Hallo! Hallo! Is anyone at home at Sen. Mark Warner's?

Have you ever written Senator Warner when the reply was anything but:

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences with me.

If you need assistance resolving a specific problem with a federal agency, please contact my office at 703-442-0670 or toll free at 1-877-676-2759. Otherwise, please be assured that we are reading and responding to your comments and opinions as fast as we can.

As the 111th Congress moves forward, please continue to be in touch with your views.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Do you wonder if anyone is actually reading his mail or does the fax machine just dump it into the nearest trash can?

About once a month, sometimes more, I write him (and Senator James Webb) about pulling our men and women out of Afghanistan and Iraq.

(Senator Webb's replies sound like maybe someone in his office is glancing at the subject line, however, the most recent reply included this at the end: Here is some recent news about your topic of interest: and there was nothing there! Just white space. Ho hum. You think their office staffs have got anyone over age 15?)

To date, Senator Warner has never replied with anything but the robo letter, so as a test I sent him the following on December 15, 2010:

Dear Senator Warner,

Since your office always sends the same replies (robo-replies) and no one must read the letters sent to you, I was wondering if you would like for me to send you a contribution for your next race. This is a test, Senator Warner, to see if anyone is reading, and I'll put the reply up on my blog.

Sincerely,
Patricia

Well, the response was, yep! Just as expected: the same. I guess he doesn't need my money, and I'll send it to someone who does.

Question: The 111th Congress was moving forward on December 16, 2010 when the reply came? You think the computer gurus in his office have changed the letter yet to read 112th Congress? I guess I need to send another test letter.

Warner says "responding to your comments...as fast as we can." Well, duh! I haven't received any response other than what's here, and he's been in office two years!

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences with me.

If you need assistance resolving a specific problem with a federal agency, please contact my office at 703-442-0670 or toll free at 1-877-676-2759. Otherwise, please be assured that we are reading and responding to your comments and opinions as fast as we can.

As the 111th Congress moves forward, please continue to be in touch with your views.


Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Warner photo: Flickr/Forward Together PAC http://www.flickr.com/photos/govmarkwarner/191839366/

Letter to Sen. Webb and Sen. Warner re: Afghanistan and a reply

Dear Senator Webb and Senator Warner:

How long, o Lord, how long?

Day after day after day! We read and hear about more deaths and maimings of our troops in Afghanistan. Why are we there? Why are we expending our resources in a nation far away? Oh, so we are to continue our waste for another year so President Obama can then say before the 2012 election that he is bringing the troops home?

Senator Webb, Senator Warner, how are we exiting Iraq when 50,000 troops will remain?

President Obama is rapidly losing progressive support which he will not have in numbers for 2012 like he had in 2008. Contrary to Sen. Carl Levin's statement that there is "solid support" among Democrats to continue this waste! These deaths! For naught! Levin is dead wrong.

Sincerely,
Patricia

Senator Warner replies:

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 12:07 PM

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to share your views and experiences with me.

If you need assistance resolving a specific problem with a federal agency, please contact my office at 703-442-0670 or toll free at 1-877-676-2759. Otherwise, please be assured that we are reading and responding to your comments and opinions as fast as we can.

As the 111th Congress moves forward, please continue to be in touch with your views.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Letter from Sen. Mark Warner re: Afghanistan

What does this say other than he's taken a trip to Afghanistan? Absolutely nothing. A great example for p.r. classes in how to write meaningless letters with content of empty words.


Dear Ms. ____________,



Thank you for contacting me regarding additional troops in Afghanistan. I share your concerns about the need to resolve the conflicts throughout Afghanistan and improve the lives of those living in that region of the world.



This is a very complicated and important issue. Last spring, I traveled to Afghanistan to get a first-hand look at operations on the ground. While in Afghanistan, I received several briefings from our top military and diplomatic leadership. I also conducted a site visit at the Kabul Military Training Center where our U.S. forces are working hard to train the Afghan troops. In addition, I traveled to Kandahar and met with Virginia troops and the US and Allied Commanders to get an accurate assessment of the situation.



In the coming weeks our military and civilian leadership will review our strategy and consider the resources required to ensure we have the most effective policies for Afghanistan, and the right equipment and training to protect our troops. I will continue to keep your thoughts in mind as the situation unfolds.



Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me with your views. As we move forward with the 111th Congress, please continue to be in touch with your opinions and concerns.




Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator