The Mark of Zero!

This is a call to action.  If you live in one of these States or Territories that have been given “The Mark of Zero”, we need to do something about it.  Call your elected officials office and let them know you want to hear from them on Twitter.  When they sign up let us know and we will add them to TweetCongress.

Rhode Island — (0/4)

Guam — (0/1)

Idaho — (0/4)

District of Columbia — (0/1)

Puerto Rico — (0/1)

Virgin Island — (0/1)

Kentucky — (0/8)

Maryland — (0/10)

America Samoa — (0/1)

New Hampshire — (0/4)

North Dakota — (0/3)

West Virginia — (0/5)

Northern Mariana Islands — (0/1)

Top Tweet Thursday: Kennedy Tribute

D-MN Keith Ellison: “What we have in the US is not so much a health-care system as a disease-care system. -Sen. Edward Kennedy, 1994.

R-UT Orrin Hatch: Although Ted and I fought over politics most of the time, he was a passionate man who dedicated his life to public service…

D-MO Claire McCaskill: The lion sleeps. Funny, smart, caring and never afraid to negotiate or compromise. My heart goes out to his family. God Bless Ted Kennedy

R-IL John Shimkus: Sen. Kennedy’s dedication and service to our Republic will not soon be equaled or forgotten. My prayers are with his family today.

D-CT Christopher Dodd: “I will miss him every day I serve, and every day I live.”

R-IL John Shimkus: Sen. Kennedy’s dedication and service to our Republic will not soon be equaled or forgotten. My prayers are with his family today.

Top Tweet Thursday

D-MO Claire McCaskill: Going black for 5 days. Entire family turning off electronics for 5 days of together time. Hope I make it. Talk to you next Saturday.

R-TX John Cornyn: Timing of Waxman demand letter to insurance industry smacks of intimidation tactics. What’s next? An IRS audit?

D-PA Arlen Specter: Called Senator Grassley to tell him to stop speading myths about health care reform and imaginary “death panels.”

R-FL Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: The UN and OAS doing NADA while Chavez continues his assault on the media. They are silent on these egregious violations on a free press.

Gov2.0 Expo Showcase Ticket Contest

Want tickets for the Gov2.0 Expo Showcase?  It’s easy just answer a few questions for us in a blog post and send us the link.  We will be picking the person that we think will best further the cause of Govt. Transparency and let people know about Tweet Congress.

1. Why do you want to go to the Gov2.0 Expo Showcase?
2. What will you do to further the cause of transparency in our government?
3. How will you let people at the conference know about Tweet Congress?
4. Tell us how much you love us ;-)

Unofficial Robot Invasion!

We have decided to remove the unofficial Twitter ID of Speaker Pelosi.  We believe the Speaker can do better and should do better than having an unofficial Bot posting news.  We are asking all our followers to encourage Speaker Pelosi to get an official Twitter ID and start communicating with her constituents.

Top Tweet Thursday

This week in “Top Tweet Thursday” we are doing something a little special.  Claire McCaskill and John Culberson are two of the best when it comes to using twitter.  So this weeks “TTT” is dedicated to two of our favorite Tweeters.

Claire McCaskill D-MO: NO WAY! I’m embarrassed that anyone thought this was a good idea. - McCaskill Says No to Gulf Stream Jet… http://tumblr.com/xbx2ljw1r

Claire McCaskill: Just becasue you disagre with someone is no reason to call them a liar. That’s rude and frankly down right dumb. Disagree w/out name calling

Claire McCaskill: I’m hoping there will be no shout downs in #MO, polite is good.Listening to others essential part of public meeting,& it’s a two way street.

Claire McCaskill: I disagree that the people showing concern over some healthcare proposals are “manufactured” Real folks, strong opinions.

John Culberson: @TheAntiGuru In other words, if I send out an official mailer she disapproves of, she can literally deduct postage/printing from my paycheck

John Culberson: Ds refuse to let me say in my newsletter that Speaker Pelosi pushed cap & trade (tax) bill, & I can’t ID Henry Waxman & Ed Markey as Dem.

John Culberson: Everywhere I go everyone I meet in my district are strongly opposed - as I am - to gov’t takeover of health care & the energy cap & tax bill

John Culberson: House just adjourned. Very good that Pelosi’s gov’t health care takeover bill did not pass - we will oppose it w thoughful alternatives

Top Tweet Thursday

Jason Chaffetz R-UT: We are $12 Trillion in debt and House just voted $25 mil for Sea Otter Recovery. I voted NO

Steve Israel D-NY: Scare Tactics Greatest Hits: Rep. Foxx says House Dem HC bill will “put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.”

John Shimkus R-IL: Isn’t it sad that the Dems held a marathon meeting to educate their members on a bill two of their committee’s already passed. #healthbillBill

Nelson D-FL: This morning I’ll be heading up a meeting with some of the nation’s top hurricane experts to see if the govt’s ready for the next big one.

John Culberson R-TX: Texans believe in self reliance: We want the fed govt to stay out of our pockets & leave us & our doctors & the Texas Medical Center alone!

Top Tweet Thursday

Peter Hoekstra: @twitter: (R-MI) Auto followed @twitescorts at some point and yesterday, unfollowed, deleted and blocked @twitescorts but she is still in sidebar!

Jim Himes: (D-CT) Breakfast w/SecDef Gates. Smart, blunt, not afraid to say exactly what he thinks. Need more people in gov like him.

Orrin Hatch: (R-UT) Yesterday’s vote on the F-22 was a feeble attempt to wrong mindedly cut our military spending and weaken our nation’s air dominance.

James Oberstar: (D-MN) Minnesota led the nation in voter turnout in 2008 75%, matched only by DC. Average turnout was 63.3%

James Randy Forbes: (R-V) http://twitpic.com/b8sh2 - Reading the 1000+ page health care bill. My thoughts on government takeover: http://tinyurl.com/lrnsz4 Read …

How to Tweet Congress

We’re so glad so many people are using Tweet Congress to find, follow, and give their reps a tweetful. One thing we didn’t anticipate when we started, however, was the way so many folks would hope to address everyone on The Hill by sending an @reply our way. While we don’t mind being the lightning rod for all that discontent, might we suggest some tips to get your message out.

@replies limit your reach

One of the cool things about Twitter is how it handles addressing other Twitter users within your tweets. When your tweet begins with @tweetcongress, only your followers that also follow us will see it. So unless you’re sending us a message directly, don’t lead with our handle.

You can still get on our home page

We love to hear your thoughts on the issues. The #tweetcongress hashtag will add your tweet to our home page in the ‘community’ column. Now thousands of users, even folks who are not on Twitter (shocking, we know!) will hear what you have to say!

Top Tweet Thursday

John McCain R-AZ: Wow, I just went over 1 million followers - thanks everyone!!

Jim Himes D-CT: Back from a BBQ w/VP. Pretty darn nice house. Biden has also got to be one of the more authentic guys in politics. Not a lot of spin there.

Dean Heller R-NV: Government run health care will result in fewer choices and the rationing of health care.

Bill Nelson D-FL: Naval academy grad, Marine test pilot, astronaut, general – Charlie will bring back the magic from a time when we rode rockets to the moon

John McCain R-AZ: Fired GM CEO Rick Wagoner leaves with a $10 million benefits package - your taxpayer $ hard at work.