me!

I’d switch. I’m leaning that way already, a nudge like this could do it.

me

This is not just Chris Dodd’s responsibility–it is also the responsibility of Senators Clinton, Obama, and Biden to step up to the plate and take a clear stand for the Constitution and the rule of law.

Jay @ 3

This is not just Chris Dodd’s responsibility–it is also the responsibility of Senators Clinton, Obama, and Biden to step up to the plate and take a clear stand for the Constitution and the rule of law.

You would think they would be fighting over who gets to place the hold first!

I would be willing to consider Dodd for Senate if he would be willing to stand up for the Constitution.

President requires passage of a higher standard of leadership and representation, though.

Me. I find it incomprehensible that none of the other candidates have spoken out on this. I am an Edwards supporter, but if Dodd spoke up and did this, I would switch.

Jay @ 3

This is not just Chris Dodd’s responsibility–it is also the responsibility of Senators Clinton, Obama, and Biden to step up to the plate and take a clear stand for the Constitution and the rule of law.

Amen!

Hey, Hillary! Want to get the Progs off of your butt? Put a hold on this sucker, NOW.

I am currently uncommitted. I am waiting desperately for one of these friggin’ candidates to show some authenticity (besides Kucinich) and spine.

I would support Chris Dodd, or anyone for that matter, who put the letter of the law, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the will of the American people before their poll numbers.

If a Democrat showed some spine I would volunteer for his campaign. As for now, meh.

Just curious — how many of you would switch your vote to Dodd if he did something stand-up like this, and said “no more” the administration’s slavish, corporatist lawlessness?

Okay. You’re on.

I’ve been wondering what the laws are regarding removing Senators and Representatives from office for dereliction of duty and failure to defend the Constitution and obey their oaths of allegiance and service.

I don’t think it’s as much a question of supporting Dodd for this as refraining from attacking him like everybody else deserves for letting us down.

It’s down to Dodd or Colbert for me. This would cinch it for the senator!

Unfortunately, I’m in the six percent.

Someone sent me this LINK to a survey that ranks the candidates based on how you feel about the issues. The best fit for me was Dodd. Give it a shot.

me too, since infusion of a “spine” is a key criteria for me. I am leaning Edwards right now, but I find that he really hasn’t been able to really differentiate himself from the other 2 front runners who just don’t inspire me right now.

I love Dodd, and I think he is probably the strongest and most progressive candidate out ther e. I think that taking a bold step like this would open a lot of eyes.

I called his campaign at 202-737-3633 to encourage him to do it.

erik @ 6

Me. I find it incomprehensible that none of the other candidates have spoken out on this. I am an Edwards supporter, but if Dodd spoke up and did this, I would switch.

I agree with 1) incomprehensible that none of the other candidates have spoken out on this, 2) I am an Edwards supporter, and 3) I would switch.

I think I can guess why there are so many Democrats in Big Telco’s pockets…it’s another example of lobbyist dollars polluting our government.

Nothing could be starker than the Democratic congress bowing to big business and the telcos like this. Dodd should stand up to them, show them their place. He’d win my support.

sorry OT, but I don’t if this has been posted yet, but there’s folks leaving all over the place…

US counterterrorism chief to resign
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:07:00

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.a…..id=3510203

Twisted Martini @ 16

I love Dodd, and I think he is probably the strongest and most progressive candidate out ther e. I think that taking a bold step like this would open a lot of eyes.

Dodd voted for the war. The “strength” and progressivism of these people is either opportunistic or evanescent. Alas.

OT

Fitz is engaged!!!!

Chris Dodd is appearing on The View today.

Glenn Greenwald describes the situation today so that even a Member of Congress could understand what is at stake:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/g…..index.html

Here’s more about what the Democrats have been conspiring to do, mostly behind closed doors, via PAA and RESTORE:

The PAA and the RESTORE Act are about “Link Analysis” and the “largest database ever assembled in the world” – as indirectly confirmed by the House Judiciary Committee’s report on RESTORE, which cited the following two news articles as describing activity that the RESTORE Act would permit:

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.

For the customers of these companies, it means that the government has detailed records of calls they made — across town or across the country — to family members, co-workers, business contacts and others.

The three telecommunications companies are working under contract with the NSA, which launched the program in 2001 shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the sources said. The program is aimed at identifying and tracking suspected terrorists, they said.

[snip]

AT&T recently merged with SBC and kept the AT&T name. Verizon, BellSouth and AT&T are the nation’s three biggest telecommunications companies; they provide local and wireless phone service to more than 200 million customers.

The three carriers control vast networks with the latest communications technologies. They provide an array of services: local and long-distance calling, wireless and high-speed broadband, including video. Their direct access to millions of homes and businesses has them uniquely positioned to help the government keep tabs on the calling habits of Americans.

Among the big telecommunications companies, only Qwest has refused to help the NSA, the sources said. According to multiple sources, Qwest declined to participate because it was uneasy about the legal implications of handing over customer information to the government without warrants.

[snip]

The usefulness of the NSA’s domestic phone-call database as a counterterrorism tool is unclear. Also unclear is whether the database has been used for other purposes.

[snip]

For similar reasons, this person said, NSA rejected Qwest’s suggestion of getting a letter of authorization from the U.S. attorney general’s office. A second person confirmed this version of events. – Leslie Cauley, USA TODAY, May 11, 2006

Http://www.usatoday.com/news/w…..-nsa_x.htm

Matt Blaze, a professor of computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania and a former researcher for AT&T, said the telecommunications companies could have easily provided the F.B.I. with the type of network analysis data it was seeking because they themselves had developed it over many years, often using sophisticated software like a program called Analyst’s Notebook.

“This sort of analysis of calling patterns and who the communities of interests are is the sort of things telephone companies are doing anyway because it’s central to their businesses for marketing or optimizing the network or detecting fraud,” said Professor Blaze, who has worked with the F.B.I. on technology issues.

Such “analysis is extremely powerful and very revealing because you get these linkages between people that wouldn’t be otherwise clear, sometimes even more important than the content itself” of phone calls and e-mail messages, he said. “But it’s also very invasive. There’s always going to be a certain amount of noise,” with data collected on people who have no real links to suspicious activity, he said.

Officials at other American intelligence agencies, like the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, have explored using link analysis to trace patterns of communications sometimes two, three or four people removed from the original targets, current and former intelligence officials said. But critics assert that the further the links are taken, the less valuable the information proves to be. – Eric Lichtblau, the New York Times, September 9, 2007

Http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09…..nted=print

From the House Judiciary Committee report on RESTORE, released October 12, 2007:

There have been published reports about the intelligence and law enforcement communities having telecommunications companies assist in the analysis of the ‘’social networks” with data about suspects’ patterns of communication. Like ripples in a pond, network analysis can lead to new subjects whose communications can then be targeted.27 Following such leads is an important and legitimate investigative tool, and the RESTORE Act does not prohibit this activity. The bill mandates safeguards to prevent abuses stemming from such use, by requiring that a warrant [sic] once a substantial purpose of the acquisition is to acquire the communications of a United States person. This requirement is fully consistent with Director of National Intelligence McConnell’s insistence that NSA will not target an American in the United States without a FISA warrant. The FISA Court will approve the guidelines if it concludes that they are reasonably designed to ensure such an outcome.

Footnote #27: See e.g., Leslie Cauley, NSA Has Massive Database of Americans’ Phone Calls, USA TODAY, May 11, 2006 (telephone companies cooperating with NSA pattern analysis without FISA warrants); and Eric Lichtblau, F.B.I. Data Mining Reached Beyond Initial Targets, N.Y. TIMES, September 9, 2007 (FBI sought ”community of interest data” through National Security Letters).

Http://www.rules.house.gov/110…..iciary.pdf

Again: This is not about the ‘foreign to foreign on a U.S. wire’ problem that has been used as justification for these revisions/eviscerations of FISA – that issue is separately addressed and resolved in RESTORE (under Section 105A). This is a brand new world of spying being authorized by Congress against innocent Americans (under Section 105B) without any meaningful Judicial Branch check. New corporate and government spying authority which is being accompanied by a simultaneous effort, by Robber Baron Rockefeller & Friends (to hold immune from lawsuits the cooperating corporations), which would block off Judicial Branch review to prevent the Supreme Court from having an opportunity to rule that these spying authorities openly violate the Fourth Amendment.

This is collusion between the Executive and Legislative Branches of government to end-run the Constitution, and to try to avoid any check from the Judicial Branch which would stop and reverse this deliberate invasion of our privacy and knowing violation of our Constitution. If Members of Congress could be impeached, on this issue the American people would easily convict those complicit in this collusion, and would throw them out of office with the contempt they have so thoroughly earned.

Rep. Rush Holt is trying to stop this travesty. He is bucking his own party leadership to do so. He needs our support:

I would like to point to the one thing that [the RESTORE Act] needs most, that it lacks, which is ironclad language that maintains the fourth amendment’s individual warrant requirement when Americans’ property or communications are searched and seized by the government.

The RESTORE Act would allow the government to collect the communications of innocent Americans.

[snip]

Yes, I voted “yes” in committee to bring this to the floor, with the assurances that we would work to get it better. I regret to say that I’ve seen no effort to resolve this point. It could be fixed easily to the safety of Americans, because Americans will be safer when agencies have to demonstrate to a court that they know what they are doing. We get better intelligence, just as we get better law enforcement, when you do it by the rules.

In fact, my own leadership I believe would deny me time to speak on this issue to try to strengthen this bill, but for the sake of the security of Americans, I implore the leadership to make these improvements. – Rep. Rush Holt of NJ, on the House floor 10-17-07

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.go…..sition=all

Chris Dodd, please stand with Rush Holt.

I already sent a note to Dodd telling him that I would support him.

OT–
Steny Hoyer being quite effective speaking about SCHIP on CSPAN
http://www.cspan.org/watch/cs_…..mp;Code=CS

I’ve donated to Dodd. He’s my second choice. And, I’ll bet he’s the 2nd for many of us. He just needs the spotlight more and this could do it. Will contact him immediately. And donate.

Glenn Greenwald describes the situation today so that even a Member of Congress could understand…

LMAO.

Thanks pow wow.

I will support any nominee that stands up to this regime and am willing to be pursuaded to vote for Dodd or any candidate that does so!

Ditto everyone else. I am a nominal Edwards person, but its easy for him to tell Congress what to do when he himself isn’t in Congress and beholden to a constituency. If Dodd filibusters, I’m on his team – and I live in New Hampshire.

Heck I might even volunteer some time if he did something like that, even though I think HQ is in Hartford.

I missed the poll and though the results are no surprise, I am disappointed after all we know that HC would poll above Dodd and Richardson on well informed lefty blogs.

I suppose the country is just going to have to suffer through a president with whom women most want to share a beer. An idea I would be far more comfortable with if we were in a bit less of a pinch in this country and if I didn’t sincerely believe HC will be a huge disappointment for women voters after it is all said and done.

How many here thought to themselves after reading Janes post that placing a call to HC would be best or even possibly helpful with this problem?

1. Gore
2. Dodd
3. Edwards

To answer your question, Jane, I’d switch my vote if Dodd stands up on this.

I’m hoping there will be a surge in donations to get his attention.

Secret demonstrations of secret legal directives:

“It will include full immunity for those companies that can demonstrate to a court that they acted pursuant to a legal directive in helping the government with surveillance in the United States. Such a demonstration, which the bill says could be made in secret, would wipe out a series of pending lawsuits alleging violations of privacy rights by telecommunications companies that provided telephone records, summaries of e-mail traffic and other information to the government after Sept. 11, 2001, without receiving court warrants.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=topnews

poping in to say grrrr–got robcalled on schip from US chamber of commerce-talking points-peple earning over 80K can get it and moving 80K (I think) from private to public. so I called them-got put through to a vmail and left a message about how I felt about it. Then called Kuh’s ofice again to reitereate my support for schip (woman asked if I wanted to leave my address & I said Randy has it already I am sure…).
I am so glad I have donated for the ads to flip folks-this smels to me a vote/issue of loyalty on the repub side, not on the facts.

I was one of the 6% who voted for Dodd in your poll. I will email him now and hope he engages.

brendan @ 17

I called his campaign at 202-737-3633 to encourage him to do it.

They must be getting bombarded…answering service only…I pushed 4 for political department and ended up nowhere…

I haven’t made up my mind yet but if Dodd were to put a hold on this bill, he would earn my vote.

I’d switch to Dodd.

The rule of law is still-born in the Bush-Cheney administration, which was inaugurated in 2000 when SCOTUS ruled 5-4 in Bush v Gore.

What is up with the Democrats being willing to even consider “retroactive immunity” for telecommunication companies when they do not even know about the full extent of this program? JUST WHO ARE THEY TRYING TO PROTECT? It is certainly not the American people or National Security.

Look deeper into AmDocs and Comverse Insofsys. This “retroactive immunity” does not just have to do with US companies.

Here is how wiretapping and datamining works in the US.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aUzuzs2oC0

And yes if Dodd stepped up to the plate and put a hold on this bill I would sing his praises far and wide.

Phoenix Woman @ 7

Jay @ 3

This is not just Chris Dodd’s responsibility–it is also the responsibility of Senators Clinton, Obama, and Biden to step up to the plate and take a clear stand for the Constitution and the rule of law.

Amen!

Hey, Hillary! Want to get the Progs off of your butt? Put a hold on this sucker, NOW.

I would go all the way. Why not put the responsibility on the Senate Majority Leader. It’s time Harry Reid earned his keep.

But exactly what are the implications of that new amendment that the Rethugs put on. That needs full analysis before any decisions are made.

You know, I’m really not that concerned about blanket warrants if it includes only who initiated the call and who was called. I just don’t think those should include conversations. But there should not be immunity for telecom companies that tried to play footsie with the feds. Cozying up should not be rewarded, although it already has been, I suspect, in terms of government contracts. Those that cozied up got them; those that didn’t, didn’t.

I’m off work today. I must ‘use or lose’ 7 vacation days. I’m going to use them. The plan was to do some housekeeping chores. Thus far…nada.

I am a pretty ardent Edwards supporter. That said- if Dodd were to put a hold on this bill, I would seriously reconsider.

LS @ 39

brendan @ 17

I called his campaign at 202-737-3633 to encourage him to do it.

They must be getting bombarded…answering service only…I pushed 4 for political department and ended up nowhere…

The guy I spoke with said he had to run after my short spiel. I don’t know how many answer phones there.

I was one of the 6%ers. this would just reinforce the decision for me.

Kathleen @ 150

Scarecrow @ 14

Good morning, America — or what’s left of it. I see the Senate intel leaders — Rockefeller — have now agreed with Mike McConnell on a FISA gutting bill — it reportedly provides retroactive immunity to the telecoms, et al.

And today is the big vote to override Bush’s veto of SCHIP.

Lots going on.

We should be hammering Senator Rockerfeller’s office, demanding “no retroactive immunity”
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/services/email.cf

Washington, D.C.
531 Hart Senate Office Building
20510
(202) 224-6472

Sounds like a plan!

Don’t know what happened with 42, mods feel free to delete. Getting on the phone now. I’ll try my own Senator Wyden too since he’s not afraid of “holds.”

but why support Dodd or encourage his efforts when you can have Hillary both doing nothing about this and possibly supporting war with iran.
I mean it’s a progressive’s dream come true.

Dodd hasn’t even been a blip in the talk around the table among Dems in Alaska. His high level of knowledge on Latin America and of labor issues hasn’t led him to see the changing of the direction of people politics down there past his corporatist ties. I’m glad he appears to be doing what is related in Jane’s post, but I don’t trust him much on many issues. Let’s hope he lives up to the expectations of some here.

Even if Dodd does the right thing, I’m afraid I’m still sticking with Edwards…

solai @ 46

I’m off work today. I must ‘use or lose’ 7 vacation days. I’m going to use them. The plan was to do some housekeeping chores. Thus far…nada.

god grant me the serenity to wash the dishes i do not wash; to dry and put away the dishes i do wash, and the wisdom to know the difference-

I would; he’s already good on the war (up there with Richardson, whom I’m having some trouble taking *completely* seriously at the moment), and he *gets* the constitutional stuff, which you would *think* would be the equivalent of a cover charge for a Democrat, but isn’t.

Someone a few days ago suggested that he would be willing to do some horse-trading. If telecoms want immunity, let them guarantee net neutrality. At least get something for the capitulation.
Of course, someone else responded that the Senators did get something else….donations.
I would consider this trade-off though.

Whitehouse rocks! He just pushed Mukasey to the wall on torture, again he got a slippery answer. Cardin following up on Sheldon’s queeries.

Kathleen @ 50

Kathleen @ 150

Scarecrow @ 14

Good morning, America — or what’s left of it. I see the Senate intel leaders — Rockefeller — have now agreed with Mike McConnell on a FISA gutting bill — it reportedly provides retroactive immunity to the telecoms, et al.

And today is the big vote to override Bush’s veto of SCHIP.

Lots going on.

We should be hammering Senator Rockerfeller’s office, demanding “no retroactive immunity”
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/services/email.cf

Washington, D.C.
531 Hart Senate Office Building
20510
(202) 224-6472

Sounds like a plan!

I’m on hold there. They must be getting swamped!! Call.

LS @ 39

brendan @ 17

I called his campaign at 202-737-3633 to encourage him to do it.

They must be getting bombarded…answering service only…I pushed 4 for political department and ended up nowhere…

me too, but called the senate office at 202 224 2823.

LS:

What the guy (I don’t know if it was Adam Hochstein; I didn’t get the name) said was actually mildly discouraging: he said something about “exploring legislative options”, to which I said the Democrats were just going to get rolled again and that at this point it was about someone, anyone, speaking up loudly for the rule of law on the historical record.

solai @ 45

I’m off work today. I must ‘use or lose’ 7 vacation days. I’m going to use them. The plan was to do some housekeeping chores. Thus far…nada.

Nice to know that I’m not the only one who’s plans go that way!

Hell, I’d switch for a baseball game.
Imagine how excited I am at a more substantial commitment..

RevDeb @ 59

Whitehouse rocks! He just pushed Mukasey to the wall on torture, again he got a slippery answer. Cardin following up on Sheldon’s queeries.

Right!
“That is a very disappointing answer”, as MM tries very hard not to opine wrt whether waterboarding is in fact torture, and therefore unconstitutional.

Got through to Rockefeller’s office…no retroactive immunity…he said he’d pass it along to the Senator.

solai @ 57

Someone a few days ago suggested that he would be willing to do some horse-trading. If telecoms want immunity, let them guarantee net neutrality. At least get something for the capitulation.
Of course, someone else responded that the Senators did get something else….donations.
I would consider this trade-off though.

We shouldn’t have to trade for net neutrality. It should be policy. period.

I’ve made a donation over at Dodd’s site on spec that he does something meaningful. This is a great opportunity for him to get some press and get in the game. And do the right thing. Sounds win win to me.

He’s at 6% because many think he is irrelevant (self-fulfilling prophecy and flip side of HRC’s inevitabiity campaign). Single-handedly stopping this train-wreck gains you relevancy real quick.

I hope he does it but it will depend on which corporations he supports. Dodd’s votes for corporate subsidies gives him a Progressive Punch score of 67%; the same as Lieberman.

george bush has a message about spying:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2rirF8xA-I

Cool. Siun upstairs.
” Who’s Ready to Step It Up?”

pow wow @ 24

Chris Dodd, please stand with Rush Holt.

it does look like there was a division of duties: the house leadership was in charge of permitting basket warrents/link analysis while the senate leadership is in charge of telco immunity.

the bit you quoted from rush holt was from his statement yesterday morning that so impressed me. i already posted the link, but don’t want pow wow to miss it…. here’s my first attempt at a youtube clip, it’s rush holt’s statement!

Siun upstairs.

Siun’s upstairs…

Christy goes outta town and FDL posts get wild!

This was John Deans answer to my question about Senator Rockefeller and “retroactive immunity”

No. 29 – QUESTION: What do you think about the possibility of “retroactive immunity” for these companies?

ANSWER: Sen. Rockefeller is not the flip-side of the Pat Roberts coin, and at times seems intimidated by his GOP colleagues. Retroactive immunity when it is not even known what these companies did nor why is absurd.

———————————–
This was my complete question for Dean

Mr. Dean thanks for coming back, and thank you for sharing your views and expertise on our constitution and the state of our country.

This week ACLU spokeswoman Liz Rose heard from Senate sources that an unreleased draft of a bill contains provisions granting “retroactive immunity” to telecommunications companies that turned over communications of subscribers to the NSA without warrants between 2001 and 2007.
FDL’s Christy Hardin Smith published a version of Rose’s email.

…”the Senate bill (Committee draft) does contain immunity/amnesty for the telecom companies…Including retroactive immunity for anything they’ve done wrong in cooperating in illegal domestic spying for the past six years.”

What do you think about the possibility of “retroactive immunity” for these companies?

We have yet to witness Senator Rockerfeller (now that Republican Senator Pat Roberts is out of the way) hold anyone accountable for the false pre-war intelligence. I don’t believe that Phase II of the Senate Selection Committee on Intelligence was ever completed?

Americans and others around the world are hungry to witness the US congress hold people and companies ACCOUNTABLE for their “alleged” crimes.

Why would Chairman of the Intelligence Committee Senator Jay Rockerfeller and other congress members roll over to these companies?

solai @ 56

Someone a few days ago suggested that he would be willing to do some horse-trading. If telecoms want immunity, let them guarantee net neutrality. At least get something for the capitulation.
Of course, someone else responded that the Senators did get something else….donations.
I would consider this trade-off though.

The only thing worth trading in this instance imo, is for the telecoms to testify as to what they did. Just like any criminal willing to testify against others for immunity, they can put it all on the table, tell us who did what and when. That’s how immunity works, right?

Great idea, Jane. The more I think about Dodd, the more I wish he would be our nominee. I’ll support whoever gets the nomination but Hillary and Obama leave me cold.

I’d vote for Dodd if he did this … he wouldn’t be my first choice for President, but for this alone, yes.

Where are Hillary and Obama? Do they not get it? Are they so sure, either one of them, that they’ll win that they can afford to miss this opportunity to do the right thing, and be seen doing it?

(I feel like doing some editing of Ael’s rant at the Tricameron, in The Romulan Way, printing it on postcards, and sending it to the alleged Dem leadership in Congress. I am fed up with them to my eyebrows, and not willing to vote for any incumbent at this point.)

I’d switch if he pulls that off.

brendan @ 17

I called his campaign at 202-737-3633 to encourage him to do it.

thanks for the number

If the rest of America knew what was going on about “retroactive Immunity” via the MSM they would be calling too.

Hell Matthew spent half of his shoe talking about the Craig scandal. Enough of the Bathroom talk Matthews. Get onto more important issues….How about a little light on the “retroactive immunity” issue. Or are your producers trying to protect these companies too?

Ok I also called my loacl chamber of commerce to let them know that these calls were happening.

can you tell that I am furious??

rat bastahd @ 75

solai @ 56

Someone a few days ago suggested that he would be willing to do some horse-trading. If telecoms want immunity, let them guarantee net neutrality. At least get something for the capitulation.
Of course, someone else responded that the Senators did get something else….donations.
I would consider this trade-off though.

The only thing worth trading in this instance imo, is for the telecoms to testify as to what they did. Just like any criminal willing to testify against others for immunity, they can put it all on the table, tell us who did what and when. That’s how immunity works, right?

That is what I’ve been suggesting for a few days. If they get immunity, maybe we’ll finally get answers, maybe there is a trade in the works. Bushco does not get immunity via this bill, and they are the ones that called the shots.

Thanks for the wrap-up, Pow Wow. I’m not ready to switch my support to Dodd, but I am ready to drop my support for any Democratic Senator or Congressperson who favors telco immunity.

It would certainly boost Dodd’s campaign, but I’d encouraghe everyone to also write Kennedy, Kerry, Feingold, Byrd, Boxer, as well as your home state’s Senators.

This is too critical a bill and an hour of emails is well worth the effort. Limiting it to Dodd is a gamble we can’t afford, pragmatically speaking.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if Dodd filibusters (or puts a hold on this bill) he rises to the top of my list.

I’d gladly switch.

(reposting … it got lost when the new post went up. I wish it didn’t do that!)

I’d vote for Dodd if he put a hold on this. He’s not my first choice for president, but for this one thing, yes, I’d vote for him.

WTF is wrong with Hillary and Obama, that they can’t do this? You’d think they want to do the right thing, and be seen doing it.

(I’m seriously considering editing Ael’s rant at the Tricameron, in The Romulan Way, and sending it to the alleged Dem leadership in Congress. I am so ticked off at them, that I am voting against all of them, regardless of how good they otherwise are.)

erik @ 6

Me. I find it incomprehensible that none of the other candidates have spoken out on this. I am an Edwards supporter, but if Dodd spoke up and did this, I would switch.

Same here!

pow wow @ 24

Glenn Greenwald describes the situation today so that even a Member of Congress could understand what is at stake:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/g…..index.html

Here’s more about what the Democrats have been conspiring to do, mostly behind closed doors, via PAA and RESTORE:

The PAA and the RESTORE Act are about “Link Analysis” and the “largest database ever assembled in the world” – as indirectly confirmed by the House Judiciary Committee’s report on RESTORE, which cited the following two news articles as describing activity that the RESTORE Act would permit:

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.

For the customers of these companies, it means that the government has detailed records of calls they made — across town or across the country — to family members, co-workers, business contacts and others.

The three telecommunications companies are working under contract with the NSA, which launched the program in 2001 shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the sources said. The program is aimed at identifying and tracking suspected terrorists, they said.

[snip]

AT&T recently merged with SBC and kept the AT&T name. Verizon, BellSouth and AT&T are the nation’s three biggest telecommunications companies; they provide local and wireless phone service to more than 200 million customers.

The three carriers control vast networks with the latest communications technologies. They provide an array of services: local and long-distance calling, wireless and high-speed broadband, including video. Their direct access to millions of homes and businesses has them uniquely positioned to help the government keep tabs on the calling habits of Americans.

Among the big telecommunications companies, only Qwest has refused to help the NSA, the sources said. According to multiple sources, Qwest declined to participate because it was uneasy about the legal implications of handing over customer information to the government without warrants.

[snip]

The usefulness of the NSA’s domestic phone-call database as a counterterrorism tool is unclear. Also unclear is whether the database has been used for other purposes.

[snip]

For similar reasons, this person said, NSA rejected Qwest’s suggestion of getting a letter of authorization from the U.S. attorney general’s office. A second person confirmed this version of events. – Leslie Cauley, USA TODAY, May 11, 2006

Http://www.usatoday.com/news/w…..-nsa_x.htm

Matt Blaze, a professor of computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania and a former researcher for AT&T, said the telecommunications companies could have easily provided the F.B.I. with the type of network analysis data it was seeking because they themselves had developed it over many years, often using sophisticated software like a program called Analyst’s Notebook.

“This sort of analysis of calling patterns and who the communities of interests are is the sort of things telephone companies are doing anyway because it’s central to their businesses for marketing or optimizing the network or detecting fraud,” said Professor Blaze, who has worked with the F.B.I. on technology issues.

Such “analysis is extremely powerful and very revealing because you get these linkages between people that wouldn’t be otherwise clear, sometimes even more important than the content itself” of phone calls and e-mail messages, he said. “But it’s also very invasive. There’s always going to be a certain amount of noise,” with data collected on people who have no real links to suspicious activity, he said.

Officials at other American intelligence agencies, like the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, have explored using link analysis to trace patterns of communications sometimes two, three or four people removed from the original targets, current and former intelligence officials said. But critics assert that the further the links are taken, the less valuable the information proves to be. – Eric Lichtblau, the New York Times, September 9, 2007

Http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09…..nted=print

From the House Judiciary Committee report on RESTORE, released October 12, 2007:

There have been published reports about the intelligence and law enforcement communities having telecommunications companies assist in the analysis of the ‘’social networks” with data about suspects’ patterns of communication. Like ripples in a pond, network analysis can lead to new subjects whose communications can then be targeted.27 Following such leads is an important and legitimate investigative tool, and the RESTORE Act does not prohibit this activity. The bill mandates safeguards to prevent abuses stemming from such use, by requiring that a warrant [sic] once a substantial purpose of the acquisition is to acquire the communications of a United States person. This requirement is fully consistent with Director of National Intelligence McConnell’s insistence that NSA will not target an American in the United States without a FISA warrant. The FISA Court will approve the guidelines if it concludes that they are reasonably designed to ensure such an outcome.

Footnote #27: See e.g., Leslie Cauley, NSA Has Massive Database of Americans’ Phone Calls, USA TODAY, May 11, 2006 (telephone companies cooperating with NSA pattern analysis without FISA warrants); and Eric Lichtblau, F.B.I. Data Mining Reached Beyond Initial Targets, N.Y. TIMES, September 9, 2007 (FBI sought ”community of interest data” through National Security Letters).

Http://www.rules.house.gov/110…..iciary.pdf

Again: This is not about the ‘foreign to foreign on a U.S. wire’ problem that has been used as justification for these revisions/eviscerations of FISA – that issue is separately addressed and resolved in RESTORE (under Section 105A). This is a brand new world of spying being authorized by Congress against innocent Americans (under Section 105B) without any meaningful Judicial Branch check. New corporate and government spying authority which is being accompanied by a simultaneous effort, by Robber Baron Rockefeller & Friends (to hold immune from lawsuits the cooperating corporations), which would block off Judicial Branch review to prevent the Supreme Court from having an opportunity to rule that these spying authorities openly violate the Fourth Amendment.

This is collusion between the Executive and Legislative Branches of government to end-run the Constitution, and to try to avoid any check from the Judicial Branch which would stop and reverse this deliberate invasion of our privacy and knowing violation of our Constitution. If Members of Congress could be impeached, on this issue the American people would easily convict those complicit in this collusion, and would throw them out of office with the contempt they have so thoroughly earned.

Rep. Rush Holt is trying to stop this travesty. He is bucking his own party leadership to do so. He needs our support:

I would like to point to the one thing that [the RESTORE Act] needs most, that it lacks, which is ironclad language that maintains the fourth amendment’s individual warrant requirement when Americans’ property or communications are searched and seized by the government.

The RESTORE Act would allow the government to collect the communications of innocent Americans.

[snip]

Yes, I voted “yes” in committee to bring this to the floor, with the assurances that we would work to get it better. I regret to say that I’ve seen no effort to resolve this point. It could be fixed easily to the safety of Americans, because Americans will be safer when agencies have to demonstrate to a court that they know what they are doing. We get better intelligence, just as we get better law enforcement, when you do it by the rules.

In fact, my own leadership I believe would deny me time to speak on this issue to try to strengthen this bill, but for the sake of the security of Americans, I implore the leadership to make these improvements. – Rep. Rush Holt of NJ, on the House floor 10-17-07

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.go…..sition=all

Chris Dodd, please stand with Rush Holt.

And guess who has been data mining by having access to almost all US phone companies

The Data Miners
http://www.time.com/time/magaz…..17,00.html

Data miners Comverse Insofys and Amdocs

see how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aUzuzs2oC0

He will move straight to the top of my list if he places a hold on the bill. It’s a disgrace that enough dems support it that a hold is the only solution.

Ruffian @ 79

Ok I also called my loacl chamber of commerce to let them know that these calls were happening.

can you tell that I am furious??

What did the C of C say? Most of them don’t give two shi-s about the Constitution.

Just who is lobbying Democratic Reps and pushing for “retroactive immunity”

Data miners
http://www.time.com/time/magaz…..017,00.htm
l

kathleen @ 88

Data miners Comverse Insofys and Amdocs

see how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aUzuzs2oC0

Hmm. A Brit Hume/Faux Noise extravaganza.

Eureka Springs @ 4

Jay @ 3

This is not just Chris Dodd’s responsibility–it is also the responsibility of Senators Clinton, Obama, and Biden to step up to the plate and take a clear stand for the Constitution and the rule of law.

You would think they would be fighting over who gets to place the hold first!

great point call all of them. What the hell are they doing rolling over again and again.

Kevin Hayden @ 82

It would certainly boost Dodd’s campaign, but I’d encouraghe everyone to also write Kennedy, Kerry, Feingold, Byrd, Boxer, as well as your home state’s Senators.

This is too critical a bill and an hour of emails is well worth the effort. Limiting it to Dodd is a gamble we can’t afford, pragmatically speaking.

good point.

so, in addition to dodd, i just called kerry’s office (they wouldn’t let me speak to anyone and i don’t think the person who took my msg knew what a hold is). kenney is still out recovering from surgery and won’t be back until next week. i called feingold’s office also, and it didn’t sound like he’d been getting many calls on this…

need more call folks!

a “no” vote is not good enough.

kathleen @ 91

Just who is lobbying Democratic Reps and pushing for “retroactive immunity”

Data miners
http://www.time.com/time/magaz…..017,00.htm
l

Israel?!? Holy smokes!

It wouldn’t matter. Bush doesn’t obey the law now. What makes ANYONE think he will start? This is theater to convince congress that they are relevant. They are not. Neither are we. America is a dictatorship now and Blackwater is coming to a police station near you. Be prepared for a camera in every room of your house as well as your yards and your street. Surrender, Democrats! Oh, sorry, forgot, you already have.

I’d love for Dodd to block this bill. Hell, I’d even vote for him. Unfortunately since my primary is in May 08; it will be a moot issue by then.

Only way I would vote for any Dem at this point is if they actually began impeachment proceedings. Why does every issue have to be singled out and talked about as if the only way to stop it is to filibuster, or get the votes to overturn a veto? Doesn’t anyone realize that everything could be brought to a mercyful end by starting impeachment? The war (sorry, illegal occupation) could be ended, an attack on Iran would be prevented, the rule of law could be restored, and the Dems could eventually bask in hero status, but no, they just want to follow nancy off the cliff.

Later Dems, hope you’ve enoyed your part in destroying this once proud and great democracy.

mui @ 92

kathleen @ 88

Data miners Comverse Insofys and Amdocs

see how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aUzuzs2oC0

Hmm. A Brit Hume/Faux Noise extravaganza.

Kathleen, Thank you for that. I noticed the comments on the Fox News Series posted at youtube were “Do Jews want another Holocaust.” This is getting to be farce.

I’ve called Dodd’s office and his policy agenda guy as per Kos. IF Dodd puts a hold on the bill, I’m all his so long as he holds onto the hold.

Yep, I would switch my vote from Edwards to Dodd. I’m really tired of the Senators doing NOTHING to combat the lawlessness of the White House.

Just curious — how many of you would switch your vote to Dodd if he did something stand-up like this, and said “no more” the administration’s slavish, corporatist lawlessness?

Not only would I vote for him, I would volunteer for his campaign.

Senator Dodd, Stand Up!

brendan @ 17

I called his campaign at 202-737-3633 to encourage him to do it.

just did. voice said “we are getting so many calls on this.” said my vote goes to the most spine-full democrat, and right now it’s Obama for putting a hold on Hans von S. but it can be Dodd if he puts a hold on this one.

delurking to throw my hat in the ring.

but i’d prolly be inclined to switch again each time a candidate, any candidate, received a newer and better spinal infusion.

brendancalling @ 101

Just curious — how many of you would switch your vote to Dodd if he did something stand-up like this, and said “no more” the administration’s slavish, corporatist lawlessness?

Not only would I vote for him, I would volunteer for his campaign.

Senator Dodd, Stand Up!

yeah, i said the same thing. and since i don’t live in an early state, and i don’t have tons of $, i figure the only thing of value i have to offer to volunteer.

mui @ 91

kathleen @ 88

Data miners Comverse Insofys and Amdocs

see how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aUzuzs2oC0

Hmm. A Brit Hume/Faux Noise extravaganza.

Did you listen to it or are you too closed down to listen to a four part series that was on FOX soon after 9/11 and then Fox was forced to take it off of their website by the right wing media watch group CAMERA. Amdocs is mentioned in this Senate INtelligence report involving the

http://www.newsfollowup.com/am…..ate_intell

Oh yeah this report just could not be true if Fox had it on …right.

The group Camera and the I-lobby sure did a good job on Fox on this one

http://world.std.com/~camera/docs/alert/fox2.html

mui @ 98

mui @ 92

Hmm. A Brit Hume/Faux Noise extravaganza.

Kathleen, Thank you for that. I noticed the comments on the Fox News Series posted at youtube were “Do Jews want another Holocaust.” This is getting to be farce.

Over the last several years that four part series name keeps being changed over and over again. Not sure what is up with that.

What we need them to do is put a hold on every piece of legislation that threatens to do damage to what’s left of our country from now until election day.

Just bring this whole juggernaut of GOP fuckery to a screaming halt with holds on every damn piece of legislation. Then let’s see Miss McConnell and her prissy little bitches on the other side get their sphincters in a knot trying to continue their obstructionism.

An eye for an eye. Right out of their beloved old testament.

…I don’t know why Democrats think they need to stand with Mr. 24%,…

Maybe that would be because their poll numbers are less than half of codpiece’s.

It’d definitely make me consider switching my support.

JF @ 14

Someone sent me this LINK to a survey that ranks the candidates based on how you feel about the issues. The best fit for me was Dodd. Give it a shot.

Mine was Kucinich who I’ve supported from the beginning disagreeing only on energy because I disliked all the options on that question.

Unless Al Gore runs, I’m already for Dodd, so I guess I can’t help his poll numbers.

SB_Gypsy @ 109

…I don’t know why Democrats think they need to stand with Mr. 24%,…

Maybe that would be because their poll numbers are less than half of codpiece’s.

They just do not seem to care.

mui @ 99

mui @ 92

Hmm. A Brit Hume/Faux Noise extravaganza.

Kathleen, Thank you for that. I noticed the comments on the Fox News Series posted at youtube were “Do Jews want another Holocaust.” This is getting to be farce.

I am sure all sorts of trolls hit that video. There are plenty of people who do not want others to watch that four part series.

I for one have been looking more and more at Dodd as the only Democratic candidate willing to take a principled stand on the Constitution. All I ever hear from the front runners is after the fact bitching. Neither Obama nor Hillary gets out in front of any important legislation if it involves any risk, and I do not see how standing up for the Constitution represents a risk anyway, but they are sure scared to do it.

i listened to the dodd special on aa. he sounded like a solid person until joementums name came up. it was really tough to keep listening after he talked so highly of his good friend traitor joe. all those guys in the good old boys club helped take out ned, it was disgusting. i’m pretty certain he’s just another straw man.

The Data Miners
http://www.time.com/time/magaz…..17,00.html

ClearForest, based in New York City, are at work within both Israeli security agencies and NASDAQ. Israel uses them to drill for hidden connections among suspected terrorists: say, a pattern of phone calls shortly before each of several suicide bombings. NASDAQ uses the same software to detect block trades of stock quietly placed just before the release of company news — including sales by relatives of ImClone’s founder, Sam Waksal, who this fall pleaded guilty to insider-trading charges, and his friend Martha Stewart, who remains under investigation (and has denied any wrongdoing).

Both NASDAQ and Israel’s security services are sprawling organizations, bombarded daily with terabytes of information, any bit of which may prevent a catastrophe, whether measured in lives or in retirement savings lost to fraud. And these days, data-mining software, combined with technologies that connect disparate computer systems and databases, is making it possible for everyone from police departments to clothing merchants to global manufacturers to search through ever expanding data warehouses and draw valuable connections that would otherwise be lost to human eyes.

SChip vote started.

selise @ 105

brendancalling @ 101

Just curious — how many of you would switch your vote to Dodd if he did something stand-up like this, and said “no more” the administration’s slavish, corporatist lawlessness?

Not only would I vote for him, I would volunteer for his campaign.

Senator Dodd, Stand Up!

yeah, i said the same thing. and since i don’t live in an early state, and i don’t have tons of $, i figure the only thing of value i have to offer to volunteer.

Meetchya in Hartford then if it comes to pass. Just like old times.

Dodd gets my vote, my active support and $1000 per quarter if he blocks the FISA vote.

But others get much, much more from Verizon, et al. for passing this mockery of the rule of law.

My support is a joke, and most Americans know and care much, much more about the World Series than they do about FISA and S-CHIP.

Progressives either have to get serious campaign reform (i.e. full public funding for Fed elections) or get their hands on some big money (not going to happen).

Otherwise, despite all the incisive analyses and reformist fervor, we’re all just swirling around the toilet bowl. As Glenn Greenwald tirelessly and brilliantly points out, the expected FISA capitulation demonstrates with crystal clarity that the rule of law has been replaced by the golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.

The sad fact that we’re down to a Dodd “hail mary” desperation play on FISA shows the utter contempt of the Democratic party for progressives. Bringing all the energy of the netroots to bear on the task of flipping a couple of Bushdogs on S-CHIP only demonstrates our impotence viv-a-vis the machine. Eventually they’ll throw us a bone on this one. GRrrrr.

Smile, we’re still trying. Supplemental Iraq war funding? Bring it on.

Who are our Reps trying to protect with “retroactive immunity”?

“According to Fox, most directory assistance calls, and virtually all call records and
billing in the U.S. are done for the phone companies by Amdocs, an Israeli-based private telecommunications company. Amdocs has contracts with the 25 biggest phone companies in America, and more worldwide. It is virtually impossible to make a call on normal phones, Fox reports, without generating an Amdocs record of it.

Fox said that Amdocs has been subject to an FBI investigation in recent years, under the suspicion that a record of calls in the United States was falling into foreign hands. An internal Amdocs memo, the report said, suggested that the call records could be used to prevent phone fraud. According to American security officials, security breaches were possible.”

“According to Fox News, the Comverse systems have a back door through which wiretaps themselves can be intercepted by unauthorized parties. Raising the investigators’ suspicion, apparently, is the fact that Comverse works closely with the Israeli government. Yet Fox offered no suggestions that the company’s systems were part of an Israeli espionage effort.”

http://www.israelinsider.com/c…..p_0142.htm

mui @ 118

Meetchya in Hartford then if it comes to pass. Just like old times.

*g*

hoping for old times more like 8/06 than 11/06 – winning is always more fun than losing… but sometimes the joy is just in having something decent to be part of.

dodd has been one of my favorite presidential candidates and I would seriously consider supporting his campaign if he can step the retroactive amnesty!

selise @ 122

mui @ 118

Meetchya in Hartford then if it comes to pass. Just like old times.

*g*

hoping for old times more like 8/06 than 11/06 – winning is always more fun than losing… but sometimes the joy is just in having something decent to be part of.

Actually people told me during the Lamont campaign that it’s addictive and I would find it so. So cheers to making Dodd stand up.

Cheesy video for Hilllary on behalf of likeminded democratic voters. Switch (boy) to (girl)

I logged in Kos to say it (and recommended the post), called Dodd’s office to say it and I’ll say it again here: I’ll volunteer for the campaign in NE Ohio if he comes through on this. It’s a huge deal.

More Amdocs, Comverse, Nice telecommunication systems
http://www.antiwar.com/rep/lemonde1.html

of course we know not to bother with Edwards, Clinton, and Obama, they would never actually do a leaderly thing like putting a hold on a bill that further eviscerates our rights under the law.

so why oh why can they take the support of anyone who cares about these issues for granted?

and, inverting the question, maybe it is because they know they can take us for granted that they don’t have to do anything to prevent the further evisceration of our rights under the law. ???

oops, yet again I find I have violated the axiom of automatic support for the least worst. feel free to disregard the forbidden thoughts.

sporkovat @ 128

of course we know not to bother with Edwards, Clinton, and Obama, they would never actually do a leaderly thing like putting a hold on a bill that further eviscerates our rights under the law.

so why oh why can they take the support of anyone who cares about these issues for granted?

and, inverting the question, maybe it is because they know they can take us for granted that they don’t have to do anything to prevent the further evisceration of our rights under the law. ???

oops, yet again I find I have violated the axiom of automatic support for the least worst. feel free to disregard the forbidden thoughts.

FWIW, Edwards is not in a position to place a hold on a senate bill since he is no longer a senator.

I would switch in a heartbeat! Dodd would cirtainly make his case.

I just wrote a email to Dodd that I hoped to work for his campaign and I have pledged myself to do so if he puts a hold on any FISA bill that grants immunity for past telcom violations/&or stinks like a fish in general.
Sincerely, loving constituent.

Any Democrat showing backbone will be tremendously attractive to those of us absolutely fed up with the capitulating Dems.

- Tom

brendancalling @ 102

Just curious — how many of you would switch your vote to Dodd if he did something stand-up like this, and said “no more” the administration’s slavish, corporatist lawlessness?

Not only would I vote for him, I would volunteer for his campaign.

Senator Dodd, Stand Up!

I’ve been a bit of a Dodd fan since the beginning. Not that it matters, being a Canuckistani and all.

Fern @ 133

brendancalling @ 102

Just curious — how many of you would switch your vote to Dodd if he did something stand-up like this, and said “no more” the administration’s slavish, corporatist lawlessness?
You can still work for his Campaign.
Not only would I vote for him, I would volunteer for his campaign.

Senator Dodd, Stand Up!

I’ve been a bit of a Dodd fan since the beginning. Not that it matters, being a Canuckistani and all.

Ugh pyramid mess. I mean being from Canada, you can still volunteer for the campaign, I believe.

mui @ 135

Ugh pyramid mess. I mean being from Canada, you can still volunteer for the campaign, I believe.

I’d have to check. I know it’s illegal to make campaign contributions.

Just called Obama’s office in Chicago and requested that the senator speak out strongly in opposition to the telecomm immunity provisions in the FISA bill. The staffer asked me how to spell “FISA.” Oy . . . .

Fern @ 136

mui @ 135

Ugh pyramid mess. I mean being from Canada, you can still volunteer for the campaign, I believe.

I’d have to check. I know it’s illegal to make campaign contributions.

I think it’s totally legal to work for the campaign.

The man or woman who has the spine to stop the BushCo. insanity gets my vote.

If Sen. Dodd stops this travesty from unfolding, he will have my complete support in the primary and I will vigorously recommend him to everyone I know.

Sure. I’ll support Dodd.

I’d do just about anything for someone to Just Say No to dismantling the Constitution.

I’ll even say please.

“PLEASE”

I was in that 6%. It would be nice if he would start taking more forceful actions in general. Unless he intends to just fade away like the others that aren’t in the top 3 seem to be. And like the bottom 2 of the top 3 will shortly afterwards.

Jane, if Dodd would do this, it would be, as the saying goes, a “good lick”, but if he, or anyone else, would start talkin’ about the realities of getting us out of Iraq, THAT might be the vote changer for me.

I mean, for example: He, or someone, needs to tell the american people that when we leave, the shift of power that we have seen to the Shiites in what used to be Iraq, is going to be even more pronounced. The Maliki government is about to sign contracts with China and Iran for major energy construction projects and deals; one, to provide electricity in Sadr City, and another to build a giant power plant between Karbala and Najaf. Sunnis need not apply.

That’s just one small example of what is coming down the pike, whether george bush likes it or not. And some democratic candidate badly needs to be talking about the reality of what is in store, when we do leave.

I think Iraq is THE key to winning this election. NO candidate (as Hillary Clinton is so desperately trying to do) is going to be able to skate through just on domestic issues, no matter how important they would be in a normal election year.
To your question: This is a good idea, to ask of Dodd, and I wish he would do it, but I’m still in Edwards’ camp, for the time being.

If one of the candidates would show some leadership by talking about the realities of Iraq; how we got where we are, and what is almost certain to follow, when we leave, no matter WHO is elected, I would consider that leadership of the first order…and I think the speaker of it would deserve all the support we could give them.

Obviously, some of the candidates, like Kucinich, just don’t have a broad enough appeal to do this…YET. But let’s not make the mistake of thinking that the importance of Iraq is going to stay where it is, with the moderators knowing which questions not to ask, and with the candidates, as with Clinton’s interview with Olberman, not even speaking the dreaded (expecially for her) “I” word. spoken.

Jeebus, David; you could have gone all day without telling us about the spelling shortcomings of one of Obama’s staff.

Ouch. :o)

Dodd has placed a hold on the bill.

I have now hereby become one of the 6 (and hopefully growing) percenters and put money where my mouth is.

I just spoke with Amos Hochstein from Sen. Dodd’s campaign who said that Sen. Dodd has placed the hold on the bill. See the chrisdodd.com for the press release, a petition and to make a contribution – I made a 25.00 contribution as an apolomai20for my Sen. Bill Nelson’s vote.

I sent Dodd for President a promise that I will vote for him in the Minnesota caucus/primary. Until now, I hadn’t really considered it because (1) though he’s rock solid on progressive issues, he never struck me as a serious contender, and (2) I had a special place in my heart for Barack.

But enough is enough. It’s time to reward courage with support. Barack has been all about the creation of a movement. Let’s create a movement around the Dodd candidicay: unlike Obama, who has consitently disappointed those of us who are looking for something new and bold, Dodd will actually respond to the grassroots and netroots.

From this day forward, LET DODD BE THE NEW DEAN!

I’m also in Dodd’s camp now, thanks to this.

Also, I am struck by how saying “we should uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights” is radical today. What a world.

Everyone who has been saying, “Enough verbiage, already, how about some action,” can now sent their contributions to our new Man of Action, Chris Dodd.

I did.

He did it.

X-posted @ Sadly, No!:

Clinton and Edwards have their tongues so far up corporate ass they can taste tonsils, and Barak seems like he really, really wants to see what tonsil tastes like, as well.

F*#k all three of them!

I called Dodd’s office and told them they had an official Seattle volunteer is he’d show leadership in this way. How have we missed this up to now?

Due to national electoral politics [rightwing assholes in red states], I know Dodd can’t win. That said, I’m supporting him now because he seems alone in understanding what corruption is taking place.

He’s my Senator, and I’ve always been proud of that, but never more proud than today.

Drop him some $$ to say thank you.

http://www.chrisdodd.com

I’m still undecided, but Dodd has been one of my possible choices for a while now. Like others on this thread, if he were to put a hold on the FISA bill, that would definitely influence my final decision.

My first choice would be Gore, but in the meantime I’ve been supporting Edwards. Dodd’s position on telco immunity led me to check out the senator’s web site and I like most of his positions. If Dodd takes a strong stand against this invasion of privacy I will very seriously consider switching my support to him.

Man, this might make me switch. Good for Dodd.

I dropped Matt Browner-Hamlin a note asking what we can do to help raise Dodd’s profile. He tells me that it would really help if, when you get requests from the campaign to tell your friends, please do tell your friends.

t4toby @ 152

X-posted @ Sadly, No!:

Clinton and Edwards have their tongues so far up corporate ass they can taste tonsils, and Barak seems like he really, really wants to see what tonsil tastes like, as well.

F*#k all three of them!

I called Dodd’s office and told them they had an official Seattle volunteer is he’d show leadership in this way. How have we missed this up to now?

This really is a media issue. He has had the strongest position on the issues that we care about–Iraq and the Constitution–all along. But it’s really hard to get that message out when the media is so focused on 1) the horse race and 2) making it a Clinton/Obama horse race.

Real smart that he stayed on the Michigan ballot. That was one instance where being under the radar helped him.

coyne @ 116

i listened to the dodd special on aa. he sounded like a solid person until joementums name came up. it was really tough to keep listening after he talked so highly of his good friend traitor joe. all those guys in the good old boys club helped take out ned, it was disgusting. i’m pretty certain he’s just another straw man.

Dodd’s not horrible, but when the story came out about Edwards campaign financiers it would naturally follow Edwards support might increase. But, suddenly there’s this Dodd Attack drawing all the attention. Straw man burning?

John Edwards — Leadership

sporkovat @ 128

of course we know not to bother with Edwards, Clinton, and Obama, they would never actually do a leaderly thing like putting a hold on a bill that further eviscerates our rights under the law.
…

Do you realize Edwards isn’t in the Senate just now?

The onus is on EVERY Dem senator to stop it.

David Anderson @ 137

Just called Obama’s office in Chicago … in opposition to the telecomm immunity provisions in the FISA bill. The staffer asked me how to spell “FISA.” Oy . . . .

And THOSE are the people who want the White House? Gimme a break!

oops, I forgot Edwards was no longer a Senator. thanks for the reminders.

Courageous actions like that of Senator Dodd could bring some people back into the big tent again, if he somehow becomes the nominee, even for VP.

The others are still beyond the pale, even those with the audacity of the hype.

I have switched, from Obama to Dodd. Restoring the Constitution is the number one issue for me, even above Iraq or healthcare. Dodd will be getting my $ from now on.

If he keeps this up, he’s got my vote. I just sent him a contribution.