Jus Cogens!

I been all over my congresscritters on this repeatedly. I’m sure I am now viewed as a MEGO nuisance.

anyone have that toll-free list?

Neither of my guys (Domenici, who wouldn’t vote agin’ this even with his dementia, and Bingaman who probably is on the side of the Constitution in this case) are on the list but I called Harry. Fat effing lot of good that did.

BC

thank you for this jane.

reposted from previous thread (i ran out of impulse control waiting for a fisa thread).

from glenn greenwald today:

It still remains to be seen what Barack Obama will do. I was just on a conference call with Obama foreign policy advisor Dennis McDonough. Blogger Scott Bellows asked about Obama’s abandonment of his rhetoric vowing to defend the Constitution in order to support this bill, and McDonough adopted the Hoyer line, claiming that this bill has all sorts of great oversight protections including the requirement that the Inspector General submit a report on Bush’s spying program. That’s what now passes for oversight in our Government — the Executive branch investigates its own allegations of criminality. Whatever else is true, there’s just no getting around the fact that Obama — when seeking the nomination — vowed to support a filibuster of any bill that contains telecom immunity, and his failure to do that here will be a patent breach of that commitment. There’s still time for him to adhere to that promise.

my bold.

obama’s offices:

senate DC office: (202) 224-2854
senate DC fax: (202) 228-4260
campaign: (866) 675-2008 (choose option 6)

Bayh is always susceptible to pressure.

McCaskill is the interesting one, and quite possibly should be the focal point of calls. She is the embodiment of Obama’s policy and thought, and has indicated that she is in favor of the bill.

PEOPLEPOWER!

Thanks ((((((Jane))))))

1-800 828-0498
always works for me, but BO’s line was receiving a heavy call volume.
keep it up pups.

heh. sounds about right to me. *g*

All the numbers — including tool free and FAX numbers — can be found here as well.

“In matters of style swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” — Thomas Jefferson

Tell your senator that the Fourth Amendment and the goddamn rule of law are matters of principle, not politics.

Why is it even possible for the legislative branch to waive the law in the past? Why can’t the judicial branch tell them to go to hell on waiving the law via time machine?

Obama is in my neck of the woods today (big DNC fundraiser dinner at the Dorthy Chandler Paviliion this evening).

In other news, I have called my critters but I have no hope for DiFi.

firedogs -

did I see a link/comment in the threads yesterday that showed Whitehouse lumping himself in with McCaskill et al ?

Just talked to ‘non-traditional marriage’ Coleman’s office. I politely suggested that rubber-stamping Bush’s last hurrah would earn another vote for Al Franken. They were nice about it, and had received a lot of calls.

Of course I’ll be voting for Franken anyway. I rubber-stamp Deadheads running for office.

Hi all!

Just spoke to both Clinton and Schumer’s offices. Both are not in favor of telecomm immunity, but how they vote on cloture still remains to be seen.

[I’m looking at YOU, Chuck.]

yes.

Selise @ 5

Thanks Selise! I wanted someone to highlight actions that can be taken by those of us who do not have a Senator on the list.

Obama has the ability to bring this issue to the forefront, and all he has to do is keep his word… …loudly.

Lets let him know we expect him to start doing that!

I received an equally ‘polite’ response from DiFi’s office. I have no doubt that she will vote for immunity as she has long been in the pockets of big corporations.

called Feinstein’s office in LA as teh DC lines were full.
they said thank you. “I will pass it along. I understand.”
nice young man sitting in an office on the westside of LA.

Done! Gave my senators office a piece of my mind. Senator Nelson.

wonder if she will be at the big fundraiser here in LA tonight?? I have no doubt there will be some protesters somewhere inthe vicinity

Couldn’t get through to Feinstein. What’s her LA #, peterboy?

I just faxed Reid and Ensign yet again.

310-914-7300

san diego #619-231-9712

Peace Signs!

http://freewayblogger.blogspot.....signs.html

my senator aren’t on the list? but will call them and make every attempt to call every every senator on the list.

here are my first report backs:

just called kerry’s office - was told that he opposes the bill. i asked if that meant he would support a filibuster and got not answer, although i was told that kerry had supported the filibuster earlier this year. when i asked what filibuster, there was some hemming and hawing and then a reference to a PAA extension. when i explained that i thought there had been no filibuster this winter, that there had been an UC (no objections) on jan 31 that permitted the SSIC bill to be brought to the floor, i was hung up on (i wasn’t being rude or anything, just not buying the bs i was being fed).

called bayh - got voice mail

called carper - no statement yet.

Funny O/T -

This November, San Francisco voters may have a chance to rename a local sewage treatment plant after George W. Bush, thanks to some resident wags. The Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco wants to “honor” President George W. Bush by renaming the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant after him, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Commission’s Web site states: “As we near the end of George W. Bush’s presidency, we think it is important to select a fitting monument to this president’s work.” So far, the group has collected some 8,500 signatures toward getting an initiative on the November ballot which would rename the plant after Bush…

DIFI:
Los Angeles
11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 915
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Main: (310) 914-7300
Fax: (310) 914-7318
Map this | Directions To

Missing:

Sen Smith 202 - 224 - 3753

good work selise

“Discovery-Free ‘Persons Assisting the Government’” - to use the language of FISA - seems unwieldy.

How about Big Greedy Corporations Spying on Citizens?

Or, maybe just the Total Information Telecoms (TITs)?

Or, retrospectively, as Gore Vidal has long called them, Our Corporate Masters?

The staffer I spoke to at Reids office seemed annoyed and eager to get me off the phone. Wouldn’t tell me if they had received many calls or which way the calls were going.

Boxturtle (The Senator seems immune, but his staff is cracking)

Congress and The House/Anyone? Time to do it…We will support
I know this a little disjointed, but we have to start seeing these people as individuals who, for reasons known to them have chosen to take this country down the path it is on.
Not ‘politicans’ leaders or commanders. Those are titles. We are talking criminal actions done by Individual Persons using the titles of Politician, Leaders, Commanders etc to deliberately use as cover for Treason and High Crimes…

Judge: Why Litigate When You Can Arrest?

‘Congress has the authority to hold someone in contempt, U.S. District Judge John Bates said. Did it really need to go to court? House counsel Irvin Nathan said it did.’

Re; FISA;
Someone wondered why that this Bill would sunset in 2012 not 2009?
That’s a interesting question! Who voting/pushing/blackmailing for this Bill is due to retire/term limit out prior to 2012? and where/what is the connection?

Reid’s office has always been clueless.

((((( Jane )))))

I called Feingold and Dodd’s office to thank them for their continued work to defend the Constitution. Feingold will be releasing a statement sometime soon.
In the mean time, we are encouraged to keep on calling all Senators listed above. Please ask them to join in the Filibuster.

Will someone more knowledgeable than me please indulge me. Can’t Reid simply keep this from coming to a vote is there is enough pressure on him? Shouldn’t we be making his life miserable.

Did everyone notice that Feingold has said this morning on Democracy Now! he will filibuster?

Geez, Selise, you totally rock. You probably know more about how congress works than many congresspeople.

Thanks!

He keeps voicing how ‘impotent’ he is even though he is majority leader and controls things such as what comes uo for vote and little stuff like how many votes will consitute a majority, etc. He fails yet again to exercise any real leadership (how I wish Feingold were majority leader)

A rep. for Sen. Stabenow said she “had not talked to her on how she will be voting.” Encouraged her to honor her oath of office in protecting the Constitution. In the past she has said via letters that her biggest concern is “protecting the people.” She protects the people by upholding the Constitution.

It appears that the tubes ate my comment. Called Stabenow’s office and spoke to a fourteen year old who assured me she would pass on my comments to the good Senator.

All the numbers — including tool free and FAX numbers — can be found here as well.

Hi Christy!

If only Congress were “tool-free” we wouldn’t have to make these calls! Thanks for the quote in your earlier post. Wow, I feel validated as a foul mouth fem blog patriot. It’s an honor!! *g*

Hey. I pestered him for ya too, just because. along with my regulars and any senator whose head looks less than proudly patriotic.

Amounts to quite a few. But then, they earned the right to be pestered.

It’s OUR Constitution.

DiFi, no statement yet. Thanks, peterboy.

right on. I have grown weary of corporations’ rights being protected and the peoples’ be damned.

no way, but fdl has been a great classroom.

He did????

Just spoke to Feingold’s office, just to say Thanks. They are getting a lot of nice calls and like to hear them. Lady mentioned that support from Obama or Clinton would be very nice. Busy signal at Obama’s office fax, ditto Hillary. But my fax will keep trying until it gets through. Even though I’m really eating lunch.

Boxturtle (Feingold thinks this is still winnable)

obama - voice mail
inouye - no position yet, was put on hold (for a long time).
johnson - no position yet, voted yes last time. i, of course, asked that he reconsider and vote no this time.

… have to step away from the computer for a bit, but will continue to make calls. glad to see so many people making the effort. no need to be shy, i don’t think it matters that we have all the details - just let them no you expect them to vote no and if they are going to do that, make it clear that the only way to oppose the bill is to support a filibuster. the number of calls they receive is what matters most.

thanks to everyone.

Join the club! Salazar’s Colorado staff actually KNOW me. Good job, on us both, BobbyG.

Also,
Obama’s office told me he’s putting forth an amendment to strip telecom immuity. They didn’t say whether or not it was his intention to honor his word and filibuster this, but I urged everyone I’ve called so far to vote YES on Obama’s amendment.

FYI.

Just called Weinsteins office and voiced my opposition to the FISA Bill. I also asked if they were busy today and the young man said somewhat… so All you Claifornia pups need to get busy and make his day with more and more calls!
Oh and I did digg this post how about you?

((((( Loo Hoo )))))

Feingold’s phone attendant chuckled when I told him I was calling from Canada to thank him for his continued support of the U.S. Constitution.

Shouldn’t we be making his life miserable.[?]

-uh- we’re trying to do just that… yeah. pretty much.

AMY GOODMAN: Senator Feingold, will you filibuster this bill?

SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD: We are going to resist this bill. We are going to make sure that the procedural votes are gone through. In other words, a filibuster is requiring sixty votes to proceed to the bill, sixty votes to get cloture on the legislation. We will also—Senator Dodd and I and others will be taking some time to talk about this on the floor. We’re not just going to let it be rubberstamped.

AMY GOODMAN: Would you filibuster, though?

SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD: That’s what I just described.

WOW!!!!!!

((((Petrocelli)))))

That rocks. They need to hear that “the neighbors” are concerned at the deterioration going on in the hood.
:)

looks like feingold (and dodd) need some phone calls too.

dodd did promise us a filibuster - he has yet to deliver on that promise.

That’s funny. It’s amazing how you are more involved than 95% of Americans. Not funny, but you know what I mean!

I just called Feingold too. Told them to give em hell, kick ass and take no prisoners. At least it got a good laugh from them *g*

Just read about Feingold. He included Dodd. Not getting my hopes up but I, at least, feel that someone’s defending the constitution.

Yes. For sure.

McCaskill’s office is on answering machine due to high volume of calls - left a nice message pleading for her to READ the bill and vote against the telecoms. I called yesterday and the office guy was receptive, talked a while and made it sound like Claire is on our side, we’ll see …….

Join the club! Salazar’s Colorado staff actually KNOW me. Good job, on us both, BobbyG.

You’ll know you’ve truly arrived when the recognize your caller id and answer with “What do YOU want now?”.

Boxturtle (May be known as “Him Again” at Voinovitch’s office)

don’t worry folks, I didn’t actually say those words. But the spirit of those words were obvious..hence the chuckle

Called Salazar’s washington office again on this issue. I didn’t get the staffer i normally talk with about this. The guy i talked to was far less sympathetic than the woman i’ve talked with before. Plus clueless, said he’d pass on my objections but i distinctly heard the sound of rolling eyes. He didn’t know what the sen’s stance on this was but did know Salazar likely has no intention of making a statement about this legislation before he votes. Bad sign. He’s screwed us in the past on this issue. For a former AG he is very disappointing on such a crucial legal issue. Ugh.

Which Smith? Gordon?

yep.

i do not appreciate feeling deep-seated, seething anger every dang day all day.

that was not my aim.

it was forced upon me.

it would go a long way toward “curing” my anger

IF THEY WOULD JUST DO THE JOBS THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO!

They are not kings and royalty.

They work for the people of this once great nation.

Do the dang job or get out and let someone else do it. Period!

otherwise, i feel o.k. And you? Have some iced tea with fresh spearmint.

Called Cardin and Mikulski (both D-MD) but they’re apparently just taking tallies as neither would take identifying info –very heavy phone traffic on this today. Good!

ridiculous that I have to beg my public servants to uphold the constitution! what kind of oath of office did they take anyway?

i thot i heard Dodd carving out some wiggle-room yestidie.

i didn’t trust him any more.

so his office heard from me.

Feingold, I’m going to try to trust. If we can’t count on HIM, it’s all over.

“Discovery-Free ‘Persons Assisting the Government’”
Hmmmm, Let me try…
Discovery free = Unable find out what they are doing?
Persons Assisting = Shadows doing Illegal stuff??
The Government = White House/OVP = Criminals/Dark Lords???
How’d I do??? :)

When Feingold said “others”, do you suppose he meant Obama??

Called Ohio’s Senators. Brown’s put me on hold for a couple minutes, Voinovich went right through. Guess that tells you who’s getting more feedback.

Did you guys hear Reid this morning regarding FEC nominations that are getting rushed through…today is the 120th day the judge gave for the DNC to have before filing suit against McCain….It should be interesting to see where this goes…if it goes at all.

At least Leahy.

hey! it took forever for Reid’s office to get my e-mail connection hooked up.

poor sl… ahem…. senatorial-trainee.

NEXT? Seinfeld. Party of four?

s’cuse. a little mental slippage here.

Ok, it is Gordon. I got the e-mail.

Only one Smith, apparently.

OT- Isreali policeman shoots himself in the head, Sarkozy and Carla scurry up into the plane.

this commenter provided a wealth of information on procedural 411 in the threads yesterday :D

thread II

et

thread I

The only positive change that has come about, started with the actions of a small group of people, then grew …

LOL!
Good job, BoxTurtle!
I’m prouda ya!

thank you kindly (I enjoyed your rant *g*)

I’ve been swamped past few days as mr and I are leaving for Brasil later this week. As always, there is lots to do before we leave and never enough time in the day.

That’s what I ALWAYS get from Salazar’s DC office. He SOOO badly needs replaced. Where are you in CO, rundown?

Have a few drinks on the heavenly beaches of Brasil for me …

Called Sen. Stevens’ office. Told them I feel - along with several friends and family - that if Ted supports Feingold it would help us to determine whether or not to support him in November. Which was a barefaced lie. I don’t plan on supporting him in November, even if he makes the best speech of his life in support of Feingold’s view.

so where the hell’s the Senate broadcasting.
I hate it when CSpan cuts to this other inane stuff.
I was WATCHING THAT, thank you!

In addition to getting our Senators to strip Telecom Immunity, I’m also asking my Senators to support Amendments to the bill that seem reasonable. One is from Specter (of all people)… But anyway, the Amendment would require a district to review the constitutionality of the Telcoms’ actions. It seems like our best bet to slowing the train wreck it this point. Perhaps we can also call our Senators with the same encouragement.

That’s great, Adie. Mind if I USE IT???
I’m about to call those on the list I do NOT like. That’d be perfect.
hehe
s

Geez. I called Senator Stabenow’s office and was greeted by an unenthusiastic bored sounding person. After i requested that the Senator vote AGAINST the FISA bill and my reasons why, she said “ok..i’ll let her know. click.” The other day I sent an impassioned email to her as well about the FISA bill and she responded with an email “thank you for your interest in immigration.” Sigh.

people tend to write voinovichy off as useless & clueless & a follower…

strange they’d think that…. blergh

i e-mailed him twice this week, many many many times in the past.

i’d love to politely make his life absolutely miserable.

he’s EARNED it. ;->

we’re headed home to Sao paulo first (blech) then we head for the beautiful Northeastern beaches. I will happily have a few drinks for you.

Senator Smith’s office was more receptive than usual, I wasn’t even asked where I live.

I called Specter and then Casey to ask him to put some pressure on Specter too.

Shumer: Staffer will add me to ”the list.” Hmm. ”In the past he has been opposed.”

Inoye: ”Will pass your concerns to the Senator.”

Obama:”Well, he is working on an amendment..” Will he abide by his vow to filibuster? ”Well, don’t know what he’ll do if this amendment fails.”
That is what I gathered, and hope I got it right.
I need that voice recognition software so I can get this stuff transcribed immediately.

That is interesting.. There is a lot happening in spook/terror-land..The Lots of Chess pieces are starting to move..Interesting times.

I called Nebraska Senator Nelson. His office staff usually asks for my name and zip code. They asked nothing. Simply said “alright, thank you very much.” Did NOT say they would pass along the message. Nothing.

Deeply dissatisfying but Nelson is pretty much a republican.

Ugh. The fix is in.

I have to visit Copacabana and Hawaii as soon as I get published …

Talking Points, get yer Talking Points here !

per McJoan -

Senator Feingold: yesterday

“Anybody who claims this is an okay bill, I really question if they’ve even read it.”

CNN tried desperately to craft a panic attack out of that sad event this morning, taking forever to reveal it was a suicide and not an attack on the pols.

called schumer & clinton. Am not hopeful..
:(

The vice repug nation soft where doze not work as well as you might like …

condolences. i can just visualize that phone-jockey returning to her manicure right after hanging up on you. sigh. very inspirational senator there, uh huh…

you want voinovich? prolly no one would notice.

here. have some fresh mint tea.

I called Obama got a person. She said before i could finish “let me guess, your against it, you want him to filibuster.” I said “oh yes, please. Nothing is more important to me than our constitution. Whether or not he gets my vote depends on this, as far as I am concerned. Defending our constitution and holding this pres accountable would be “real change”. She said “okay, I’ll put you down.” (down on what??)

1,683 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Hamsher and the Firedog Patriots:

I jest called Senator Kohl’s office and spoke with a staffer who seemed to be genuinely surprised that he was gettin’ calls about this issue. I told ‘er that I was a constituent and was watching to see if Kohl would finally stand up for his constituency instead of his cronies…I told ‘er that I knew he was gettin up in years and probably wouldn’t run again but if he does and he doesn’t vote in support of the fillibuster there are a lot of us out here in the western part of the state that would work to see ‘im unseated.

I then called Durbin’s number on the front page and got the staffer holdin’ down the phones for the Judiciary Committee so I gotta twofer and left a message sayin that there was gunna be a change in leadership from the top down includin’ the Senate and if Leahy and Durbin wanned ta insure that the new Democratic president could govern and lock up new progressive leadership in the Senate they’d better get their shit tagether and organize a successful fillibuster against the FISA bill.

I think that this vote is gunna tell us jest how far ta the left Obama ken go and whether or not he will even be able ta govern from the “center”…it’s time for the elected leadership includin the junior senator from New York ta put the walk behind the talk.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION AND REMEMBER THERE IS NO COMPROMISIN’ WITH FASCISTS!!

Have a great trip!

Thanks for the tea….good idea.

obama’s offices:

senate DC office: (202) 224-2854
senate DC fax: (202) 228-4260
campaign: (866) 675-2008 (choose option 6)

I just called the campaign to request he honor the commitments he made about FISA when he was seeking the nominations. I let them know I’d been working hard for him and that what he did would no doubt affect how hard I worked for him in the future.

I’d be honored. Go for it! and THANKS!

Here, fresh spearmint tea to sip while you thrash the daylights outta the scoundrels *g*

Wobbs, will you keep in touch? Safe trip! ((Wobbly))

Is everyone ignoring Kohl?
Here’s what you’ll get from his office:

Dear Noonan:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I value the
input I get from people back home in Wisconsin, and I would like
to take this opportunity to address your concerns.

In December 2005, the revelation that the President
authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor
telephone calls and e-mails of United States citizens without
obtaining a warrant or court order raises important legal and policy
questions. I strongly believe that the President, Congress, and the
courts all share a common goal: to protect the American people.
If terrorists are operating in this country, or people in this country
are communicating with terrorists, everyone can agree that we
must give our government the tools it needs to protect the
American people, including the power to listen to their phone
calls. Security, the rule of law, and the protection of civil liberties,
however, are not mutually exclusive concepts; we can have all
three.

Many telecommunications companies have been sued for
their alleged involvement with the wiretapping program. Senator
Rockefeller recently introduced S. 2248, which was approved by
the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence the same day. In
addition to amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
(FISA), the bill would also grant retroactive immunity for
telecommunications companies who participated in the
wiretapping program between September 11, 2001 and January 17,
2007. Should this legislation come to a vote before the full Senate,
I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

1,683 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen wavpeac:

I called Obama’s office and got a “this mailbox is full” message. What number didja call?

KEEP THE FAITH WE GOTTA TELL OUR LEADERS WHERE WE ARE GOIN’ SO’S THEY KEN GET THERE WITH US!!

Have a great trip, wobblybits!

Not funny, not good.

Sewage treatment plants often smell terrible, but they do tremendous good. Much of the improvement in health status from the 20th C is attributable to responsible handling of sewage. Basically, a sewage treatment plant cleans up large volumes of shit and makes it safe.

Bush is the opposite of a sewage treatment plant: he took good, useful and useable ideas (the Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, the ABM treaty, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, etc.) and turned them toxic. Not to put too fine a point o