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