yo

Good morning Christy!

Zed

I am sick of backroom deals that lead nowhere. Oh well, back to the phones.

Morning Christy

(((((katymine)))))

{{{{{{{{{egregious}}}}}}}}}}}}

Ok I know it is only 5 am in AZ but… just woke up and now I hear there is more of this … What did Nov 7th 2006 mean if not changing this?

And the Democrats have made a backroom deal with the WH. Shocked I tell you! Shocked. When will people learn there is no real opposition party in the U.S?

Good Morning Christy! I’m dialing!

Morning all. Watching an especially lovely Sunrise Earth this morning on the Li River in China, sipping my coffee, and trying not to be disgusted about Von Spakovsky, who is so beyond odious, I cannot believe that they would consider putting him on the FEC…and yet, please make calls today.

g’mornin christy and all firedogs, hope had good nights all

Bluetoe at 7 — And the sitting back with an “I told you so.” gets what done exactly beyond that self-satisfied feeling momentarilyfor you? I mean, honestly, what does that accomplish? We managed to flip several GOP votes on habeas last week with some very targeted pressure. I’m not about to simply lay down and take whatever I get — so you can help pressure against Von Spakovsky or get out of my way this morning — it’s been a long month of working my ass off here and behind the scenes, and I have no patience for an Eeyore or pity party attitude at the moment. Truly.

BTW Good Morning Christy…

Did we get our outrage on this morning? And did you make sure that your external outrage backup drive is functioning to prevent that common exploding head syndrome?

So will email my local progressive talk show host and get him on this. Election Integrity is BIG here in AZ. We actually have an Election Integrity caucus in our state Dem Party.

OMG - Saxby Chambliss and Trent Lott? Wow - we really do have a long row to hoe here. Dealt with my senators this morning already.

Toby Wollin @ 13

OMG - Saxby Chambliss and Trent Lott? Wow - we really do have a long row to hoe here. Dealt with my senators this morning already.

I got an automatic email response from Saxby two days after I emailed him on the Webb vote.

raven @ 14

Toby Wollin @ 13

OMG - Saxby Chambliss and Trent Lott? Wow - we really do have a long row to hoe here. Dealt with my senators this morning already.

I got an automatic email response from Saxby two days after I emailed him on the Webb vote.

special.

Bluetoe @ 7

And the Democrats have made a backroom deal with the WH. Shocked I tell you! Shocked. When will people learn there is no real opposition party in the U.S?

it’s not like christy is asking us to go get tear gassed, pepper sprayed and arrested. does it hurt to make a couple of phone calls? why not make ‘em? - it has helped in the past (even if not every time). and public pressure doesn’t work if it’s a one-off… it’s something we’ve got to keep at… until we do have a real opposition party.

history is full of examples of real change happening - because people cared enough to work for it. but if history teaches me anything, it’s that it takes time - sometimes a lot of time. persistence matters.

we definately have to get someone in there that will force fulfillment of oaths of office

we can NOT have someone who will turn a blind eye to what has been done, someone who will claim some kind of “precedence”

the crimes committed must be examined and we need a doj that will do just that

rather then confirmins someone who will say “everything is according to the law” I would rather we did NOT get a new doj and let the president have is substitute until he is out of office

we CANNOT have a crony in there who has been approved, rather a crony who was NOT approved so bad decisions can be rebuked and rescinded, making the point the “acting doj” did not have the weight of confirmation to make the decisions that might be made

Thanks, Cristy, for the heads up. I sent emails to my senators (for all the good that will do) and I can’t believe I got up early enough to comment.

Once again, thanks for all you and the others do at the lake.

Marilyn in San Antonio
(P.S. Cash my check! sent in August)

Why is Harry Reid is always looking to cut backroom deals…he did that over the summer with the president on FISA when he wanted to get home for the recess and we all know how that turned out. Now he seems to be cooking up another one. But more importantly it also gives the feeling that this is open season on miniorities by both parties…
Putting a man who is known for minority voter suppression in place signals that they don’t Obama for president…. HRC is their candidate. I hope that minorities take note.

Bluetoe @ 7

And the Democrats have made a backroom deal with the WH. Shocked I tell you! Shocked. When will people learn there is no real opposition party in the U.S?

check this out from think progress;

“Especially if it’s a Democrat,” the chief of staff told The Examiner in his West Wing office. “He wants to create the conditions where a Democrat not only will have the leeway, but the obligation to see it out.”

the president is doing whatever is possible to make it IMPOSSIBLE for the next president to end the war.

he said he was going to do that by the way (I forget the source of that but I certainly remember it)

he is going to create a situation where there is absolutely no choice but to stay

and what then?

cuz we have no further assets to stay, the DEMOCRAT will have to impose the draft

and then WE look like the bad guys and WE aquire all the vile hatred that THIS president accumulated

I’ll tell you what, if it wasn’t bush working this scenario I would say the man doing it is one evil genious

we know bush is no intellect but he certainly is evil

ugh. this is like olson as attorney general. you’d hope the dems would practice self-survival in this case.
not to mention a sniff test.

selise @ 16

Bluetoe @ 7

And the Democrats have made a backroom deal with the WH. Shocked I tell you! Shocked. When will people learn there is no real opposition party in the U.S?

it’s not like christy is asking us to go get tear gassed, pepper sprayed and arrested. does it hurt to make a couple of phone calls? why not make ‘em? - it has helped in the past (even if not every time). and public pressure doesn’t work if it’s a one-off… it’s something we’ve got to keep at… until we do have a real opposition party.

history is full of examples of real change happening - because people cared enough to work for it. but if history teaches me anything, it’s that it takes time - sometimes a lot of time. persistence matters.

I take the position now that these guys (name your congresscritter of choice)are really sort of hoping that we all go back to sleep so that they can keep doing their cozy little business down there in DC and NOT have to deal with all of us “Jiminy Crickets” out here. And I feel that we need to turn ourselves into Argos, the beast with 1000 eyes, who never, ever sleeps.

dmg @ 21

ugh. this is like olson as attorney general. you’d hope the dems would practice self-survival in this case.
not to mention a sniff test.

you know, this might be part of the deal in which abu torture resigned in the first place

shame if it is

I left a message for Saxby C. — said if he votes for Von Spakovskyn then I’d donate (more) to moveon.org.

Thanks for posting numbers.

other stuff happening today:

1) the dangerous kyl/lieberman amendment may be voted on today.

2) DNI mcconnell testifies before the SJC at 9:30 am today on “Strengthening FISA: Does the Protect America Act Protect Americans’ Civil Liberties and Enhance Security?” scheduled to be shown on c-span3

drewski @ 24

I left a message for Saxby C. — said if he votes for Von Spakovskyn then I’d donate (more) to moveon.org.

Thanks for posting numbers.

this is one of the few cases where calling the democrats is more imporatant then calling the republicans

in most of our cases we have democrats voting what is correct and we need to swing some republicans to overcome veto

in this case we need to get the majorty, which means we can’t have democrats jumping to bail bush out

selise at 25 — I made several calls yesterday trying to ascertain if the Kyl/Lieberman amendment was coming up for a vote or not. And not one staffer with whom I spoke had a clue as to when it would or would not hit the floor for a vote. Some days, it’s just one, huge cat herding bonanza. SIGH Wish I had an answer on the whens on that one…if anyone has heard something specific, I’d love to know what you’ve heard…

Christy,

I answered your call and called Chris Dodd’s office.

Talked with a pleasant young man.

Thanks for the direct telephone number.

Made it easy.

And if everyone could please be certain to call Reid’s office on this one, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks!

(rubbin’ very sleepy eyes after a night of insomnia) - coffee’s almost ready but you’ll have to get it yourself…

what’s this guy being nominated for? I’ll call Diane on the way to work.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 29

And if everyone could please be certain to call Reid’s office on this one, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks!

might put that request up top christy, so everyone can see it, some of us skim the comments and miss bunches

perris at 31 — Done. :)

A little OT, regarding last regarding recent phone calls.

I got two letters from Joe Donnelly yesterday. And getting them on the same day really soured me on my congressman.

The two letters basically explained why he supports illegal spying by our government and why he opposed health care for children.

I’m not being a Eyore or anything, it just demonstrates how much work we progressives in this area have ahead of us.

The local Republican Party has monthly meetings with guest speakers and the public is invited to attend.

The local Democratic Party only meets sporadically, if at all, and has virtually no visibility in the public eye except for the few weeks surrounding each election.

I think our Blue Dog rep is a result of the fact that there is so much pressure from the right, and a virtual vacuum on the left.

We have GOT to strengthen the progressive movement in this area!

I have my cynical days when I don’t genuinely believe this, but I think it really is true that even bad politicians will do the right thing if they get enough pressure from active constituents.

If we get the parade going in the right direction, some self-serving egomaniac will inevitably jump in front of it and claim to be leading, but as long as we’re going the right direction, who cares?

Sufi, two words:

primary challenges

I would love to hear at length from Rayne about her experience of reshaping her local Democratic party.

Toby Wollin @ 22

I take the position now that these guys (name your congresscritter of choice)are really sort of hoping that we all go back to sleep so that they can keep doing their cozy little business down there in DC and NOT have to deal with all of us “Jiminy Crickets” out here. And I feel that we need to turn ourselves into Argos, the beast with 1000 eyes, who never, ever sleeps.

amen!

Christy is taking no prisoners this morning. Thanks for your passion & persistence - together we all can make a difference. I will start my calls with Reid’s office. Thanks for the toll free #’s, those of us calling from work will be able to do so without running up our employer’s phone bill.

Sufi at 33 — I hear you. It can be really disheartening and daunting on a daily basis to look at all of this — trust me on that one, because I fight that tendency every day. But then I think about folks like John Hall, who are in there fighting for progressive values every day. Or pushing new ideas into the mix that wouldn’t even have gotten discussion time. Or the huge number of readers who e-mail me every day about activisim in their own communities. And that makes me realize that things are going to change — so long as we keep doing the work, and so long as we understand that thisis a marathon, not a sprint.

Conservatives have been working this organizational angle since the Goldwater era. It’s past time for Dems to catch up, even if we have to drag them kicking and screaming along in our wake. ;-)

Consider this FEC appointment as a critical oversight vote going into an election that they will try to steal again. It’s that important.

Need to follow attempts to divide the California electoral votes, and the shenanigans in New York State with pressure to install Repub-friendly voting machines.

Their attempt to sway the election thru phony election fraud lawsuits and bought U.S. Attorneys was thwarted by the good guys. Let’s bring down the whole scam. There’s still time.

Many of these Staff personnel seem to be dangerously uniformed or perhaps it is just an act where they pretend to be completely clueless. Perhaps they have been partying too much with the Late Night Shots, the beautiful people party scene?

egregious @ 34

Sufi, two words:

primary challenges

I would love to hear at length from Rayne about her experience of reshaping her local Democratic party.

I supported a primary challenge to him last time, and came this close to running against him myself, but instead supported the eventual primary challenger.

Of course I got behind Joe after the primaries, and got to know him a little bit as we were both campaigning at the same time in districts that had a large overlap. He’s quite a personable fellow, but it’s clear he will not vote the right way if left to his own devices. That’s why I’m desperately trying to figure out a way to strengthen the progressive movement in this area.

!Christy Hardin Smith @ 27

selise at 25 — I made several calls yesterday trying to ascertain if the Kyl/Lieberman amendment was coming up for a vote or not. And not one staffer with whom I spoke had a clue as to when it would or would not hit the floor for a vote. Some days, it’s just one, huge cat herding bonanza. SIGH Wish I had an answer on the whens on that one…if anyone has heard something specific, I’d love to know what you’ve heard…

christy - thanks so much for trying to find out what’s up with this bill. i’m just going off of info pow wow got from the congressional record last week.

yesterday both kyl and lieberman spent some time on the senate floor talking about how wonderful, necessary and bipartisan their amendment was (yuck).

i’m going to try to keep an eye/ear on the senate floor today in case the kyl/lieberman amendment comes up (although it will be a bit hard to do during the fisa hearing).

oh, I see - he’s nominated to serve on the FEC… let me get a couple sips of coffee in me and I’ll warm up my dialing finger…

and good morning, all…

more dishonest reporting from nbc/msgop on the Florida primary issues

never bother to mention this is just another Republican dirty trick but NORON cannot be bothered to mention that

Good morning all. Just wanted to remind that the House will likely vote on the renewal/expansion of State- Children’s Health Insurance Progam today — and we desperately need folks to call their House members — especially conservative/mod types and even more especially Dems who are in tobacco states, because the added costs will be covered by an added tax on cigarettes.

Bush has promised to veto that bill, and we need to push for a veto-proof majority, which means we’ll need to pick up 60 more votes or so. Everyone needs to hear from us, and Howie suggests these doubtful Dems for extra attention.

Dan Boren (OK)
Jim Cooper (TN)
Joe Donnelly (IN)
Brad Ellsworth (IN)
Baron Hill (IN)
Bob Etheridge (NC)
Mike McIntyre (NC)
Heath Shuler (NC)
Jim Marshall (GA)
Gene Taylor (MS)

The House switchboard is (202) 224-3121

Christy,

I hope you realize how much we all appreciate what you do here. You’re not only an inspiration to so many desperate progressives, but you also give us some concrete direction by providing succinct, detailed information about issues and even giving us the phone numbers so we don’t have to do the leg work ourselves.

I would love to see a discussion in the near future about building a progressive movement in areas where there isn’t one. I struggle to even come up with practical ideas.

OT, Magna Carta being auctioned. Since Habeas Corpus has been removed, guess it’s no longer an important document for folks. /s

all right, Feinstein called.

ok called reid, schumer (mine) and Byrd (asked him to step up & be senior statesperson that he is)

little hope but action is good.

THANKS to all who write here and care and who call and protest.

Called Feinstein, Reid Schumer
Feinstein doesn’t know how she is going to vote….what an IDIOT!

I added direct dial phone numbers.

Scarecrow @ 44

Good morning all. Just wanted to remind that the House will likely vote on the renewal/expansion of State- Children’s Health Insurance Progam today — and we desperately need folks to call their House members — especially conservative/mod types and even more especially Dems who are in tobacco states, because the added costs will be covered by an added tax on cigarettes.

Bush has promised to veto that bill, and we need to push for a veto-proof majority, which means we’ll need to pick up 60 more votes or so. Everyone needs to hear from us, and Howie suggests these doubtful Dems for extra attention.

Dan Boren (OK) (202) 225 2701
Jim Cooper (TN) (202) 225 4311
Joe Donnelly (IN) (202) 225 3915
Brad Ellsworth (IN) (202) 225 4636
Baron Hill (IN) (202) 225 5315
Bob Etheridge (NC) (202) 225 4531
Mike McIntyre (NC) (202) 225 2731
Heath Shuler (NC) (202) 225 6401
Jim Marshall (GA) (202) 225 6531
Gene Taylor (MS) (202) 225 5772

The House switchboard is (202) 224-3121

Harry Reids office got an earfull from me….about the move-on debacle too…….

I’ve gotten “the line is busy” frequently

must be they’re getting a lot of calls ;)

egregious @ 50

I added direct dial phone numbers.

Scarecrow @ 44

Good morning all. Just wanted to remind that the House will likely vote on the renewal/expansion of State- Children’s Health Insurance Progam today — and we desperately need folks to call their House members — especially conservative/mod types and even more especially Dems who are in tobacco states, because the added costs will be covered by an added tax on cigarettes.

Bush has promised to veto that bill, and we need to push for a veto-proof majority, which means we’ll need to pick up 60 more votes or so. Everyone needs to hear from us, and Howie suggests these doubtful Dems for extra attention.

Dan Boren (OK) (202) 225 2701
Jim Cooper (TN) (202) 225 4311
Joe Donnelly (IN) (202) 225 3915
Brad Ellsworth (IN) (202) 225 4636
Baron Hill (IN) (202) 225 5315
Bob Etheridge (NC) (202) 225 4531
Mike McIntyre (NC) (202) 225 2731
Heath Shuler (NC) (202) 225 6401
Jim Marshall (GA) (202) 225 6531
Gene Taylor (MS) (202) 225 5772

The House switchboard is (202) 224-3121

Thank you eg — you’re a treasure. btw, the Republicans needs to hear from us too. There is lots of bipartisan support, but the WH is pressuring these folks to shield Bush from an override embarrassment. This is the opening battle in health care reform.

Phone call to Feinstein followed by an email - I like a little “double dipping”.

Thanks Scarecrow. Always happy to make something good even better.

Thanks for this, Christy!

And tell ‘em to deep-six the Lieberman-Kyl “Let’s Kill Our Troops In Iraq By Pissing Off The Shiites There Through Bombing Their Co-Religionists Next Door” amendment, too:

http://www.usalone.com/no_iran_war_declaration.php

I wonder if KO has the info on von Spakovsky? some extra shiny sunshine might be a very good thing…

OldCoastie @ 57

I wonder if KO has the info on von Spakovsky? some extra shiny sunshine might be a very good thing…

Then let’s make sure by using Spotlight.

egregious @ 58

OldCoastie @ 57

I wonder if KO has the info on von Spakovsky? some extra shiny sunshine might be a very good thing…

Then let’s make sure by using Spotlight.

why! that’s an EXCELLENT suggestion, eg!

I do think somewhere in the body of the post, putting in what von Spakovsky is being nominated for might be a good idea.

FISA hearing up CSPAN 3
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs.....p;Code=CS3

As Perris, I think, pointed out, sometimes people skim the front page and miss a tidbit.
May I lift up that Christy’s last link has a sidebar email box that gives a good run down on Hans and is a great suggestion of whay we should say when, not if, we make our calls this am.
(as soon as I get back from the drive to school, I’ll be on the phone)

egregious @ 58

OldCoastie @ 57

I wonder if KO has the info on von Spakovsky? some extra shiny sunshine might be a very good thing…

Then let’s make sure by using Spotlight.

done

Why does A*P*C have to be written this way to clear filters?

JH

Some very good resources for contacting members of Congress:

www.visi.com/juan/congress has committee and subcommittee members listed along with phone, fax, and email contact info.

www.senate.gov

www.house.gov

www.congress.org has the committee members, but you have to dig one more level for phone numbers.

Called Reid & Byrd and dialing Ted Stevens now…

Leahy fires a pre-emptive shot across McConnell’s bow - don’t even think about calling us ’soft’ or that we don’t care…

Scarecrow @ 53

egregious @ 50

I added direct dial phone numbers.

Thank you eg — you’re a treasure. btw, the Republicans needs to hear from us too. There is lots of bipartisan support, but the WH is pressuring these folks to shield Bush from an override embarrassment. This is the opening battle in health care reform.

I’m very naughty this morning - I emailed Mike Arcuri - who I know will support SCHIP - but I also a) encouraged him to talk to his colleagues all over because I knew that there is this pressure to protect Bush against an override and b) I gave him ammunition for the argument (the $5 worth of antibiotics will prevent the Strep Throat which can cause Rhumatic Fever which can necessitate valve replacements and defibulator installs later). Heh. Makes me feel good to arm him.

dakine01 @ 46

OT, Magna Carta being auctioned. Since Habeas Corpus has been removed, guess it’s no longer an important document for folks. /s

You don’t suppose the foundation that owns it became offended to have it on display next to the shredded constitution, do you? It’s kind of like selling your house when the neighbors refuse to paint their peeling house, start to park their cars on blocks in the front lawn, and let their critters dig up your garden.

Peterr @ 68

dakine01 @ 46

OT, Magna Carta being auctioned. Since Habeas Corpus has been removed, guess it’s no longer an important document for folks. /s

You don’t suppose the foundation that owns it became offended to have it on display next to the shredded constitution, do you? It’s kind of like selling your house when the neighbors refuse to paint their peeling house, start to park their cars on blocks in the front lawn, and let their critters dig up your garden.

damaged goods. It’s got a big hole in it where Habeas Corpus used to be…

Sorry for the OT, but I wanted to make Christy and LHP be aware of what the DoJ Civil Division is doing in my state. [Mod: Illinois]

http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/16912.asp

dakine01 @ 46

OT, Magna Carta being auctioned. Since Habeas Corpus has been removed, guess it’s no longer an important document for American folks. /s

I edited your comment dakine01….sorry for taking the liberty but the rest of the civilized world still has Habeas Corpus

Peterr @ 68

dakine01 @ 46

OT, Magna Carta being auctioned. Since Habeas Corpus has been removed, guess it’s no longer an important document for folks. /s

You don’t suppose the foundation that owns it became offended to have it on display next to the shredded constitution, do you? It’s kind of like selling your house when the neighbors refuse to paint their peeling house, start to park their cars on blocks in the front lawn, and let their critters dig up your garden.

It’s Ross Perot’s foundation — think what you will of that one.

musicsleuth @ 72

Peterr @ 68

You don’t suppose the foundation that owns it became offended to have it on display next to the shredded constitution, do you? It’s kind of like selling your house when the neighbors refuse to paint their peeling house, start to park their cars on blocks in the front lawn, and let their critters dig up your garden.

It’s Ross Perot’s foundation — think what you will of that one.

Yeah, that is a head-scratcher. No idea from the article how hands-on he is with the foundation.

National Geographic Live webcam

McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, Alaska

–Bears, oh my!

Called Reid, Feinstein and Byrd.

jayt @ 69

Peterr @ 68

You don’t suppose the foundation that owns it became offended to have it on display next to the shredded constitution, do you? It’s kind of like selling your house when the neighbors refuse to paint their peeling house, start to park their cars on blocks in the front lawn, and let their critters dig up your garden.

damaged goods. It’s got a big hole in it where Habeas Corpus used to be…

maybe it’s politically motivated!

create a great fuss over the Magna Carta and some more people become enlightened about our Habeas!

well, I can dream can’t I?

Stop Lieberman From SNEAKING An Iran War Declaration Through The Senate

“Our nation’s major banks and credit unions are making unsolicited, high-cost loans to their checking account holders when their account balance dips below zero, generating enormous fees for the banks…Financial institutions never have to reveal that customers pay triple- and quadruple-digit interest rates. They make overdraft loans without customers’ consent,…The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that Americans now pay $17.5 billion per year in fees for abusive overdraft loans, more than the $15.8 billion total paid out in loans.”
Support HR 946
On Tuesday, September 25, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee will vote on moving House Resolution 946, the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act, to the full House.
http://www.responsiblelending......D=28012754
http://www.motherjones.com/moj....._want.html

House Financial Services Committee members list(Chariman Barney Franks) :
http://financialservices.house.gov/who.html

Christy has a new thread on children’s health:

Please Lend A Hand For Kids In Need

GulfCoastPirate — because we have a problem with a few neo-nazi racist thugs who use rotating IPs to try and slip crap into the threads. And they use that particular name (among others) as a substitute to get past prior racist language. We can’t monitor them all by IP, so we had to start using phrases that they were using instead that were common among the posts. The mods try to clear non-troll-type comments out within minutes — but it was a necessary precaution to keep the truly digusting and odious filth that we were having to then pull back from public from hitting the threads — and I do mean odious. Blergh.

RockPaperScizzors @ 78

“Our nation’s major banks and credit unions are making unsolicited, high-cost loans to their checking account holders when their account balance dips below zero, generating enormous fees for the banks…Financial institutions never have to reveal that customers pay triple- and quadruple-digit interest rates. They make overdraft loans without customers’ consent,…The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that Americans now pay $17.5 billion per year in fees for abusive overdraft loans, more than the $15.8 billion total paid out in loans.”
Support HR 946
On Tuesday, September 25, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee will vote on moving House Resolution 946, the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act, to the full House.
http://www.responsiblelending......D=28012754
http://www.motherjones.com/moj....._want.html

House Financial Services Committee members list(Chariman Barney Franks) :
http://financialservices.house.gov/who.html

RPS
Thanks so much for this. The less fortunate are being grotesquely abused every day by these heartless loan sharking mobsters financial institutions.

Elliott @ 60

FISA hearing up CSPAN 3
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs.....p;Code=CS3

i’m listening and recording audio… *g*

sounds pretty good so far.

Stop Lieberman From SNEAKING An Iran War Declaration Through The Senate

(forgive if this is a repeat. My first one did not seem to go through)

sunny at 83 — The earlier comment is there — try doing a page refresh.

HOLY CROW!

freidman is out of freidmans!!! (think progress)

No more ‘Friedmans’ for Friedman. In May 2006, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) released a study demonstrating how New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman continually “boiled down the intricacies of the Iraq situation into a make-or-break deadline” lasting “six months.” Atrios soon adopted the “Friedman Unit” to describe perpetual “six monthers.” But on The Colbert Report last night, Friedman himself refused to call for another Friedman, saying “I’m afraid we’ve run out of six months. It’s really time to set a deadline.”

I am willing to BET that the only reason he is out of freidman units is because we embarrassed him by calling them freidman units

Fresh thread for everyone, btw — more calls, another issue. Thanks so much for everyone who is making calls today — it is VERY MUCH appreciated.

Just called my senator Dick Durbin’s office. After about 30 seconds of unanswered rings, a recorded message said they are experiencing a high volume of calls, please try again.

I would’ve been content to leave a message, but that wasn’t an option. I’ll try again later.

Thanks for this heads-up!!

Called Sen. Byrd’s office and had a great discussion with a staffer about how truly odious Mr. Von Spakovsky is.

Toby Wollin @ 22

selise @ 16

it’s not like christy is asking us to go get tear gassed, pepper sprayed and arrested. does it hurt to make a couple of phone calls? why not make ‘em? - it has helped in the past (even if not every time). and public pressure doesn’t work if it’s a one-off… it’s something we’ve got to keep at… until we do have a real opposition party.

history is full of examples of real change happening - because people cared enough to work for it. but if history teaches me anything, it’s that it takes time - sometimes a lot of time. persistence matters.

I take the position now that these guys (name your congresscritter of choice)are really sort of hoping that we all go back to sleep so that they can keep doing their cozy little business down there in DC and NOT have to deal with all of us “Jiminy Crickets” out here. And I feel that we need to turn ourselves into Argos, the beast with 1000 eyes, who never, ever sleeps.

It’s great to have 1000 eyes, but that only enables you to see a lot. You need a stinger! Anyone know where to get the juice to deal with Schumer and Reid? Anyone got any idea what their rationale for such a move as they’re reportedly about to make is? I’d sure like to understand, if the quid is Von Spakovsky, what is the pro quo? How is it a good deal? What is it worth to the two Senators, to the Democrats in general, to any particular candidate?

test

Ann in AZ, if you check the DailyKos diary referenced above (granted, one of about a dozen links; I’m not trying to ding you for not reading ‘em all), you’ll see a link to a Roll Call story saying that in return for Hans von Spakovsky getting onto the FEC, Schumer gets *his* person onto the FEC as well.

If I were convinced that she would be as strong and effective of a force for good as *he* (von Spakovsky) is for evil, I’d be tempted to let it go, but that’s damn near impossible…

sunny — Your posts are there — do a complete page refresh from your browser, and don’t just hit the refresh button on Wordpress. What browser are you using, btw? If it is opera, some folks have had interface problems between it and WordPress, just FYI.

Well, now my blood pressure is up. I put up the FISA hearing on CSpan3, and I can’t believe I just heard McConnell tell Cardin that he thinks they should get together and say, “What do you think that means?” and “What do these 20 lawyers I have working for me think that means?” Does the SOB know that he’s talking to a lawyer, and the rest of the Congress also includes a whole lot of lawyers. I dare say, the Congress contains more than twenty lawyers. McConnell, arrogant, condescending jerk!

Chris @ 91

Ann in AZ, if you check the DailyKos diary referenced above (granted, one of about a dozen links; I’m not trying to ding you for not reading ‘em all), you’ll see a link to a Roll Call story saying that in return for Hans von Spakovsky getting onto the FEC, Schumer gets *his* person onto the FEC as well.

If I were convinced that she would be as strong and effective of a force for good as *he* (von Spakovsky) is for evil, I’d be tempted to let it go, but that’s damn near impossible…

Yeah, I saw that reference to getting one of Schumer’s people, but I can’t believe that’s all they get. Although, I have been known to criticize Congress’ attorneys for not being very good negotiators, surely they at least know a bad deal when they see it!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 92

sunny — Your posts are there — do a complete page refresh from your browser, and don’t just hit the refresh button on Wordpress. What browser are you using, btw? If it is opera, some folks have had interface problems between it and WordPress, just FYI.

I don’t know what happened. (I’m in IE 6)I see them now, but before, I could not see any comments past 73. Weird!

Well I just called my Senator (Murray) and urged her to vote no. Hope I got there before the actual vote took place (being on the west coast and all).

christy - sorry to be so late with the phone calls. but was able to make some this afternoon, but not the whole list yet, alas. one piece of hopeful news is that i was told senator reid has been getting lots of calls. thanks again for the heads up that our calls were needed.

I met Blonde aka Deborah Harry backstage at CBGB’s in NYC in 78′ and she kissed me on the lips! Chris Stein (The drummer) got poed..

I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life!

my letter to my idiot senator (pryor):

Spakovsky is so obviously unacceptable I can’t believe I am concerned about this - but some of your previous votes (condemning free speech comes to mind) have me worried enough to contact you.

I’m taking the time to ask you to do the right thing. Please - it doesn’t even take courage anymore. The political winds have shifted but I think that you and many other Democrats are too ensconced in the bunkers you’ve hid in since 2001 to feel it. It is past time to emerge. There is everything to lose.

I’m not someone who seeks out political fights or enjoys gotcha politics - I just try to stay informed - and because the corruption and incompetence of the Republican party is so overwhelming - I am writing my Senator for the first time.

Demanding accountability, integrity, competence, and good sense is not partisan politics.

Regards,