I’m dialing

zed

zed?

nice Elliot

Ah, missed it by THAT much…

Can somebody please tell me what to say when I call them? What’s my talking point?

Morning all — if everyone could refresh their screen for me, I added a little more after a conference call that just finished. We have a helpful chat coming up tomorrow afternoon that I think everyone will enjoy. :)

OT on MSNBC.COM breaking news on thousands of turkish troops going into Iran to chase Kurds

[Mod:Correction: that’s Iraq.]

That habeas corpus was ever placed in need of restoration is utterly incomprehensible and (whatever the tool Abu may claim) unconstitutional.

I’ll call Saxby Chambless and Johnny Issacson, but I’m not gettin’ my hopes up…

JPL @ 8

OT on MSNBC.COM breaking news on thousands of turkish troops going into Iran to chase Kurds

Turkish troops chase Kurdish guerrillas in Iraq

at first glance, it looks like it should pass Committee. Think they’ll be any R’s crossing over? Specter? Coburn (who I can’t figure out lately)?

this vote and the subsequent one should show us whether our senate has sold us out or not. there is no imaginable discourse on habeas corpus, yet some of these scabs have voted to deny it.
let’s not parse words here. we will see the vote and we will know who is a fascist and who is in favor of the law we have entertained for a bit over 200 years.
sadly, there is much fear in our representatives, and much obfuscation. they know things they will not tell us out of fear. is there any other reason why reason itself has become so scarce?

If one of these senators votes for the denial of habeas corpus, then we are doomed. the divide they are creating is meant to be permanent. why continue to pretend our congress cares about our wishes? they haven’t shown any inclination to stop treason, war profiteering, and numerous other crimes we have laws preventing.

I must ask, why do we continue to believe they are going to do as we ask? for the first time in modern history, we see they are under control by outside enterprises. we have recently seen them vote against the wishes of 70% of the people of this country. Are they suddenly going to do differently?

we, the people, are dreaming again. the religious get their dreams of redemption for their hatred and deeds. the rational dream of a government that follows the law. who is to say which of us are the more absurd?

I called Cardin (D-MD) and told them that I am a constituent, living in Anne Arundel County, and was surprised that Senator Cardin was not a co-sponsor of S.185. I told them that as an attorney it was absolutely shocking when Congress passed a law that undercut and undermined the central principle that gave birth to the founding of this nation and was fundamental to the very fabric of the Constitution itself. I told them that I expected Senator Cardin to support passage of S.185, and that my vote for him in the future would depend on his vote on this bill.

As I commented somewhere else, these freedoms were bought with blood. If I have to urge any senator to “restore” GUARANTEED Constitutional protections, may he or she burn in hell forever.

We should not be calling anyone, you know. This is worse than pathetic.

Another day in the life and legend of George W. Bush:

AP – President Bush on Wednesday discounted Vladimir Putin’s threat to retarget missiles on Europe, saying “Russia’s not going to attack Europe.”

This man Bush is a lunatic. He’ll be burnin’ down the planet, if we’re not careful.
Leahy and the rest. Better get your stuff together!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=

how about a whip count? christy, would you mind if we report back in the comments what kind of response we get?

selise at 17 — That would be great. :) Thanks!

ccmask @ 6

Can somebody please tell me what to say when I call them? What’s my talking point?

Christy gave some good links for info in her post above.

I also suspect you’ll see marvelous ideas pour forth in comments as the list below grows & grows.
Putting the thots in your own words is one of the strongest things you can do, so we don’t sound like a bunch of robots, [like some other folk i could name but won’t]

Go for it! You’ll do fine! ;->

here is the link to the bill.

the bill’s webpage has a link to the co-sponsors, which now shows 18! looks like my senator kennedy signed up yesterday. off to call to say “thank you!”

I called the office of Senator Cardin (D-MD) and identified myself by name, and told the staffer who spoke on the phone that I was a constituent and a resident of Anne Arundel County.

I told the staffer I was surprised that Senator Cardin was not a cosponsor of the measure, S.185. I asked how he was going to vote on it, and the staffer told me that Cardin didn’t have a position yet.

I told the staffer that it was unbelievable to me that Senator Cardin didn’t have a position on this matter. The staffer asked me my opinion, and I told him that as an attorney I was wholly appalled at Congress’s decision to allow a suspension of habeas corpus. I said that it was a complete abrogation of the central right we fought for in securing our independence, and that it was a fundamental principle to the Constitution itself.

I told the staffer that my vote for Cardin in the future would depend on his vote on S.185. If he did not vote for it, and vote to restore the writ of habeas corpus, he would not be able to count on my vote in the future.

Then I said that Brad Scholzman dude is a complete high-pitched douchebag with a bad porn beard, and the staffer and I just laffed and laffed.

Okay, everything was true except the last bit.

When I think about calling my senators, I just roll my eyes. I have Box Turtle and the Professional Cheerleader. Hopefully we can tip the Box Turtle over next year – talks are on to get a good candidate on the ballot. If W keeps up his pissing every one off, even Texas might turn back to at least one D in the Senate.

I like what I said in the second post better.

Just so you know, the police arrested a reporter (with bonafide press credentials) in New Hampshire yesterday for asking Rudy G. about WTC building 7. That’s quite a milestone in American history. Along those lines there is a poem by philip larken, who all his life was utterly terrified of death. In the poem he enters an old-age home and is faced with a roomful of vacantly gazing skull-face old men. Understanding how close to death they are, Larken then throws up his arms and asks the eternal question: WHY AREN’T THEY SCREAMING?

Liberal news outlets that censor news story are 100 X more damaging to America than such obviously biased outlets as Fox. (It was the NY Times, which liberals trust, that lured us into a terrible war.) Liberals trust FDK to protect the Bill of Rights. Is that trust misplaced?

WHY AREN’T YOU SCREAMING?

Life During Wartime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..0&NR=1

Democrats! Do something!!!

Oklahoma kiddo @ 123

I miss you Bobby. I miss you Jack. I miss you Martin. I miss you Yitzhak Rabin. I miss you Anwar Al-Sadat. I miss you Rachel Corrie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUoZX01C8yE

Sorry O/T, but got epu’d in previous thread. Am going to DC next week with spouse and our 8 & 10 y/o sweet little varmints (of two-legged variety). While my republican, but thankfully and usually apolitical, hubby attends his day meetings, I am planning on introducing my children to Free Speech in a democracy. I have been telling them I would make a sign while in DC and one morning we will put our free speech rights to use.

I have been playing around with several ideas re what I would emblazon on the sign, but I now know thanks to OK Kiddo. Those words truly strike a chord and make a glowing statement. Thanks.

The same Judiciary Committee is voting on the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today. Tell ‘em to vote no on the guy who ruled it was ok to call a co-worker a “good ol’ n*gger”; that wasn’t racist, it was like calling her a “teacher’s pet.” Obama is the only Senator to come out against Southwick.

here’s the co-sponsor list (specter is the bill’s author):

Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] – 5/24/2007
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] – 2/26/2007
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] – 5/7/2007
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] – 2/28/2007
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] – 3/7/2007
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] – 5/22/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] – 2/28/2007
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] – 2/26/2007
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] – 3/14/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] – 6/5/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] – 5/15/2007
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] – 2/28/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] – 1/4/2007
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] – 4/17/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] – 4/20/2007
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] – 3/29/2007
Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] – 2/26/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] – 5/9/2007

for after calling committee members… when we call our own senators we’ll know to either ask them to sign on as co-sponsors – or thank them from already doing so.

I called Feinstein — staff reported that she’s a co-sponsor.

Christy…. A follow-up to your Sunday post “PERCEPTION” on building a Democratic Party brand.

You/we should check out Gary Hart’s latest book “The Courage or our Convictions: A Manifesto for Democrats”, which addresses this issue directly. While this isn’t Hart’s best writing, it most definitely moves us in the right direction, providing a good start in explaining in simple terns what defines us as Democrats. Perhaps a good choice for a book salon.

From the book’s summary chapter:

A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY DEMOCRATIC MANIFESTO

We, the Democratic Party, believe in:

- A national community based on social justice and equality for all;

- Restoring popular sovereignty and civic duty in the American republic;

- New international alliances to respond to the challenges of our time.

These principles of our platform reflect the values of our greatest presidents. Franklin Roosevelt united our nation into one community by establshing the Four Freedoms and the commitment of our society that no American be left behind. Harry Truman created a set of international structures to restore democracy after World War II and to defeat communism. John Kennedy restored the ideal of civic duty and service to our nation. Lyndon Johnson demanded equality for all our citizens.

You know one of the cosponsors is Sherrod Brown. He got kicked out of BlueAmerica when he voted for the MCA last September. So I wonder what has changed this time around: the man or the politics?

WHERE IS CARDIN? WTF??? IF MARYLAND WERE ANY MORE BLUE, IT WOULD BE GETTING CHASED BY GARGAMEL’S CAT! I AM SCREAMING. SEE, I’M SCREAMING HERE. JESUS H. CHRIST, BEN, GET WITH THE PROGRAM, BUDDY!

Do we really need to bother, and use up the staff time of, Kennedy, Leahy, Feingold, Schumer and Whitehouse? Yes, that is a rhetorical question in that we really do not need to waste effort on these knowns, but all the others, including the Dems, need to be peppered.

bmaz @ 31

Do we really need to bother, and use up the staff time of, Kennedy, Leahy, Feingold, Schumer and Whitehouse? Yes, that is a rhetorical question in that we really do not need to waste effort on these knowns, but all the others, including the Dems, need to be peppered.

doesn’t hurt to say “thank you”

Leebopper @ 24

Just so you know, the police arrested a reporter (with bonafide press credentials) in New Hampshire yesterday for asking Rudy G. about WTC building 7. That’s quite a milestone in American history. Along those lines there is a poem by philip larken, who all his life was utterly terrified of death. In the poem he enters an old-age home and is faced with a roomful of vacantly gazing skull-face old men. Understanding how close to death they are, Larken then throws up his arms and asks the eternal question: WHY AREN’T THEY SCREAMING?

Liberal news outlets that censor news story are 100 X more damaging to America than such obviously biased outlets as Fox. (It was the NY Times, which liberals trust, that lured us into a terrible war.) Liberals trust FDK to protect the Bill of Rights. Is that trust misplaced?

WHY AREN’T YOU SCREAMING?

That will stop all those people asking about ATC-7, I’m sure.

Thinking Southerner @ 26

Oklahoma kiddo @ 123

I miss you Bobby. I miss you Jack. I miss you Martin. I miss you Yitzhak Rabin. I miss you Anwar Al-Sadat. I miss you Rachel Corrie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUoZX01C8yE

Sorry O/T, but got epu’d in previous thread. Am going to DC next week with spouse and our 8 & 10 y/o sweet little varmints (of two-legged variety). While my republican, but thankfully and usually apolitical, hubby attends his day meetings, I am planning on introducing my children to Free Speech in a democracy. I have been telling them I would make a sign while in DC and one morning we will put our free speech rights to use.

I have been playing around with several ideas re what I would emblazon on the sign, but I now know thanks to OK Kiddo. Those words truly strike a chord and make a glowing statement. Thanks.

;0)!!!

Thanks for the list, CHS. I’ve made a couple of calls and I’ll work thru the remainder throughout the day.
—
OT, but I was proud to see my letter to Judge Walton in the TPM Muckraker’s published version, which they broke up into 4 parts: In Part 3, about 15% down in that document. I wondered why they didn’t see fit to redact my home address, but nevertheless I stand by my words. It’ll be interesting to see if I get any hate mail… :>

I was also terribly impressed with the long but impassioned Victim Statement submitted by an (obviously highly trained) attorney, Mr. Patrick L. Johnson Esq. You can find that about 20% down in that same Part 3 — look for the numbered lines. There’s lot of them. I sincerely commend this brief to your attention. I was moved.

I did a Google search to try to locate Mr. Johnson’s email or any other way to contact him, to no avail. If anyone has any info on that, would you please send it to [email protected] ?– and thank you.

I looked thru all four PDF files in an effort to find emptywheel’s and CHS’s letter to Judge Walton. I must have skimmed too quickly. Anyone have a pointer into PDF-land? Or a URL for the letter’s text as recently presented here at FDL? I’d love to see that again.

Overall, I found the letters-recommending-leniency, personal descriptions of what a Fine Fellow, Family Man, hard worker and outstanding Patriot he is and apparently always was, to miss the point of this trial entirely. Many people express astonishment that he would ever do what a jury convicted him of (Thanks PJF, fine work!). Unfortunately they fail to acknowledge that this Wonderful Marvelous Person was legally proven imperfect — to have participated in an evil plot that must have been conceived and orchestrated by his superiors (of whom I can only count three: Rove, Cheney and Bush).

And then he tried to cover it up by claiming bad memory, and inconsistently at that.

All of that flowery praise makes no difference whatever if he was convicted for aiding and abetting an act of pure treason that (oh so conveniently) plucked out the eyes and ears of our nation in following the WMD situation in the Middle East, ruined one covert CIA operative’s career, destroyed her covert network resulting in the deaths (no word on how achieved) of an unknown number of them, and effectively sent a death threat to the rest of the Intel community: “If you go against us, we will ruin you, and perhaps have you killed. Don’t F&ck With Us!” — and all to get revenge on and protect their foul Administration from the justified “attack” by (as viewed by the WH) Ambassador Joe Wilson, who told the truth.

I sure hope that FDL continues to be followed by the defendant’s camp and the MSM following this case, especially including those flowery praisers in public life and most particularly now serving in our Government. Governments should be afraid of the People; we should not be afraid of our own Government, as we now are. We, the People, are Coming For You.
————
Further OT — If U didn’t see it already, hope you might enjoy my http://tinyurl.com/yvu7pa (that I wrote before the Libby verdict and is just as relevant now.).

You’ll wanna open that URL above in a new window, it takes awhile to load and reposition…

I based it on Wolverine’s excellent start on “The Wrath Of Big Patrick Fitzgerald” (from Gordon Lightfoot’s original lyric of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” ( http://tinyurl.com/nhqh5 )).
———
For pointers to ‘PupMap (651 people!), Gabbly Chat, Calendar, Timeline, click here or on my .SIG above.

bmaz at 32 — It is helpful for Senators to be able to say that they are getting calls that overwhelmingly support their actions. And it is also helpful for them to know that we are grateful that they are doing the tough work — and that we have their back on this issue. So, yes, the calls do help — and they give them some sense of where the public is on the issue.

twolf1 @ 11

JPL @ 8

OT on MSNBC.COM breaking news on thousands of turkish troops going into Iran to chase Kurds

Turkish troops chase Kurdish guerrillas in Iraq

Note: IRAQ not IRAN!

BTW several thousand Turkish troops have entered Northern Iraq in a raid on PKK camps.

Is there a link to the story about the reporter getting arrested?

bmaz @ 32

Do we really need to bother, and use up the staff time of, Kennedy, Leahy, Feingold, Schumer and Whitehouse? Yes, that is a rhetorical question in that we really do not need to waste effort on these knowns, but all the others, including the Dems, need to be peppered.

Important for those on the Judiciary Committee to show up for this vote. Even if they’re in favor, they might need a reminder to be there because of the importance of this issue. That’s not a waste of staff time imo.

OT
CSPAN 3 is showing Disease & Nat’l Security hearing now, prompted by the bizarro TB guy

twolf1 @ 11

JPL @ 8

OT on MSNBC.COM breaking news on thousands of turkish troops going into Iran to chase Kurds

Note: IRAQ not Iran.

So much for Defense Secretary Gates’ remonstrances to Turkey to back off!

Thanks Adie. I’m on a roll now.

Very recent ThinkProgress post: Bush’s Botched Gitmo Trials: What Comes Next

truth @ 27

The same Judiciary Committee is voting on the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today. Tell ‘em to vote no on the guy who ruled it was ok to call a co-worker a “good ol’ n*gger”; that wasn’t racist, it was like calling her a “teacher’s pet.” Obama is the only Senator to come out against Southwick.

I don’t get why his nomination isn’t DOA. Hopefully Obama has informed the other Dems in the Committee about Southwick. The guy deserves to be disbarred.

SOS at 36 — For some reason, I couldn’t find my letter in the PDF either. I faxed it in early on (the day we heard that Libby’s Team was asking for Dear Scooter letters, actually), but it wasn’t included in the document cache. It was essentially an amalgam of everything I’ve written on the blog about the case — but in more succinct form. If you take a peek at my post on the issue here, you get an idea of my thoughts to the Judge. Not sure why it wasn’t in the pile, other than the fact that the poor staff probably got inundated with paper and, as always with FAX machines, you can never fully predict whether things make it without a return of service notice (which I did not request because, frankly, I’m not a party to the litigation and they are snowed under with work as it is). In any case, I know the court has been monitoring media and posts on the issue, so it’s likely he’d already been subjected to my thoughts on this a number of times. ;-)

egregious @ 41

bmaz @ 32

Do we really need to bother, and use up the staff time of, Kennedy, Leahy, Feingold, Schumer and Whitehouse? Yes, that is a rhetorical question in that we really do not need to waste effort on these knowns, but all the others, including the Dems, need to be peppered.

Important for those on the Judiciary Committee to show up for this vote. Even if they’re in favor, they might need a reminder to be there because of the importance of this issue. That’s not a waste of staff time imo.

The only three I trust on that list are Leahy, Feingold and Whitehouse. The others, I’d still call, just to make sure.

I’ll make some calls, even though our calls don’t always get the response we want. I agree that we have to speak out. We’ve got to lift up and act upon the freedoms we still have!
Just as a suggestion…I finally copied katiemine’s 800 list to my desktop. And, see, now I’ve got it. I’ve recently taken to opening a word doc in the morning so that I can copy and paste stuff I either want to remember or refer to later. Just a little share share with my pup friends.

JPL @ 8

OT on MSNBC.COM breaking news on thousands of turkish troops going into Iran to chase Kurds

[Mod:Correction: that’s Iraq.]

This is not good. Another nail in Turkey’s coffin for admission to the EU.

They never did suffer any punishment for the Armenian genocide….and as Bush 41 showed when he turned his back on them in the aftermath of the first Gulf War, who gives a f..k about the Kurds?

Winston Churchill on Habeas Corpus
“…the great principle of habeas corpus and trial by jury, which are the supreme protection invented by the British people for ordinary individuals against the state. The power of the executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him judgement by his peers for an indefinite period, is in the highest degree odious, and is the foundation of all totalitarian governments.”

“It is only when extreme danger to the state can be pleaded that this power may be temporarily assumed by the executive, and even so its working must be interpreted with the utmost vigilance by a free parliament…”

“Nothing can be more abhorrent to democracy. This is really the test of civilisation.”

[Winston Churchill in a minute about the Mosley family to the Home Secretary, 21 November 1943]

Hugh @ 39

BTW several thousand Turkish troops have entered Northern Iraq in a raid on PKK camps.

Don’t know if you saw it, my apologies for yesterday.

Tithonia @ 40

Is there a link to the story about the reporter getting arrested?

C&L is a good start: Alterman’s Arrest.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 47

SOS at 36 — For some reason, I couldn’t find my letter in the PDF either. I faxed it in early on (the day we heard that Libby’s Team was asking for Dear Scooter letters, actually), but it wasn’t included in the document cache. It was essentially an amalgam of everything I’ve written on the blog about the case — but in more succinct form. If you take a peek at my post on the issue here, you get an idea of my thoughts to the Judge. Not sure why it wasn’t in the pile, other than the fact that the poor staff probably got inundated with paper and, as always with FAX machines, you can never fully predict whether things make it without a return of service notice (which I did not request because, frankly, I’m not a party to the litigation and they are snowed under with work as it is). In any case, I know the court has been monitoring media and posts on the issue, so it’s likely he’d already been subjected to my thoughts on this a number of times. ;-)

Jane and Marcy’s letter didn’t appear in there either. I looked through all four sets. It would seem some got left out, or were never received(due to fax problems). Of course, Wells made sure all the Libby love letters were there.

CHS – quick question. What effect, if any, would there be for us to mention Firedoglake when we call?

Sen. Tom Coburn – the receptionist doesn’t know how he plans to vote tomorrow, i asked him to vote yes.

I have contacted Senator Cornyn’s office…

selise @ 28

here’s the co-sponsor list (specter is the bill’s author):

Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] – 5/24/2007
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] – 2/26/2007
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] – 5/7/2007
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] – 2/28/2007
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] – 3/7/2007
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] – 5/22/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] – 2/28/2007
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] – 2/26/2007
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] – 3/14/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] – 6/5/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] – 5/15/2007
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] – 2/28/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] – 1/4/2007
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] – 4/17/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] – 4/20/2007
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] – 3/29/2007
Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] – 2/26/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] – 5/9/2007

for after calling committee members… when we call our own senators we’ll know to either ask them to sign on as co-sponsors – or thank them from already doing so.

No Boxer? I’ll make that call. I’m sure she will support it.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 46

SOS at 36 — For some reason, I couldn’t find my letter in the PDF either. I… If you take a peek at my post on the issue here, you get an idea of my thoughts to the Judge. … (I)t’s likely he’d already been subjected to my thoughts on this a number of times. ;-)

Tnx CHS for that pointer, and thru it to emptywheel’s views. OK, now I’ve had my daily fix of emptywheel/CHS prose. Off to do something else! :) :)

Lou Costello @ 53

Tithonia @ 40

Is there a link to the story about the reporter getting arrested?

C&L is a good start: Alterman’s Arrest.

Read Alterman’s account at http://mediamatters.org/altercation/.
There’s also a link on the left side of this page.

Fascist political correctness watch:

Woman arrested for staring at police dog.

Charge with cruelty to animals.

-GSD

Is anyone surprised that there is not one Republican that is a cosponsor of the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act? The Republicans do not believe in the rule of law but rather the law of the jungle. The sooner the Republican Party is thrown into the dustbin of history the better. Today’s Republican Party is an alien anti-democratic party that has more in common with the NSDAP of Germany than with American traditions of democracy and pluralism.

Sen. Sam Brownback – is still contemplating his vote. i guess he just needs more people to advise him to vote “yes”!

Bluetoe at 62 — actually, Specter wrote the bill and is, thus, a sponser by default. (Not that I trust the man but he is a Republican and he is sponsoring the bill since he drafted it.)

i simply cannot believe there is even a remote possibility that this would even be contentious.

i simply cannot believe that any serious public servant would NOT vote to restore it…

but then i simply could NOT believe any serious public servant would have voted to expunge it.

it fills me with rage.
.

I think Tithonia wants the link for the reporter arrested for questioning Giuliani about WT7.

Linky

GSD @ 61

Fascist political correctness watch:

Woman arrested for staring at police dog.

Charged with cruelty to animals.

-GSD

Gnome de Plume @ 22

When I think about calling my senators, I just roll my eyes. I have Box Turtle and the Professional Cheerleader. Hopefully we can tip the Box Turtle over next year – talks are on to get a good candidate on the ballot. If W keeps up his pissing every one off, even Texas might turn back to at least one D in the Senate.

I finally got through to Cornyn’s office after about fifteen minutes of getting the voice mail which states if “this is during the business hours, it means all lines are busy so try again later.”

I gave my name and address to the staffer and explained why I felt that Cornyn should be voting for this bill and how incredibly un_American it was that Habeas had been removed in the first place. No real response other than to ask for my zip again.

I shant hold my breath here…

called kennedy and leahy’s office to say “thank you”.

senator leahy’s receptionist sounded happy to get the call. senator kennedy’s office – not so much.

MY Senator, Cantwell apparently became (becomes?) a co-sponsor on 5/07/07. That makes 18.

MR. Bill @ 10

I’ll call Saxby Chambless and Johnny Issacson, but I’m not gettin’ my hopes up…

You still on MR Bill? Where in GA are you?

Christy Hardin Smith @ 64

Bluetoe at 62 — actually, Specter wrote the bill and is, thus, a sponser by default. (Not that I trust the man but he is a Republican and he is sponsoring the bill since he drafted it.)

I know that Specter is a cosponsor. So there is a token Republican that believes in the right of habeas corpus. Well isn’t that special.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 63

Bluetoe at 62 — actually, Specter wrote the bill and is, thus, a sponser by default. (Not that I trust the man but he is a Republican and he is sponsoring the bill since he drafted it.)

and his sister senator is going to study the bill when it comes out of markup

OT again, sorry, but Point Of Personal Privilege: :) Anent my letter to the Honorable Judge getting into PDF-land and CHS/emptywheel’s not (two people having corroborated that), I wanna state for the record that I would MUCH rather have seen the latter included in the public PDF than mine. If memory serves (and it still does despite my advancing age) :) , it was amazing. There: I feel better for having said that.

egregious @ 66

I think Tithonia wants the link for the reporter arrested for questioning Giuliani about WT7.

Linky

Hmmm…Giuliani people ordering the arrest of a reporter. Why am I not shocked?

Does Rudy have any family ties to the Mussolinis?

-GSD

called senator kerry’s office to ask that he co-sponsor the bill. the receptionist said he’d see what could be done.

ah poop. It IS JUNE! Must drink more coffee.

And … how did Spector vote in the fall when this travesty began????

Christy, your last post on RFK was fuckin’ amazing.

Hugh @ 29

You know one of the cosponsors is Sherrod Brown. He got kicked out of BlueAmerica when he voted for the MCA last September. So I wonder what has changed this time around: the man or the politics?

this may sound overly cynical – but i don’t think i care… so long has he is doing the right thing.

… allthough i like to think he caught a lot of grief about his vote from his allies and he is now trying to make amends.

cinnamonape, preview should be my friend but alas, that’s not always the case. Christy, sorry but I just don’t have the heart to call Saxby. His staff is such a waste.

fdl reader @ 77

And … how did Spector vote in the fall when this travesty began????

If memory serves, it was inserted by Snarlin’ Arlin (or one of his assistants, who must have been egged on by someone) hisself. Let’s see how he deals with the blowback. :>

Anyone that underestimates the nefarious nature of the Republican Party does so at the nations peril. In Congress they are not the “loyal opposition” but rather a 5th column.

Clusterfuck protecting kurdish terrorists in northern Iraq-armed and trained by israel.

Turks pissed have invaded.

Nice goin

Heading out for the day. Made three calls. I’ve been wanting a reason to call Leahy, Feinstein, & Whitehouse to voice support for their recent actions- this was it. Office staff, one & all, very courteous & attentive…

Thank you egregious @ 65. I had to go downstairs for a bit.

More ammo from Churchill’s @Sinews of eace’ Seech in 1946 in which Churchill coined the term @Iron Curtain@ and exresse the characters that distinguish Western democracies from totalitarian states.

”We cannot be blind to the fact that the liberties enjoyed by individual citizens throughout the British Empire are not valid in a considerable number of countries, some of which are very powerful. In these States control is enforced upon the common people by various kinds of all-embracing police governments. The power of the State is exercised without restraint, either by dictators or by compact oligarchies operating through a privileged party and a political police. It is not our duty at this time when difficulties are so numerous to interfere forcibly in the internal affairs of countries which we have not conquered in war. But we must never cease to proclaim in fearless tones the great principles of freedom and the rights of man which are the joint inheritance of the English-speaking world and which through Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Habeas Corpus, trial by jury*, and the English common law find their most famous expression in the American Declaration of Independence.

All this means that the people of any country have the right, and should have the power by constitutional action, by free unfettered elections, with secret ballot, to choose or change the character or form of government under which they dwell; that freedom of speech and thought should reign; that courts of justice, independent of the executive, unbiased by any party, should administer laws which have received the broad assent of large majorities or are consecrated by time and custom. Here are the title deeds of freedom which should lie in every cottage home. Here is the message of the British and American peoples to mankind. Let us preach what we practice – let us practice – what we preach.’

*How many of these have been lost under Bush?

Lou Costello @ 53

Tithonia @ 40

Is there a link to the story about the reporter getting arrested?

C&L is a good start: Alterman’s Arrest.

where a f*cking goddamn cop tells a citizen doing nothing either to interfere or incite to shut off her/his camera? that’s some choice footage there, great training for the fascist f*cking pigs…

S.O.S. from MA @ 73

OT again, sorry, but Point Of Personal Privilege: :) Anent my letter to the Honorable Judge getting into PDF-land and CHS/emptywheel’s not (two people having corroborated that), I wanna state for the record that I would MUCH rather have seen the latter included in the public PDF than mine. If memory serves (and it still does despite my advancing age) :) , it was amazing. There: I feel better for having said that.

Anent, anent? Wow, I haven’t seen that word in a decade. Is it still used in the Northeast? And thanks BTW for keeping it alive.

Sen. Lindsey Graham – voice mail only. left a message.

GSD @ 74

egregious @ 66

I think Tithonia wants the link for the reporter arrested for questioning Giuliani about WT7.

Linky

Hmmm…Giuliani people ordering the arrest of a reporter. Why am I not shocked?

Does Rudy have any family ties to the Mussolinis?

-GSD

It looks to me like NH – the live free or die state – has some problems with their police. Eric Alterman was also hauled off to the Goffstown PD. This is very interesting and should be raised as a problem. GSD? You need to start kicking *ss and taking names.

I called all the Rethugs. I think most/all the Dems will go with this, but want to put my efforts where they will do the most good. I got thru to everybody except Cornyn, who had a recording that I should call later. Only one person asked where I was from. I try not to give that unless they ask, but since this was a Committee, I think they’ll listen even tho I’m not from their state.

I didn’t mention it, but my belief is THAT HABEAS CORPUS STILL EXISTS IN LAW NO MATTER WHAT BILL HAS BEEN PASSED BY ANYBODY. Habeas corpus is part of the inalienable right endowed by my creator, can cannot be taken away in any legit way by any dictator.

My mother lived under Nazi occupation were habeas corpus was non-existant. At anytime she, her family, friends, anyone could be arrested, detained, deported or worse purely at the whim of the “authorities.” To think that she now lives in a country where she and all of us are at the whim of the state is abhorent. It should be for Republicans but then they have more in common with the occupiers than the occupied.

Introducing the smokeless Klan rally.

-GSD

Churchill in his 1946 ‘Sinews of Peace’ Address where he outlined the differences between a free society an totalitarian states. Examine just how many of Churchill’s ‘factors’ we have lost under Bush.

We cannot be blind to the fact that the liberties enjoyed by individual citizens throughout the British Empire are not valid in a considerable number of countries, some of which are very powerful. In these States control is enforced upon the common people by various kinds of all-embracing police governments. The power of the State is exercised without restraint, either by dictators or by compact oligarchies operating through a privileged party and a political police. It is not our duty at this time when difficulties are so numerous to interfere forcibly in the internal affairs of countries which we have not conquered in war. But we must never cease to proclaim in fearless tones the great principles of freedom and the rights of man which are the joint inheritance of the English-speaking world and which through Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and the English common law find their most famous expression in the American Declaration of Independence.

All this means that the people of any country have the right, and should have the power by constitutional action, by free unfettered elections, with secret ballot, to choose or change the character or form of government under which they dwell; that freedom of speech and thought should reign; that courts of justice, independent of the executive, unbiased by any party, should administer laws which have received the broad assent of large majorities or are consecrated by time and custom. Here are the title deeds of freedom which should lie in every cottage home. Here is the message of the British and American peoples to mankind. Let us preach what we practice – let us practice – what we preach.

Thanks, S.O.S. … I knew there had to be *some* fuckery if Spector was involved!

S.O.S. from MA @ 81

fdl reader @ 77

And … how did Spector vote in the fall when this travesty began????

If memory serves, it was inserted by Snarlin’ Arlin (or one of his assistants, who must have been egged on by someone) hisself. Let’s see how he deals with the blowback. :>

i like your version!

here’s the one that went down in the senate last september when the mca was passed:

roll call vote for the mca

amendments:

Kennedy Amdt. No. 5088; To provide for the protection of United States persons in the implementation of treaty obligations.

Byrd Amdt. 5104; To prohibit the establishment of new military commissions after December 31, 2011.

Rockefeller Amdt. No. 5095; To provide for congressional oversight of certain Central Intelligence Agency programs.

Specter Amdt. No. 5087; To strike the provision regarding habeas review.

Levin Amdt. No. 5086; In the nature of a substitute.

i’ll have to make more calls later… right now, i’ve been told to go to the store… it seems we’re out of cat food

fdl reader @ 78

And … how did Spector vote in the fall when this travesty began????

Last September Specter sponsored an amendment to the MCA which was defeated 48-51. He subsequently voted for the whole bill.

In fact, going back some of my notes, this is what I have on the vote in the Senate:

On passage of the bill S 3930 on Military Commissions in the Senate September 28, 2006, the vote was 65-34 with one (Snowe R-ME) not voting.

Democrats who voted for: 12
Carper (D-DE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Stabenow (D-MI)

Republicans who voted against: 1
Chafee (R-RI)

Hope this is helpful.

Now, finding out chickens are your nearest living relatives was bad enough but this will be tough for our young man.

Terrible T. Rex Was a Slowpoke LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com

T. rex was no slacker. But the popular image of a nimble predator turning on a dime and chasing down prey with lightning speed is fiction, new computer models show. The terrifying tyrannosaur was actually a slowpoke.

…

Trex Slowpoke

Twisted at 79 — Awww, thanks. :)

selise @ 90

Sen. Lindsey Graham – voice mail only. left a message.

Oh, selise. Poor thing. You’re in SC, too. That DeMint sure is a gem. Yessirree, we knows how to pick ‘em!

JPL @ 81

cinnamonape, preview should be my friend but alas, that’s not always the case. Christy, sorry but I just don’t have the heart to call Saxby. His staff is such a waste.

The one time I called his office was in response to the NSA warrentless wiretapping. The staffer who answered the phone said that the Senator did not currently have a position on the wiretapping. I then turned on MSNBC to se him, live, defending the wiretapping.

I left out that Specter’s amendment was on habeas corpus and would have made habeas corpus review part of the MCA.

Just got hold of Hutchison’s San Antonio office (local) after trying the DC office and getting continual busy signal for ten minutes. Requested that she become a co-sponsor of Spector’s Habeas Corpus Restoration Act and that I find it unconscionable for a senator to believe that removing Habeas Corpus is at all a good thing.

I also mentioned that I was not sure whether ten minutes of busy signals was more annoying than ten minutes of all lines are busy so hang up and try later but that neither leads to good constituient services.

I shant hold my breath here either.

itwasntme @ 92

I didn’t mention it, but my belief is THAT HABEAS CORPUS STILL EXISTS IN LAW NO MATTER WHAT BILL HAS BEEN PASSED BY ANYBODY. Habeas corpus is part of the inalienable right endowed by my creator, can cannot be taken away in any legit way by any dictator.

And the Constitution, whatever the crime family currently in power may say or do.

I hope you won’t mind if I share something I wrote last September.

A Bright September Day

It happened in a hurry
That the rules were washed away
It was done with little notice
On a bright September day

“They hate us for our freedoms”
So due process we’ll give up
Call them “enemy combatants”
And forever lock them up

(chorus)
They don’t need to see the evidence
Or learn who turned them in
Interrogation methods
Set by Presidential whim
So forget habeus corpus
The Constitution too
Just say “enemy combatants”
And make them disappear from view

A self inflicted wound
Was administered that day
The terrorists made a nation
give it’s principles away

So the patriots of yesteryear
who died for rights held dear
Had their sacrifice diminished
Because it was an election year

(bridge)
The use of fear is all it takes
To make a once great nation yield its place
And become one of those other states
Where folks vanish without a trace

(chorus)
You don’t need to see the evidence
Or learn who turned you in
Interrogation methods
Set by Presidential whim
So forget habeus corpus
The Constitution too
If you’re called “enemy combatant”
Your rights are gone – you’re through

The steps along this process
and the use of fear this way
to keep some seats in Congress
on the next election day

Are aftershocks remaining
From another…
Bright September day

Oh, sorry, very OT, but I have to share the apparent desperation of the opposition party.

They just called, got my spouse who was home for lunch (I was out shuttling the teenager to and fro), asked for moi. Some Republican group whose name my spouse did not catch asked him to relay to me that they were inviting me to a dinner with the president and to participate in some advisory council.

Being the smart*ss that he is, he said he was tempted to ask them if they were serving spotted owl for dinner. But he restrained himself, told them to try calling back when I’m home. (I think he just made up for his being a winger one evening with me, taking the time to capture as much info as he did.)

Too funny. I’m sure they’re looking for money, and they must be absolutely desperate if they are calling to talk with me, a local Democratic Party official.

I fully intend to keep the pressure on my party. Fact of the matter is. I’m going to intensify.

I see that Dodd is a co-sponsor, but does anyone know how the Specter bill compares to the one Dodd came up with in Novemeber (S.4060)
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3661

I spent some time with that bill and it does the best job of anything I have seen. But I can tell you right now that a bill that primarily attempts to just “add back” certain habeas rights doesn’t fix the MCA in any workable fashion. I’d love to see habeas restored, but there has been a lot of havoc caused by piecemeal legislative and exec order approaches (a whole series of gap filler Exec orders and the DTA problems and the MCA problems NEED a COLLECTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE approach)

Sure I am for restoration of habeas, but I would hate to see efforts focused on a piecemeal approach at the expense of a comprehensive response. Here’s hoping the Specter Bill does what the Dodd bill did or at least can work with the Dodd bill.

As usual, called Grassley’s office and mentioned Specter and S.185 and they said he had not yet taken a position. Ratfink. If he thinks this constituent is through with him he hasn’t dealt with a Firepup. I will write him as I did on his absence for the Comey hearing.
This man is not untouchable for angry Iowans when he comes up again.

AZ Matt @ 100

Now, finding out chickens are your nearest living relatives was bad enough but this will be tough for our young man.

Terrible T. Rex Was a Slowpoke LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com

T. rex was no slacker. But the popular image of a nimble predator turning on a dime and chasing down prey with lightning speed is fiction, new computer models show. The terrifying tyrannosaur was actually a slowpoke.

…

Trex Slowpoke

25 miles an hour isn’t too shabby, however. Maybe the Creationism museum in Cincinnati can do a diorama of Trex chasing down the slow footed humans that shared the planet with them.

And what are the Demo front runners doing today? Raising money perhaps?

Hugh @ 88

… anent? Wow, I haven’t seen that word in a decade. Is it still used in the Northeast? And thanks BTW for keeping it alive.

:) Yah, it is used oftenly-ish in several worldwide English-speaking web communities and listservs I have frequented over the years… But I wouldn’t hazard its use in actual f2f conversation with anyone other than another geek, here in the USA’s northeast or anywheres.

Anent its own definition: click here for a link to dictionary.com … and tnx for the fun, Hugh @ 88.

Hey, AZ … you just can’t believe everything science tells us: after all, TRex *may* be a creationist …

Many Thanks, selise & Hugh for the congressional info: MCA sponsored by McConnell, Frist, and Warner. Indeed. I have taken to blaming Spector as a matter of routine. He’s always mouthing off and *nothing* comes of it. Kabooki Arteest.

Mary at 110 — They are doing mark-up on the bill tomorrow — but I know there has been discussion on including a lot of Dodd’s language. I just don’t know at this point how much of it has been included in the negotiations. Am hoping to see a more final version of the bill at some point today, but it has not yet hit my in-box.

Here it comes- withdrawal Clusterfuckk style:

WASHINGTON — Several Republican senators Tuesday called for President Bush to implement a new war strategy based on recommendations by the Iraq Study Group, which advocated winding down the U.S. combat mission.

“The president needs bipartisan support if the United States is to sustain a long-term position in Iraq,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

The message that must be sent to the president is, “Let’s see if we can agree on an entire approach so you can have the kind of support you need,” he said.

Alexander and Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., introduced legislation that would make most of the study group’s 79 recommendations official U.S. policy. At least six other senators, including three Republicans, signed on as co-sponsors.

Bluetoe at 112 — When CNN did their report on the museum, they had footage of a display that included a velociraptor caring for its nested babies alongside a human being, co-existing in peaceful harmony. Because, as we all know, that was SO likely given the velociraptor’s flesh-eating tendencies and all…oh…wait…

goopers tryin to throw out the bathwater an save their babies- oil and military bases-

“I’ll trade ya a partial withdrawal schedule for permanent bases- then I’ll swap for oil contracts with the Iraqis”.

spurious @ 106

itwasntme @ 92

I didn’t mention it, but my belief is THAT HABEAS CORPUS STILL EXISTS IN LAW NO MATTER WHAT BILL HAS BEEN PASSED BY ANYBODY. Habeas corpus is part of the inalienable right endowed by my creator, can cannot be taken away in any legit way by any dictator.

And the Constitution, whatever the crime family currently in power may say or do.

Well, except that it was. It’s important to remember the history of this thing. Bush set up Guantanamo and his joke tribunals. The Supreme Court in Hamdan brought these into question but did not eliminate them. Rather SCOTUS said that Bush could not do this on his own and had to go to Congress for their input. This was, in fact, done last September as one of the last acts of the pre-election Republican rubberstamping Congress. The result was the MCA. Critics promised to challenge the MCA and bring it again before SCOTUS. But given that the MCA represented the Congressional remedy SCOTUS had suggested I don’t know that any review would have succeeded. That is why the current legislative effort is so important. Bush may, of course, veto any reform of the MCA which would push such reform to after he leaves office in 2009.

Whew! I just finished calling all of the Republican Judiciary members. Said I saw Senator so and so on many of the recent hearings and that he seemed like a nice man. I did. (So, maybe that part wasn’t completely truthfull, but I thought they might listen harder.) Then I told them I thought that the HC issue is one of the cornerstones of our constitution and that it distinguishes our form of government above others. Talked to someone from every office except Hatch and Graham.
I was a real stinker when I left the message for Hatch. I said I believed that Jesus told us to love our enemies because he knew that that’s the only way we can truly take care of each other. I did.
Hope my little voice makes a difference.
I also called Leahy, Kennedy, Biden, Whitehouse to thank them and then Boxer for the future.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 118

Bluetoe at 112 — When CNN did their report on the museum, they had footage of a display that included a velociraptor caring for its nested babies alongside a human being, co-existing in peaceful harmony. Because, as we all know, that was SO likely given the velociraptor’s flesh-eating tendencies and all…oh…wait…

God, She works in strange ways.

Thanks Christy. I’m sure that Leahy has a handle on how he wants to approach things and he probably wants hearings, etc. on some aspects, but I’d love to see something comprehensive like Dodd’s bill. But I’ll hang in for what we can get. Dodd’s bill sold me on him being someone who sees the big picture.

WRT the Turks going after the Kurds, who didn’t see that coming?
They have been chomping at the bit since the day we went in.
Now that Clusterfuck has lived up to his nickname (H/T RW Cole, I believe) and our troops are bogged down and scattered from hell to breakfast, The Turks surely feel that they can finally do something and not have to worry about us doing much militarily to stop them.
This has been another episode of completely predictable shit happening because of GW Bush.

AZ Matt @ 122

Christy Hardin Smith @ 118

Bluetoe at 112 — When CNN did their report on the museum, they had footage of a display that included a velociraptor caring for its nested babies alongside a human being, co-existing in peaceful harmony. Because, as we all know, that was SO likely given the velociraptor’s flesh-eating tendencies and all…oh…wait…

God, She works in strange ways.

She sure does...

Polticians are little more than salesmen and saleswomen these days. Invest in me and I’ll see you get a healthy return. Disgusting.

twolf1 at 123 — HAHAHAHA That’s it! Look at those happy velociraptors, playing tag with the cheery human. Aren’t they just adorable? (Why yes, I am feeling a bit snarky today. Why do you ask?)

Mary @ 109

I see that Dodd is a co-sponsor, but does anyone know how the Specter bill compares to the one Dodd came up with in Novemeber (S.4060)
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3661

I spent some time with that bill and it does the best job of anything I have seen. But I can tell you right now that a bill that primarily attempts to just “add back” certain habeas rights doesn’t fix the MCA in any workable fashion. I’d love to see habeas restored, but there has been a lot of havoc caused by piecemeal legislative and exec order approaches (a whole series of gap filler Exec orders and the DTA problems and the MCA problems NEED a COLLECTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE approach)

Sure I am for restoration of habeas, but I would hate to see efforts focused on a piecemeal approach at the expense of a comprehensive response. Here’s hoping the Specter Bill does what the Dodd bill did or at least can work with the Dodd bill.

mary – thanks so much for this info… i haven’t read dodd’s proposal… but from what you write here and from looking at the text of s. 185 it does look like there is a potential problem. maybe i should be calling to ask that dodd’s bill be incorporated into spector’s bill? would love to have more advise from you, christy and other knowledgable firepups…

do you have a link to the text of dodd’s bill? here’s spector’s:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007′.
SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF HABEAS CORPUS FOR THOSE DETAINED BY THE UNITED STATES.

(a) In General- Section 2241 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (e).
(b) Title 10- Section 950j of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
`(b) Limited Review of Military Commission Procedures and Actions- Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or in section 2241 of title 28 or any other habeas corpus provision, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider any claim or cause of action whatsoever, including any action pending on or filed after the date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, relating to the prosecution, trial, or judgment of a military commission under this chapter, including challenges to the lawfulness of procedures of military commissions under this chapter.’.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICABILITY.

The amendments made by this Act shall–
(1) take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) apply to any case that is pending on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 127

twolf1 at 123 — HAHAHAHA That’s it! Look at those happy velociraptors, playing tag with the cheery human. Aren’t they just adorable? (Why yes, I am feeling a bit snarky today. Why do you ask?)

After yesterday’s 2-fer it is time for snark. Actually with Bradley it was impossible not to be snarky. Such a voice!

The thing that would help Democracy the most by far, is public financing of elections. This is not a difficult concept.

AZ Matt at 129 — Kind of had that Keebler elf timbre to it, didn’t it? *g*

In light of fund raising, there is NO light shining between my party and the other guys. Perhaps this is the bottom line.

Up tomorrow -

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on “Prevention of Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation in Federal Elections: S. 453″ for Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

Senator Cardin will preside.

Of course most of the Democrats don’t want public financing of elections any more than the Republicans. Sickening. Isn’t it!

Called Senators Durbin and Obama. They’re both co-sponsors.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 131

AZ Matt at 129 — Kind of had that Keebler elf timbre to it, didn’t it? *g*

I would love to throw him to a Trex to dispose of.

Of course my party (Dems) is too stupid to understand that if we had public financing, they’d win.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 16

Another day in the life and legend of George W. Bush:

AP – President Bush on Wednesday discounted Vladimir Putin’s threat to retarget missiles on Europe, saying “Russia’s not going to attack Europe.”

This man Bush is a lunatic. He’ll be burnin’ down the planet, if we’re not careful.
Leahy and the rest. Better get your stuff together!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=

With the recent tests, Putin wants POTUS to know that Russia has intercontinental MIRV missles that can penetrate North American continental ABM defenses so that POTUS will not nuke Iran. (Russia kinda has this soft spot for Iran.) At least that’s been my take on it. I just hope that someone has made it very clear to POTUS that he has managed to get a very large, Cold-War-style gun swung around to point directly at the U.S. I also hope that the realization has dampened his (and VPOTUS’s in particular) enthusiasm for attacking Iran.

Gee, do you think Dobson and the rest use this issue as their favrite cash cow?

Activists accuse anti-abortion groups of ‘money-grubbing’

RAW STORY
Published: Wednesday June 6, 2007

According to a report in Wednesday’s LA Times, some of the major anti-abortion groups are feeling heat from their own supporters.

“Some of the biggest groups in the movement, including Focus on the Family and National Right to Life, are under attack from fellow activists who accuse them of turning a godly cause into a money-grubbing industry,” Stephanie Simon writes for the LA Times.

The article continues, “Those groups have raised tens of millions of dollars and trumpeted victory after incremental victory in the 34 years since Roe vs. Wade legalized abortions. But about 1 in every 5 pregnancies in the U.S. still ends in abortion. Deeply frustrated, several small antiabortion groups have launched a campaign to force their movement back to an absolutist position: No more compromises, no more half-steps, just an all-out effort for an all-out ban.”

…

LINK

Oklahoma kiddo @ 137

Of course my party (Dems) is too stupid to understand that if we had public financing, they’d win.

Yabbut then they wouldn’t get all those fancy perks from donors past and future… They complain all the damn time about how they have to spend their time foraging for donations, so give your time back to yourselves, I say. Do some real debating fercripesakes! All those millions go to 30-second TV ads anyhow, which are repeated ad nauseum. Limit them too; make the networks donate broadcasting on OUR spectrum; less of it to be sure, but enough.

But not in my lifetime, I fear… Too reasonable for both (D) and (R) to stomach.

AZ Matt at 136 — Well, I’m not certain you want to talk about anyone “disposing” of any particular public official. (Not a good idea, if you know what I mean.) But I can tell you that our TRex has much better taste than to ever try to pick up Bradley. *g*

rwcole @ 117

Here it comes- withdrawal Clusterfuckk style:

WASHINGTON — Several Republican senators Tuesday called for President Bush to implement a new war strategy based on recommendations by the Iraq Study Group, which advocated winding down the U.S. combat mission.

Yes, this is stupid beyond words. It is another example of dredging up something secure in the knowledge that nobody remembers it or more likely read it in the first place.

The ISG report not only had many recommendations but stated the imperative for them to be accepted collectively and not selected piecemeal.

It stressed the need to act on its recommendations quickly. Bush’s surge, changing conditions in Iraq, and the delay in time have already rendered the ISG report obsolete.

It should also be noted that the Iraqi government has not acted on fewer, more general benchmarks. It is unlikely they would be inclined to do so on the smorgasbord of proposals in the ISG report.

The ISG report was fundamentally flawed in that it pointedly refused to acknowledge that Iraq was in civil war. So many of its proposals simply missed the point. Many others were caught in the Catch-22 of needing a secure environment to be realized but also being pre-conditions for establishing that secure environment.

The only aspect of the ISG that has relevance today is its assertion that the US commitment to Iraq was not open ended. It was this that some of us at the time pointed to as a figleaf for withdrawal. Bush, however, ignored this and went for his surge. In doing so, that figleaf disappeared. Republicans may try to resurrect it but the fact of the matter is that the ISG report is about as dead as dead gets.

behindthefall @138 – I don’t think anything could dampen the lure of attacking Iran, and an added benefit of reconstituting the Cold War is that the military has a reason to continue purchasing all the old weapons systems that the end of the Cold War made obsolete.

Politicians like Hillary, Obama and the rest seeking the prez nod need not hang out a sign saying ‘gone fishing’. Gone pandering would be far more accurate.

“Retail politics” has got to go.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 141

AZ Matt at 136 — Well, I’m not certain you want to talk about anyone “disposing” of any particular public official. (Not a good idea, if you know what I mean.) But I can tell you that our TRex has much better taste than to ever try to pick up Bradley. *g*

I was thinking of the scene in Jurassic Park where the lawyer hiding in the outhouse becomes a tasty morsel for a big dinosaur.

It was nice to be able to thank my Senator, DiFi, for being out front on something good. Mostly I have to hammer her on stuff.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 141

AZ Matt at 136 — Well, I’m not certain you want to talk about anyone “disposing” of any particular public official. (Not a good idea, if you know what I mean.) But I can tell you that our TRex has much better taste than to ever try to pick up Bradley. *g*

Here’s a local politician, under indictment by the FBI for taking bribes, who has been worried for some time about being “disposed of” – GOP State Representative, Vic Kohring:

Q. You have mentioned that you were concerned about your personal safety. What has happened that makes you feel unsafe?

A. I have received numerous threats over the years, both politically and dealing with my personal safety, from people who’ve disagreed with me on issues or don’t like me for some reason. I’ve attempted to be honest and straightforward, as opposed to saying what I think is politically popular. When a person does that, they sometimes become a target as I have.

During one campaign, while waving at cars along the Glenn Highway, someone fired a gun — which sounded like a .22; I know my guns, so I recognized what it was — from a passing car. The next week, it happened again. Fortunately, I was not hit in either incident. I wore a bulletproof vest to protect me. I also carried a 9mm pistol for protection, using my concealed-carry permit. There were times during my early years in Juneau when I also received threats, so I wore the same flak jacket on the House floor, despite its bulkiness. It made me look fat and was hot and uncomfortable. I did not carry a gun in the Capitol building.

fortunately, the voters will get a chance to “dispose of” him in 2008, if he doesn’t step down by then…

GSD @ 94

Introducing the smokeless Klan rally.

-GSD

smokeless klan rally - 707 !!!

I am nevvuh eating lunch and reading FDL again … now I have to go and clean up my Mac.

Thanks GSD !!! *g*

I got through to my Senators. Suggested that if Senator Brownback wants to be president, he should support habeas corpus rights.

Staff person who tracks legislative positions was out of Senator Roberts office. I urged him to become a sponsor of S.185 as a first step toward redemption for his actions on the intelligence committee.

Good for Pelosi!

Pelosi scuttles warming challenge
Dems’ plan would have blocked state’s greenhouse limits
Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

(06-06) 04:00 PDT Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, responding to pressure from California officials and environmentalists, has slapped down a new proposal by top House Democrats that would have wiped out California’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases from cars and trucks.

In a brief but pointed statement Tuesday night, the San Francisco Democrat said, “Any proposal that affects California’s landmark efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or eliminates the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions will not have my support.”

Her message was a shot at two House Democrats — Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., both leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee who have been crafting new energy legislation that would have thwarted the state’s ability to set tougher-than-federal standards to cut vehicle emissions.

Her opposition means the proposal will never make it to the House floor.

…

SF Chronicle

had a nice, extended chat
with my not-so-new best buddie,
sen. leahy’s director of communications,
on habeas restoration, again, today. . .

she has marked my sentiments, and
has been very helpful with confirming
hearing dates and subpoena schedules,
over the last two months. . .

check. done.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 101

Twisted at 79 — Awww, thanks. :)

You should read the rest of Twisted Martini’s book, which Tony Robbins allegedly plagiarized … Awaken the Fucking Giant Within !!! *g*

Petrocelli @ 149

GSD @ 94

Introducing the smokeless Klan rally.

-GSD

smokeless klan rally - 707 !!!

I am nevvuh eating lunch and reading FDL again … now I have to go and clean up my Mac.

Thanks GSD !!! *g*

White hoodies for those boys!

Rayne @ 108

Oh, sorry, very OT, but I have to share the apparent desperation of the opposition party.

They just called, got my spouse who was home for lunch (I was out shuttling the teenager to and fro), asked for moi. Some Republican group whose name my spouse did not catch asked him to relay to me that they were inviting me to a dinner with the president and to participate in some advisory council.

Being the smart*ss that he is, he said he was tempted to ask them if they were serving spotted owl for dinner. But he restrained himself, told them to try calling back when I’m home. (I think he just made up for his being a winger one evening with me, taking the time to capture as much info as he did.)

Too funny. I’m sure they’re looking for money, and they must be absolutely desperate if they are calling to talk with me, a local Democratic Party official.

Please Rayne, go and meet the President … tell him what a wonderful job he’s doing upholding the Constitution, spreading democracy around the world, reducing taxes for the Americans who deserve them most and creating a legacy as the Greatest American President ever … then end by saying, “Oh, I thought it’s opposites day !”

I think I’d like “Opposites Day” better than Pirate’s Day.

AZ Matt @ 151

I e-mailed her and asked her to do something about this, since (as a resident of LA), I like having (relatively) breathable air.

(I also asked her to kick out Jefferson, since we have enough corrupt politicians already.)

They really ought to give the Secretary of State the booby prize. Gawd this woman is stupid.

notes to Cardin (2) and Mikluski. where to next, ma’m?

For a good time, call Sen Hatch’s office and remind the staffer of the persecutions of Mormans and how Habeus could even protect them! Point out that Sen Hatch might want to be even more concerned than your average bear.

ccmask @ 156

I think I’d like “Opposites Day” better than Pirate’s Day.

There’s merit in whatchoo say ccmask, but for those who like some ARRRRR and ARRRRR, http://tinyurl.com/2ydoll sez that you’ve gotta wait until September 19th, me hearty FDLers.

No surprise here, Fred Thompson likes lawbreakers. Via Raw Story:

HANNITY: All right, let me ask you about this. You said about — we had news today about Scooter Libby, 30-month prison sentence. You called it a shocking injustice. Why?

THOMPSON: Yes, well, it has been all along, for a long time. I’ve never seen a case where so many government offices, and officials, and entities fell down on the job, and helped perpetuate an injustice for their own ends. I mean, it’s tragic. And it’s below the radar screen with most people, except around here, but, you know, I’ve been a prosecutor and a defense lawyer, and I followed it closely. I didn’t know Scooter, but I called him up when I saw what was happening. And I said, “I’ll help you if you need help,” a long time before I thought about presidential politics.

But you got a situation here where they knew shortly after they started this fiasco that no crime had been committed. What they were looking at didn’t constitute a crime, because of the status of Valerie Plame. She wasn’t a covered person under the statute. Then they found out that he didn’t — Scooter Libby didn’t leak her name. Richard Armitage over at the State Department did that, but they still kept digging and digging, because the press expected the special prosecutor to come up with somebody in the Bush administration.

The Justice Department should never have appointed special counsel. They were taking criticism and heat from the press and Capitol Hill. And they had to do something, they felt like, so they caved, appointed a special counsel. And he spent a year and a half digging and digging, and he came up with a process crime allegation.

Scooter Libby was here looking at national security estimates, and working like two full-time jobs, and his doctor said, you know, working himself to exhaustion, trying to protect his country, and they found some inconsistent statements that he made, allegedly. So they put a case against him, and it was rife with inconsistent statements from the government witnesses.

HANNITY: Right.

THOMPSON: And yet they picked him out to bring the burden of this entire political witch hunt on him, this single individual, and prosecuted him. And now the judge saw fit to go way beyond what his own probation officer recommended was a suitable sentence.

HANNITY: Statutory guidelines, yes.

THOMPSON: Yes, yes, and it’s just — this sentencing is just the last…

HANNITY: I only have a second in this segment. If you were president, would you pardon him? And do you think the president would pardon him? And would you pardon him now?

THOMPSON: I would, absolutely.

HANNITY: Do you think the president should?

THOMPSON: It’s a gross injustice perpetuated in large part by this CIA, and this Justice Department, and this special counsel, who they appointed, and it ought to be rectified.

ccmask @ 156

I think I’d like “Opposites Day” better than Pirate’s Day.

… waves to ccmask …

How’s Life ? *g*

Fresh thread from Jane, up and ready for the reading. And watching. :)

Diane @ 143

behindthefall @138 – I don’t think anything could dampen the lure of attacking Iran, and an added benefit of reconstituting the Cold War is that the military has a reason to continue purchasing all the old weapons systems that the end of the Cold War made obsolete.

I hope that along with the weapons they reinstate the old philosophy that it MADe no sense for either one to attack the other (or any of their friends).

Hell of a note to find these people have trashed their own country and all the goodwill that emerged after the subsidence of the Cold War, so much so that the Cold War actually looks secure and peaceful by comparison.

As long as the lobbyists decide who our ‘leaders’ will be, not much will change. I think I’m wasting my time.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 166

As long as the lobbyists decide who our ‘leaders’ will be, not much will change. I think I’m wasting my time.

Unless we get a lobbyist as a Leader
Then we are really fscked

nolo @ 152

had a nice, extended chat
with my not-so-new best buddie,
sen. leahy’s director of communications,
on habeas restoration, again, today. . .

she has marked my sentiments, and
has been very helpful with confirming
hearing dates and subpoena schedules,
over the last two months. . .

check. done.

she is great, isnt she? she even answers her own phone!

My NJ Senator Lautenberg is one of the co-sponsors. Right on!

I sure hope there is a legitimate government installed there soon, time is burning, folks are dying, treasure is waisting.

I refuse to allow any substantive change in either Constitution, Bill of Rights, Treaties, or traditional law central to my citizenship without a secret ballot referendum in which I have taken part. I refuse to acknowledge a government that does otherwise as legitimate and shall work towards that government’s political termination.

Hugh @ 30

You know one of the cosponsors is Sherrod Brown. He got kicked out of BlueAmerica when he voted for the MCA last September. So I wonder what has changed this time around: the man or the politics?

Sherrod Brown’s always been a good man, working hard for the people, especially those who often get kicked to the curb by the rest of the world.

I suspect the previous bill was so humungous, he gritted his teeth & voted for it, knowing he’d quickly jump on the 1st available opportunity to restore Habeas Corpus & probably a bunch-a other things…

Just a gut feeling. I don’t know all the details, and I’ve never met the man. I have been a constituent of his for a number of years.

I do know I trust him to be a stand-up guy. That trust is based on watching what he has done in public service for many years.
My basic standard for all politicians has always been, “pretty is as pretty does.” (e.g., regardless of what they promise at election time)

Happily, Brown not only has earned a glowing record, but he happens to be very energetic, well-informed, and articulate.

I truly expect he could well earn your respect over time. Just watch what he does.
I’m not worried about what you’ll see, and I don’t say that carelessly. I’m basing my confidence on evidence from his performance, fwiw.
In my book, he’s been not only good, but consistent, and trust-WORTHY, over a long career. ;->

Oklahoma kiddo @ 158

They really ought to give the Secretary of State the booby prize. Gawd this woman is stupid.

y’know, rats are absolutely terrible swimmers, compared to squid.

i’d fail miserably against a rat finding my way thru a maze.

stoopid or dumb, whoever’s been in charge of casting in this Grade Z admin. flick, they earned the booby prize, eh?

that being said, whut in gawdess’ name was she thinking when she took that job, egad!?!
ego is a dangerous thing…

say, just what is it provosts do? hmmm.

TiredFed @ 168

nolo @ 152

had a nice, extended chat
with my not-so-new best buddie,
sen. leahy’s director of communications,
on habeas restoration, again, today. . .

she has marked my sentiments, and
has been very helpful with confirming
hearing dates and subpoena schedules,
over the last two months. . .

check. done.

she is great, isn’t she? she even answers her own phone!

yes! yes! — tiredfed,
she does! and that is
completely aces, in my book. . .

she treats us little tiny bloggers
just like the wa po or nyt, too. . .

i’d make some crack here about
having such easy access to the
halls of government-information,
but i don’t want to belittle what
i see as her truly excellent under-
standing of the idea that the senator’s
staff is there to serve the public. . .

now, the cardin-chaired hearing (in leahy’s
committee-room) should be top-shelf, to-
morrow afternoon — barack obama as
a follow-up to the schlozman helium-
voiced prevarications on vote supression. . .

cooool!

Selise @ 128
Here’s a link to Dodd’s bill.

http://www.govtrack.us/congres…..=s109-4060

Here’s a link to a Bob Geiger piece from a few months back that I agree with re: the bill. My ACTUAL preference – completely repeal both the DTA and MCA, but Dodd shows he understands what is involved.

I’m not thrilled about this language in Specter’s bill:

Limited Review of Military Commission Procedures and Actions- Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or in section 2241 of title 28 or any other habeas corpus provision, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider any claim or cause of action whatsoever, including any action pending on or filed after the date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, relating to the prosecution, trial, or judgment of a military commission under this chapter, including challenges to the lawfulness of procedures of military commissions under this chapter.’.

I think it is just a muddy the waters provision. It does nothing to really address the realities of the situations at GITMO and elsewhere vis a vis our detentions and provides the lower courts in particular with a lot of headscratching opportunities as to when and how they should have jurisdiction, particularly with respect to the attempt to foreclose challenge to the “lawfulness” (you could lose at least one of those “l-s” of the commissions.

Without fixing the dispositive and evidentiary provisions in the MCA and without fixing the procedual issues; and without addressing what would and should be done with respect to all non-combatant detentions (the human purchase ones, for example, wholly unrelated to a field of combat situation) and without enunciating policy for how “possible” terrorists, taken not on a field of battle an often rendered or kidnapped or purchased or pulled from their homes in foreign lands based on uncorroborated or torture based or other “tips” etc. – -

— I don’t see how the Specter bill is anything but a bandaid on the butt when someone’s just had their leg blown off at the hip. I tend to trust Leahy though (and he and Feingold are the only co-sponsors I know of so far for Dodd’s bill – something that has further bummed me out over Obama and Clinton).

Christy Hardin Smith @ 116

Mary at 110 — They are doing mark-up on the bill tomorrow — but I know there has been discussion on including a lot of Dodd’s language. I just don’t know at this point how much of it has been included in the negotiations. Am hoping to see a more final version of the bill at some point today, but it has not yet hit my in-box.

further thoughts…. i wonder if the thinking (by leahy) isn’t that restoring habeas corpus might be all that can be done now (while we still have bush as president) and that it’s important to get that fixed asap.

i wouldn’t be surprised if dodd’s bill (fixing the mca) would be vetoed by bush.

if this is how the thinking is going… i hope that dodd’s bill comes up for a vote and if it isn’t passed, that work continues to get it passed… even if not until 2009. soon better than later… but later better than never.

Mary @ 173 –

thank you, mary, that was just what i was hoping for (more analysis from you)…. but is there a missing link (bob geiger)?

the lack of co-sponsors for dodd’s bill does not indicate lots of support from democrats. sigh.

will make some calls tomorrow asking for co-sponsors for dodd’s bill (kennedy and kerry are not impossible) and clinton and obama ought to step up.

Couldn’t get through using the toll-free numbers, so I called DiFi at her San Francisco office number. The staffer who answered the phone was very pleasant but had no idea what I was talking about. Californians, get to work! The number is 415-393-0707. Go for it, guys.

Argh – sorry Selise.

http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/…..e-law.html

Why is there not even ONE Republican co-sponsor on this bill? Snowe? Collins? These are the two PROMINENT “moderate” Republicans.

Really and truly, they are just spineless followers of Republican fascism.

Mary @ 177

Argh – sorry Selise.

http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/…..e-law.html

thanks mary. just wanted you to know i saw your comment, and very much appreciate the link. it helps me a lot. dodd’s bill is complicated by the fact that it makes changes in another bill.

If their mailbox is full you’re kinda screwed.