now is Congress and the squish factor. Your Representatives only know what they hear from constituents and what they see on cable news, and most days the only thing dumber and more reactionary than one is the other. Have a laugh at Beck and Limbaugh and the NRA, but respect their ability to get moron followers to dial the phone. Your Representative turns on the news and he sees FOX, or someone trying to be FOX. His call summaries tell him that Agenda 21 is a thing, grabbing guns will make us like the Soviets but worse and breaking the debt ceiling is like tightening your belt at home. Or, as Yeats said, The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

If you want things to be different then get involved. The preznit thinks that guns are a political pressure point where calls might do some good. The guy seems to know what he’s doing, so get his back and pick up the phone. If you still have some time then try phoning a media outlet when you see something particularly outrageous (or praiseworthy!) and write a signed letter to the editor.

This is a message for everyone. You will need to talk a lot of Democratic Reps down from the ledge before they panic on the Sunday shows and cut off the President’s knees. Republicans need to remember that their district still has sane people in it.

Q: My Republican is an idiot. Should I phone him or her?

A: Yes.

Q: Even Virginia Foxx?

A: Yes goddamit, even Virginia Foxx. Full court press. Now git.

Find your Congressperson here.

Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Guide for first timers below the jump.

Please use this thread to talk about how your Rep and Senators’ staffers are responding to the President’s proposal.

***Update***

From Handsmile in the comments:

During his remarks, President Obama asked each one of us to call his/her Congressional representatives to ask two or three questions: “Do you support universal background checks on gun purchases? and Do you support Congressional legislation on restrictions on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines? And if the answer is ‘No’, ask Why not?” [quotation may not be exact]

Sounds like a plan.

(1) Use a phone. Email has nigh on zero impact. Trust me on this. Letter mail gets read and in fact has the most impact of all, but you don’t have time. Reach the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 .

(2) Remember, this person works for you. You pay his or her salary and you voted for them. You’re the boss here, or at least one of them, and it’s they who should worry about what you think of them.

(3) Identify your name and the town or neighborhood where you live zip code. If you are not a constituent don’t bother. Since you guys never listen to me, at least google a zip code in the appropriate district before you call.

(4) State the issue. This is easy: pass the Senate bill or the party gets it. We can (and certainly will) fix the shortcomings later . Talking points above.

(5) How strongly do you feel? Don’t apologize about feeling passionate or pissed off. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. However, keep in mind that teabaggers threaten the apocalypse over everything. Interns get jaded pretty fast when call volume is high. Polite but firm is the way to go.