He said he “might have to.” And he will.
From the Dodd campaign:
Are you willing to go to the mat to restore the Constitution?
Just last night, we heard there are plans to disregard Senator Dodd’s intention to place a hold on a FISA bill that includes amnesty for telecommunications companies.
That would be a pretty extraordinary move, but Chris Dodd has pledged to stop this horrible bill any way he can.
So if the hold is not honored, he is prepared to go to the Senate floor and filibuster.
Rolling back the Bush Administration assault on the rule of law has been a major focus of Chris Dodd’s work in the Senate — and it’s also a centerpiece in his campaign for President.
Finally someone willing to filibuster and cut through the ocean of glue the Senate seems to be swimming in.
This is awesome. Go Dodd.
Update: Just added — YouTube above. It’s pretty impressive. Reward good behavior.
Related posts:
- Dodd: Reprimanding Lieberman is “Ridiculous”
- Hey, Harry Reid, Stop Protecting Democrats Who Want to Filibuster the Public Option
- Sen. Dodd Releases Financial Reform Draft
- Health Care: HELP Bill Released During Public Option Call With Sens. Dodd, Brown and Whitehouse
- Lieberman Says He’ll Filibuster Health Bill; What’s Obama Going to Do?
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I kicked in $250 for his campaign for the hold.
I will up the ante for a filibuster.
Ocean of glue — hilarious, thanks for that :)
albert fall @ 1
Me, too, on both counts.
me2
Go Dodd, Go Dodd
Hello again, Jane.
I have seen Obama and Hillary’s non response, anything out of Edwards?
when i called “give em a strongly worded letter Harry’s” office yesterday, the staffer told me that harry had not decided to ignore the hold.
is this right; do we know that harry is not holding?
I’ll ask again…I think Reid is abandoning Senate precedent and comity in not honoring Dodd’s intention to ‘hold’ on the bill. Reid has not done so with any Repbublican ‘hold’. He is attacking and disrespecting a member of his own caucus. Am I wrong?
This is something else we should be paying attention:
Andrew Sullivan
i heart jane @ 8
Harry is not holding.
One down, 40 to go.
To the phones!
BTW,
Major kudos to Ms. Hamsher for her investigative reporting.
She digs up more info than any MSM hack I have seen recently.
I’m wondering about this Comcast story, they are blocking some internet traffic…that might be their leverage in exchange for immunity…just pondering:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21376597/
I tried to call the Reid’s office on my lunch break but just got put on hold in the time I had. I have to commend the Senator though – the small, tinny sound of classical music through a phone is a perfect choice to represent the man.
Is this the breakout issue that Dodd needs? I dunnoh, but he just sold me.
Agreed, as good a thing as any Democratic legislator has done in recent times. As for the rest of the candidates, step up, little to lose, alot to gain.
“Give Em Hell Harry”.
Right: try “Where’s My Hood” Harry: the decision to uphold Coburn’s hold is as nauseating as Reid’s decision to stab Dodd in the back.
Uh..oh…a gas tanker truck, full of gas, was just stolen in Baltimore and is heading toward I-95…
I like Dodd, he’s a Senator, I would think he would poll better.
O/T But I wanted to share:
Calpine filed the biggest bankruptcy of 2005, topping Delphi, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp.
——-
You know that great economy the Republicans were talking about during one of the debates, what are they smoking?
Bernie Sanders just said on AAR that he will support Dodd in stopping the immunity in FISA.
One more to add to the list.
Chris Dodd showing us once again why he is the only presidential candidate worth a damn on either side. Keep it up.
RevDeb @ 21
I hope they read the 4th Amendment, over and over and over…
From EPU-land last thread:
Mad Dogs @ 106
This presumes 39 other Senators are with him, doesn’t it?
I kicked and will kick in AGAIN for the fillibuster.
Glorfindel @ 9
Only if your assumptions are wrong. Otherwise, I feel the same way.
Mad Dogs @ 24
AND…ReTHUGlican lite DiFi(I send my husband lottsa war bizzness)
I am hoping his filibuster will include the the type of framing he used to put a hold on the bill in the first place
I like it when we can embarrass anyone that disagrees simply by framing the discussion properly and dodd seems to get it
Just added — YouTube from Dodd. Check it out. He’s pretty impassioned.
Morning Pups!
I decided some time ago that Dodd looked like the most appealing of the announced presidential candidates. Then, I am ashamed to say, I wavered because of his low poll numbers.
I’m back, Senator Dodd.
I will urge my senators to back your filibuster. Absolutely!
THANK YOU SIR!
too bad Majority “leader” (cough cough) Reid is working hard to by-pass a Dodd and help out Bush and Rockefeller (not to mention his patrons – the telecom lobbyists).
Way to Go Harry!
This is the ‘add insult to injury’ part of the deal:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004503.php
Thank you, Senator Dodd.
i heart jane @ 8
“Had not decided” — sounds like he HAD decided, but we’re making him undecide.
Keep it up, people!
Give ‘Em Head Harry!
Same here. I always liked his integrity, the way he comes across in news interviews. This move signaling the courage of his conviction (count on one hand the other Dems that describes) is enough reason for me to send a few dollars his way. Such quality is so rare now. Let’s reward and encourage it whenever it’s demonstrated.
solai @ 33
and that is the kicker, the president’s appointee gets to say who did or did not comply with fisa when asked to do the president’s bidding
how friggin bizzarre
1arryb @ 16
Agreed.
I want one of the senators to reveal exactly what pressure was exerted by the White House. Someone, please, let us know what could cause this abhorent bill to be approved.
Mostly OT, but amusing:
“Putin Finds Expedient Hero in FDR”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..eheadlines
The tone of the article is predictably smirking, as if we, Yelstin and the oligarchs didn’t try to dismantle and impoverish the Russian Federation.
RudyTahuti @ 36
He’s a yankee, the dumb ass redneck motherfuckers in this country will never elect him.
1,632 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Jane, is it time to start countin’ heads in the Senate…it looks like the House Democratic caucus “gets it” because they hafta face their constituents in ‘08 too but ken we get a preliminary count of the old progressive “lions” (Kennedy, Kerry, Feingold, Durbin, Harkin…)? It would appear that this issue can’t be spun in the media if it gets to a filibuster, the entire dirty game with the telecoms and the corrupted DC leadership will be exposed.
Mrs. Clinton and the little army of Clinton sycophants on K Street must be shittin bricks.
How about Dodd/Gore in ‘08 or better yet Gore/Dodd?
This whole thing can only be good for democracy in this country…I think the masks are comin’ off and the corporate media are gunna play hell tryin’ ta figure out who is who and who cares on this.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE FUCKIN’ AMMUNITION, THE BATTLE FOR DEMOCRACY IS ON!!
BTW, transcript for that youtube above?
Not all of us have spiff audio on our ‘pooters :-P
O.T.
I had a dream last night, Jane. You were the main character. I kind of wrecked your motorcycle. (Even though I have no idea if you have one). But later the motorcycle turned into a car, and then it wasn’t wrecked anymore. There was lot more going on in the dream than that, but it’s all too nutty and discombobulated to post…so I won’t.
Funny world.
Go Dodd!
By the way, did everyone notice that it was Verizon “employee” contributions in last post’s graph?
RevDeb @ 21
We’ll need an army and a plan. If he has to filibuster, there are procedures. Remember the film, I think Mr. Smith goes to Washington. The person doing the filibuster can yield for a question. We need to line up Senators to help him. Also, it seems to me the magic number is 41, because 60 votes will avoid the filibuster, I think. Is this right?
Twisted Martini @ 35
LOL
I used to jokingly compare Harry Reid and Alan Colmes.
They look alike and were (I thought) similarly ineffectual.
Now it looks like I need to reconsider this comparison.
The evidence increasingly suggests that Reid isn’t ineffectual.
Reid just appears to be ineffectual because his actions are driven by personal values that are deeply opposed to the longstanding core values of the Democratic party.
I think we have reached a defining moment. Or at least I have.
There are interesting parallels for me with 2003. Then, too, my frustration with the spinelessness of Democrats was reaching a crescendo. Then, it was Howard Dean who rode to the rescue, giving me hope that Democrats would actually stand for something. For about 6 months, his strong stands brought a somnolent Democratic party to life, before he was ambushed in Iowa. But even after Iowa, the attitude of the Democrats was different than it had been before.
This year, the same thing was happening to me. I have become increasingly disgusted with the spinelessness of our so-called Democratic leadership. Now, finally, a Democrat from the Democratic wing of the party has stood up to be counted. He was at the top of my list of presidential candidates anyway, and this helps prove why. Dodd deserves our support! Even if he doesn’t win the presidential nomination, I hope he at least can succeed in giving the Democrats a spine transplant.
Bob in HI
Yesterday, it appears Mukasey changed his tune quite a bit:
Q: Is waterboarding torture?
A: [squishy non-answer - “It depends…”]
Q: Can the President give someone powers that conflict with statutes on the books ? (As executive in a time of war)
A: Yes
Q: Would you support the President’s position wrt assertion of executive privilege even for correspondence not including the President?
A: Yes
And yet… and yet… it does not appear to have dimmed his chances of confirmation at all.
Sen Leahy? Take a page from Senator Dodd’s book and show a little conviction.
Ann in AZ @ 46
The procedures of the Senate today are quite different from how they were portrayed in the movie. To begin with we need to study up on the rules that were adopted by this senate.
Jane Hamsher @ 30
i know it shouldn’t matter, but every time i hear chris dodd speak – i think to myself that he sounds presidential. great voice.
‘course i love what he’s saying too.
BTW, IMO it would be great if during this filibuster he was supplied with reading material regarding things like the Constitution, Bill of rights, checks and balances. One thing I would like to see read is Al Gore’s speech at Constitution Hall on MLK Day 2006. That’d take up an hour or so by itself!
RevDeb @ 21
He’ll back the filibuster and the hold? If so, excellent!
Barack, Hillary? Hello? (I’d mention Edwards, but the Democratic Senate Caucus ignores him now that he’s no longer a Senator.)
Ann in AZ @ 52
Advise And Consent.
Ann in AZ @ 53
Reading material ! He should read the posts here on FDL — archives for background and live posts. Someone get him a laptop.
BTW: “I was acting in good faith,” is nothing but a modern variant of the Nuremberg defense, which we established sixty years ago should not hold water.
In the case of the telcos, a judge has already ruled that there’s no way in hell that they were operating in good faith. They knew they were breaking the law. And they knew that they were going to make a lot of money by doing so.
But now we have a bill that validates the good-faith defense and under which the AG gets to decide whether or not the president’s henchmen were operating in good faith. YUCK! FUCKING YUCK!
Kucinich is still my man, but Dodd definitely moved up the list. Money’s tight for me right now, but I’ll see if I can scrape together a little donation to reward Dodd’s feistiness.
Dodd-Gore ‘08!
Anyone know if the telco’s are being sued for violations of Sarbanes-Oxley?
I am a corporate lawyer, versed in director liability and fiduciary duty law, and I have not been following whether the EFF cases have gone after the directors for failing to ensure that the officers of the company obeyed the law.
I congratulate Dodd on being both a man of action and principle.
Jay Rockefeller on the other hand is a sellout piece of sludge. He is doing for the telecoms what Larry Craig wanted in that restroom in Minneapolis.
Bucket warrants that violate 4th Amendment requirements of probable cause. Immunity grants to telecoms for their illegal behavior because well, they are telecoms. Gutting the FISA court which let us face it was already a weak reed protecting our privacy. Backdoor spying on Americans without warrant or any outside oversight. Rockefeller is a disgrace to his office, his country, and the Constitution. If he had any integrity (insert laughter here) he would resign immediately.
He probably still regrets not filibustering the MCA, and the memory of that should make him that much more determined not to make that mistake this time. Hopefully.
Twisted Martini @ 35
Give ‘Em Harry’s Head!
Phoenix Woman @ 34
here’s a GREAT idea;
telecoms can earn imunity by complete testimony, under oath, indluding all documents, activities and those spied on
hit them with THAT
frame it as so;
“we have to weed out whatever criminal activity has accompanied the illegal gathering of our private information, if any information was requested that did not serve national security we want to know about it, we are certainly NOT going to assume intelectual property has not been improperly obtained”
1,632 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND ..
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Sister Jane, I repeat my question, is it time ta count the “progressive” Yankees in the Senate? How about some “encouragement” to Leahy to not only join the “hold” and back the filibuster but to announce a “hold” on Mukasey? It seems to me that the issues are joined at the hip and that no matter the outcome, a public filibuster fight with C-Span and corporate media attention on the debate will only serve to isolate the fascists from 60 % of the population and only the progressives can win…even if they lose the legislative fight, Mrs. Clinton won’t be able to disarticulate herself from her corporate sponsors and she’ll be toast.
Boy the Democratic Convention looks like it’s gunna be the place ta be in ‘08!!
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE FUCKIN’ AMMUNITION, WE GOTTA TELL OUR LEADERS WHERE WE’RE GOIN’ SO’S THEY KEN LEAD US!!
John Dean hits it out of the park again.
Sandman @ 20
Labrador.
Kudos to Chris Dodd for stepping up.
retirin’ in five @ 56
Matt Hamlin can give Dodd material from FDL to read on the Senate floor. He’s and FDL friend.
Ann in AZ @ 46
If the “old” cloture rules were used today; it would take 67 votes to close debate. That is one the the main reasons that the anti-civil right filibusters were successful.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 65
Right on!! (my bold)
albert fall @ 1
Great job!
I kicked in $50 yesterday when Jane broke the story about the “hold.” I kicked in another $50 today for his promise to filibuster. I wish I could have done more.
I applaud Dodd. Just for the record, though, Kucinich is the only one running who actually voted against the Patriot Act in the first place.
“No” immunity for telecoms who aided potential illegal “gathering” by the Excutive. Ignorance of the law is no excuse TELCOMS…. It is kind of like a German soldier, who follows an “illegal” order by a superior. Telecoms…. “We claim ignorance of the constitution.” It did not work for “Germans” it should not work for the enabling Telecoms.
“CORPOGOVERNMENT” Jefferson’s worst fears…
Yes Sir Senator Dodd, Fillibuster!!!!
I sent this email to Sherrod Brown’s wife: cschultz@plaind.com
Connie, Just last night, I heard there are plans to disregard Senator Dodd’s intention to place a hold on a FISA bill that includes amnesty for telecommunications companies.
That would be a pretty extraordinary move, but Chris Dodd has pledged to stop this horrible bill any way he can.
So, if the hold is not honored, Dodd is prepared to go to the Senate floor and filibuster. Okay fine.
And where is Sherrod Brown? Why isn’t he all over this and supporting Dodd?
Wil Burns
want to know something funny?
where I live it has always been a republican local government
I am seeing some campaign signs going up and absolutely nowhere to be seen is their party affiliation, they used to boast being a republicat, now they are embarrased to admit it
Me @ 68:
Matt Browner Hamlin is Dodd’s campaign manager.
My note to Dodd, accompanying my contribution today:
Senator Dodd:
Goddammit, stop making me contribute! Yesterday’s bucks were for the hold on the FISA bill. Today’s are for the promised filibuster.
I’m not really that into you, all told; in my book anyone who voted for the unconstitutional Oct 2002 AUMF should automatically be disqualified as a Presidential candidate, regardless of whether they’ve recanted their fecklessness.
But you are standing tall and doing the right thing, and that must be rewarded and encouraged. And Clinton and Obama can rot in hell if they fail to hop, belatedly, on your bandwagon.
I stand with those citizens who’ve got your back on this one. Thank you.
Just sent $50 to Dodd.
Every time a real democrat stands up it costs me.
But it’s dirt cheap compared to what the rethugs have stolen from us all. Money, honor, common decency, pride in our country, faith in democracy, they have tried to take it all.
We will get our honor back, yes, we, will.
Joel
Mukasey
Out of the gate, we get that Leahy is generally leaning toward confirming him.
Day One, Mukasey talks a decent game; his confirmation looks likely.
Day Two, Mukasey give a lot of shitty answers. (Whitehouse drilled him pretty good.)
And still , he appears a lock for confirmation.
What is going on up there? Are they pumping carbon monixide into the hearing room?
wigwam @ 57
Dodd’s father was a prosecuter at Nuremberg
Has Harry decided to join the GOP? Because that’s the only reason I can see for him treating them with more respect than he gives to his official party.
Reid can’t run anything bigger than a Chihuahua. And it’s probably dragging him.
damn straight
I just ponied up fitty as well.
….and wish it were 1950 more…He has my vote.
joel @ 78
Two questions:
1. Has anyone confirmed this report that Reid is actually going to override Dodd’s threatened hold? I say threatened, because this bill hasn’t come out of committee, therefore there is nothing to place a hold on at present.
2. When was the last time a Senate Majority leader overrode a hold placed by a senior member of his caucus?
Colleen a daily lurker @ 80
wow, didn’t know this…that’s quite a candle to lead his path that’s for sure
I just made my first-ever campaign contribution.
Doesn’t Chris Dodd realize that the only serious position one can take is to be in favor of warrantless spying on American citizens with no judicial oversight? Beyond that, the one true sign of seriousness is giving gigantic corporations a free pass to break law. Standing up for the 4th Amendment of the Constitution is so shrill. Good Americans support the President’s ability to spy on people at any time with no oversight.
I would expect Feingold to back Dodd up, and maybe Whitehouse too.
Meanwhile, this is what Obama is up to today:
Boo Radley @ 71
Yesterday, Mr.Solai answered the phone. It was a poll asking about Dem candidates. At the end he was asked to donate. He politely said he couldn’t right now and then said to me that there was no way he could squeeze out a dime this month.
Thank heavens for separate check books.
Ooooo….Dodd/Whitehouse – Feingold AG
Another thing I am wondering, how much did the telecoms make selling their info to Bushco? Or did they give it away?
Dow -210
Ish @ 79
Naw, they were too busy adding up their corporate campaign contributions to listen to the answers Mukasey was giving them. If they had looked up from their ledgers long enough they might have noticed the verbal middle finger Mukasey was giving them.
LS @ 87
My understanding is that Whitehouse voted for this bill in committee.
Keith @ 83
Precedent means almost nothing when you threaten a politician’s power (aka money).
phred @ 93
Yesterday, Mukasey looked scared.
perris @ 84
perris,
I believe Dodd’s new book is based on letters his father sent home while at Nuremburg.
solai @ 94
Nooooooooooooo :{
LS @ 86
whitehouse apparently vote for the fisa bill in the senate intelligence committee – the bill that dodd is trying to block (see here and more further down the thread).
but we should try, imo, to get him to come around to supporting dodd.
Thomas J. Dodd (Chris Dodd’s dad):
LS @ 96
Why?
albert fall @ 60
FWIW, you might want to call Dodd’s staff. He might not have anyone with your detailed knowledge. IMVHO, what’s missing in the narrative of “retroactive immunity,” is the FROM WHAT. You already provided a glimpse into the desperation that the telco Directors are probably feeling. That’s probably a blue-blood-get-out-of-jail-free-narrative that fits very well into a sound-byte. This whole thing just screams of cover-up for the rich and well connected. Dodd has the bully pulpit to educate the American people about the
born on third, thought they hit a triple RepublicanDirectors, who are profiting most from “retroactive immunity.”Boo Radley @ 102
As John Dean points out on the link above, they may be worried about civil liability, for fines of $10,000 per day per violation.
Colleen a daily lurker @ 80
It is kind of like a German soldier, who follows an “illegal” order by a superior. Telecom: “We claim ignorance of the constitution.” The, “Executive told us to do it!” It did not work for Germans…… it MUST not work for the telecoms……..
phred @ 101
Why scared? I don’t know why, but his figgity fingers, body language, and facial expressions said it.
ralphbon @ 77
Bullseye!
The American people are starving for congressional oversight on critical issues. Dodd is going to get a great deal of support for this from the people!
What the hell is up with Reid and Feinstein and the rest? We want them to enforce congressional oversight.
GO DODD!
can you say “de ja vu”?
my bold
of course you can
Kathleen @ 107
phred @ 101
He has stated categorically that “torture is a crime.” If now he says that “waterboarding is torture,” by the simplest of logic, he has said that his new boss is a criminal. So, he has to sit there with his bare face hanging out and say that he doesn’t know if waterboarding is torture. ;-)
-227
LS @ 92
FWIW, it’s the 20 year anniversary of the ‘87 crash.
*xyz @ 48
Either that or the real core values that have evolved in the Democratic party are no longer accessible by the rank and file Democrats. That fact is evidenced by the fact that we do not know, in fact, I’d venture to say, most of us have no idea what the Democratic leadership stands for. That goes for most Senators and Representatives, too. Just when you thought you knew them, they go and do stuff that tells you, you never really knew them at all!
Yet more great news from Senator Dodd. That’s how to show you’re serious, and how to get out in front of an issue. Someone needs to pin Harry Reid done, face to face, about whether he is in fact honoring Dodd’s hold or not; stop hiding, Harry.
Meanwhile, though hesitant to add any attention to yet more corporate propaganda courtesy of hacks at the Washington Post, we need to have Dodd’s back, when despicable, biased opinionating like the “news” excerpt below is hurled at us the instant a Member of Congress stands on principle in defense of our Constitution. From Shailagh Murray at the Post blog:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com…..t_137.html
Ms. Murray – a D.C. based political reporter – seems blissfully unaware of the (usual) meaning and effect (and power) of a hold in the Senate, and thus misleads her readers, by not explaining that a measure being held won’t come to the floor (under normal practice), or attempt to be brought to the floor without prior assent from any objecting Senator – even if that takes months or years (see the Ensign hold on campaign finance record computerization, for a current example).
But beyond that: How does one objectively call a written press release “breathless”? And if Dodd’s written “rhetoric” is “hot” according to Ms. Murray – what’s Feinstein’s bipartisanship pap that was spread all over the print editions of the Post and the NYTimes yesterday – “cold” (and therefore acceptable to Miss Manners) rhetoric? [Ms. Feinstein might note that the PAA passed on a “bipartisan” vote as well, though it was written by Addington & Co. in the Executive Branch with zero Democratic (or probably even Legislative Branch) participation in the drafting process. She also might note that there’s no way to “compromise” the rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment without violating those rights, no matter how “partisan” or “bipartisan” or “nonpartisan” the process by which such a compromise is reached may be.]
Anyway, FWIW – it helps to know your enemy. Shailagh Murray apparently couldn’t give a damn about our Constitution, and this isn’t her first foray into such territory – she made an amazingly dismissive and disdainful comment about the meaning of the commutation of Libby’s prison sentence as well, as I recall; in her sheltered world such things are par for the course and of no moment whatsoever.
Boo Radley @ 112
the market is 20 times higher
wigwam @ 110
It should have beeen abundantly clear from his testimony yesterday that he will not push back against the abuses of power coming from the WH.
And that is just NOT okay. Wake up, Senators!
Helpless Dancer @ 66
Appreciate the link.
Ish @ 116
They expressed “disappointment” with his answers yesterday.
Ish @ 116
but he has also said the president can changet the law anytime he wants to change the law, for anyone he wants to change the law for;
Justin @ 95
I disagree. Politics is seldom simple mathematics–it’s almost always calculus. Why would Reid essentially sign his own fate by overriding a senior member of his caucus? It can’t be campaign contributions–the gaming interest have him covered.
Again, to the extent this bill makes it out of committee (it’s moved to the Judiciary Committee), and Dodd does place a hold on it, why would Reid override the hold?
Another criminal in the DoJ:
Who Is Steve Bradbury?
By Spencer Ackerman – October 19, 2007, 12:24PM
(snip)
TPM
Finally, a Presidential candidate from the Senate took the advice on how to fight the Republican power that Mike Gravel has been giving them every chance he gets in the debates.
Just gave the Dodd campaign $100.
In addition to donating to Dodd’s campaign, I recommend everyone visit Dodd’s website and sign up to be on his email list. Then, when you get emails from Dodd’s campaign regarding issues you care about, forward them to your circle of likeminded family and friends.
scarshapedstar @ 59
Can’t get Gore to run for President, there’s no way he’d consider running for VP again. Why would he bother going through the process just to be VP? If I were he, I’d be insulted and offended to even be asked.
Pow wow 114:
Good on you for bringing up that weird article by Murray.
dean needs to speak out on this, he shouldn’t be silenced by the dnc or anybody
Ann in AZ @ 124
No, and I think Dodd would be wasted as a VP as well. I’d much rather have him running the Senate, I think.
Ann in AZ @ 124
I have to agree with this. I still dream of a Gore presidency. He would be attacked and maligned by republicans and the MSM for as long as he runs and as long as he serves. But much would be accomplished in getting this country back on track in spite of that. That being said, I wouldn’t blame him in the least for not running. He seems to be a true gentleman and a true patriot. Whatever he decides, I will respect him.
I really like Dodd. He’s way more articulate than any of the rest of his primary competition, and that’s saying something considering how lame the Repub field is compared to the Dems. He always makes his point. And, he’s got balls. I wish he were doing better in the pack/gaggle/pod/aggregation of Dems.
Where were Barack and Hillary on putting a hold on this bill? Dodd put his name on the line; being chickenshits, the Repub Senators usually did this under cover of anonymity.
Since this purely about money, i.e. the damages a real government might charge the telco’s in fines (billions), why doesn’t someone propose a future compromise…we won’t give you blanket immunity, but we will take into account the fact that you were being hammered by the Bushies? Leave it vague…
I just had a horrible thought, if Dodd were to actually win the presidency, he’d be out of the Senate, where he seems to be the only Dem with both a brain and a spine.
Oh well. How about Edwards/Dodd? You’ve got the southerner to balance the Yankee.
perris @ 115
that means it can fall 20 times farther (or is that further?)
1arryb @ 16
I sure hope it is. I like this guy. He has a kind of depth no one else in this campaign has.
LS @ 105
That’s odd. I didn’t see any of the clips (obviously), but given the fact that the SJC is treating his confirmation as a fait accompli begs the question of why he would be scared. A commenter on Kagro’s thread over at TNH speculated that the WH read Mukasey the riot act for being a bit too independent on Wednesday. Maybe he felt he had to toe the party line on Thursday and didn’t want to… Who knows? Either way, the fact that he can’t identify what constitutes torture ought to disqualify him for being the highest law enforcement official in the land. Now if the Senate Dems could just find themselves a spine… I’ll go call my old high school biology teacher, I remember the skeleton in the classroom had one. Maybe he could loan it to the Senate.
Ish @ 127
I’m not sure I understood you correctly. If Dodd were VP, he would actually be “running” the Senate. In a sense.
I wish I had money to send him, and I wish I were registered Democrat so I could vote for him. I sent him a note, which will have to do.
I remember not caring for him much back in the ’80’s, but I don’t remember why. Hm.
Also, I’m amused his wife is a Mormon.
Chris Dodd!
OT–
Check out Countdown’s new graphic look on Monday after the move from Secaucus, NJ, to 30 Rock in Midtown Manhattan:
(Note from Keith):
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace.
We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”
– Samuel Adams, American Patriot and politician
Garrigus Carraig @ 135
I might become a mormon myself, I kind of like the idea of becoming god when I move past this life
perris @ 64
Or political strategies breached by the opposition under the pretext of national security, or various and sundry other such infringements.
I do like Dodd. He’s my second choice behind Edwards. But this might move him ahead to #1 for me.
Pushing back on the neo-con machine (which includes all the fallout, like Iraq, DOJ, etc etc) is my #1 campaign issue.
The video is the antidote to my serious malaise and discouragement. Our President DOES NOT HAVE the power to “bring someone within the law” (Mukasey quote). Good God, where have all our marbles rolled away to?
Go Dodd!
pow wow #114,
I do not know if the profession of journalism was always this bad and that we just didn’t have the tools to assess it or if the corporatization of the media predisposes to the hiring of stenographers and shills whose job is to regurgitate White House talking points and deride anyone who doesn’t. It appears that corporations who own the news media would prefer no one watch their newscasts or read their papers then that “journalists” actually do what we used to think was their jobs.
Aeon @ 137
gonna have to start drinking his beer
I gave him $50 yesterday for the hold, and I’m going to give him another $50 for the threatened fillibuster today.
And I’ll give him “my first male born” if he can stop the facists in this country!
Five minutes ago:
Harry Reid’s Reno office has been inundated with calls regarding Dodd’s hold and Reid ignoring it or not honoring it. I understand from my Reno Democratic Party network that they have called. I’m sure many calls have come in from around the country as well.
The aide says he heard nothing about this until he began receiving so many calls today. He is checking the Internet for information. I directed him to Dodd’s website so it could get it directly from the horse’s mouth. The aide was really concerned because he wants answers also. He has several messages out to Reid so he gets a clear response.
I suggest people call again this afternoon after aides get clear direction from Harry Reid. Otherwise, you have to wait for a written response.
Granting immunity to Telcos for FISA-related crimes is a corrupt gift to some of America’s most powerful corporations, whose reach into our telephone calling patterns, our cable and internet usage, and our online entertainment is ever expanding. Their electoral contributions threaten to purchase a White House and Congress of their own choosing – rather than the voters’.
Stopping the granting of immunity is an essential step in maintaining a government of laws, not a government-by-contributors. It will allow private suits and government investigations to go forward, which may well disclose corporate and government excesses that directly affect the privacy of every American. The granting of such immunity – before anyone knows what these corporations and “our” government have done – is itself criminally negligent.
Refusing to grant blanket immunity is a crucial diagnostic test: in the hands of Democrats, will the cancer introduced by the GOP metastasize into the Surveillance State or go into remission?
SufiLizard @ 134
In a sense, yes, but I suspect he would be relegated to working to pass the President’s legislative priorities, rather than his own – which, given the frontrunner(s), might differ greatly.
FINALLY, somebody with backbone!
We HAVE to support him on this. My $25 is on the way~
Keith @ 83
Keith, I called Reid’s office this morning. His staffer was dodging and weaving madly and would not answer a direct question about it or what the standard practice of the MajLeader’s office was with respect to holds, much less this specific instance.
In my view, the answer to your question 1 is therefore very clear: he is planning to bring it to the floor rolling over the Dodd hold. If it were otherwise, the statement “Senator Reid is very protective of the traditions of the Senate” is very easy to make.
I also asked how many times the MajLeader had rolled over a hold and the staffer said he didn’t know and had no comment when I suggested the answer was in fact zero.
Make Jimmie Stewart proud. No mas.
Ann in AZ @ 124
There is a reason many people choose to to be in unelected positions, they can accomplish far more behind the scene and effect greater change. Gandhi knew this also and used it to the hilt. He was the most powerful person in India.
thanks again sen dodd – i kicked in what i could gladly….
Ann in AZ @ 53
Amen to that! Here’s the link
Bob in HI
I will tell you what I’m sick of hearing: that these Democrats in Congress are “afraid” to stand up to the White House, or are “afraid” of how the subsequent attack ads will make them ” look soft on terrorism”. That is not the motivation here.
THIS IS WHO THEY ARE.
Maybe in the end they’re all just owned by the same lobbies and are beholding to the same arms of the M-I complex. Whatever; simply look at the results, every time. Occam’s razor, etc. This is who they are.
We don’t have 50 Dodds. We have one Dodd, one Feingold, one Kennedy (and I think that’s about it). Everyone else is simply a registered Democrat, with their own agenda for being there. They are “Democrats”, but they are not the anti-Republicans.
I am even more radical than Jane, when it comes to wanting to see the Democratic Party purged of all these traitors. The only way to do that, IMHO, is to sit home for the next couple of Election Days and let the potatoes burn. Let them eat Giuliani. Let Congress go 97% red.
And when the horror of it all finally seeps down to the average, disinterested schmuck… then, we start fresh with Democrats who genuinely comprise an “opposition”.
And we can do it.
Ish @ 127
Agreed.
Maybe Dodd is what is needed. All the other dem candidates appear to carry much baggage in many ways, making it difficult for a large number of dems to get behind any one of them. The Hillery lovers don’t like Obama and visa versa, the same can be said for those who like Edwards. I find good and bad in all of them (more good than bad in Edwards). But I think someone is needed to come forward that can unite all dems. Maybe that someone is Dodd. If he stands up for the constitution like he is saying he will, then he’s got my vote. That seems the biggest problem right now. The elected officials are forgetting their oath of office vis a vis the constitution.
As in 1992 when the catch phrase was “It’s the economy, stupid”, the catch phrase this time around should be “It’s the constitution, stupid!”
Mods – I goofed up on Gandhi. Can you correct? Although, I doubt if Gandhi would mind.
LS @ 87
Sadly, Whitehouse voted for it in the Intel committee. He couldn’t have been paying attention. He was probably still fuming at Mukasey. Hopefully he’s been clued in by now. . . . . please?
earlofhuntingdon @ 145
what the earlofhuntingdon said.
solai @ 94
Have we heard anything from Hillary? I haven’t heard a peep from her anywhere? Obama came out limply. What about Edwards? he can throw stones from outside. He could seperate himself from Hillary on this one. I still hold Dodd’s AUMF vote against him, but he’s looking better every day.
What little $ we have these days is already way over committed, but I am finally warming to Chris Dodd. Yesterday I didn’t quite trust his sincerity on this isssue, but I’ve come around to believing his sincerity. And his courage, if he has to take a stand against Reid publicly and continuously.
In essence, this is a challenge to Reid in which Dodd says to Reid “You’ve shown no backbone or balls in standing up against the Far Right on any important issue. Are you going to finally grow a pair to engage in a long-term, public contest against a colleague?”
Barry Champlain @ 153
Yeah…well, then we’ll witness it from one of Halliburton’s detention centers.
And I wonder what this–if anything–might mean:
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 159
Someone needs to send Obama Viagra.
there are only 2 reasons why harry is helping the bush admin and telecommunications companies. collusion or blackmail, take your pick. come on harry you can us, what have they got on you? we’ll give you immunity.
Boo Radley @ 117
Great article. I was able to get through on the Diane Rehm show today. Mentioned how John Dean had been a guest at Firedoglake and that when asked about Rockefeller rolling over had said that Senator Rockefeller was not much better than Republican Senator Pat Roberts when it came to enforcing congressional oversight.
David Corn shared an interesting response. Tony Blakely basically said the “radicals” are after Senator Rockefeller. Pitiful somehow that Blakely does not find the lack of congressional oversight as “radical”
The first hour of Diane’s show was filled with numerous comments about Senator Dodd taking a stand on this issue.
http://wamu.org/programs/dr/
Great job Senator Dodd.
In prison they say “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” Telecoms want the OJ Simpson clause in FISA so they won’t be held accountable for their crimes.
Justice must be served by the rich just as it is by the poor.
Aeon @ 137
The founders of this nation are probably pretty pissed off in heaven(if there is such a thing) right about now.
And I feel obliged to say this again: I’m really glad Dodd is doing this. But I’m still sticking with Edwards–because, inter alia, I believe Edwards would be doing the same thing that Dodd is if he were in the Senate.
If Chris Dodd’s numbers go up, at whose expense would that be? Edwards?
It lost about 22% (I think) so if it’s around 14000 now that would mean about 3000 points. Losing ~200 isn’t cool but ‘87 was much bigger.
Elliott @ 131
Biodun @ 162
Was he one of the one’s subpoened in the Wilke’s case? Apparently, Hastert’s early resignation is because of that mess.
coyne @ 163
I’d bet on collusion.
Kathleen @ 164
Blankley works for the Moonie Times. You expected better of him? When a person resorts to ad hominem attacks, you know he has no argument.
Enslaved @ 165
Let’s start equating the Repubs and other supporters of the FISA bill with OJ…flesh that one out.
Just sent him money and a note telling him he has my vote at this point. God, wouldn’t Gore and Dodd make a team?
My new entry to my scandals list on Mukasey:
albert fall @ 1
Me too. I’m in again.
RevDeb @ 157
Has anyone been on contact with Whitehouse’s office? He has a chance for great things. He better not let something like this screw it up.
perris @ 142
and, as I recall, he was considered the wild one in his family.
RevDeb @ 21
Go Bernie, stand up and be counted!
Elliott @ 131:
further–by degree
farther–by distance
Biodun @ 181
I knew you’d help me!!
Via @ 174
That will remain a distinct possibility until Gore says, “I will not run for President of the United States in the ‘08 election cycle”. Until then, he’s running in my book.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 173
And before that was either Gingrich’s Press Secretary or CoS.
Fern @ 171
It started with bipartisan/collusion and migrated to blackmail when Reid got in the way.
Barry Champlain @ 153
And how many citizens of the world will die because we did not fight to rid the planet of the corporate politicians who have their boots on our throats? 18,000 people die each year in Califorina from lack of health care. Sitting back and waiting is just as immoral as NSA spying. The fact is there is no time left. This administration showed up at the worst possible time for all of us.
LS @ 105
My guess… he REALLY didn’t want to fuck up an answer.
Barry Champlain @ 152
and how many people will suffer and die if your plan is followed?
you call yourself a democrat and yet show so little regard for the well being of people who’s lives will be destroyed by your plan?
i reject any proposal which requires i treat the lives of the planet’s most vunerable as expendable.
is that not just as evil as bushco’s plans for iraq – what they may think of as “good” ends, pursued using means that cause the deaths of more than a million people.
imo, your plan is one of depravity. and i reject it utterly.
Fern @ 171
no contest, collusion for sure.
we’re in trouble people, now you know why they haven’t started impeachment proceedings. investigations would show they were as thick as thieves.
Maybe I missed it, but there is not a word about this story on any of NYtimes, WaPo, CNN, AP, or McClatchy.
marymccurnin @ 185
Not willing to be a Good German.
while no one is perfect – i applaud sen dodd’s efforts on behalf of the citizens and the constitution!! also my candidate for president…
LS @ 183
I really, really wish he would just up and say that. This waiting for Gore routine is getting irritating. And if he is equivocating about running, it does nothing for my respect for him.
i don’t know where this is going but right now it sure smells good.
… Senator Dodd is the only demoBACKBONEcrat in the congress. Its a pity he’s not the front runner. He would make a great president.
Meanwhile, this is what Chimpy is up to today before taking his weekend break to go bike riding:
coyne @ 189
it’s collusion AND blackmail
I am petty certain they have information to hold over their adversaries head, pretty certain indeed
this is why they are able to lead the republcans by the balls and it’s also got to be one of the reason democrats cave so easily
How much has Blackwater contributed to Duncan Hunter’s campaign? The guy is a stand-up comic. He just claimed he tore down the Berlin Wall.
You said it, Hugh; it does indeed appear that way.
[So of course Congress will make sure to grant them a corporate “shield” so that what they do print from unnamed sources - secret grand jury testimony, sensitive leaks from criminal investigations, White House propaganda, cherry-picked classified information leaks promoting a partisan agenda, just plain lies, etc., etc. - will all be nicely protected from accountability or exposure, because the reporters collecting the details will be exempt from the duty the rest of us have to testify to grand juries who are investigating potential crimes against the nation.]
Kathleen @ 180
Bernie is awesome. I am glad he has Dodd’s back on this. I am not home right now, but I will make sure I call Feingold’s office later. Let them know I expect Feingold to have Dodd’s back. We’ll see what Snarlin’ Arlen has to say as Verizon and Comcast are probably big contributors.
Fern @ 193
Waiting for Gore-D’oh!
Fern @ 192
it helps keep him in the public eye and therefore helps keep his cause in the public eye. the corporate media sucks… but they will pay more attention to someone who “may” be a contender.
Fern @ 192
I think he’s avoiding the debates for now. He has not told people to stop contributing either. If he ends up giving a Sherman statement, and all of these people have spent their hard-earned money on a pipe dream, his political career will be over forever. He must be smarter than that.
I must confess that I did not know much about Sen. Dodd until he threw his hat into the ring, and now with his stand here against the rampant lawlessness.
I will certainly look deeper into his campaign, and possibly throw a donation his way.
Keep your chin up, Senator Dodd. Patriots like you are few and far between these days.
1arryb @ 189
That’s another thing that pisses me off about the Dems. They will sit on their asses ’til doomsday rather than bludgeon the MSM into reporting. I am continually astonished at how horrible they are at framing and disseminating just how devastating this administration and Repub congresspersons continue to be.
1arryb @ 190
I ain’t seen nothin’
see for yourself who’s covering this
Jane has a new thread upstairs.
This is Slate’s chart for the current market values (futures) for Dem presidential candidates.
Biodun @ 208
that’s depressing.
Biodun @ 168
I feel the same way BUT since Edwards is NOT in the senate let’s be sure and reward THAT courageous senator NOW.
Fern @ 192
Al Gore is not a candidate for President of the United States.
People need to stop having fantasies about that.
The train has already left the station. He’s not on it.
This ain’t no movie.
I just gave him all the love I had, $25.
The media really does decide who is worthy of attention. The media is our foe, not the REPS.
Bil @ 210
I plan to contribute to Dodd’s campaign but will vote for Edwards in the primaries..
Contribution to Dodd: I’m in.
I signed the comment [my name], Constitutional Democrat.
It isn’t often that I watch a vedio with tears in my eyes humming the Battle Hymn Of The Republic. GO DODD! GO FEINGOLD!
At first, this could be chocked up to simple pandering. Now it’s a clear sign of personal strength. If nothing else, we now know that he’s willing to stand his ground when challenged. How often have you really seen that in a Democrat in your lifetime?
Barry Champlain @ 153
Actually, the most progressive Senator isn’t even a Democrat.
Well, if Congress ever gets 70% red, let alone 97%, we’ll never have an election again. Where’ve you been the last seven years???!!!
The way to accomplish our goals is to get progressives on the slate and through the primaries, and Jane and Howie are leading the charge on that.
egregious @ 214
Huzzah, good eg!
It is essential that Congress preserve its ability to legislate in this area, so that it can craft the reach and limits of legal cooperation between the government and this and other industries now and adjust it over time.
Generally, I oppose any immunity. How can a prosecutor defend stiff mandatory sentences for “routine” crimes when all it takes for a large and hugely profitable industry to avoid liability for serial violations of the constitution and federal statutes is to make a hundred million dollars in political donations? That’s about a tenth or less of what they would pay as a consequence of losing in nationwide litigation. A ten-to-one return on their investment, not bad, even by private equity standards. What precedent would this set for other industries?
But if a grant of some sort of immunity is the only way forward, then Congress should demand immediate, full and continuing cooperation. This circumstance is no different than a US Attorney haggling over sentencing a crime lord.
Immunity should apply only to certain crimes, and be limted as to time. You wait, you lose. You withhold or parse too much, you lose. Perjury, a failure to fully and accurately disclose, failures of omission or commission, deceptive framing, etc., should void the immunity.
Put the sword of Damocles in its sheath, but leave it dangling. Nothing else will entice such powerful entities to comply with the law. When billions of dollars of profit and loss are at stake, “good faith” will not assure good behavior, any more than voluntary compliance will reduce carbon emissions or persuade a drug lord not to make one more deal.
perris @ 108
That story and the B-52 with the 6 nukes is not over yet. I’m sticking with an aborted Isreali mission to do Iran’s Natanz facility that came to a sudden end when SAM battery’s in Syria radared Isreali jets carrying low yield gravity nukes . . . the B-52 was a black ops called by VP and intended to sneak a few weapons out to no man’s land for False Flag Ops, PERHAPS in conjunction with that Isreali aborted raid.
And THAT would be HUGE chips to come into the play of the public perception . . . hence all the disinformation and NO evidence of the MSM spin the B-52 was a MISTAKE.
There is a HUGE fissure in our government, and we have been lucky to duck major incidents so far. What we don’t know about behind the scenes reality, if it ever comes out, will chill you to the bone, methinks.
But thanks to Putin, China, and Fallon, et al, saner heads are prevailing, so far.
Back now to all praise for Senator Dodd . . . and NorskeFlamethrower, I’m down with you a bizzillion percent . . . Dodd’s filibuster, and MuKasey’s confirmation should be used to hold feet to fire to reveal the dem’s who ARE failing us, and spotlighting them for what they really are.
That two of them are running for Prsident, well . . . MORE SPOTLIGHT!!! Like the ReThugs, they HATE the light.
*G*
May their feet blister from the light!
Bless Chris Dodd. This is what leadership looks like.
I just sent him my donation.
http://www.reuters.com/news/gl…..e/newsquiz
Take this quiz and find out how news savvy you are!
BTW, Mr. LS emailed it to me from 6′ away, and it took 10 minutes to get to my computer which is on the same server…I figure NSA or somebody stopped it and took the test too!! /s
I’ve been so disheartened by Democratic leadership and the presidential candidate’s lack of any real action, that I’ve kind of tuned out the last few weeks. Last quarter was the first one where I didn’t make a small donation or two to someone…my blog has covered a lot more about Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares than our current national nightmare lately.
If you told me two days I’d be sending Chris Dodd $25, I would have laughed.
But even though I’m living paycheck to paycheck and trying to pay down debt right now – I think this could be a watershed moment where someone actually DOES something and I wanted to send the message that this is important in a way that politics and the media understand…money.
So if you’re on the fence, please consider that …
I sent 250$. Any place we can get some idea of how contributions went as a result. I would like to know if goos behavior does get rewarded.
I sent $250 Anyway we can find out if good behavior is rewarded?
I know there’s a thread upstairs, but I needed to answer what I just knew would be extreme righteous outrage at my “burn the potatoes” analogy (”depravity”? Whoa. I wasn’t aware I was so dangerous! :-) )
First of all, let me explain the analogy: someone once told me that if Mom is in the kitchen behind closed doors, and everything is going wrong, the family in the dining room has no idea of her problems. All they know is that at the prescribed time, a lovely dinner comes out and everyone stuffs his face. Mom, meanwhile, is ready for the booby hatch. Who cares? Everyone’s sated, and blissfully happy.
Now… if she burns the potatoes… the smoke drifts under the door, and the family knows there’s a problem, and feels her pain.
That’s where we are in this country. You wake up every day, and Glenn and Jodi on “Good Morning Oshkosh!” are introducing a cute animal segment. Everything is normal and wonderful in America. The president reviewed the troops. The playoffs are in full swing.
Not a clue that 160 thousand troops are in Hell, for no reason, and are going to stay there permanently; a million Iraqis are dead; we’re bankrupt and our Constitution is being systematically and deliberately shredded. No news director is going to lead with a story about the FISA bill.
And that’s where the voters of today are, by and large. You almost can’t blame them, for not everyone can be students of current affairs, as are we who take interest in political blogs. For that matter, I don’t take interest in some of the things they do, either. Big country. Too big.
When society deteriorates to the point where it becomes too big for you to flip 180 degrees on its butt, the only universe you can control is that dictated by your own conscience. I will never again pull the lever (still the most efficient and fraud-proof voting method, BTW) for someone who is likely to drop a bomb on the children of a country, deemed “the enemy” in the WaPo or New York Times or CNN. I just. Will. Not. Bleeping. Do. It.
See how easy that is? Oh right, another 8 years of Republicans. Well…
I suppose that beats THINKING that people who represent your values are holding office, when they’re not. A good purge of that party’s machers is in order, and long overdue. Let ‘em lose. Trash “our” Congressional majority; give ‘em Rudy or Mitt. Let the potatoes burn. Let the country teeter on the same brink it teetered on, when FDR had to come in and save it via radical surgery.
When the Democratic Party AS WE KNOW IT hurts enough and is on the verge of extinction, they’ll do what the people want. And not until. And then and only then, will it be the people’s party. So simple.
Look, when Ralph Nader (AIEEEE!) first ran against Gore and Bush, Bush was a known quantity to me. I knew about Poppy, the Carlyle Group, the Bay of Pigs, the Saudis, Prescott and the Nazis, Dick Cheney, blah blah… BUT MOST AMERICANS DID NOT.
So I, and we, more than most, knew the criticality of not splitting the vote, and letting these particular Cheney/Bush bastards grab the reins, in 2000. But they did, and it went so far beyond our worst fears, it’s a joke.
When that happened, the hijackers of the system went into overdrive (click my name, and see this 2003 article by William Greider in The Nation). We now have a Patriot Act, hundreds of billions in off-the-budget funding for war, domestic spying, torture by any other name, telecom immunity, world instability… all of these things irreversable, except by A CONGRESS WHO IS NOT THE CURRENT CROP OF PEOPLE. And who are they? Democrats, in the majority.
A hell of a lot of good the “Democrats” did us. It’s like they understand that Hitler’s in charge, and they’re getting on his good side. And when he leaves in 2009, Those Who Run Things will only allow him to be succeeded by someone who has agreed to “play ball” with the Rightful Owners Of America… and as we have just demonstrated, that can be Democratic or Republican.
So, knowing that, I gotta ask myself… which current mainstream party will be better for our country? Sure, back in 2000, it might have been argued that a Democratic Party-dominated government would throw more sops to the people, in a friendlier environment, while still serving the needs of the military-industrial complex, AIPAC, etc.
But there is too much Constitutional and planetary damage that has radically changed our national institutions and world security, to think that either head of the same beast can help us now. You may not vote for Hillary in the primary, but it’s pretty obvious that the fix is in; she will be the nominee, and then, after the elections, it’s either she, working for the beast, or Rudy, working for the beast.
Decisions, decisions.
If it makes you feel any better, you’re hardly the first people to suggest to me that “letting the potatoes burn” is… shockingly!.. not preferable to having a Democratic Party “win”. Just remember: the leaders of the Democratic Party are not “progressives”… and only “progressives” will be willing to blow the whole system up and try to fix it. And short of that happening… why bother?
Here is the difference between the establishment Democratic Party (NOT us “Democrats”; the Party itself!) and the Republicans:
The Democratic Party works for the lobbyists, the war industry, etc… just like the Republicans… only the Democrats generically believe that “the people” shouldn’t suffer too painfully; send them to a doctor occasionally; help some of them to keep their houses; throw them a sop every once in awhile, because hell, it’s the decent thing to do, when the nation’s Owners are running everything, anyway.
The Republicans just say, “Go fuck yourself”.
At least if the R’s continue to rule overtly, we won’t be deluding ourselves, like a bunch of goddamned plaid-jacketed rubes, that the people in the driver’s seat are actually “representing” us.
I’m not “depraved”. I’ve been a liberal Democratic activist, all my adult life (first campaign: c.1971). It’s just that as I said, at some point, it comes down to me. When the bombs fall on Tehran in the wintertime, I want to go to sleep knowing that even if I had no prayer whatsoever of stopping it from happening, at least my index finger wasn’t one-x-millionth of the cause.
(Thanks for the loan of the bandwidth.)
Wonderful! Our politicians are only as strong as the people (and lobbyists) who put them in office. Donations are I am sure great but a letter to your local paper would be great as well.
J
I’m in for $500. This is the first donation I’m making to a presidential contender.
There are a couple of other senators in the Democratic race who are looking pretty bad for not standing up against this disgusting retroactive immunity for telecoms.
It’s one thing to be in the pocket of corporations, but hell, try not to be so blatant about rolling over for them, Hillary.
Dodd, we’ve been waiting for a leader! Way to step up to the plate!
NorseFlameThrower rocks, and on this, so does Dodd.
And here’s that piece from the UK Guardian on Clinton’s “antiwar” credentials.
http://news.independent.co.uk/…..075691.ece
Lastly, where the fuck is John Edwards on this?
I know he’s no longer in the senate, but we need you to speak up John, and let us know if we should be glad or sad about that. And about the possiblity of your being in the white house.
It’s time…make that PAST time, for every democratic candidate to jump on these current hot-button issues like they were hors d’ouvres at a convention of hoboes.
No more farting and tap-dancing; tell us where you stand, or your ass is political roadkill.
,,SENATOR HARRY REID, YOU NEED TO CLARIFY YOUR POSITION AS IT RELATES TO CHRIS DODD PUTTING A HOLD ON THE BILL GRANTING RETROACTIVE TELECOM IMMUNITY.
YOU SAID YOU WILL BRING THIS BILL TO THE FLOOR IN NOVEMBER FOR A DEBATE AND VOTE. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO AROUND SENATOR DODD’S EFFORTS TO HOLD THIS BILL, THEN WE PROMISE YOU SENATOR HARRY REID WE WILL DEDICATE OUR RESOURCES IN DEFEATING YOU, JIM MARSHALL AND GENE TAYLOR IN THE NEXT ELECTION FOR YOUR PERFIDIOUS ACTS.
GET UP OFF YOUR JELL-O LIKE ASSES AND ACT LIKE YOU ARE THE MAJORITY PARTY WHO WAS PUT IN TO KEEP THIS PRESIDENT IN CHECK.
SENATOR PETE STARK DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR COMMENTS …… LOOK AT WHAT MITCH McCONNELL AND HIS OFFICE DID IN SMEARING AND ATTACKING 12 YEAR OLD GRAEME FROST AND 2 YEAR OLD BETHANY WILKERSON ……. IF ANY DEMOCRAT WHO WILL BOW TO THE repuKKKlan BULLYING AND ASK YOU TO APOLOGIZE, TELL THEM TO GO FUUUUUUUUUCK THEMSELVES.
The Democratic Party and The Democratic Congress are like MUNCHKINS in the LAND of MUDGE, where the COWARDLY LIONS in the Democratic Congress are all wearing MAGIC PINK SLIPPERS which they click to have themselves absolved from the Peoples business everytime the MASTERS in the repuKKKlan Party burp.
I’ve never contributed to a Democrat before (or to a Republican either for that matter, tho I tilted that way). I just did.
LS @ 19
What’s Dick Cheney doing in Baltimore?
What a bizarre story.
wigwam @ 57
When we torture and when someone like Mukasey says he isn’t sure waterboarding is torture I can hear Hitler and his henchmen all laughing at us.
Biodun @ 168
IMO, Edwards needs to do a couple of things just now: speak clearly to people about what he did as a lawyer and how he made money (some people don’t realize what he did) and how he distanced himself from any company or group which dishonored him; speak up about the MCA, PATRIOT Act, FISA bill and other bills/laws which relate to the Constitutional issue; begin speaking to a higher-income part of the public about issues more closely related to them.
If he can do these things well, then he’ll remind us why we like him so well. He’ll be able to build our confidence that he’ll protect the Constitution. He’ll help all of us understand how as a lawyer he fought for the common person who needed help. And, he’ll be able to broaden his support if he can convince more voters his goals would benefit more than just the working poor.
On each of these 3 things he can easily refer to many things to flesh out his positions and help people who haven’t previously understood him.
Good thoughts, Mark. I hope John reads them.
if he does it, I’ll dig into my wallet.