I personally use phone, email and letters in my commenting.....

I agree that just sending emails or on line petitions don't do much. But they do add to the pot.

I did Land Use on behalf of a 4x4 club here in CO and a National Association, we found that it takes a lot of personal letters and phone calls to make the most difference.
That's something the liberals have a head start on, they tend to be the whiny, law suit happy, "I'm going to enforce my values on you by enacting laws" folks.