Dear Representative Barrow,
Today I gave money to a group who is collecting funds to publicly campaign against the 21 “Blue Dogs” who are pushing for retroactive telcom immunity in the current FISA bill debate. They also had a poll so that people donating could pick which of the worst six Dogs would be targeted with this campaign. I picked you.

Whether you end up the recipient of this probably unwanted publicity or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that the majority of American people do not want to give a free pass to corporations that break the law on the president’s say-so.

It is not “bi-partisan” to capitulate to Bush’s attempts to consolidate power around the executive. He is not above the law and neither are those corporations. If they did nothing wrong, they shouldn’t fear judicial review of their actions.

Your oath of office is to protect and defend the Constitution, which, by extension, protects us. Support the rule of law, your party and the American people by voting AGAINST immunity for the telcoms.

Do we know which of these Blue Dogs has Progressive opposition in their primary?

Do we know which has the least money and might be hurt most by some Lefty opposition?

My Congressman, Lincoln Davis, is scheduled to appear at a local restaurant here next week. Last time he was swamped and I was running late, so I only had time to sit through his talk and not to meet him personally.

IF things go well this time, I hope to shake his hand, look him in the eye, and ask him (politely of course) WTF????

Okay, here’s the thing – three counties meeting here, I’ve probably got 30 seconds to make my point, if that – what exactly should I say to him that will get the point across (hint: I’m not exactly a diplomat when it comes to face to face meetings, I’m detrimentally blunt)

Suggestions for a one-two sentence comment? (He may already be familiar with my name, since he’s received a LOT of contact from me on this and other issues)

Chris Carney gets my vote. As a former Pennsylvanian, I’m just embarrassed for my home state, and home county.

Plus, it has the strategic benefit of bringing up the issue in a state that’s about to get a *lot* of airtime and analysis due to the primary on April 22.

AND, it will force the candidates to deal with that issue.

AND, Pennsylvanians hate, hate, hate, the Patriot Act. Especially in Carney’s district. You should hear my family when I go home for holidays.

The only problem is you’ll need a candidate to replace Carney. Most of the people in that section of PA lean conservative – except on labor issues, Social Security, pocketbook issues, etc., where they more centrist. The only reason they voted for Carney was because Sherwood got caught a) having a mistress, and b) choking her.

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