:: NEWS COCKTAIL aka BlahBlahBlog ::

:: 2.26.2003 ::

:: The Virtual March continues ::

From The Washington Post:
Antiwar Protesters Flood Senate Phone Lines
By Juliet Eilperin, Wednesday, February 26, 2003; 2:35 PM

Thousands of antiwar protesters flooded Senate phone lines today as part of a "Virtual March" on Washington.

The phone-in campaign was sponsored by the "Win Without War" coalition, which told Web site readers they could "join a massive march on Washington without leaving your living room."

By early this afternoon, several Senate office phone lines were jammed. While an overall count was unavailable, the Moveon.org Web site reported 85,000 supporters had signed up to call, a figure that would translate into more than one call per minute to each Senate office.

"The calls have been coming in steadily all day," said Megan Sowards, a spokeswoman for Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) who estimated the office had logged at least 200 by mid-morning.

The calls tied up the lines of war opponents, such as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), as well as supporters of Bush's strategy, such as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). Possible presidential hopeful Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) had received at least 400 calls.

Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), who voted against allowing Bush to use force without the United Nations' blessing, received dozens of calls backing his position.

"Senator Chaffee remains opposed to war and appreciates the time people are taking to express their concern," Chafee spokesman said.

ALSO, here's a Reuters AlertNET report:
US 'virtual' war protest jams congressional phones

posted by me

:: 2:42:00 PM [+] ::
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