Hi Jane!

If those three Democratic candidates were to actually lead on this issue it would be Bad for the GOP.

BTW, that photo is verrry Kennedyesque. I like it.

Sounds good to me!

(Still fuming over the tax rebate scheme…)

“John Edwards is the perfect person to lead with this message.”

Yes.

Okay, I’ll go tell everyone we’re up here.

That’s a brilliant idea.

Lead John lead!

Thanks for the Edwards email; how can we let the Clinton and Obama campaigns know that we want them to follow suit?

Bob in HI

Jane, the link for updates is no good.

Lahoma and i believe that John Edwards is the best person to be president. By far. ;0)

OT..They are dropping like flies:

Matt Blunt is Out in Missouri

kos

Lahoma and kiddo are wise people and Mr. Marion in Savannah and I agree with them. And our house agrees with their house.

Frankly, I’d love Obama and Clinton to behave like statespersons and bow out and throw their support behind Edwards. There I go. having a mega-dream again.

Edwards is gaining media coverage…I think he got a real bump from staying out of the Obama/Hillary fight. He is now considered “above the fray”…

Credo Action launched an action alert today, calling on Senators Clinton Obama (and McCain) to come off the campaign trail to do everything in their power to stop retroactive immunity and a bad FISA bill. You can contact there offices through this page.

After seven years of George W. Bush, we need leaders who will defend Americans’ right to privacy. The opportunity for Clinton, McCain, and Obama to prove their mettle is here.

While I would love to see John Edwards champion this issue as well, what we need in the end is all of our leaders standing up together against any further abuse of the Constitution.

Disclosure: I am consulting for the CREDO Mobile team to stop the Bush administration’s illegal wiretapping program and hold the telecom companies accountable for their lawbreaking. I am no longer connected to Senator Dodd’s campaign.

Thanks, I fixed.

Lahoma says hello. She’s reading this post and the comments beside me here on one of her laptops. ;0)

Ut oh – cannot get that picture puravita mentioned in comment one. Is it of Edwards?

Thanks, Matt. I’ll add it upstairs.

John Edwards should challenge his rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to go back to Washington, DC and fight against retroactive immunity for the telecoms.

Jane, this is an excellent idea, if Edwards does that it shows him the leader he needs to be if he is to overcome the media’s insistence on leaving him out of the presidential discussion

I would like him to point out;

“if we give the telecoms “retro active immunity” we would have granted them the right to acquire information that is not theirs, to use as they might use against the very people they acquired that information in the first place”

add to that;

“it will make it impossible to discover what if any crimes have been committed against Americans under the guise of “national security”, people so depraved they would use our national security as a cover to steal information”

we cannot allow retro active immunity, the hill has taken some tele com campaign funds, she’s gonna be in a tough spot to go along with Edwards but if she wants to be our candidate she will have no choice.

this is win win for America, win win for the democrats, loose loose for the kinds of criminals that think they can use the cover of their office to commit crimes against America, her people and our law

What a coup it would be for him to do this. Give up campaigning while the two who must be there go and do the people’s work they were actually elected to do.

Jane – can you get your suggestion to the Edward’s team? I’m sure Elizabeth will get the point!!

John Edwards leading on this issue will also show the American people who actually cares about their civil rights, and who doesn’t.

I’m looking at you, Barack Obama.

-S

Clinton will be in Laveen AZ today

Senator plans to pitch her own economic stimulus plan at a town hall-style meeting at Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen, AZ

If anyone is over on that side of town & can go ask that very question.

email sent to Edwards.

Permit me to tweak the title of this post just a bit to: Senator Edwards, We Need You.

Gotta go — just sent off an email to Senator Edwards. See you later!

Sorry OT

NEW YORK (CNN) — Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said.

Sad…

Holy OT Ford Motor Company is at $2.24 a share! http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:FORD
Edward’s economic populism should catch fire now.

Uh, I think that’s the point of this post is for US to contact Edwards in numbers to convince him to do this thing.

Jane is one person. We are many more. Most of us vote. He needs voters. He will respond to the number of voters who push him on this.

I checked to make sure the emails delivered to the above address would be read. They do know about this.

Ignore that last post the information is about another company SORRY!

E-mail sent!!

Jane this needs to be done as we did the first time around on FISA. I know Senatro Dood had to change his web site after bowing out of the race,, maybe someone here can find his new and we can support him again.
My letter to Edwards:
“John,
Please go back to DC and support Senator Dood in his endeavors to stop the immunity for the Telco.. You would do your campaign a lot of good and garner more support of the progressive democrats. Also call for Hillary and Barack to join you in the senate to stop this abuse of the constitution and the Rule of law our country is founded on.
Thank you for keeping what really matters on the front burner for all of Americans to see!”

We should also not forget the Impeachment being pushed by Robert Wexler. If you haven’t sign his petition.
http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com

de-lurking to say that I just emailed Edwards.

After seven years of George W. Bush, we need leaders who will defend Americans’ right to privacy. The opportunity for Clinton, McCain, and Obama to prove their mettle is here.

excellent

however I want people to show what is at stake, it’s more then some philosophy of “a right to privacy”

contrary to common discussion, we require a right to privacy not so much to guard the information we are embarrassed but to guard the information WE ARE MOST PROUD;

I don’t want some “official” using the cover of his office to read my manuscript if I’m a writer or working on a thesis

and I don’t want these “officials” lurking behind closed doors to be able to publish my formula that cures the common cold or cancer

and I don’t want to compete against my own schematics if I engineer a carburetor that gives us 100 mph

and I surely don’t want some depraved “officials” using the cover of their office to listen on my wifes personal conversations, look up my daughters dress or follow my son into the bathroom

THAT is why we need privacy protection, NOT to hide what is embarrassing but TO GUARD WHAT WE ARE MOST PROUD

framing the discussion along those lines cuts the neo cons manuevers down at the knees

Ah, everything works fine and indeed, that is a quite cool photograph of John Edwards -quite a handsome fellow and quick and oh so smart.

Edwards/Clinton 2008! ;~)

An empahatic YES! Very well put.

email sent

My email to Mr. Edwards:

Please challenge Obama and Clinton on retroactive immunity for the telecoms. The telecoms along with the Bush Administration broke the law. It was never right to spy on Americans. As far as I am concerned Obama and Clinton helped with the sabotage of our constitution.

Good luck and keep fighting.

I think Edwards also should suggest that both Obama and Clinton address the new NIE on Iran. None of the candidates appear to have altered their stands on Iran significantly even though the US intelligence services are unanimous in stating that there is no evidence that Iran has a nuclear weapons program.

It’s as if they are sucking the teat of AlPaCa and the neo-cons.

When is the next debate that Edwards can talk about this? Are there any more debates in fact?

The next Dem debate is January 31 at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, according to Wolf last night.

Great idea, now to e-mail and spread the word.

I just sent John Edwards an e-mail. I also made it a point to tell him I attended the Nevada caucus and cast my vote for him as well as advocated for his presidency.

Here is an interesting insight. So many Democrats like and respect Edwards yet they stood with either Obama or Clinton. I felt they were on a bandwagon. They had no problem saying they really liked Edwards but, “He’s not viable.” What kind of a statement is that? I guess not if you support someone you think is second rate by comparison but they have more money to spend on campaigning.

Out of the nine precincts he was viable in all getting one delegate in each precinct.

OT Just received from Move on:
Did you see the news this morning? All signs point to recession.
Congress and the President are racing to pass a stimulus package. Here’s the problem:
The President’s plan—tax breaks for corporations and rebate checks for the well-off—isn’t just morally wrong. It’s based on discredited “trickle down” theories and it won’t work.1
But there’s tremendous pressure on Democrats to accept the President’s priorities just to get something passed. Negotiations are happening right now, and Congress needs to hear from you right away!
We need to demand a progressive stimulus package—one that puts money into the hands of people who are feeling the squeeze (who, incidentally, will spend it fastest). One that funds public infrastructure projects that will create new jobs, make our economy more competitive, and reduce our dependence on oil. One that will actually solve the problem.
Can you sign our petition to Congress? Clicking here will add your name:
http://pol.moveon.org/fairstim…..#038;t=639
The petition reads: “Congress must quickly pass a stimulus package that helps those who need it the most and will spend it the fastest. And it should include public investments that will create jobs and move us toward a 21st century, clean energy economy.”
A leading economist at NYU says “We’re facing the risk of a systemic financial crisis.”2 The mortgage, credit card, and auto loan industries are all in trouble. The stock market is tanking as we speak. On top of all that, we’re hemorrhaging $2 billion a week in Iraq.3

In that order. Please. This would be, we feel, a winning ticket.

Thanks. Do you also know when we get to see the frothing-at-the-mouth candidates again?

My note to Senator Edwards:

Please help us and go to Washington and support Senator Dodd. So far, he is the only candidate or former candidate for President who has seemingly recognized the criticality of this issue. Please be a leader and not a follwer on this issue. You will gain voters by doing so.

kiddo and I say, good on you Q.G.!

L. and okk.

Why does Bond have more power than Reid? Too bad that he wants to go forward. I don’t believe for a second that Reid couldn’t stop this if he wanted to. I’m starting to regard Reid the same way I do Lieberman.

Is it fair to say the caucus format worked against Edwards because of the lack of a second round?

Submit questions for the next debate here

Great idea, Jane, email sent to Edwards. Thanks.

The night before.

The pix at the top of Mr. Edwards reminds me of a photo I have seen many times of RFK. ;0)

I also sent my e-mail to John Edwards…

Thanks, Jane.
-S

I am getting the nagging feeling that the MSM is at war with progressives. And if that’s the case, if it’s a fight you want; you’ve got it.

I couldn’t figure out what heading to choose. Wish they had a Freedom or Government or B.Admin heading.

Thanks Jane!

Stay tuned for more updates and action tools from Credo this week and next.

The timidity of the candidates to step up on the FISA/retroactive immunity legislation truly is a test of their “leadership”. Chris Dodd’s principled stand, and Harry Reid’s public fellating of the Telecom Lobbyists by ignoring Dodd’s “hold” on this legislation is telling.

Dodd needs to perhaps look at taking Reid’s place as Majority Leader next year when we gain more seats in the Senate (yes, I believe that will happen) and begin to undo all that has been done by the repukes over the last seven years. Pelosi and Hoyer also need to be shitcanned, and their legacies placed on the scrap-pile of shitty leaders in American Politics.

If Edwards steps up here, he would get not only some of the attention he deserves, but would suck the oxygen out of the Obama-Clinton(s) slap-fest and perhaps move the debating back to substance, not puffery along the lines of nanny-nanny-boo-boo.

My e-mail to Sen. Edwards:

I am a proud supporter of and contributor to your campaign for President. I am writing to suggest that you issue a challenge to Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama to accompany you to Washington next Monday to assist and support Sen. Chris Dodd in his battle against retroactive immunity for the telecoms. While you are no longer a member of Congress your presence and voice would add strength and support to the fight. (Also, by offering to accompany them to Washington they won’t be able to accuse you of trying to get in a day of “free campaigning” while they’re off having to do the business of government that they were elected to do.) Please give consideration to adding your voice and presence to this battle. I feel that you can be a catalyst and leader here.

Plus best wishes to Elizabeth…

Isn’t it amazing that CNN doesn’t have a category for Civil Liberties or FISA or Net Neutrality or Media Consolidation! I chose Leadership.

We have sent the appropriate email to John Edwards. Come on everyone. Do it! And then tell us you did. Please.

Done.

My dear letter to John, I plaguerized what I wrote on this thread (tee hee, I plaguerized myself)

Good day Mr. Edwards!

I am a strong supporter of your candidacy and you platforms as the most likely able to undo the damage done by two terms of an administration determined to dismantle the new deal and bring back a robber baron economy

I wish you all the best in your presidential campaign!

Now I’d like to address telecom immunity;

I hope you can take the lead and insist other candidates claim their position regarding the controversial “retroactive immunity” for crimes that might have been committed.

I would like to make points I am sure you are aware but might not realize how powerful when used to frame the discussion;

If we give the telecoms “retro active immunity” we would have granted them the right to acquire information that is not theirs, to use as they might use against the very people they acquired that information in the first place

It will make it impossible to discover what if any crimes have been committed against Americans under the guise of “national security”, people so depraved they would use our national security as a cover to steal information

we cannot allow retro active immunity, candidates have taken some tele com campaign funds and there is a conflict of interest that must be put to rest, all democrats MUST stand up for the rule of law.

However I would want people to show what is at stake, it’s more then some philosophy of “a right to privacy”

Contrary to common discussion, we require a right to privacy not so much to guard the information we are embarrassed but to guard the information WE ARE MOST PROUD;

I don’t want some “official” using the cover of his office to read my manuscript if I’m a writer or working on a thesis

and I don’t want these “officials” lurking behind closed doors to be able to publish my formula that cures the common cold or cancer

and I don’t want to compete against my own schematics if I engineer a carburetor that gives us 100 mph

and I surely don’t want some depraved “officials” using the cover of their office to listen on my wifes personal conversations, look up my daughters dress or follow my son into the bathroom

THAT is why we need privacy protection, NOT to hide what is embarrassing but TO GUARD WHAT WE ARE MOST PROUD

Framing the discussion along those lines cuts the neo cons maneuvers down at the knees

The very best to you and your campaign

Perris

I’m moving around quickly, so I haven’t read all the comments here, but I did send my email.
Thanks for getting us the address, Jane.

My email to John

1)A Court of law already ruled it illegal

2)The court also ruled no lawyer for the TELCO’s could ever think it was close to legal

3)The Telco’s are actively bribing your fellow senators to get out of legal liability. IT’S NOT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, IT’S A BRIBE!!!

4)QWEST knew it was wrong and refused to comply. IT IS THAT BLACK & WHITE. NO GREY HERE.

5)OUR GOVERNMENT THREW THE QWEST CEO IN JAIL UNDER BOGUS INSIDER TRADING CHARGES AS RETALIATION!!!

6)If the telcos did it for patriotism and not for money, then why did they shut off wiretaps for nonpayment?

7)The idea of retroactive immunity is being pushed by Bush solely to cover his ass. How dare you not stop any legislation that is designed to allow the president to get out of breaking the law?

If you truly want to uphold the rule of law and bring sunlight where darkness has been for almost 8 years, you must stop this bill. Otherwise, you are just another smoke and mirrors guy. Dodd is out of the presidential run and he promised to continue to fight. WILL YOU?

We had a second round. The eight Kucinich people stood next to us and pressured us to stand with Kucinich and make him viable instead. On the second round, the Kucinich people went with Clinton, Obama and Edwards. One stood on principal. I think Obama got the lions share since Kucinich already said he would go with Obama over Clinton or Edwards. As I recall, we got two of the K folks. Several people were Uncommitted and on the second round scattered in every direction. One of my Uncommitted neighbors liked Edwards but went with Obama. Huh!

Call it the Pied Piper Syndrom or Band Wagon psychology but people’s logic never fails to amaze me.

I love that post, a little bit off color but I loved it never the less

Torpedo los!

Thanks. ;0)

Sent letter to Edwards. Thank you, Jane.
Digg, check.
Signup for follow up, check.

hey, get this I just read over at think progress;

mutt romney just said having middle east talks would be the same thing as appeasing hitler

DOES HE HAVE A CLUE?

hitler was trying to overthrow the world, sort of like bush, NOT like Iran

John Edwards is the perfect person to lead with this message. Such an action would illustrate his genuine commitment to change and fighting vested interests in Washington, and hopefully it will channel that intense anti-immunity passion toward his campaign. He won’t be able to participate in the filibuster himself, but by offering to leave the campaign trail and go back to DC with Clinton and Obama he’ll be able to show leadership in challenging all Democrats to put thoughts of personal gain aside and join together in the fight to save the constitution.

Exactly!!

Thank you, Jane!

Thank you, Glenn!

digg it folks

and tell your friends, family and others too.

You done good my friend. ;0)

I had thought that the immunity bill was a done deal. Has that changed (I hope)?

Very good. ;0)

The timidity of the candidates to step up on the FISA/retroactive immunity legislation truly is a test of their “leadership”. Chris Dodd’s principled stand, and Harry Reid’s public fellating of the Telecom Lobbyists by ignoring Dodd’s “hold” on this legislation is telling.

I have a hard copy of the CRS report on” Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate” in front of me and I can’t see any way for Reed to stop it after it was voted out of committee. With 49 Thug votes and 10-12 Bush Dogs it’s pretty bleak. The only thing that Dodd or any Dem can do is object to any and all “unanimous consents” and drag it out as long as possible. With the economy going into the shitter, Reid might need to spend senate time on something else other than grinding out the passage of FISA.

A lot was said about leadership last night that was hot air. For example, if Clinton pushed Walmart for change when she was on the board, no results happened. She obviously didn’t push for them to unionize which would have been meaningful change.

Senator Edwards announced that the last CNN poll and 3 others showed him beating McCain who is far from the Republican nominee and actually probably won’t be–Romney will.

In fact, those polls were in December. Recent January polls–the same ones Edwards referred to showed both Obama and Clinton beating McCain easily. Blitzer, the MA from Johns Hopkins should have known what the current CNN poll and others showed. I don’t know if he does, but I do know that he, and Joe Johns, and Malveaux were completely silent about this fact.

If you want to blame someone for this mess, blame Reid and the Caving Democrats. They knew that the foreplay to Super Tuesday would be now.

The Senate and House knew it when the passed the PAA on August 3 and 4, and you knew it too.

News flash–Clinton and Obama aren’t stopping the foreplay to Super Tuesday. Ain’t gonna happen; and if it did nothing would change because of the number of Democrats in Cave mode on any issue that is connected to so-called National Security.

So what do we have. We have certain defeat on Immunity in the Senate, and I don’t see it changing in the House-Senate Conference Committee–whose actions will be secret from you as to debate and vote. Reid put the Intell. version on the floor of S. 2248. The House bill excluded immunity. So it’s going to Conference Committee.

But the 60 Vote rule is going to doom Immunity most probably because….

The rule on votes that are crucial to it is 3/5 of the members or 60 votes.

It takes 60 votes to amend the bill on the floor to exclued immunity (they don’t have them because of Bush Ditto Head Democrats and Bush Ditto Head Republicans.

It takes 60 votes to invoke cloture on the Dodd lead fillibuster–(they have them because of Bush Ditto Head Democrats and Bush Ditto Head Republicans.

Bin Ladin and the Terrorists are winning the Freedom Foreclosure and they’re winning it hands down because of this.

This desparate plea for a Hail Mary pass that Obama and Clinton leave the campaign trail is made necessary only because of the Democrats you elected to the Senate. Even if they all came back (which they won’t) it wouldn’t change my 60 vote arithmetic above a scintilla.

Reid set this up and he was helped by Bush Ditto Head Democrats in the Senate–all of them including Leahy except Dodd, Feingold, and Kennedy. Read the list of them.

I sent this e-mail to the address:

John, my wife and I have given you several hundred dollars. We don’t want anything but the kind of government you talk about every day, honest and lawful.

You have forced your issues into the campaign. We believe that if you take a strong stand on FISA, and particularly against retroactive immunity for telephone companies, it will force your competitors into the open on this critical issue. It is an obvious example of corruption in government, with lobbyists pouring money into the coffers of key senators and forcing an issue onto the national scene without even the pretense of a national interest, solely for their own good. You already argue that both of your competitors take this money and expect returns. This issue puts that directly into the public discourse, not just the campaign discourse.

Please take every opportunity you have to drag this issue into the public eye.

Thanks to you.

Lahoma and okk.

He only reads when he’s having a face lift.

Funny thinking coming from Mittsolini.

Dugg! Jane we can never give up the fight for what our constitution stands for “equal” rights for all and the rule of LAW!

Funny, I was saying pretty much the same thing last week:

Putting the Dems in that same position – of being the “party of ideas” – requires that you actually have some ideas, Senator. “Kumbayah”, “transcending differences”, “Leadership” (without actually doing anything remotely resembling “leading” like, say supporting Dodd’s next FISA filibuster), “Change” and “let’s all get along” are slogans or methods, not ideas.

(Just as an example:) Rectifying the tax structure so as to facilitate rebuilding the country’s infrastructure in a way which discourages further dependence upon fossil fuel is an “idea”.

Undoing the damage the Republicans did, just to take us back to where we were in 1999, on the other hand, is not so much an idea as it is maintenance on the constitutional structure. Like repairing the roof on the house.

and the week before, too:

[I’m] asking both “what are these ‘agents of change’ doing to effect change?” and “why not [exhibit leadership] now?”

The post here seems, like so many others, to assume that Edwards (and the other candidates) made the One Big Push That Shows Everyone How Seriously They Take Change, and now they can kick back, having punched that part of their ticket.

Lazy. Intellectual and philosophical couch potatoes.

Look at it from another perspective.
* * *
Bushie’s not giving an inch. So, why should we?

So, why is it that a little jig to the Left a full 10 months prior to Election Day is, per the general assumption, all we can expect?

Why can we not expect – and demand – from the candidates who want us to believe they will be Agents Of Change Through Leadership – that they show us both their aggressive pushing their program and their leadership in doing so.

Why can we not demand and expect that Senators Obama and Clinton take up the mantle of defeating the FISA bill (and preventing extension of the so-called Protect America Act), along with Senator Dodd? It seemed everyone (myself included) thought Dodd’s filibuster was not going to work – but he had the courage and leadership ability to make it work. And, lo and behold, the Fourth Amendment lived to see another – what – month and a half?

Why can we not expect Senator Edwards to, for example, lead a protest march on one of his issues – be it economic injustice, ending the war, whatever? Or to use his floor privileges to lobby Senators?

And put Bushie in the position of having to either arrest a candidate for President for exercising the First Amendment of the Constitution he swore to uphold, or let the spectacle go forward? Cindy Sheehan won an appeal of her conviction today [last week] – the government convicted her of a crime which did not exist for protesting at the WH, and she kept on kicking and won at the DC Circuit (opinion here, a 22 page .pdf). Imagine that. A person convicted of a crime that does not exist – wins on appeal.

Or a protest to force the issue of Gitmo before the Supreme Court. 71 people took their courage and wore orange jumpsuits there – and allowed themselves to be arrested.

Maybe a little speechifying on the S.Ct. steps about how “under a Candidate X administration, we will have justices who can look at torture and not spend years pussy-footing a way around condemning it to protect their Repug party friends.”

Go ahead – I’m a candidate. Arrest me. Show the American people what Republicans do.

Martin King routinely led from the front – why can our candidates not do the same?

And why should we settle for only one oomph of change per election cycle?

Pussies.

I can’t speak for Edwards, but I can say for myself and my lady, thanks for your efforts on behalf of Senator Edwards. ;0)

Delurking long enough to say e-mail sent.

Sent my email.
Gak, Mitt is running neck & neck with Bush in the blithering idiot contest. If I didn’t stay so enraged all the time, I’d probably never stop vomiting.

I think it would be great and a sign of leadership for John Edwards to come to DC and fight against this lousy bill. I could be wrong but of the three leading Dems he’s the only one who would. Obama …. maybe. Hilary …. when hell freezes over.

Thanks! Delurking is fun, no?!

Which is exactly Dodd’s idea as I understand it. There are going to be multiple amendments offered and I believe that Dodd is going to deny unanimous consent on each and every one. That’s why Reid pulled it back before Christmas.

Jam the works.

Email sent.

I just had a thought. What if Edwards did exactly as we asked and the media didn’t report it? They aren’t reporting Dodd’s fight. What makes us think that they’d report this?

Here’s my view on the Stimulus Package. What the candidates said last night about targetting the tax rebates to lower and middle-class individuals was okay, but limited. The assistance to States and Municipalities for lost property taxes also needs to be targetted. States and cities need to direct any Federal benefits to the poor, either by hiring them to do things like park maintenance and clean up (in California Schwarzenegger is threatening to close lots of State Parks), Greenergy projects, and other WPA like programs. Cities need to focus on housing assistance and making sure that the homeless and poor get preventative healthcare, dental and vision assistance. They shouldn’t be using the money to help some Sports team build a new arena on the public dime. Make sure public transportation is kept going and even expanded since many folks are going to be using public buses and lightrail to get to work.

Sorry, I’m totally unenthusiastic about any of the Republican “cures” they’ve been offering. How precisely does rescinding the “death tax” for the unproductive heirs of a multimillionaire generate any new productivity. If anything they’ll simply break up the company for cash. if they were not already managing it’s operations. Reducing the various corporate taxes and annuity taxes simply feeds the overinflated bubble of the markets. Giving the wealthy these massive tax cuts simply created a situation where there was greater competition for stagnating corporations, leveraged buy outs, arbitraged transactions, and a completely artificially created bubble. Feeding the wealthy with more easy, unearned cash (e.g. the massive bling used to give loser corporate executives their “golden parachutes” simply to get rid of them). Have lots more cash, at low interest rates, whatcha gonna do with it? Get in a bidding war for some business, and inflate its actual worth.

The cycle begins again.

I sent my email.

I said that if he couldn’t go to DC, he should make sure to make it a very prominent part of his speeches. (We need to make sure not to go after him if he can’t actually go there…) I’m sure that if he can, he will.

The thing is that in order to get elected he must be “seen” and be able to get his message out to the public via his stump speeches. If he does go to DC, it will only help if he gets coverage for doing so; going there and being invisible won’t help him get elected. Just sayin’.

BREAKING.
the other Glen, Glen Fine, is said to be within 3 months of a “scathing report,” according to the Muck.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005117.php

Won’t that be fine! Also Baby Blount the legally challenged gov. of Missouri has announced he will not run. As he was already running adverts, there is suspicion that there something is in the works that bodes ill for him.

that’s two republicans hitting the dust in the space of a few hours. yipee.

In our house we have come to the conclusion that the difference between HRC, Obama and Edwards is this: Clinton and Obama want to be president, perhaps for historical reasons or matters of ego, or both. Edwards just wants to do the right thing.

Not just “above the fray” — the grownup between two squabbling kids as Bill’n’Hill beat up on Barack.

David vs the “entitled” Goliaths. Clue, Hill and Barry, you ain’t entitled. You gotta earn it.

And great picture, Jane! So totally grown-up, focused, serious, committed to the epic battle, not just the politics of horserace.

Edwards08

Without the help of the presidential candidates, we are doomed to lose this fight.

I can’t get past this line. This should not be. And, quite frankly, it’s all Harry Reid’s fault.

Kinda thought you would. ;0)

okk and L.

Then we need to force them to cover it by press releases and having Edwards call out Clinton and Obama both to do the correct thing. If all three are in DC, it will also draw attention to WHY they’ve left the campaign trail right before a big payoff day.

And if they choose to NOT do this, then they should be marked as conniving snakes rather than as Leaders.

Three months!!! I can’t wait for 3 months to find out what that is, that is…..torture!!!

Well if we all make a big stink about it they will..ie e-mails written letters, phone calls etc we can and will make sure!

That’s great!

Come on out more often, loubarr!!

We like what you’re saying.

A lot was said about leadership last night that was hot air. For example, if Clinton pushed Walmart for change when she was on the board, no results happened. She obviously didn’t push for them to unionize which would have been meaningful change.

Senator Edwards announced that the last CNN poll and 3 others showed him beating McCain who is far from the Republican nominee and actually probably won’t be–Romney will.

In fact, those polls were in December. Recent January polls–the same ones Edwards referred to showed both Obama and Clinton beating McCain easily. Blitzer, the MA from Johns Hopkins should have known what the current CNN poll and others showed. I don’t know if he does, but I do know that he, and Joe Johns, and Malveaux were completely silent about this fact.

If you want to blame someone for this mess, blame Reid and the Caving Democrats. They knew that the foreplay to Super Tuesday would be now.

The Senate and House knew it when the passed the PAA on August 3 and 4, and you knew it too.

News flash–Clinton and Obama aren’t stopping the campaign before Super Tuesday. Ain’t gonna happen; and if it did nothing would change because of the number of Democrats in Cave mode on any issue that is connected to so-called National Security.

So what do we have. We have certain defeat on Immunity in the Senate, and I don’t see it changing in the House-Senate Conference Committee–whose actions will be secret from you as to debate and vote. Reid put the Intell. version on the floor of S. 2248. The House bill excluded immunity. So it’s going to Conference Committee.

But the 60 Vote rule is going to doom Immunity most probably because….

The rule on votes that are crucial to it is 3/5 of the members or 60 votes.

It takes 60 votes to amend the bill on the floor to exclued immunity (they don’t have them because of Bush Ditto Head Democrats and Bush Ditto Head Republicans.

It takes 60 votes to invoke cloture on the Dodd lead fillibuster–(they have them because of Bush Ditto Head Democrats and Bush Ditto Head Republicans.

Bin Ladin and the Terrorists are winning the Freedom Foreclosure and they’re winning it hands down because of this.

This desparate plea for a Hail Mary pass that Obama and Clinton leave the campaign trail is made necessary only because of the Democrats you elected to the Senate. Even if they all came back (which they won’t) it wouldn’t change my 60 vote arithmetic above a scintilla.

Reid set this up and he was helped by Bush Ditto Head Democrats in the Senate–all of them including Leahy except Dodd, Feingold, and Kennedy. Read the list of them.

Can you do a double digg? Guess not.

I sent my email (I copied bits from others here, thank you).

I added the following: “
I will be attending the Democratic caucuses in Minnesota in two weeks. This is a very important issue to me. Outcomes of the FISA vote will go a long way to determine who I will give my vocal support to at the caucus. I hope I can count on your voice against immunity.”

Don’t you just love this pix.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..y_stimulus

When Clinton & Obama were duking it out, I enjoyed Edwards bringing up other issues, when he got an opportunity. Sucky media mods.

I wish team Edwards could toss together an advertisement for a bunch of progressives to pitch in and get on the airwaves.. much like they did with anti war ads last summer.

Good idea.

Why pass anything? The earlier FISA Bill is just fine. Let the FISA REFORM act die. 60 votes is harder to obtain than 50. Simply offer up a much more limited revision without immunity…and work for the 50 to vote down the REFORM ACT of 2007.

In addition Bush cannot veto a Bill already passed. Most people think that the courts would concur that the issue of thru international telecommunication using a domestic server is really not something that would hold up legal investigations.

Why not suggest that to him? In addition to an email, perhaps the linky provided by Teddy last night would grab a different pair of eyes…. ; )

Edwards’ economic populism should have him closer in this race. It’s discouraging that working people are not paying attention and are overlooking their interests in the name of celebrity candidates and the whole range of BS that the MSM has decided should be the only factor in this campaign.

I was suprised that Romney took a shot at the Edwards’ “2 Americas” theme recently. Is it possible that the Rethugs polling is telling them something that I should be encouraged about?

Example of Letter to John Edwards:

Help Wanted – Democratic Leadership to Fight FISA Immunity; Minimum Wage, No Thanks

I commend your previous leadership in the fight against immunity for FISA-related crimes. I hope that you will provide that leadership again. You will have the hearts and minds – and not a few pocket books – of middle America behind you. The Senate Democratic leadership? Not so much.

I believe that the telecoms knew exactly what the demands of the law were and that they ignored them in favor of speedy approvals for their mega-mergers, for large government contracts, and to avoid the prosecutorial wrath of a disappointed Dick Cheney. The administration knew what it was asking of these companies, and put thirty pieces of silver and a big stick on the table to get it.

This behavior does not deserve immunity; it deserves prosecution for violating constitutional prohibitions on illegal searches and seizures and federal statutes. New, large contributions to your former colleagues suggest that telecoms companies know that judgment may unexpectedly come their way, and that they hope to avoid it by tempting their judges. For once, they should be disappointed.

Like torture, FISA crimes have become the centerpiece of the Bush administration’s “national security” state. They embody its aspirations to be above the law, to debase its enemies and to instill fear in its opponents (foreign and domestic). Immunity is the key to avoiding liability for these crimes and to obtaining the legal basis from Congress to keep doing them. It is a deceptive way to repeal the FISA legislation – a goal of Dick Cheney for thirty years.

America was built on the aspiration that the law applies equally to rich and poor, to GOP and Democrat, to church goer and atheist, to White House official and food service attendant. Immunity would geld that aspiration and turn us all into less than three-fifths a person. Thank you.

Yesiree. FISA and the Patriot Act are netting us rotten terrorist fish right and left.

Good idea. Will do.

I just sent an email. I asked Sen. Edwards to please show some leadership on this issue and stand up for the rule of law. Suspend your campaign and force Clinton and Obama to go to the Senate and stand with Senator Dodd. It will pay off in spades.

I submitted this question for the last MSNBC debate. No luck. But it would be cool to see it in the debate.

In addition Bush cannot veto a Bill already passed. Most people think that the courts would concur that the issue of thru international telecommunication using a domestic server is really not something that would hold up legal investigations.

Bush can only subtract via the signing statements and not add, right? In other words, if they send him a modified bill as you suggest he can’t just give his BFF telecoms immunity anyway.

Australia’s markets up 5%.

Somebody made a whole lot of money in the last 24 hours.

Is this want’s meant by “somke and mirrors”?

What the Fed’s big rate cut means to you
For average Americans, cheaper borrowing, but smaller returns for savings

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22787803/

Ouch! Firefighter: Giuliani ran away like a coward on 9/11…:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0122.html

Did anyone else go to the Nevada Caucuses? I was there (in support of John Edwards) and it was a complete sham. Clinton had paid most of her supporters, including hotels. I have no problem with losing a fair fight, but this was anything but.

I was just hoping to get in and observe, but it turned out that we could have voted! I’m from LA! At that point, I dismissed any validity to the results and felt a pang of remorse for our democracy.

From my letter:

I was a strong supporter of your campaign in 2004, contributing both my vote in the Florida primary and my financial support long before that. Your campaign this year is quite exciting and I especially appreciate your more aggressive language on populist issues.

I believe that with bold action, you can seize the initiative in a campaign that now appears to be mired in sniping between your opponents. There is no better issue on which you can move to the forefront than that of retroactive immunity for telecom companies. This is your fight. This is the little guy protecting his information against the huge corporations. This is fighting back against government abuse that has broken the law. You have the desire, the vision and the experience to lead this fight for the American people.

Polling on this issue is clear. A majority of Americans want only legal wiretapping and want no part of retroactive immunity for corporations which broke the law. The American people are desperate for new, bold leadership based on principles. For seven long years, we have been subjected to erosion of our rights because of overplayed fears. The result is that the abuses put in place by the Bush Administration have made us no more secure but, instead, have lined the coffers of their favorite corporations.

If you will take the lead now and commit to fighting retroactive immunity, you have the power to focus the country on this issue. A large number of us in the progressive community stand ready to support you in this fight. We will see that you have a large influx of funding. In December, we mobilized over a half million emails to the Senate in one day. We can do that and more again, with your leadership. I believe that your standing in the current campaign can be given a significant, and victorious, push if you will take the lead on this issue.

Many thanks to you and Elizabeth for your faithful service to our country.

I can no longer stand the excitement. Plus I’ve had an inquiry surrounding supper.

You have a rather intimate knowledge of Senate procedure. Congratulations.

I’m curious where that comes from?

Everyone in this house (including the supercilious Siamese cat) agrees with you. The black cat has been an Edwards supporter for years…

Yep, I just sent my message to John Edwards… I agree that he’s the person to lead on this.

Of course, I see him leading on pretty much everything that I, as a true-blue Democrat, hold dear.

Great idea Jane, I just sent Senator Edwards my email of encouragement.

Are we hoping Reid and Pelosi will just let the current FISA (fizzle) expire and remain expired until next year?

We love us some Siamese. We are cat freaks of any stripe.

We hear you. ;0)

I posted the thread as a diary entry on the JRE blog

Agree. Let’s not forget in all this excitement that as important as electing a Democratic President is un-electing a host of Bush Dogs and replacing them with committed progressives. That includes Reid, Rahm and others.

synoia posted this downstairs and I don’t want it epu’d because it is too important;

Chaney knew this was coming, and was part of the plan & timing to announce the bond insurance credit rating write down just before a 3 day weekend.

Chaney shorted the market two weeks ago, and has doubled his fortune, along with all the other senior administration figures and many well connected rich republicans

this needs the follow up and it needs to become part of the campaign speeches from ALL democratic candidates

“Are we hoping Reid and Pelosi will just let the current FISA (fizzle) expire and remain expired until next year?”

That would be much better than passing the SSCI draft of the FISA legislation. Or for that matter, any amended proposal that includes
a.) immunity for telcoms and admin partners in crime
b.) basket warrants
c.) weakening of the oversight of FISA courts.

Please consult the FISA Guidelines posted on the Congressional Progressive Caucus website for other details.

Bob in HI

Whooooooa. Asking John Edwards to suspend his campaign? What is that about?

No. He should not suspend his campaign to force Hillary and Obama to do their current job in Congress. We should. We should not be rewarding them with votes and headlines and pride over the fact that they have not lead in the Senate…. ever. Senator Dodd is the leader of the Senate.

Besides emailing Hillary/Obama and bombarding cnn/msnbc with their lackluster performance on leading and reporting the facts, we should be donating like crazy to John Edwards campaign since he’s been the leader through this entire campaign. His message is what we hear come out of their mouths.

Yes, I agree John Edwards should be calling upon them to be doing their jobs on the Telecom issue and be back in their Senate seats, not on the campaign trail. He should hammer them on this and kyl-lieberman. He should be calling them on the current financial crisis because we all saw this coming. Edwards has had a plan for it for months. Where was congress?

Here’s what I think would restore consumer confidence over night: Impeachment. Frog marching. That’s my stimulus package.

John Edwards should not leave the campaign trail to go to Washington. That would be a cheap stunt kind of move. He’s a serious leader already.

Good idea…… part of it anyway. Thank you, Jane. I think Dodd should endorse John Edwards.

In the mail John Edwards received from Martin Luther King III after their meeting on Saturday, he told hime to “Keep fighting” and I agree. He doesn’t need to leave the campaign trail to make this challenge.

:-)

thanks

perris, is there a link to the Cheney story?

Thanks Bob.

Stepping away but I’ll look later for a link.
That would be explosive if it could be verified.

Chris Dodd’s campaign website may be defunct, but his widget for contacting Senators is not!

Contact Clinton, Obama, and McCain and tell them to get back to DC to support Dodd.

You can even use the widget to contact Sen Dodd and tell him you support his efforts!

Todd! That’s incredible! You could have voted? She paid for hotel for her voters?

I heard in one bc clip bill report that there were pubbie radio ads for pubs to come down and vote for hill to mess with the results? Hear anything about that.

Thanks for your report. I guess that’s what “open caucus” means?

Is this the poll you are talking about?

Diageo/Hotline Poll conducted by Financial Dynamics. Jan. 10-12, 2008. N=803 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.5.

“Now thinking about the next election for president in 2008, if the election for U.S. president were held today, would you be voting for the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate?” Options rotated

Republican Candidate 33% Democratic Candidate 48% Neither 4% Unsure 15%
[Democratic Candidate up by 2% Since December]

“Now, suppose the general election for president in 2008 were being held today between Republican [see below] and Democrat [see below] — for whom would you vote?” If Unsure: “Which way would you lean as of today?” Names rotated

John McCain(R)42% Barack Obama(D)43% Unsure 14% (w/in margin of error)
John McCain(R)48% Hillary Clinton(D)45% Unsure 8% (w/in margin of error)
John McCain (R)48% John Edwards (D)40% Unsure 12%

Mike Huckabee (R) 31% Barack Obama (D)54% Unsure 15%
Mike Huckabee (R) 40% Hillary Clinton (D)49% Unsure 11%
Mike Huckabee (R)33% John Edwards (D)48% Unsure 19%

Mitt Romney (R) 27% Barack Obama (D)57% Unsure 15%
Mitt Romney (R) 39% Hillary Clinton (D) 50% Unsure 11%
Mitt Romney(R) 34% John Edwards (D)50% Unsure 16%

Rudy Giuliani (R) 34% Barack Obama (D)56% Unsure 10%
Rudy Giuliani (R) 41 % Hillary Clinton (D)51% Unsure 8%
Rudy Giuliani (R) 31% John Edwards (D) 51% Unsure 18%

One point. This was just after Obama’s victory in the Iowa Caucuses. So that might have given him a little bounce over the other two candidates. Hillary’s subsequent wins may. likewise have given her a bounce if the polls were taken after these. It’s interesting that McCain does so well given his poor showing in Iowa, though. This poll could suggest that he’s actually the strongest of the Republican candidates…though there is a general tendency to desire a Democratic candidate generically. Could that mean the “undecideds” will split towards a “Democrat…any Democrat”?

Thanks – I sent an e-mail too.

But I feel that, somehow, yours might get read while mine may only be “counted”.

perris, is there a link to the Cheney story?

the poster didn’t leave a link, nor did I research the data but I do remember reading it before it was posted downstairs

Maybe this?

Cheney Bets on An Economic Collapse

I learn a lot about Senate Procedure from the EW threads and from the well informed people who comment here actually–many of the people who comment at both sites, and the headliners at FDL/EW, including Marcy constantly teach me nuances or give me incentive to look up rules/procedures.

And every time I hear the retread tired old absurd rhetoric of people like Peter King and Tom Ridge and Repubicans in Congress my blood boils just a little more. Never have so many people been brain washed and exulted in promoting what have been proven to be such lost causes for this country. (Iraq, email/backup destruction and hiding, destruction of CIA tapes, Blackwater murders and the idea they are beyond good and evil).

There are a lot of great blogs linked here on the blog roll, and they in turn have more of them on their blog rolls. If only there were time to read them all.

This site has forced me to try to learn rules and history I never looked into before. I don’t remember any primary where I followed every state and every twist and turn closely until now– or even knew all the candidates for both parties as simplistic as that sounds, but this one is close and historic, and I haven’t seen anything remotely like the last seven years of this administration and the agencies they have damaged so severly.FDL makes it much easier to follow, and of course has information that regrettably MSM, including the best papers simply miss or ignore.

I’m sure glad Katy is doing better–if my dog develops anything out of the ordinary it becomes a #1 priority.

Last week, I was blocked/delayed because a term I used for Senator Clinton was deemed offensive. I stopped using it, but I’m still being delayed 30 minutes or so, and it’s difficult to tell why since no terms associated with people are remotely offensive. It makes it difficult to interact when you don’t know if your post is getting up. I can’t see any good reason my posts are being delayed at this point.

Laura Flanders is on CNN. I am shocked in a good way though.

Very interesting. Great post.

The Congressional dems and their trying to marshall little boy bush into compliance by standing by was just such a wrong headed move. They should have taken to public ridicule and taken the truth to the public to create a demand. But they did nothing. Pelosi with her “we are the leaders” and their little “we’ll show you snit” really is only motivating from 4 year olds to wimpy parents…. not the other way around. I just don’t understand their snitfit and I’ve been sickened by hearing them do nothing but whine. They maybe could not have gotten 60 votes still, but they would not be facing losing the majority in the Senate ….. maybe worse.

Hillary and Obama should have really been leading that fight and they might have more cred in the leadership department. They certainly lead in the marketing themselves though. Wrong focus that. :-)

One point. This was just after Obama’s victory in the Iowa Caucuses. So that might have given him a little bounce over the other two candidates. Hillary’s subsequent wins may likewise have given her a bounce if the polls were taken after these. It’s interesting that McCain does so well given his poor showing in Iowa, though. This poll could suggest that he’s actually the strongest of the Republican candidates…though there is a general tendency to desire a Democratic candidate generically. Could that mean the “undecideds” will split towards a “Democrat…any Democrat”?

Yes–everything you say is correct. I don’t pretend to understand polling very well–there are a lot of people here with real experience in doing them. I’m not sure how McCain has become the presumed Republican winner at this point at all. I know his name was mentioned by all 3 debaters in that context last night, but there is a way to go before we know.

Figuring out how undecides and Independents will vote, and how many people will show up from different groups in the primaries and the general is a tough business.

I think that Rudy 912 is actually fighting for his life–and that it’s between Romney and McCain–and I know conventional wisdeom is that Thompson’s fans will go to McCain, but I’m not sure.

I joined the the email blizzard to John Edwards.
Karen

Jane, this is what is so inspiring about you. The brilliant stroke. Yes, he is the most likely of the three to step up in support of this.

And I have to add, though I highly value this site for its information, I also value it for its action.

Action. Take that Andrew Cockburn, for the blogs’ confusing a medium with a movement. See also, Blue America, Andy.

Good call, Jane! On it, and I forwarded it to a half-dozen other Edwards supporters.

wow. i dugg that article as well as the original Kiplingers article that it linked to.

Here’s another, direct from the Kiplinger’s article cited in the other story, which is more explicit on Cheney’s investment managers strategy.

Cheney’s Funds Bet on Economic Collapse

The one problem I have with this story is that the sub-prime exposure was not compartmentalized to the US economy, as we have seen over the past two days. In fact, foreign markets plunged between 5-10%…the Dow and Nasdaq, which may still fall, fell today “only” 1-2%. It suggests that the Vanguard Fund may be a more conservative investor in munipal bonds, and thus may weather the European market collapse better. But we’d really have to see where that money is squirreled away.

I do know that Edwards lost a lot on his Hedge Funds invested abroad. Divisions of Fortress Investment Group, like Eurocastle, Aircastle, Brookdale, GAGFAH, Drawbridge, Fortezza Sisterco, FIF and BC Holdings…took deep hits on the Euro Markets…although they have been dropping significantly since March. I haven’t looked at how much these lost on Monday and Tuesday, but up to that point they’d lost between half and two-thirds their value of January due to the fact that they were involved in buying up distressed sub-prime mortgages.

thanx, that link does the trick

Why do you call it “retroactive immunity?” It sounds like AMNESTY to me.

OK, I bit. Sent a contribution and an email. Can’t just sit here and tut-tut, I suppose. I have to add that I am not super-polarized re the candidates – I sent a contribution to Obama earlier. I wasn’t quite as concerned about HRC having adequate $, so…
Anyway, not a bad idea , and along with FISA I like to reinforce the thought that helping lower income folks is popular with a lot of voters. Water the roots and the tree will flourish.

Action. Take that Andrew Cockburn, for the blogs’ confusing a medium with a movement. See also, Blue America, Andy.

Guess I’ll have to google that to see what you’re saying. And, hmm, medium and movement are strangely combined these days. Funny, that.

Just emailed John, that was fun!

I think it’s in the current, subscription-only section of CounterPunch.

Senator Edwards,
I have supported your presidential campaign this year and in ‘04. This morning I sent another small donation, $20, to add to the $25 I sent January 4th. I support you wholeheartedly and as much as I can financially.

I believe that giving the telecoms immunity from their unwarranted invasion of my 4th amendment right against unreasonable searches will further embolden this administration to take away more of my rights.

This is an opportunity to highlight why your candidacy is important for us, not just you. We must stop this wholesale gutting of what this great country represents – FREEDOM. The telecoms knew they were breaking the law and they betted that their cronies in the Whitehouse would give them immunity. They violated my right against unreasonable searches, and I don’t know if we yet know the full extent of the consequences of their actions. So we don’t really know the full damages from their actions as of today.

Stand up Senator Edwards and speak the truth to power. Stand up to this latest attack on our bill of rights. Now just for us, but for the whole world that looks to us as that real beacon of freedom and justice. Stand up – speak up – it’s not just about economic justice issues – it’s about what we as America stand for. No to wholesale immunity for widespread spying on Americans. No…..it’s not what we do in America, and those who do spy, do not deserve our great mantle of freedom, they deserve to be prosecuted.

Sincerely,Carmen

I’ve seen that site before, not recently. I’ll check it out, see what you’re saying.

See also a recent post by Scott Horton in No Comment, taking to task Cheney’s personal investments, and his “stewardship” of Halliburton and the US economy, which has essentially let the poachers empty the forest, while he fires the gamekeepers.

http://www.harpers.org/archive…..c-90002222

I’m on board and am mobilizing my list right now!

Matt, et all
I added this to my submission

A special note to Senator Obama.
I voted to send you to Washington.
While I understand you have been campaigning for President since your arrival there and may not have felt free to vote your concience on every Constitutional issue thus far, this one is make or break for me. It is time to STAND UP AND SHOW US WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF. Some of your masterful oratory in support of Senator Dodd at this time would do that.

Indeed you mention the most important thing we must do. Clean out the Houses of Congress. Far more important than whether TweedleDee or TweedleDumer become President is our continuing campaign to fill Congress with real progressives.

Only Congress can stand up to the excesses we already see from SCOTUS and only Congress can check the insanity of the ‘Unitary Executive’ we can and must make it our bulwark our champion in the fights ahead.

Take back Congress and everything changes.

As I understand it, “amnesty” excuses non-recurring, prior bad conduct. “Immunity” covers past and present, allowing bad actors to continue pillaging, violating current law at will by changing the law so that it no longer limits their conduct, and by excusing them from paying any consequences.

The latter fits the gaping holes in Bush and Cheney’s personalities, and describes their approach to governing. It’s medieval economics: one cannot create wealth, but it can be stolen. They then not only absolve the stealers from the customary liability, they honor them. The Bush/Cheney version of Knights of the Garter – honi soit qui mal y pense.

Really late to this thread. My email was just sent to John Edwards. Signed up for FDL action updates, too.
This is too important not to make time for. List mobilization as soon as I finish dinner.

Why pass anything? The earlier FISA Bill is just fine. Let the FISA REFORM act die. 60 votes is harder to obtain than 50. Simply offer up a much more limited revision without immunity…and work for the 50 to vote down the REFORM ACT of 2007.

There is one problem, and that is that some people believe that there is ambiguity if the foreign traffic passes through the US telecom network. An extreme example is that you might sign up with vonage with 603 numbers for you and your fellow terrorists. Then you’d take those configured vonage boxes with you to your cave in afghanistan. Calls would travel using US IP addresses.

In practice, this kind of thing happens all the time, because there are big backbone providers in the US. So the House and Judiciary versions of the bill address this ambiguity, allowing spying of foreigners whose traffic happens to travel over the US TCP/IP network.

There is one problem, and that is that some people believe that there is ambiguity if the foreign traffic passes through the US telecom network. An extreme example is that you might sign up with vonage with 603 numbers for you and your fellow terrorists. Then you’d take those configured vonage boxes with you to your cave in afghanistan. Calls would travel using US IP addresses.

Yes. The ambiguity in these bills is systemic. All of the bills cede the major discretion on what constitutes illegal wiretapping to DNI and DOJ. Your point about monitoring foreign traffic through US telecom network points is a very key one.

Off work now and sent email in support of this effort to call on the good Senators to actually do their jobs.

John Edwards is on David Letterman tonight. Maybe Dave will endorse him :D

Thanks again, Jane :-)

Carmen – great letter!

Eureka Springs,

John Edwards had a 30 second spot contest called “My Vote, My Voice. Its over now but there are several home made vids there on youtube. I didn’t get to go through them all but I spyed two that could be workable and …… already done. These are people speaking their own voice, not highly slick…… but I’ve had enough of slickness myself.

Maybe take a look and see if anything fits what you’re thinking?

Also, while we’re all writing letters and such….. there’s always the “Letter to the Editor”. Here’s tool to assist that effort:

Hope this helps :-)

Very good idea – have sent email to both John Edwards and all my friends to do the same.

Thanks Jane!

Here’s my email…

Dear Senator Edwards,

I’m a supporter of yours (although I haven’t been able to afford much financial support to your campaign my car proudly drives around with your bumper sticker on it).

I’m writing to ask you to support Senator Dodd in his upcoming fight to remove the retroactive immunity section of the FISA bill; and to ask Senator Clinton and Senator Obama to join you. Our country must return to the rule of law for everyone; including the rich, the powerful, and the President of the United States. The Bush Administration must be held accountable for years of illegally spying on the American people.

If the Telecoms were given the correct legal authorization under the FISA law they should be able to produce such authorization and be granted immunity for their actions. If the Telecoms weren’t given the correct legal authorization they should not be given retroactive immunity for breaking the law and covering up for the Bush Administration’s illegal spying. The courts should decide. The American people must know the truth.

Please ask Senator Clinton and Senator Obama to join you in Washington to speak out against retroactive immunity in the FISA bill. Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have followed your lead by repeating many of the proposals and ideas you have developed. Now is the time to ask them to follow your lead and take a stand for the rule of law for everyone.

Thank you.

Poster over at Glenn Greenwald’s place is reporting that Reid is bringing the FISA bill up on THURSDAY, and threatening to hold the Senate over the weekend if a bill isn’t passed.

Stab many Americans in the back today, Harry?

Sending my e-mail to Edwards now.

Errrr not sure why those links didn’t show up….. Here they are again:

My Vote, My Voice Contest:
http://www.johnedwards.com/new…..index.html

Letter to editor locator:
http://www.johnedwards.com/act…..your-story

Hope they come through this time :-)

Great post, Jane. Email sent.

nice work – I actually hope it puts the neo-con, corporate DLC candidates in a wee bit of a bind.

but we also still know that the Axiom of automatic support for the Least Worst still holds strong in the (D) captured areas of the ‘left’ in this country, and the candidates know they can count on these votes no matter what they do.

trouble is, plenty of people could never stomach voting for a candidate like Clinton or Obama who threatens that “all options are on the table” against countries that pose no threat to the USA, and will keep troops bogged down in the hellish occupation for 4 or 8 more years.

nominating a triangulating DLC candidate is the only chance the (D) party has at losing in 08, and they just might do it.

Just received this email from Senator Obama in response to a contact I made last week asking him to lead on the immunity issue. He says he will filibuster.

Thank you for contacting me concerning the President’s domestic surveillance program. I appreciate hearing from you.

Providing any president with the flexibility necessary to fight terrorism without compromising our constitutional rights can be a delicate balance. I agree that technological advances and changes in the nature of the threat we face may require that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), enacted in 1978, be updated to reflect the reality of the post 9/11 world. But that does not absolve the President of the responsibility to fully brief Congress on the new security challenge and to work cooperatively with Congress to address it.

As you know, Congress has been considering the issue of domestic surveillance since the last Congress. The debate is still ongoing, but the shift in party control on Capitol Hill has clearly had an impact on this critical discussion over the balance of power in our system of government. On January 17, 2007, after conducting its wiretapping program without court approval for over 5 years, the Justice Department announced that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court had approved its program to listen to communications between people in the U.S. and other countries if there is probable cause to believe one or the other is involved in terrorism. Then, in early February, the Justice Department announced that it will give the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees of both chambers of Congress access to previously withheld documents on the NSA program. The congressional committees with jurisdiction over this issue hailed the agreement as a step in the right direction.

However, there is still significant work to be done. Just before the August recess, Congress passed hastily crafted legislation to expand the authority of Attorney General and the director of National Intelligence to conduct surveillance of suspected foreign terrorists without a warrant or real oversight, even if the targets are communicating with someone in the United States. This legislation was signed into law by the President on August 5, 2007, and expires after six months.

Congress is working on reforms to the FISA bill to be enacted before the expiration of the current legislation. On November 15, 2007, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3773, the “Responsible Electronic Surveillance That is Overseen, Reviewed, and Effective Act of 2007†(RESTORE Act) by a vote of 227-189. The House bill does not provide retroactive immunity for private companies that may have participated in the illegal collection of personal information, nor does it provide immunity for administration officials who may have acted illegally. The Senate committees on Intelligence and the Judiciary have since approved proposals with their own reforms to FISA. The debate over retroactive immunity is still ongoing, and I will support a filibuster should legislation that includes such a provision come to the Senate floor.

The American people understand that new threats require flexible responses to keep them safe, and that our intelligence gathering capability needs to be improved. What they do not want is for the President or the Congress to use these imperatives as a pretext for promoting policies that not only go further than necessary to meet a real threat, but also violate some of the most basic tenets of our democracy. Like most members of Congress, I continue to believe the essential objective of conducting effective domestic surveillance in the war on terror can be achieved without discarding our constitutionally protected civil liberties. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, and with the President, to meet this uniquely American challenge.

Thank you again for writing. Please stay in touch as this debate continues.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

I support John Edwards, and I really hope he will come out strongly on this one. Not just for reasons of justice and to save our country, but to expose the Democratic sellout cowards (not to mention the Republican ones).

sent email. hope Edwards steps up. perfect opportunity to show how he is going to fight for us.

Ok. Done. I really hope he responds favorably. I just wish he wasn’t on a media blackout. Ahole tradmed.

The corporate types fear him because this is just his kind of issue. Oh constitution or Corporations…in that scrap I would bet on the Constitution with John Edwards in charge!

Done here also.

My email to Edwards has been sent.

Done.

How sweet that would be!

From:
Martin Luther King III
To;
Honorable John Edwards

Dear al,

This past Saturday, while in Atlanta, John Edwards had a private meeting with Martin Luther King, III — the eldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today — Martin Luther King Day — John received a letter from Martin Luther King, III as a follow-up to that meeting. You can read it below.

I hope you will take a moment to read this wonderful call from Dr. King’s son urging John to stay in the race — and to continue fighting to eliminate injustice in America today.

Like Dr. King, John believes passionately that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” That is why he will continue to speak out, without fear or favor, on the issue of economic justice in America.

During tonight’s presidential debate, you could see John doing exactly what Martin Luther King, III urged him to do: framing the issues of health care and the economy as a struggle for justice.

And as the other two candidates bickered over who’s right and who’s wrong, it was John who cut through the fracas and asked, “This kind of squabbling, how many kids is this going to get health care? We have to understand this is not about us personally.”

That’s why he will fight on to the Democratic Convention and to the nomination, ignoring the pundits who want this to be little more than a two-candidate race, continuing to lead with an agenda that does “not blur lines or obscure the truth.”

I hope you will continue to stand by John as he fights for an agenda of bold change, economic justice and providing a voice for those Americans that would otherwise be voiceless. Your support sustains John as he campaigns across this country.

In the meantime, please take a few minutes to read the letter below from Martin Luther King, III that so eloquently expresses why John is running.

Sincerely,

–David Bonior
National Campaign Manager, John Edwards for President
January 21, 2008

January 20, 2008

The Honorable John R. Edwards
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Dear Senator Edwards:

It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father’s legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.

There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of back and forth in the political arena over my father’s legacy. It is a commentary on the breadth and depth of his impact that so many people want to claim his legacy. I am concerned that we do not blur the lines and obscure the truth about what he stood for: speaking up for justice for those who have no voice.

I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are – a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.

You know as well as anyone that the 37 million people living in poverty have no voice in our system. They don’t have lobbyists in Washington and they don’t get to go to lunch with members of Congress. Speaking up for them is not politically convenient. But, it is the right thing to do.

I am disturbed by how little attention the topic of economic justice has received during this campaign. I want to challenge all candidates to follow your lead, and speak up loudly and forcefully on the issue of economic justice in America.

From our conversation yesterday, I know this is personal for you. I know you know what it means to come from nothing. I know you know what it means to get the opportunities you need to build a better life. And, I know you know that injustice is alive and well in America, because millions of people will never get the same opportunities you had.

I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.

So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.

Sincerely,

Martin L. King, III

Talking points for the fight against FISA immunity:
— telco immunity entails BushCo immunity
— the place to try federal crimes is in federal court, not in Congress where corporate fortunes can buy a verdict
— Per Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would trade essential liberties for a bit of safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
— Per William Pitt: “Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”

I support John Edwards. It doesn’t matter whether or not he gets back on topic. This democratic party has become the new Roman Colosseum freak show. They’ve pitted a female against a black man and that’s all the MSM is covering. Edwards’ words fall on deaf ears. His policies go unnoticed. His principles are ignored. Now let’s get on with the show! Fight on.

I sent my email to Edwards’campaign. Hopefully, they will alert Senator Edwards.

This is what I sent:

Dear Senator Edwards:

I know you have left office. But right now, you are needed in the Senate chamber again. Please stand with Chris Dodd to filibuster telecom immunity in the FISA renewal fight. Your presence would challenge Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to stand with you and Senator Dodd for what is right: stopping this runaway administration from spying on Americans, and giving telecom corporations a “get out of jail free” card for agreeing to administration demands (when their legal departments knew they were breaking the law).

Please do this. I have supported you because of your challenging rhetoric: to do what is right for America and all Americans.

Thank you for the issues you have raised and for the campaign you are running. You make me proud. Now please go do one more thing. Go back to the Senate chamber and fight for what is right.

Thank you.

“John Edwards is the perfect person to lead with this message.”

He would have been in an even better position to lead if not for the slamming he took by those who unfairly tagged him as sexist.

“Oh and John Edwards? Please stop being a patronizing, sexist jerk.”

I’m an Edwards supporter, and I believe he took advantage of that opening and stepped though it for the wrong reasons. I’ll bet he caught Holy Hell from Elizabeth.
Not his finest hour.