It’s time for the people we supposedly elected to do their jobs and be true to their oaths of office. Any takers?

Thank you Scarecrow!

Good morning from L.A. Phone & fax will get a workout this a.m. before I leave, Scarecrow. Thanx for a great wake up post.

Caw, caw, call your Senators! Good morning Scarecrow.

Scarecrow,
Greetings. Does someone have a link to katymines’ toll free numbers for the Capitol? My dialing fingers are itching to go.

I’ve been out of the loop since I lost my job, but I’m glad I checked in this morning. The all-out assault on our Constitution is continuing without a break for elections, we need to remain vigilant. I will be making some calls.

I also decided to become actively involved with my state’s Common Cause group to see if I can’t be more effective in trying to protect our American values.

Got them
1 (800) 828 - 0498
1 (800) 459 - 1887
1 (800) 614 - 2803
1 (866) 340 - 9281
1 (866) 338 - 1015
1 (877) 851 - 6437

Katymine tollfree Congress numbers:

1 (800) 828 - 0498
1 (800) 614 - 2803
1 (866) 340 - 9281
1 (866) 338 - 1015
1 (877) 851 - 6437

Good morning everyone. Important day. Everyone stand up and shout: “Go Chris Dodd!”

GO CHRIS DODD!

We’re with you all the way!

The phone calls have to be made, the action has to be taken, but how horribly sad is it that we have to call our elected representatives and basically beg them to DO THEIR JOB and protect the Constitution?

The 4th Amendment (or any of them, for that matter) is not a SUGGESTION, nor is the separation of powers.

Dodd is a patriot, and a true leader.

Thanks Scarecrow. Yesterday’s front page NYT article on Bush press to use the telecoms to spy on ALL Americans without impunity should be enough to get EVERY Congressperson - Republic AND Democrat on board with this. That they are not, and that Dodd has to mount this filibuster against the Democratic leadership itself speaks volumes about how bankrupt our leadership in Congress is, and how willing they are to sell out the dream which WAS America to the highest corporate bidder.

I will be telling Obama’s and Hillary’s campaign staffs that this Iowa voter and my extended family will be voting for neither if they do not show some leadership today.

“Go Chris Dodd!”

caw CAW! Scarecrow!
You never disappoint, but this post is eXceptional!

I’ll be making calls today, starting with the list above, then calling the rest of the senators who’ve not yet decided to support the fourth amendment.
I’m sure we’ll have a lot of threads covering the filibuster today.
Is there a way to have a running tally of senators who choose to grow a spine ?
Go Scarecrow.
Go Firedoglake.
Go Senator Dodd!!!

epu’ed: here’s the complete list of senators who signed the cloture petition:

Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, Ken Salazar, Daniel K. Inouye, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Frank R. Lautenberg, Debbie Stabenow, Richard J. Durbin, Tom Carper, John Kerry, E. Benjamin Nelson, Evan Bayh, Kent Conrad, Carl Levin, Mark Pryor, Charles Schumer, Jay Rockefeller, S. Whitehouse, Bill Nelson.

… if enough senators join the filibuster - they ought to be able to delay the vote until this weekend (if i’m reading the rule correctly). and this weekend many senators will want to be going home for the christmas holiday…

The phone calls have to be made, the action has to be taken, but how horribly sad is it that we have to call our elected representatives and basically beg them to DO THEIR JOB and protect the Constitution?

that’s our job.

and we can’t expect congress to their job if we don’t do ours.

epu’ed: here’s the complete list of senators who signed the cloture petition:

Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, Ken Salazar, Daniel K. Inouye, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Frank R. Lautenberg, Debbie Stabenow, Richard J. Durbin, Tom Carper, John Kerry, E. Benjamin Nelson, Evan Bayh, Kent Conrad, Carl Levin, Mark Pryor, Charles Schumer, Jay Rockefeller, S. Whitehouse, Bill Nelson.

What is WRONG with these people? Kerry, Durbin, Whitehouse, Leahy? Some of the other Dinos I might have expected, but not these!

Scarecrow,
When we spotlight this post, any suggestions who to direct it to?

oh, and digg this post.

The way I read it is that some Dems are afraid to support the no immunity version of FISA because they don’t want to put their majority hold in jeopardy.
I have to ask, what’s the point of holding a majority if you don’t use it when it’s truly important? Like, NOW?
Can someone explain this to me?

I agree that citizenship requires paying attention and action - but I shouldn’t have to BEG THEM TO NOT GUT THE CONSTITUTION. They take an oath to do that.

I should have to call and say, “support SCHIP, it’s a good program.” I should have to call and say “don’t mess with social security.” I shouldn’t have to call and beg them to support a member of their own party in DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION.

Calling me out for being pissed it’s come to this has you angry at the wrong damned people here. I make the calls. They ignore me. Be pissed at them.

Then it becomes our job to elect better representatives.

they are all getting “wtf?” phone calls this morning….

where i politely ask for an explanation. seriously, i don’t think they are used to having their actions scrutinized… congress has been getting away with deceit for so long.

Boxer’s office is just voicemail when selecting the option to speak with one of her staff members, saying to call back during normal business hours. comment left but i want to call back and get a real person and have my say as a Ca voter.

oh, i’m pissed too.

I’ve finally realized that much of the problem boils down to this: the average American hates what Bush and the Republicans are doing to the country, but the mainstream media have convinced him that partisanship is ugly and distasteful. I hope that over the next few days Dodd and whatever his allies can manage to show that partisanship and fighting is in the best and most noble tradition of American statesmanship.

Also be aware that Harry Reid must have a deal with the phone companies—you call his office and a machine answers so the call goes through, but then you have to push 1 to talk to a person and then the line is busy. So for those who do not have unlimited calling plans, beware.

Called my daughter & future son-in-law to use their fax on this. Many folks @ work are already on board, but I’ll remind them when I see them later.

Sorry, Rev Deb @ 16, haven’t trusted Leahy & Shumer for a long while. Whitehouse is a surprise, though…

Can someone explain procedurally how the filibuster works. All I really remember is that a filibuster keeps the debate open, but I don’t remember for how long and other details. For instance, can other senators take the podium or just Dodd?

Scarecrow,
When we spotlight this post, any suggestions who to direct it to?

oh, and digg this post.

We need this to get as much publicity as possible. Digging helps; Spotlighting to those on morning/afternoon talk shows, news anchors, likely panelists, MSNBC and CNN cable talk shows: Matthews, Abrams, Blitzer, Cafferty. Your local media anchors. Others?

ot - weekly committee hearings list will be up shortly. i’m so excited about the fisa filibuster that i didn’t remember to start it until after midnight last night. thank goodness it’s a slow week for hearings. *g*

but the mainstream media have convinced him that partisanship is ugly and distasteful.

And Obama has helped build this meme. No thank you Senator. You are not helping America.

What is WRONG with these people? Kerry, Durbin, Whitehouse, Leahy?

Has anybody heard anything from these four that makes sense as to why their on Bush’s side on this one? I find this both appalling and astounding. Blackmail? Bribes? What gives?

Keith Olbermann

last week the person in kerry’s office tried to tell me that he must be supporting the filibuster since kennedy was.

right. i think a lot of these senators have even their office staff fooled.

And therein lies the main reason for the Constitutional Crisis in which we now live. Without the last 30 years of carefully constructed storylines about Liberals being tax and spending America-haters, and Cons being responsible patriots, these fascistspoliticians would never be in office.

I’ve felt for years that this is the main issue for us, and FCC Chair Alex P. Keaton Kevin Martin is likely to make it worse by relaxing media consolidation rules in the very near future.

We’re slowly but surely counteracting this in the netroots, but man, we sure have a long way to go yet. Onward and Upward, Sen. Dodd!

Anyone know what time the session is due to be gaveled in?

Don’t forget to remind your Senators to vote no on any and all cloture motions while asking them to save the 4th Amendment and actively support and assist Sen. Dodd’ filibuster.

Yes: Olbermann and this usual reporters. White House and Congressional correspondents for the evening news shows. I never watch the morning shows. Matt Lauer? Who are those people?

10 am - 1 hour and 23 minutes to go. c-span2

selise — I heard ealier that Kerry would help, then saw something else that left me uncertain, so I left him out. We should confirm.

I just called Boxer’s office and when I tried to leave a comment got the message that VM is full. That’s in the 5 to 10 minutes time between your call and mine.
I’ll call again during regular office hours.
Also, I’ve made four calls to the 1-800 number and got through each time. We need more people to get on the horn. I expect to get busy signals at least some of the times.
Call, call, call.
(and remember, redial is your friend.)

Besides calling the Senators, call your Reps. If Dodd’s filibuster fails then it is guaranteed that the senate bill with immunity will make it and it is at direct odds with the House bill. That means conference bill. The House MUST stand firm and NOT go along with a conference bill containing immunity. We have to backstop Dodd by getting the House to stand on the correct side of this chasm.

Contact page for KO.
click letters to msnbc.com, then e-mail

Kerry phone (202) 224-2742
Kerry fax (202) 224-8525

i will call again as soon as the offices open.

was concerned when i didn’t see kerry’s name on the letter to reid. was PISSED when i heard his name on the cloture petition.

Flood them with faxes

Re the exact schedule: Christy will be in contact with Dodd folks and others and will be posting updates later this a.m. Last I heard is that Dodd may not be up until sometime this afternoon. That gives us the morning to get him more support before he starts. If would be great to let him know others are rallying to his side.

As Jane says, the man is 64, and no one has done this in a long, long time.

Which internet fax do you use? I see one called FreeFax,

from my reading of rule 22, dodd will be limited in how much time he can talk (with the overall limit of 30 hours). if he doesn’t get help, i don’t see how they will be able to continue for the full 30 hours (my reading of the rule may be incorrect).

Scumbags. My dem senator is one of them. What’s the matter with him?

Funny that I’m getting alot of leave a message responses on the phone calls, but talked to an actual person (Michael) in Senator Dodd’s office. woo hoo.
Funny pecular, not funny ha ha.

OT: Glenzilla just posted his second of the day: http://www.salon.com/opinion/g.....index.html

is it possible to threaten reid with anything to prevent what he is doing?

is it possible to propose articles of impeachment for seeking to viliolate our constitution?

I want reid to know he is not going to be a lawmaker after this is said and done

he has obvioulsy been promised a position with some telecom or a lucrative lobbgying position

I want him to move on to his next career

this is AMAZING

pelosi and reid, MAN, I am SO PISSED OFF with these two

I wrote this for him and whoever will join him, I hope he gets it and I hope he reads it with some passion on the floor

retro active immunity gives these corporations the right to keep property they have stolen from me.

the MAIN reason we need privacy is NOT to hide information we are most embarrassed, we need privacy to hide information WE ARE MOST PROUD

I need to protect my business contacts, my sources, I need to protect what I have paid for product, what I am willing to pay, what I will bid, what others have bid for my goods

I need to protect my manuscripts, if I am developing a carburetor that will get 150 miles to the gallon, I want to be able to market that for full value and I DON’T want to compete with people who have STOLEN my information.

these corporations have stolen information and they have allowed officials to steal information

I NEED TO BE COMPENSATED for the the information that has been taken from me

IF a company has acted in good faith, in the interest of national security, then they don’t need immunity

and why on earth would they need “immunity” if they haven’t stolen from us?

I don’t want depraved “officials” making believe they can gather my property and I don’t want private corporations gathering my property with impunity

we MUST protect our privacy so we can protect our property

I ALSO don’t want depraved individuals use the cover of government to spy on my wife, I don’t want them using the cover of government to listen in on my daughters private conversations or looking up her dress

and I DON’T want depraved individuals using the cover of government to see ANYTHING that’s the private information of my son, my daughter, my wife, myself.

RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY GIVES CORPORATIONS LICENSE TO KEEP MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

and I want to MAKE SURE they did NOT steal from me, and IF THEY DID THEY NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO THE BAR OF JUSTICE

Sorry. Shouldn’t lower myself to Dan Burton’s level. It’s maddening, though.

It may be too early for a Monday morning to get live persons to talk to in Senate offices; faxes for now; we should pick phone calls up after 9-9:30. In the meantime, e-mail/spotlight to the media would be a good idea. Let’s see how much news coverage we can get. Any call in shows? Washington Journal numbers?

Go Dodd. Shut down the government, it no longer represents the people. The destruction of our Constitution and the senseless deths of our treasured troops is uacceptable.

The standard can no longer be power at any price. The Power belongs to the People and we need to tale it back, peacefully but with purpose.

PUSH, Shove, Shut it Down,
Accoutability has come to town.

Hold them accoutable, support Dodd and the Fillibuster. Get rid of Reed and Pelosi. It is our Freedom and our lives - economically and literally - that they are messing with.

Hillary has to go from the Presidential scene as well. She has been snookered by Bush and Joe, not exactly Presidential.

Stand with Dodd today in his courageous battle against BushCo’s War on Democracy.

a little adendum;

It is an honor to stand on the same side as Senator Dodd on this issue and in defense of our great constitution.

Our proud constitution is under insideous attack from within, has been beaten down and trampled by enemies of freedom, by enablers of despots

her adversaries have a vile contempt for her, her principles and the land she governs with her velvet glove, a glove fabricated by the rule of law

She needs a champion to survive this onslaught, she needs more then one, she needs patriots like our good senator Dodd to give her the strength she needs to survive, her arms are weary, her one mighty voice now a whisper, her weary arms reach for strength…and we count on her to rise to embrace her children.

Dear Senator Dodd,

I fully support you and your filibuster today. Granting retroactive immunity to companies who may have engaged in illegal spying on American citizens is anti-Constitutional. The fourth amendment states:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

I hope all Senators will remember and internalize what the fourth amendment means. They are bound by the oath they took to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

I would also encourage all Senators and Congresspeople to never cast a vote out of fear. Beware of being manipulated and emotionally abused into how you vote. Let reason be your guide always. Stand up for the rights of all Americans. It’s your job.

Respectfully,

- TomR

Washington Journal email and call-in numbers:

Call-In Numbers
Support Republicans:
(202) 737-0001
Support Democrats:
(202) 737-0002
Support Independents:
(202) 628-0205
Outside U.S.:
(202) 628-0184
Email:
journal@c-span.org

I am emailing as well. Just tried to call Cantwell and Murray’s offices and they are busy. I know email is not read, but this is an emergency.

Cat In Seattle

What Athenae said:

No retreat. No surrender. No backing down, no apologizing, no equivocating, no compromising, no bullshitting on the Sunday shows about how it’s all too tough and you had to explain it to your district, and you had to get re-elected, and isn’t it awful how politics just isn’t worthy of the likes of you, and oh, good, you brought your checkbook because I have telemarketers to pay. No knuckling under. No benefit of the doubt. No bipartisan weaseling. No complicity. No cover-ups. No excuses.

Not. One. Fucking. Inch.

Don’t know if the link will work. http://www.first-draft.com/200.....odd-f.html

It seems Some offices in DC are open. In addition to speaking to a live body in Dodd’s office, I just got off the phone with Obama’s office.
The young lady couldn’t tell me if he’s in town or on the trail and I pushed your excellent point that today FISA is more important than the election.
Washington Journal: email is journal@c-span.org. Call in to support Dems # is 1=202-737=0002.

Snarlin’ Arlen’s office assured me last go around that he was against retroactive immunity. I think he should be harassed as well

phone 202-224-4254
fax 202-228-1229 (all I’ve ever gotten on this is busy or no answer btw.)
district office 215-597-7200

If keeping a majority means including that skunk Lieberman then bag it.

Hi Perris. IIRC, Reid isn’t up for re-election until 2010.

IMHO, the best that progressives can do now is to make the Democratic congressional leaders the focus of the primaries, both congressional and presidential, which begin in less than a month. No topic should be more important to rank-and-file democrats across the nation than eliminating the capituators who have been running things in congress. They and their incompetence and betrayal should be the focus. Their names should become infamous: Reid, Rockefeller, Pelosi, Emanuel, Hoyer, etc.

In fact, matters have gotten so absurd that the term “democratic leadership” sounds like an oxymoron to me. That has to change.

I talked to friendly Michael in Dodd’s office, too. Able only to leave a message at “my” senator’s office (Amy Klobuchar-MN). She’s a BIG disappointment to many of us. Fearless county prosecutor has been sucked in to this high stakes game that is politics. And really, isn’t that what it becomes to the insiders? Anyone verify on Kerry? What. Is. That. About???

one benefit of dodd’s filibuster (besides he obvious ones), is that it gives us a good idea of who’s been bullshitting us. and as much as it would pain me to think that leahy is one of them, i’d rather face up to what is true than continue to be deceived.

Quick OT Rev, Did you see that Dan Fogelberg passed away yesterday. He got his start at the Red Herring in the Channing Murray UU Fellowship in Urbana.

I disagree. Surely there is a means by which the Senators can unseat an unfit leader? Surely they are not stuck with a traitor (in every sense of the word, particularly the REAL sense of that word) as a leader? I want them to oust Reid. Doing so would right an immense wrong, would show that the Democrats are willing to take the new direction they promised and we demand to stop and reverse everything Bush and the GOP have done these last 7 years. THAT is why we put them in control, NOT so they could do “bipartisanship” but rather to totally undo the immense damage done. Reid is not the leader needed to do this. In fact, he stands directly in the way of doing this, favoring Bush and the GOP over the good of the nation time and time again. He must, and can, be unseated as leader and, best of all, doing this would likely ensure his resignation from the senate too. Hopefully BEFORE 2010.

I love that line from the Godfather: “Bad news, like dead fish, only gets worse with age.”

Writs of assistance:

In the first place, the writ is universal, being directed “to all and singular justices, sheriffs, constables, and all other officers and subjects”; so that, in short, it is directed to every subject in the King’s dominions. Every one with this writ may be a tyrant; if this commission be legal, a tyrant in a legal manner, also, may control, imprison, or murder any one within the realm. In the next place, it is perpetual; there is no return. A man is accountable to no person for his doings. Every man may reign secure in his petty tyranny, and spread terror and desolation around him, until the trump of the Archangel shall excite different emotions in his soul. In the third place, a person with this writ, in the daytime, may enter all houses, shops, etc., at will, and command all to assist him. Fourthly, by this writ not only deputies, etc., but even their menial servants, are allowed to lord it over us. What is this but to have the curse of Canaan with a witness on us: to be the servants of servants, the most despicable of God’s creation?

Rumor has it Otis’s speech was a big driver for the revolution.

He won’t lose his seat in the senate before 2010. He could certainly lose his Chairmanship when the new congress takes over in 2009, and that’s why “change of leadership” should become the focus of the democratic primaries for the 2008 elections. You and I are in violent agreement. ;-)

I called Sen. Webb’s office, spoke to Will, and asked that Sen. Webb stand by his previous committment to support the Judiciary Bill and Sen. Dodd’s filibuster. Will said that Webb was definitely behind the bill. I guess we’ll just wait and see how that translates if/when the filibuster happens.

Perhaps the people of the great state of Nevada can find a solution to the Reid problem…

Recall of a Public Officers:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Con.....l#Art2Sec9

Chapter 306:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-306.html#NRS306

How far must this country and government slide before we, as a people, begin to hold them accountable? If those we elect refuse to carry out, not only their duty to defend the Constitution, but lie to us while doing it, we have an equal duty to remove them from office.

-Yad

Just talked to Webb’s office, too. Thanked him for having courage and principles that my freshman senator lacks. I am SO fed up with her!!! And yeah, for that microsecond outburst, it was all about me. Now back to all about constitutional integrity.

the crazy thing is that the senators who aren’t telling us their plans… could show up at strategic moments to aid the filibuster - it would make for some dramatic moments on film and make them look like heros.

if they want to.

packerland progressive put together a flow chart, or road map, of the steps of the filibuster procedure at Kos:
I can’t attest to its veracity - but, if accurate - it’s a really interesting picture of a very complex process. I’d encourage folks to take a look.

Anyone connected with the Campaigns know if Clinton, Obama, or Biden have altered their travel to be back in DC for the Cloture vote?

Because this will pretty much tell you what the odds of blocking cloture are, and give you a good indication of how Obama and Clinton want to be seen by the Progressive base.

Anyone know what happened re the plan to keep Congress in session over winter break to thwart the White House’s Current Occupant?

If Suzanne is still here, damn girl, when do you sleep…I just talked to a live body in Boxer’s office in DC. FWIW.

Thanks for making that call.

We should all make sure we’re clear. It’s not just supporting the better bill –e.g., the SJC version (or the House version in conference commitee.)

We need to make sure the Senators (1) help Dodd with the filibuster; as of an hour ago, only Feingold and Kennedy had offered to do so!!! (2) vote with Dodd against cloture when that vote comes up.

Remember the ruse about voting against Alioto, but voting for cloture? — the cloture vote is the key vote. Don’t let anyone wiggle off.

I’d sure like us to turn Senator Whitehouse around — he voted for the SIC version with immunity, but if we could get him to support Dodd today, that could have a significant influence on others.

“No retreat. No surrender.” Got Springsteen tix and he added shows in NJ in July and may add more when those sell out. Summer road trip?

Back to work.

how is reid getting away with forcing dodd to actually stand and filibuster?

even though I am pissed this is happening to dodd, I am also grateful

I think there’s going to be some DEVISTATING speaches and reid concerning this travesty of law and reid in my opinion is going to rue the day he made this decision

I think if it is possible to recall reid, it should be done

I would like to remind us all that we really have 4 branches of government - We the People being the Fourth Branch. Apparently two of them have forgotten about us, except to imagine that we are puppets to be manipulated by propaganda.

We need to remind ourselves, and especially the Legislative Branch that we too have Oversight Responsibilities… that we are scrutinizing them, in addition of course to the Executive. We need to remind them that our scrutiny of them is discovering an abysmal respect for We the People and our rights.

Corporations and special interests are not citizens. They are not part of the Fourth Branch. It is the Fourth Branch, We the People, with whom they have a sacred contract, The Constitution. We are the stakeholders of this country, of our Constitution. They seem to have forgotten that. They seem to have forgotten that we know our rights and expect them to be respected, upheld, and carried forward for generations to come.

To me, the title of the post should be: Who will stand with We the People, along with Senator Dodd?

We are Standing! Where are our elected representatives, with the exception of a few, like Senators Dodd, Feingold, and Kennedy? Why are elected officials failing to stand with We the People?

Who is their constituency, except the People? If they have another, it is a false constitution they serve. Not the one they swore to.

I called every number…doesn’t seem like the lines were busy enough!! Several said “of course he’s supporting immunity”. O’bama’s office took my name and zip…Clinton’s office took my name and zip. Keep calling folks..it matters…do we have someone up on kos asking for the same? I haven’t checked but we need this on every major blog.

i think the diarist is not taking some things into account (like the limits on how long dodd can speak). but… it does give an idea of how complicated the process appears to be and i could be wrong.

the diary started as a comment here. you can see my questions and corrections to that original comment at the link. the concern i have is that the writer could not reference where some of the info was coming from, so i’d take it with a grain of salt.

i did promise to return with more comments… so i should do that. thanks for the reminder.

Is Webb with us on this one?

Remember the ruse about voting against Alioto, but voting for cloture? — the cloture vote is the key vote. Don’t let anyone wiggle off.

kerry of all people should know better. but if he’s forgotten, i’d be happy to remind him.

just tried his dc office, no answer yet. folks at the boston office have no idea what’s going on.

Is Liebermann really gonna endorse McCain? Is that today? If so, won’t that take needed attention away from Dodd? Besides, doesn’t Joe have to be on the floor to help with the filibuster? Yuk, yuk.

Not funny, is it?

From a post this a.m. by Senator Feingold at TPM:

By choosing the Intelligence Committee bill over the Judiciary product, Senator Reid has made things much tougher for those of us who think the courts — not Congress — should decide whether the companies deserve immunity. He’s also made it an uphill struggle of those of us who want more court oversight of the broad new surveillance powers included in the bill.

The first vote will come around noon, on the motion to invoke cloture (or limit debate) on the motion to proceed to (or consider) S. 2248. I expect to speak against the motion before the vote, and will post a link to my remarks after I make them.

We have a big fight on our hands, and unfortunately, the deck is now stacked against us. Instead of being able to defend improvements that were made in the Judiciary Committee, we are going to have to start all over again to try to salvage the good work that was done to improve the bill. This includes adding tougher court oversight and greater protection for the privacy of innocent Americans, and by stripping out the retroactive immunity provision. A vote on the amendment to strike immunity, which Senator Dodd and I will offer, could come fairly soon. We will be pointing out that under current law, companies already get immunity for cooperating with government requests for information — as long as the requests follow requirements that are clearly laid out in the law. If companies didn’t follow this law, and cooperated with illegitimate requests for sensitive information, then we should not hand them a “get out of jail free” card after the fact. Judges should be the ones to make this determination — and to rule on the legality of the warrantless program.

Just gave another $100 to Dodd’s campaign that I couldn’t really afford to give because of his stand on this issue and his filibuster. Have contacted Leahy’s office (not my senator) to demand that he stand up for his bill and with Dodd in the filibuster. Contacted Bayh’s office too, demanding that he support the Constitution and basic civil liberties by supporting Dodd (lot’s of luck there…Bayh is a DINO through and through, a real cancer on his father’s legacy).

Lieberman is looking for VP slot again.

Yes. And bless ‘im real good!!

My exact thought. How sick is THAT? And how dumb are voters? Oh, wait. Our very own Normie Coleman has been Democrat and Republican, depending on what plays to his personal advantage, and MN voted for him. As Paul Wellstone’s “replacement.”

I’ll be on the phone today. This is just MASSIVE as an issue in our country today. As I have said EVERYWHERE before, including previous calls to congress critters, “WHO THE HECK! EVER HEARD OF ‘RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY’? THIS IS AMERICA!”
sheeeeeeesh!
siri@legitgov.org
www.legitgov.org

Campaign travel schedules for sitting senators . . . Clinton was doing live spots on the morning talk shows from a Des Moines diner earlier, so I’m guessing she isn’t going to be in DC. Lieberman’s announcement of his endorsement of McCain is supposed to happen in New Hampshire, so that puts the two of them out of DC as well.

Lieberman is looking for VP slot again.

oh, he’s got that sewn up

and if he flips and does not endorse mccain, instead hillary, then he’s got it sewn up with her

They also elected Jessie Ventura. ;-)

Update from CQ politics (h/t Peterr) on likely amendments, should the intial cloture vote on the Motion to Proceed (MTP) succeed:

True enough. But Jesse was consistently who he said he was when he ran, weird though that may have been. Someone once said that integrity is bringing the same self to every situation, and “The Body” sure had that one mastered!

I want any democrat and every democrat that votes on cloture UNELECTED

Besides calling the Senators, call your Reps. If Dodd’s filibuster fails then it is guaranteed that the senate bill with immunity will make it and it is at direct odds with the House bill. That means conference bill. The House MUST stand firm and NOT go along with a conference bill containing immunity. We have to backstop Dodd by getting the House to stand on the correct side of this chasm.

What Praedor said. We need to be ready for round two.

Also, about the campaigning Senators…to stop a filibuster, those for cloture must produce 60 bodies. The filibustering side is not obligated to produce 41 bodies to sustain a filibuster. Staying in Iowa is weak, but as a purely practical matter staying in Iowa is the same as supporting the filibuster. As a symbolic matter it is kind of sucky.

this week’s hearing list is up. but no committee hearings for today.

My 102 was a response to Praedor’s 40. Thought I hit “Reply” but apparently not. Still getting acclimated to the new digs…

Just spoke to Webb’s office and was told that he definetly supports the Judiciary Version.

You know the country’s in trouble when the legislative branch chooses not to hold the executive branch accountable for abuse of power, an impeachable offense! I faxed my message to the fourteen Senators at 1:30 this AM, so I just got up; when does the hearing start?

Raven,
I did see that. He was the campus folk singer while I was there. Very sad. So young!

Recall does not extend to Senators and Representatives as they are considered “Federal” offices. This is so, even when the state has recall provisions in the state constitution (Arizona may be an exception as I understand they require sworn oaths of thier officials to abide by the recall).

Senators and reps I believe can only be removed by expulsion vote by their particular chamber. James Traficant I believe was the last Rep expelled and I have no idea the last senator but I’m thinking it may not have happened since the Civil War.

How is Al Franken’s campaign going these days?

Staying in Iowa is weak, but as a purely practical matter staying in Iowa is the same as supporting the filibuster. As a symbolic matter it is kind of sucky.

i don’t think this is correct - unless dodd already has all the help he needs on the senate floor (and it doesn’t look like he does). they need to be on the senate floor too - if the are to support the filibuster. this isn’t only about trying to get the votes to block the bill. it’s about trying to run out the clock before the christmas recess… and that means using all 30 hours allotted for debate.

from rule 22:

Thereafter no Senator shall be entitled to speak in all more than one hour on the measure, motion, or other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, the amendments thereto, and motions affecting the same, and it shall be the duty of the Presiding Officer to keep the time of each Senator who speaks. Except by unanimous consent, no amendment shall be proposed after the vote to bring the debate to a close, unless it had been submitted in writing to the Journal Clerk by 1 o’clock p.m. on the day following the filing of the cloture motion if an amendment in the first degree, and unless it had been so submitted at least one hour prior to the beginning of the cloture vote if an amendment in the second degree. No dilatory motion, or dilatory amendment, or amendment not germane shall be in order. Points of order, including questions of relevancy, and appeals from the decision of the Presiding Officer, shall be decided without debate.

After no more than thirty hours of consideration of the measure, motion, or other matter on which cloture has been invoked, the Senate shall proceed, without any further debate on any question, to vote on the final disposition thereof to the exclusion of all amendments not then actually pending before the Senate at that time and to the exclusion of all motions, except a motion to table, or to reconsider and one quorum call on demand to establish the presence of a quorum (and motions required to establish a quorum) immediately before the final vote begins. The thirty hours may be increased by the adoption of a motion, decided without debate, by a threefifths affirmative vote of the Senators duly chosen and sworn, and any such time thus agreed upon shall be equally divided between and controlled by the Majority and Minority Leaders or their designees. However, only one motion to extend time, specified above, may be made in any one calendar day.

If, for any reason, a measure or matter is reprinted after cloture has been invoked, amendments which were in order prior to the reprinting of the measure or matter will continue to be in order and may be conformed and reprinted at the request of the amendment’s sponsor. The conforming changes must be limited to lineation and pagination.

No Senator shall call up more than two amendments until every other Senator shall have had the opportunity to do likewise.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this rule, a Senator may yield all or part of his one hour to the majority or minority floor managers of the measure, motion, or matter or to the Majority or Minority Leader, but each Senator specified shall not have more than two hours so yielded to him and may in turn yield such time to other Senators.

or am i mistaken in my reading?

Appropriate to the day:

http://news.yahoo.com/comics/nonsequitur

[not a permalink - see 12-17-07 print date]

Yup.

Just spoke to Webb’s office and was told that he definetly supports the Judiciary Version.

does that mean he will be on the senate floor supporting the filibuster?

Both the Clinton and Obama campaign sites show them in Iowa today. I called Clinton’s Washington (senate) office and the person I spoke to said she didn’t know where the senator was. I asked if there was someone in the office who did, and after being on hold for a few moments, she came back and said no, that the best she could do was to put me into the scheduler’s email.

Face it, folds, the “support” these two are offering is apparently limited to issuing statements.

Selise — a further point on the need to be present, and not just absent, is that there are slew of amendments that could come up, once they proceed to the bill. The CQ article lists some of those. We need affirmative votes for the amendments we want, not just the absence of votes for those we don’t want.

Perhaps it depends on whether or not Reid is going to force Dodd to do a REAL filibuster, as opposed to the faux filibusters he allows his GOP buddies to do, or no. If Reid intends to extend the favor or a faux filibuster to Dodd (unlikely, given that Reid honors ALL GOP holds but ignores Dodd’s hold) then not being on, or available to be on, the floor is irrelevant.

This is a level of tactics beyond me, so probably you are right. I was focussed on the sixty votes for the cloture vote itself.

I absolutely will not vote for Hillary if she is the nominee…that said, I could vote for Obama or any other Dem (Edwards) if they are the nominee, with a caveat. Obama loses my vote if he fails to show up to support the filibuster. Offering WORDS of encouragement and support don’t count. Actually standing there to filibuster as needed does count. He doesn’t show up then there is no way my vote will show up to help get him elected President.

if i understand the process (and every comment i make needs that disclaimer)… the amendments shouldn’t come up until later this week.

after today’s cloture vote on the motion to proceed, a max of 30 house of debate - then reid can file for cloture on the bill (or on amendments, if he chooses to go that route). once reid files for cloture on a bill or amendment - there is another 2 day wait before that cloture vote. then another 30 hours of debate… and then votes on amendments.

can anyone correct me on this if i have it wrong? thanks!

Thank you Senator Dodd. I will call my senators this morning
in support of your filibuster.

did some reading this weekend - just because i want to have a chance to understand the process enough to catch any fuckery (hope there won’t be any, but hope is not a plan).

will call a parliamentarian in a few to confirm or correct my understanding.

got through to kerry’s office dc office. they don’t know what’s going on either - didn’t know that kerry had signed the cloture petition.

And thus, as it pains me to say it, we see why Kerry was unsuited/unfit to be President. He really really does talk out of his mouth and his ass at the same time.

finally! giulliani is off my c-span2 feed.

Great post. One thing tho, why call the committed? We should all call our OWN Senators. I don’t think they care much when they get calls from non-constituents. Just not sure it matters. Most Congressman, for example, have a “tool” that lets you email them. Many of these tools won’t even take your email if you’re from out of the district. They don’t want to hear from just anyone. Only a voter in their district/state.

I called Durbin last week and was told he supports Dodd. I hope so.

How about a contingency plan in case we lose this one?

My suggestion: Sue the officers and the members of the legal departments of each of the Telcom companies as INDIVIDUALS. Make them prove they didn’t have anything to do with this illegal activity. If they cannot prove it, send ‘em to prison!

Blue Texan will have another post ready in a minute or so —

Thanks to everyone for keeping the calls/faxes, spotlights, diggs, etc going. Christy will be here later with updates on how the FISA debate and Dodd are doing.

What? Are moderators censoring posts to to comments at this site? I posted earlier, then revised and posted again with what I just faxed to Congress. It appeared, but now it has DISAPPEARED? I am posting it again to see what is going on here:

To: Senator Chris Dodd

CC: Senator Richard Lugar
Senator Evan Bayh
Representative Baron Hill
Senator Russ Feingold
Senator Ted Kennedy
Senator Harry Reid

Subj: No Telecom Immunity in FISA.
Restore the Constitution and Rule of Law Instead

I have emailed the following to my friends this morning urging them to support Sen. Dodd in his effort to stop this illegal and unconstitutional attack on the civil liberties of the American people.

Please consider it also a message to you if you are my elected representatives in Congress for the state of Indiana.

As for the others, Feingold and Kennedy, thank you for honoring your oath of office.

As for Sen. Reid, when are you going to start doing the same?

Please consider going to the following URL, and supporting Sen. Dodd, who has promised to take the Senate floor today, 12/17/2007, and filibuster any FISA bill which contains retroactive immunity for the telcoms, who have been massively violating the law and spying on the private phone conversations of American citizens to an extent unparalleled in our history, all with absolute disregard of warrants or due process.

We stand on the cusp of history here. Either we are a nation of laws, or we become a police state peopled by citizens cowering in fear, constantly secretly under surveillance and monitoring, even in our most private moments as we talk on the phone or even check a book out of the library, all without warrant, due process, or any vestige of reference anymore to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

I hope you will consider taking part in expressing your support for Sen. Dodd and his willingness to uphold his oath of office, and try to finally draw a line of defense of our nation and its principles, and the right of its citizens to live under the rule of law, not in a lawless police state.

http://www.thankyoudodd.com/

The following is my communication today by FAX to Senators Lugar, Bayh,
Rep. Hill, Sen. Reid, and Sen. Dodd:

Sen. Dodd,

This is not just a question of one piece of legislation. This is a question of whether or not Congress will assert itself finally and insist that the executive branch and all the actors in the Bush/Cheney administration be held accountable to one simple principle: To act in
accordance with the rule of law under the Constitution and Bill of Rights, ensuring adherence to the principles of due process that require reasonable warrants for all legal activities of surveillance.

To pass the proposed legislation that retroactively provides blanket amnesty for any company that broke the law at the direction of the executive branch is to legitimize what has become the hallmark of this administration, namely a total and complete disregard for any adherence to the rule of law in their actions. Bush has signed over 1,000 signing
statements avowing he will not respect laws passed by Congress. Cheney has declared himself openly a fourth branch of government, denying he is even part of the Executive if it means his office must obey the laws on record keeping or any other activity.

It has really come down to this. We as a nation are skating on thin ice that separates us from the dark, cold waters of fascism and police state totalitarianism, where all citizens are subject to full time warrantless surveillance.

Where does it end if not here? I was watching Democracy Now TV earlier this week. They were interviewing small-scale organic farmers. They report that even the smallest of farms are going to be required to register with the so-called office of Homeland Security, and register all their animals, down to the last chicken and goat.

Where does this end? How does ANYTHING that the Bush / Cheney regime has done differ one whit from Hitler’s Germany as that nation slid towards dictatorship in the mid-1930’s?

Even speaking the above words will rate me as a possible domestic terrorist, according to handbooks and guidelines published in the past few years by the FBI and the so-called department of Homeland Security, because they suggest I might be a dangerous ‘Super Patriot’, because I protest too much about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the need to adhere to the rule of law.

This really needs to be a defining moment, when the few remaining members of the Senate who actually paid attention to their oath of office when they recited it wake up, and start on the salvation of this nation, before it is too late.

D’oh. Didn’t ask that.
But, I did speak with one of Leahy’s staffers on the Judicial Committee. She said that He hasn’t made a statement about supporting the filibuster, but that it would be posted on his website when he does. I’ve got that window up and will be checking it.
I’ve completed calls to the short list of senators.
5 minutes now until Senate gavel. CSPAN-2.

CSPAN just said the vote is scheduled for noon, fwiw

I called Durbin last week and was told he supports Dodd. I hope so.

might want to call back and ask why he signed the cloture petition - that’s taking an active role in fighting dodd.

Where are the patriots in this Congress who will stand up to the destruction of the Constitution?

In 1814 when the White House, The Senate and House of Representatives, the Library of Congress, the United States Treasury building and the Washington Navy Yard with the 44-gun frigate Columbia were burned by invading British forces the President didn’t suspend habeas corpus, terminate the 4th Amendment, pry into the public mails, allow torture, etc. These Congressmen and Madison had real cajones, and realized that they would merely send the “great experiment” back into a Napoleon-esque dictatorship.

Many of the Framers were still alive at that point, of course, and their wisdom was still respected. I doubt if the folks in the Bush Administration and 60-70% of Congress even could pass a basic college exam on the Constitution. After all, when you have former Senator Fred Thompson say that “the judicial branch isn’t an equal branch of Congress…it’s the Third branch”…you have some pretty dumb folks in there.

leahy also signed the cloture petition. see my comment above at 14

Senate is now in session.

Just want to pop in quick to ask folks in MA to call Sen. Kerry (202-224-2742) in support of Dodd’s filibuster. The woman I spoke with said she doesn’t know whether he will support it or not, but she is looking into it and should know within an hour. I really got the sense that we might be able to push him over the edge. So please call if you can…

Dodd’s folks just let us know that Senator Dodd will make a pre-filibuster statement in the Senate on the FISA immunity — should be on C-SPAN 2. He’ll hold a press conference about 12:30 p.m.

hey phred. see my comment above - kerry signed the cloture petition.

HRC was interviewed from Des Moines this morning on Today.

feingold too. reid put that on today’s schedule friday.

I like the new feature announcing New Post Published.
For those who are following FISA and making phone calls and faxing, should we stay here or got to the new Post?

Senator Dodd,

Thank you for taking the time to address our rights. The current administration has gone out of the way to abuse its power.

When Americans sacrifice their rights, according to the Constitution, the terrorists truly have won.

Larry Buchas,
New Britain, CT

Here’s a helpful link at The Seminal that includes a “whip” count on who will support Dodd’s filibuster

Called Obama’s office and they said he doesn’t even have a statement on this!!!! Scum.

hey scarecrow - if you have the chance, will you ask dodd’s folks why no one objected to the unanimous consent request on friday for the cloture vote today - when by the rule it should have been scheduled for tomorrow? thanks.

Jello Jay up. He’s full of it. He’s “proud of the process” Give me a break!

jello jay up.

Surely there is a means by which the Senators can unseat an unfit leader?

Everything can be done or undone if there’s the will. Democrats won’t replace Reid because not enough of them want to. Their presidential candidates, some of whom are senators, haven’t taken a position, let alone returned to Washington to support Dodd. I could be wrong-it’s not unheard of-but there will come a time when the 65% of Americans who do not think Bush is doing a good job will realize the system is broken and needs something more than phone calls and faxes to fix it.

Well, he does have a statement in the letter from the 14 Senators, that he signed. Work him to follow through.

jello jay: must have a bill that will be signed into law by the president.

me: because it’s the job of dems to do bushco’s bidding.

I mentioned that he had issued a statement to support and I was wondering what that meant. They guy said he didn’t know of a statement, asked for my zip code and then unceremoniously cut me off.

Surely there is a means by which the Senators can unseat an unfit leader? Surely they are not stuck with a traitor (in every sense of the word, particularly the REAL sense of that word) as a leader? I want them to oust Reid. Doing so would right an immense wrong, would show that the Democrats are willing to take the new direction they promised and we demand to stop and reverse everything Bush and the GOP have done these last 7 years.

Of course there’s a way. You need to get 51 votes to remove him from the leadership position. That could be done if those opposed to Reed were willing to negotiate with the Republicans and vote in a Republican Speaker. There’s your choice…or one can wait until after the 2008 election and hope that more progressives get elected so that they can force a Party vote on leadership and remove him that way. That would require >25 Senators support removal as Speaker, and the remaining Democratic Senators would support his replacement. Would the Bush-Dogs support Feingold? I doubt it. They might support Webb, though. But with a progressive they might actually jump parties and have a Republican take over.

I know selise — doesn’t mean we can’t put pressure on him before the vote though, eh?

Just tried to post a response to . . . someone above . . . who asked about Franken in MN. Trigger finger here did something and it got et! Franken is out-fundraising Ciresi (nearest opponent). Ciresi is part of the same old, same old malaise that has haunted MN politics for decades (notable exception: maverick free-spirit Wellstone and Ventura). It seems to me people are wearying of that. Endorsement fight coming up in March, I think. Owing to the cancer battle in this household, I can’t be a delegate this year. BTW, headed shortly for David’s first chemo. Hold the fort while we’re gone, okay?

Talked to flak catchers for both Sens Durbin and Obama. Neither said how they will vote.

I let Durbin’s flak catcher know that I vote against a candidate as much as for and will be supporting Pera in Illinois 03. Just because someone is a elected as a Democrat does not mean he is a Democrat.

oh, absolutely. it’s not too late to get him off his ass and on the senate floor in support of the filibuster - i’ve already called both his dc and boston office today.

i just mention the cloture petition because i want to call him on it - i suspect he thought no one would notice. now, imo, he’s got to make up for that if he wants to say he’s against immunity.

he should remember alito - and how senators voted for cloture and then against the nomination. it was kabuki then. and if kerry tries to pull that, we should call him on his kabuki now.

You have the right idea. Phone calls serve a purpose, but what gets noticed is money. Given the choice between stories to report, which would the nightly news carry?
“Senator Dodd filibusters bill” or “Why did Senator Dodd’s campaign fund skyrocket?”

No way Harry Reid wants this on the nightly news.

I’m sorry it’s like that, but if you think Senator Dodd’s actions count for something, after your phone calls, you can do more to help.

If this is not worth at least ten bucks to you, tell us why not? I think it is, and I did better than that. Please contribute now:

https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1318/t/120/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1476

there’s a new post upstairs and so I’m going to add some levity down here, off topic

I just had an epiphame

I just realized in proper use, the word “they” can be singular as well as plural!!!

for instance, if I say;

“you need to ask someone your age”

and they answer “I did”

I can’t say;

“he didn’t want to play?” because that assumes gender, I couldn’t say “he or she didn’t want to play?” because that is too verbose

rather I would say “they didn’t want to play?” even though it is typically plural, in this case it would be singular

interesting

ok, carry on then

IT’S A DONE DEAL! I called each and every one of the 14 and URGED in my strongest manner of expression to SUPPORT DODD, STAND WITH HIM.

The calls went well, as most of you know, there are staff members and then there are RECEPTIVE staff members, but a little warmth in the voice tone and a respectful approach can usually get something “human” from a Senatorial staff member.

I had to wait on hold for only 2, it was a “long hold” on each, one was Clinton (you’d think she could boost her incoming call capacity), and the other was Sherrod Brown. I like Brown. Cute little “Columbo Senator guy”, who is always relevant and articulate.

I’d like to encourage anyone reading this to CALL THEM. It’s GOOD to have a little one on one with the critter’s actual offices, it helps me to feel somewhat better about the current goings on in Congress these days.
Thanks Scarecrow!
CALL THEM! Make it fun, make them smile on the phone. We are legion and need to prove it to the Beltway.
siri@legitgov.org
www.legitgov.org

epu’ed: here’s the complete list of senators who signed the cloture petition:

Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, Ken Salazar, Daniel K. Inouye, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Frank R. Lautenberg, Debbie Stabenow, Richard J. Durbin, Tom Carper, John Kerry, E. Benjamin Nelson, Evan Bayh, Kent Conrad, Carl Levin, Mark Pryor, Charles Schumer, Jay Rockefeller, S. Whitehouse, Bill Nelson.

What is WRONG with these people? Kerry, Durbin, Whitehouse, Leahy? Some of the other Dinos I might have expected, but not these!

The letter wasn’t to support an end to debate it was to INVOKE the CLOTURE RULE…..which ALLOWS a Senator to filibuster (if the Speaker recognizes it)….until 60 Senators vote to end debate. This doesn’t mean that they will vote to either to end the filibuster, or to support the Intelligence Committees version of the Bill. In fact, they may actually assist in the filibuster and vote against the Bill.

We need to lobby hard, and then just wait and see.

Senator Dodd,

Considering your audience, I believe you should include a reading of “My Pet Goat”. Last time someone did that he received almost unanimous support for his positions; if I remember correctly.

FYI, it’s cojones. Cajones are boxes. Maybe that’s the problem…they have cajones instead of huevos.

Christy has Being a patriot is something that you do two flights up.

The 14 is not the ones to focus on. Sure, give them a call to mention that you will be holding them to their promise of support for Dodd’s filibuster. But the REAL focus of the effort must be to ensure that there will not be 60 votes in favor of cloture. Focus most of your attention on those NOT on the list of the 14 so-called “good guys”. Of course, we already know that Obama and Clinton, though on the list of the 14, are NOT really good guys. They are supporting Dodd in word only, not by action. Hit THEM on their perfidy but focus on the others NOT on the list AND call your House Reps and make sure they do NOT support immunity in the conference bill should Dodd’s filibuster fail (thanks to “supporters” like Clinton and Obama).

I don’t see a delay of the vote until the weekend as a “successful filibuster.” it doesn’t block passage, it simply delays it.

That Dodd and Feingold aren’t insisting on the 30 hours of debate, post-cloture, tells me they are putting on a show instead of doing all they can to obstruct passage.

These guys can force multiple cloture votes. Reid files cloture motions when any single senator objects to proceeding. That is, Reid can be put in the position of having to file cloture motions — he doesn’t get to decide to file them or not, if he wants to keep things moving.

Rockefeller is yammering away to protect his Telecom donors. Blah blah we don’t offer immunity for government officials, just illegally-acting telecoms who give me lots of money and support blah blah. Rockefeller is a traitor to the United States of America and the Constitution.

The idea that they can pass culpability from the Telecoms to the federal government is a JOKE! Bush will do his normal scream: “National Security!” and the lawsuits will die. THAT is the plan of Rockefeller and his buddy Bush. They are criminals and traitors.

Filing and passing a cloture motion STOPS a filibuster. Cloture doesn’t enable filibuster, it shortens it.

Ugh! Didn’t realize I’d have to listen to Kit Bond. I’ll need a bath after that. He’s such a disgusting little worm!

I don’t understand. We have a Senate Majority Leader…at this time a Democrat who was elected by other Dems. Or we have a Senate Minority Leader, who I believe is elected by Rethugs. When Senator Trent Lott was Senate Majority Leader, he made a blunder that was considered egregious enough to force his removal from his leadership position. I find it hard to believe that all of his colleagues on the Rethug side voted against him, so how was this done? Surely you’re not saying that every single Democratic Senator has to vote against Harry to remove him. I can see your rules being right for the House, but we do not have a Speaker of the Senate who is the Speaker for all of the Senate, regardless of party like they do in the House. Please explain?

Blergh! Agreed. Altho, he just assured us all that he used to be sort of a student of the Constitution, and he remembers a little of that….

RETIRE SIR, before you’re in Depends! … oh, wait….

That Dodd and Feingold aren’t insisting on the 30 hours of debate, post-cloture, tells me they are putting on a show instead of doing all they can to obstruct passage.

they can’t insist - see rule 22. i just spoke with the senate parliamentarian’s office and confirmed my understanding.

He really is pretty creepy. I especially like the part where he admitted that he passed a bill because he was scared. No thinking needed, apparently

Thank heaven for the toobz! ThymeWannah just took over our cable service &, in their infinite wisdom, decided we no longer should watch C-Span 2 unless we can afford digital.

HEY DODD UP! WOO HOO!

jello jay: must have a bill that will be signed into law by the president.

Why? There’s already a FISA bill that would be returned to once the time-limited one disappears in January. That one is likely easily fixed…or the Courts will view the Bill as containing the intent to cover foreign-to-foreign communications that pass through domestic interchanges.

Leadership at last thanks Scarecrow. I called all on the list and wrote e-maols untill 2:30 AM. From the sound of their voices the senate offices are getting plenty of input. I am standing by for more activism and my familily is tuning over in their graves as is Franklin and Jefferson over the shredding of our rights. We are a proud people and want the stains removed from our reputation. The best remedy is HR 333 Impeachment proceedings now.

Boxers stall responded to #3 button and took my call.

Why are we having a cloture vote??? WTF??

Either Dodd is backing down or they’ve got enough votes to defeat cloture. Anyone out there know?

Senator Todd, you could read this little fairytale.

The Vulcans go to War

Once upon a time there existed a powerful tribe, whose leaders proclaimed that they were the Greatest Tribe on earth. As a new century dawned, the Greatest Tribe was bitterly divided between two parties: the Oranges, who were red, dum and happy; and the Grapes, who were blue, sour and very unhappy because the last election had been stolen by the Oranges. The Grapes were convinced that their man, the Great Kisser should have been chief.
Instead, the candidate selected by the Ultimate Jesters was Little Shrub. It was hard to decipher what to make of him. During the campaign he promised to be humble, compassionate and a uniter. But he got that all backwards. The good news was that he never made mistakes, at least not by his telling. Little Shrub was very religious but not very smart. However, he had inherited from his daddy, chief Big Shrub, a group of Vulcans who were very experienced in running the tribe. They were also a little crazy. The head Vulcan was Chief Liar, an experienced ventriloquist who told Little Shrub what to say and do. The other Vulcans included an old militarist known as Target Picker; a professor of right wing politics named Lupus Neoconus, who taught that the tribe should pick fights with any tribes he didn’t like; Cautious Soldier, a career warrier; and Auntie Ben, who was very close to Little Shrub and just as good at bending the truth into pretzels as Chief Liar.

The Greatest Tribe had antagonized many other tribes over the years, by selling them Coca-Cola and bad sitcoms. Some of these tribes belonged to the Nomad religion and their God told them that they shoudn’t take it anymore and should fight back. One of these fighters started a group called the Basement of Martyrs. His name was Tall Beard and he was very good at getting the angriest of the Nomads organized to fight the Crusaders. After Little Shrub became chief, the Basement staged a terrible and daring raid against two of the tribe’s highest tents and even against the five-sided war tent. Many people died and the entire tribe was shocked and enraged when they saw the pictures of the tents burning. The Greatest Tribe retaliated by attacking Mountanistan, a country which had hosted the Basement. They routed it’s army and chased out the Basement members, but did not defeat or capture them. Tall Beard was especially hard to find because he blended in so well.

Far away, in the great desert, there existed another tribe, the Leopards. They were ruled by an evil dictator, Mother-of-all-Losers. The former chief Big Shrub had tangled with this dictator a decade earlier, had broken many of his swords and chariots, but left him in power. The dictator had been a nuisance since then, but he was not a threat.
Lupus Neoconus had never liked Mother-of-all-Losers, so he and Target Picker started agitating to attack the Leopard tribe next. Lupus had preached for a long time that the Leopards were a threat. Target Picker said that the Leopards had much better targets than the Basement. Little Shrub’s political adviser, Dirty Trickster, thought a war would be a great idea, it would make it much easier to get Little Shrub reelected next time as a wartime chief.
There was just one little catch. The Vulcans had no plausible reason why the evil dictator should be removed by them. They looked to the Central Scouts to provide justification. The Scouts said they thought that the dictator had or was developing awful stuff, including bad stuff, worse stuff and worst stuff. All of this stuff could kill thousands of people, if Mother-of-all-Losers got his hands on it.
A devious and very effective propaganda campaign under the guidance of Dirty Trickster was now started to get the tribe’s people in a wartime mood. Lies and distortions flew left and right. Lies were reclassified as moral values. Nothing was overlooked. Chief Liar got on the road and made speeches that there was No Doubt that the dictator was developing bad stuff, even the worst stuff. He ignored the fact that Scoutmaster had warned that his information was about as solid as wet noodles. Chief Liar was living up to his name. Auntie Ben was no better. She even talked about Mother’s worst stuff leading to smoking mushrooms! Of course, Little Shrub himself did his part. In a big speech before the Council of Elders he claimed that Mother was importing organ pipes and fruitcake to make wurst stuff (this chief always had trouble with his native tongue).
The man responsible for outtribe relations in the Vulcan administration was Cautious Soldier, a man more trusted and respected than the other Vulcans. He advised Little Shrub that the Greatest Tribe should not attack the Leopards without agreement from the Divided Tribes. So Cautious Soldier was given the task to convince the DT. He gave a presentation to the Safety Council. He made many farfetched claims but was weak on substance, except for the well known wet noodles. It was not his finest hour. Not surprisingly, he did not convince important tribes such as the Vintners and the Teutons, nor did the Bears buy his story. The Vintners became quite vocal in opposing a war, which led to the absurd action in Laundryville to rename a vegetable dish the “liberty chips”.
On the other hand, the chief of the Foxes & Hounds tribe, Prime Poodle, backed Little Shrub absolutely. He and Little Shrub got busy armtwisting and bribing a few tribes to go along with their war idea. These tribes eventually joined the coalition of Willing Fools, which included the Kangaroos, the Flamencos, the Warsaws and of course the Mighty Atoll.

Under pressure from the Divided Tribes and especially from Target Picker’s warriers, who had ominously massed near the Leopards’ territory, Mother-of-all-Losers gave in and allowed DT lookyloos to see if indeed he had any bad stuff. They looked high and low, even under the beds in the dictator’s fanciest tents, but found nothing. The dictator even allowed the DT to break some of his longest spears! The lookyloos were still looking for stuff when Little Shrub and his Vulcan gang declared unilaterally that the evil dictator was not to be trusted, the danger was imminent and that they had run out of patience. Besides, the weather forecast was so favorible. The Greatest Tribe and the Foxes & Hounds attacked, with what they called Pow and Wow. They set off their biggest firecrackers, which duly impressed the rest of the world, although they missed their main target, the evil dictator. Target Picker’s warriers quickly marched through the Leopards’ territory and occupied it.

Meanwhile, back in Laundryville, Lupus Neoconus and Target Picker were really pleased. They smoked their war pipes and hallucinated that the Leopards would be delighted to see the Willing Fools and would thank them for liberating them . No such luck. The Willing Fools quickly found out that the Leopards hated other tribes occupying their territory. This should not have come as such a surprise had Little Shrub and his Vulcans done some research into the past. The Foxes & Hounds had had the same hallucinations and learned the same lesson 80 years earlier. But then one has to remember that Little Shrub can’t read, the Vulcans are know-it-alls who don’t like to get confused by the facts and those who counseled caution were poo-pooed by the Vulcan gang. How Prime Poodle forgot the lessons his tribe had learned long ago is hardest to understand.

Sad to say, nobody lived happily ever after. The Greatest Tribe paid dearly for the arrogance and stupidity of their Vulcan masters.

Finally, a Democrat willing to stand up for the Constitution and what is right in this country. Thank you Senator Dodd. Apparently his actions actually helped Harry Reid grow some balls even if only temporarily. Too bad the other Democratic presidential candidates did not care enough to get back to D.C. to help Senator Dodd.