[backhoe]

It's obvious to me that most of these callers are plants.

Yes, the model & archtype of those are the C-Span callers:

I was a Republican all of my life, but after George Boosh ( insert DNC talking points here ) did ( insert grievance de jour... ) I'll never vote Republican again!

[bootless]

I just checked in at DU (yes, I got my shots) - they are in a giggly lather about Tom. He is their ticket to a Bustamante win. AS, to them, is the threat. They think that if Tom gets elected, then the government will be at a standstill b/c of the Dems' obstruction.

Read between the lines - they are terrified that AS will actually be able to change things, and thereby threaten their pork, positions, and power.