I emailed him about 1/2 hour ago, promising no support unless he keeps his pledge to filibuster AND votes against the bill.

CNN blathers that McCain polls as stronger in the War on Terrr. That’s enough, apparently, to make many Democrats weak in the knees. They ought to fear even more being seen as weak in the War Against the War Against the Constitution and the Rule of Written Law. (I know; not very catchy. We need a good slogan.)

the folks who answer the phones at the campaign HQ are all in sympathy with us. I have spoken with them repeatedly. they are excited whenever I call to discuss this and all want OB to do the right thing.
866-675-2008
prolly have to press 6

Sorry, at work and can’t call. Hope someone is reading his email.

Me too - I faxed Schumer, Clinton and Obama yesterday.

Don’t worry. Someone is reading - or at least scanning - all of our email.

where is Obama?

Hiding. It’s a lot easier to attack pariahs like noncustodial fathers than it is to stand up for people’s rights.

if only AT&T was run by deadbeat dads…

I’ve been calling for 4 days and many times per day and to everyone. One thing I don’t understand. How is it possible to pass a law that seems in clear violation of the 4th Amendment without amending the Constitution?

Thanks. That makes me feel SO much better… I’m sure they have our best interests at heart.

Could I suggest a slight variation in tactics? The order seems wrong to me. In order to exert maximum political pressure, we should first slow the progress of the bill to give us time, then turn the spotlights on, and then hold feet to the fire. It makes no sense to do the last when the fire is just a couple of embers and some electrons on the blogosphere.

Suggest we first contact senators who would be willing to filibuster, other than the known names. I just tried Senator Barbara Boxer (voted against the senate version, very liberal), and there are a lot of others who might join a filibuster if properly asked, no?

Once we have the filibuster in good shape, there is a fire to hold feet to.

Just called the campaign - option 6 was answered by a very nice woman, and we had a nice talk about the FISA bill. I told her I expect Obama (now that I could no long er be an Edwards supporter) to abide by his word to filibuster if need be to stop this bill.

I think you’re all gonna love this conversation;

“senator obama’s office, can I help you?”

“you really really can, man, I feel like I’ve been kicked in the gut, I feel betrayed, I really thought the senator was going to be one of our greatest presidents and now I feel as though he has corrupted himself;

this fisa bill is really really bad, nobody seems to be making the point but these companies can sell our information to our enemies and this bill makes that perfectly legal

they can find data and sell it to Iran or afghanistan extremeists and terrorists and it’s perfectly legal for them if they betrayed our country!

How can the senator possibly support this bill?

would you put that into better words for me and somehow bring this issue to his attention, it has not been raised publicly as far as I can tell”

“sir, I have never heard that point of view before and I will definatley get someone to look at it, thank you”

so, I had fun, now to call others

Yesterday I received political donation mailings from the Obama Campaign and from “Al Gore” for the DCCC. Postage paid return envelopes (the best kind) so instead of sending a check, I inserted a note stating: I donate $0 and will withhold my vote for any and all Democrats because of telecom immunity, warrantless spying on Americans, continued and endless funding for the illegal war in Iraq, the Military Commissions Act, and because “impeachment is off the table”.

I do this any time I get a postage paid envelope from the party of cowards and criminals…and the morons STILL keep sending me that crap.

Where’s Obama?

As the de facto party leader, he can be teh man who stopped the amnesty - or Barry The Privacy Slayer.

I’d like to think the Constitutional Law lecturer and gifted orator is leaning on Sen Reid to stack the FISA amnesty with poison pill amendments —

(from cboldt in the comments:)

As the Senator who is introducing the bill, and as majority leader, he has first whack at offering amendments. He can introduce a poison pill amendment, and then “fill the amendment tree” (cutting off the right of any other Senator to offer a competing amendment) with either a do-nothing amendment (e.g., “change the effective date”) or another poison pill.

As to what the poison pill would contain, I don’t have an answer off the top of my head. The amendment has to be one that a majority of Senators would support (fat chance) or that 60 don’t want to put to a majority vote.

Simply by bringing the bill up, he’s dug a hole that is hard to get out of. He can’t get out of it without losing face, I don’t think.

Me, I’d be fine with an effective date of 2200.

Wonder what Senator Obama will do? Defend our privacy, or protect the telecomms and the Bushies?

Hope he chooses to hear Jane’s post and all of our calls.

I left voice mail with Obama, Clinton and Schumer.

These people don’t understand what accountability is and the law is. How convenient.

I think they do understand the law - they just don’t understand us -YET!

Am I surprised by Obama’s behavior? Not at all. A lot of people, including me, have told him point blank that he’s getting no support as a result of his (in)actions here, and yet he continues to think that he can BS his way out of it.

Sadly, he’s probably right. BTW, Darcy Burner and Eric Massa got it right. You can support them or other Blue America candidates, instead.

I e-mailed both my senators from Illinois. I received a response from Durbin:

I oppose retroactive immunity for these companies and supported an amendment to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008

I still haven’t heard from Obama, but the fact that the Dem’s from IL in the house voted yes doesn’t give me much confidence.

Not to mention that Obama has already violated the spirit of his promise by idly standing by to this point. It doesn’t count for much if he waltzes in at the last moment and puts up a kabuki protest and that looks like the BEST we can hope for from him. At this point, Obama has shown us what he is, it is merely a question of how much more that we consider precious he is going to cost us.

Non sense. They haven’t read their faxes and emails or hear the message of my calls I for one have been sending.

Sometimes I feel all this is just pissing in the wind. At lease Perris seems to have gotten through.

They don’t have to read or listen to them; if they simply get put in the tally or on the pile for “Obama say no to this crap” that is extremely helpful. Numbers matter. That is the way politician’s offices often view things.

Very disappointed in Obama. I guess he is primarily a gifted rhetoritician, his actual politics are closer to the DLC, I bet if he was in the senate in 02′ he would have voted for AUMF.

No, I won’t vote for Nader, but my enthusiasim is diminished.

I e-mailed Boxer yesterday, quoting Feingold’s points, and asking her to stand with him and block this piece-o-crap bill.

Didn’t bother with DiFi, since I figure she’s a lost cause: sure, she’ll talk blue, but she’ll vote purple.

Hmmm…perhaps the Obama campaign isn’t getting back to you because they are busy crafting responses to why he opted out of public financing. I hear Russ Feingold(D) fell into a betrayed swoon.

Good point. Start a slowdown in the Senate today, through parliamentary procedure, on every bill and sense of the Senate. Anybody have a Senator in their pocket? Oh well!

Just tried to e-mail Obama’s DC office and you can’t even get through on that. Must be some heavy traffic. And no, it’s not shut down.

I have been wondering about this too. If Congress passes this law, if the courts review it, couldn’t it be found unconstitutional,like Habeas Corpus at Guantanamo.

Wouldn’t someone with standing have to bring a suit? How could you tell you’d been spied on?

So, the Dem “leadership” can, once again, pass it off to justice so the repugs can screech about activist judges.

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

Citizen Hamsher:

I called Obama’s campaign line (”option6″) when his local and DC office mailboxes were full. I told the fine person on the other end a the line that I was a supporter and contributor and if Obama couldn’t organize a successful fillibuster from his own party with a majority in the Senate then he couldn’t govern and I wasn’t gunna give one more dime. The person I was talkin to listened attentively until I got to the part about not contributing and she tried ta tell me that he couldn’t do anything by himself and I cut her off and said I know that but gettin people to follow him and do the right thing is “leadership” and if he couldn’t do it on this then he couldn’t be trusted on anythin’ else.

Now I think we should concentrate on Durbin,Dodd, Leahy and the junior Senator from New York…I think all of these folks have an interest in creating a new power center in the Senate…let’s see if any of ‘em ken put the walk behind the talk.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THERE IS NO COMPROMISING WITH FASCISTS!!

I should imagine there is a great deal of background stuff going on…
And a lot of ducks have to be lined up… This has the makings of an epic moment…
Now, we will find out WHO are the true Statesmen/State-women? And, who are just ‘politicians’ or crooks…It has to be done right though…

The only reason the others are NOT doing more is likely because of Obama. He is the issue, not them.

Potential filibusterers: In addition to Dodd and Feingold, there are some good orators and people who have been conscientious about FISA before, like Leahy (only person to propose a version with database rollback), Byrd, Biden, Levin, Boxer, Harkin, Kennedy (is he back?), Wyden.

Has Leahy promised yet? Here’s his statement:

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200806/061908a.html

He very clearly opposes but it isn’t clear what he will do, other than in the next administration.

Wyden has opposed the cloture, he’s a possibility:

http://wyden.senate.gov/newsro.....id=299642&

Can they each put in a hold to create a sequence of holds and cause a lot of cloture votes? Momentum builds press.

Akaka (D-HI) Durbin (D-IL) Menendez (D-NJ)
Biden (D-DE) Feingold (D-WI) Murray (D-WA)
Bingaman (D-NM) Feinstein (D-CA) Reed (D-RI)
Boxer (D-CA) Harkin (D-IA) Reid (D-NV)
Brown (D-OH) Kennedy (D-MA) Sanders (I-VT)
Byrd (D-WV) Kerry (D-MA) Schumer (D-NY)
Cantwell (D-WA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Stabenow (D-MI)
Cardin (D-MD) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Tester (D-MT)
Dodd (D-CT) Leahy (D-VT) Wyden (D-OR)
Dorgan (D-ND) Levin (D-MI)

the law is DEFINATELY “unconstitutional” but the court would have to be willing to hear the case and it would have to be a court that did not seat alito, roberts, scalia

Where Is Obama?

Hiding out until this deal, which he had to have approved, is done.
Coward.
If you’re going to kill something at least have the courage to own up to the deed.

I did call his campaign. Got the answering machine. Told it that I had a limited amount of money which I had donated to Blue America to defeat Democrats who voted for this abomination. Obama will get no money from me or my family until he shows leadership on American values.

(I did not add that I don’t expect him to show leadership on this. All his political life when the chips have been down Obama has been MIA.)

I really don’t understand what the incentive is for Senators and Representatives to support this retro active immmunity and the widening of spying powers. Especially in the face of such universal constituent objection. Is it simply campaign contributions? Is it blackmail? Is it somehow the promise of remaining in power? They would sell out their country and alienate their constituents for that? Because they think the handful of us that would actually do something, can’t cause them real damage? The idea that Jane and Glenn have going about targeting Hoyer and other Dems that support this is great. I will again add to that total. But is there other “disobedience” that might help? Can we fix it so that every April certain monies flowing into the gov. aren’t made? Are there other things that can “hit where it hurts”?

FYI, we have a book salon about to begin with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and David Goodman — both award winning independent journalists. Thought folks would want a heads up…

What’s it going to cost Obama to oppose passage and thus join Dodd, Feingold, & like-minded members of the Senate? And where are the rest of the Democrats in the Senate?

This is the first major decision Obama has had to take apart from those authorizing war funding. He was not around when Congress relinquished their authority to prevent war. It’ll be interesting.

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

Citizen frandor and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:

I also am disappointed in Obama but I called his line directly and he’s gettin thousands of calls. What we hafta do is hit the guy where he lives…tell ‘im he won’t get one more dime if he doesn’t stand up and since he ain’t goin after public money he’s not gunn turn off the faucet on himself. It’s good old fashioned politics with a twist on his own petard.

KEEP THE FAITH AND KEEP THE BASTARD’S FEETS TO THE FIRE!!

This is a real moment of truth for Obama.

He thinks he’s seen bitterness… well, if he blows us off, he will see bitter in spades!

What’s it going to be, Barack!

It’s a good idea to also contact the Democratic Party and vent. They are listening, too, and need to hear of our disgust and refusal to give any more money. They are critically short for the convention and they certainly do understand MONEY, if nothing else.

It’s going to be politics as usual, a little kabuki dance, and screw the Constitution, that’s what.

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

Citizen bmaz:

I think that because Obama has (correctly, I think) rejected public financin’ he is clearly vulnerable to citizen pressure from the netroots organizin’ folks to stop givin to his campaign…at the same time, pressure on the others who up to this point have talked the talk is essential and we must speak to their political self-interest.

And where is the junior Senator from New York on this…if she really wants ta be a player and is not really a shill for the corporationas she would embarrass Obama by organizin’ opposition.

KEEP THE FAITH AND THE HEAT ON ALL THE BASTARDS!!

Please do Digg this post.

They cling to the Constitution or privacy or antipathy to people who aren’t in favor of immunity or anti-Blue Dog sentiment.

Whoops. That didn’t come out right!

Well, I dunno, but you are right; what I said for Obama above goes for HRC as well.

I’ve called my home senators - Leahy and Sanders, Leahy twice, plus Obama and Reid, and now I’m working my way through the rest of the list. Good news - phone lines are JAMMED. Keep the calls comin’ people. And call other Senators, not just your own - most staffers are so inundated no one is asking where I’m calling from; and if they do? This issue is of fundamental importance for the nation, not just local constituencies.

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

Citizen Twain:

Great thinkin’ Twain, you are absolutely right…get Howard Dean and the DNC on the hook here!! Listen to this Firepups, Twain has this all figured! This is the first crucible for any potential new governing leadership coalition and it’s the first test of whether or not Obama really has the leadership instincts and skills. That’s why we need ta put the pressure on the Democratic Party leadership on this…lets make it all about the money and contributions…jest like the old politics but twist ‘em on their own petard.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE FUCKIN AMMUNITION, WE GOTTA BRING THIS BATTLE IN THE WAR RIGHT INTO WHERE THEY LIVE!!

Firepup Freedom Fighters:

KEEP THIS THREAD GOIN’…go give a coutesy call ta the new post upstairs but come back to this one with updates on you work…KEEP THIS DISCUSSION AND ACTION GOIN, DON’T LET THE BASTARD’S OFF THE HOOK!

Potential filibusterers: In addition to Dodd and Feingold, there are some good orators and people who have been conscientious about FISA before, like Leahy (only person to propose a version with database rollback), Byrd, Biden, Levin, Boxer, Harkin, Kennedy (is he back?), Wyden.

[snip]

Can they each put in a hold to create a sequence of holds and cause a lot of cloture votes? Momentum builds press.

ondelette, I sure like your ideas. Sadly, IIRC, Reid himself blew off a Dem’s hold on FISA. Guess Harry only honors Rethug holds. Here’s a little more background info from cboldt.

He’s already moved that the Senate proceed to it, then filed a cloture motion to limit debate on the motion to proceed. He can’t withdraw the cloture motion except by UC, and the GOP won’t give that. And I seriously doubt he can keep enough of the DEM players from passing cloture, and voting to proceed to the bill. So, as of Thursday afternoon (latest, earlier if ALL the Senators, including self-proclaimed objectors agree to skip the time periods demanded by the rules), the bill will be pending.

He has to kill it from that vantage point, and he can. But he won’t.

Identifying myself as an Obama volunteer, I called the Obama campaign to voice my support of stripping telecom immunity from the Senate bill.

“Dara” informed me that Obama now supports denying immunity to the telecoms.

Great if true.

Oh my, the Obama gilding seems to be acquiring a patina. Who knew, I mean besides everyone who doesn’t trust a guy whose credentials consist of “community organizer”?

Just read mcjoan @ http://dailykos.com/ “…Pelosi is saying that maybe the Senate should take a little more time than she allowed in the House….”

Fucking idiot!!!!!!!!!!

good grief - she will do anything to avoid responsibility.

Gee - more than an hour?

Now I know why Nancy can’t find her table: the Kabuki make-up got in her eyes.

He has always said that; so their statement means nothing. The question is will he lead and use his commensurate power in the fight? So far, the clear answer is no.

I just called the Obama for America campaign office and, after finally getting thru to someone using option 6, requested a refund of my contribution. No questions asked, I was transferred to voice mail of an online finance person named Daniel (his outgoing message was hasty and mumbled so I am not sure of his name or title).

I left the following message “Hi, my name is ___ and my phone number is ___. Please return my call so that I may learn how to request a return of my contribution to Obama for America. I will gladly contribute again once Mr. Obama demonstrates effective opposition to matters such as the FISA Telecom bill. Again, please return my call so that I may arrange a return of my contribution. Thank you.”

If every one of us who have contributed to Mr. Obama would do this, we would get his attention.

I’m doubly disappointed because last Monday the 16th was the first time in my life that I contributed to a major party candidate, and by the following Monday I was sorry I did.

I read Joan’s article. It looks to me like more kabuki cover for Obama. If she had any thoughts along those lines at all, things would have been slower, if not different, in the House. She doesn’t. They are all just setting up a little puppet theater so Obama can make a nice little fake show and still get the bill passed before leaving town. This still looks like complete BS until any of them actually start making an affirmative racket and actually doing something instead of mouthing a bunch of happy talk BS while the bill is being passed at light speed.

“It would be healthy if (the public) heard more about it… even if the resolution is the same,” Pelosi said, when asked by reporters whether she thinks Senate Democrats, including Sen. Barack Obama, should filibuster the legislation updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as it heads to the Senate floor this week.

“
“Even if the resolution is the same”. Might as well read “as long as nothing is changed”.

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

Citizen bmaz:

“The question is will he lead…(s)o far the clear answer is no.”

I don’t think there IS a clear answer yet…that’s why we’re all so fuckin’ angry…and remember that by rejectin’ public financing he has made himself VERY vulnerable to a grassroots boycott…let’s play harball, good old fashioned money politics with a progressive twist!

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THIS IS THE WAY IT’S DONE…WE’VE JEST NEVER HAD THE MONEY BEFORE!!

Citizen bughunter:

I’m with you…pickin up the phone right now…let’s poke ‘im with a sharp stick where he’ll feel it the most…right in the bank account!

I want some of what Norske is taking. Glaucoma medicine has wondrous side-effects.

Glaucoma is no laughing matter. And glaucoma medicine reduces pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve. What’s your point?

I just called the campaign at the number above. The woman I spoke with said she heard about an hour ago that Obama is going to filibuster.

I would call my senators but little good that would do both are stuck up GWB butt Dole and Burr, would not vote anything that actually would help those they purport to represent.

Obama has supported stripping immunity form the beginning of this farce. The question is what is he willing to do to see that immunity gets stripped, and the answer seems to be “not much.”

It’s good to have a representative government, I just wish it was ours!

Did you read my post? I talked to the campaign office a little while ago, and the person who answered the phone told me she had heard an hour earlier that Obama is going to filibuster the bill.

It’s possible this is a promise he knows he won’t have to keep. See Kirk Murhpy’s #51. When it comes to filibusters, at least, it looks like the fix is already in.

The way the Senate procedural rules will be set up on this, that statement means absolutely nothing. Nothing. It effectively means he will be able to talk for an hour before they pass the bill. Complete BS.

Aloha ya’ll! I just got off the phone with Sen. Inoye’s office and the aide said he wasn’t committed to a decision yet, he’s currently ‘researching’ it… She mentioned that it’s the #1 topic from constituents and he’ll take that into consideration…! I’m not encouraged, to say the least…! 8-(

Draft Clinton.

Step One.

Just a question, kirk. Why do you refer to Senator obama as barry? He has asked that people refer to him by his name Barack and to call him Barry seems I dunno a slam

nope

As an Illinoisan, Obama is my senator. When I called his Washington office and asked Obama’s stance, I was presented with a briskly-read, prepared response indicating that he WILL support the bill “even though he realizes it is not perfect”. When I asked if that meant he was reneging on his earlier promise to filibuster any immunity for telecoms, the rep at the office said I could “infer any meaning that I wanted to; this is Obama’s official statement”.

Nice. Broken promises already.

Boxer’s come out against it. There’s a post up at the Great Orange Satan laying out the points of the four who have now spoken against this piece-o-crap bill: Feingold, Dodd, Wyden and Boxer.

I sent Boxer a thank-you e-mail. Said I hoped her respected colleague from the great (and very dry) state would come out against, but didn’t expect that to happen, based on her recent voting record.

Identifying myself as an Obama volunteer, I called the Obama campaign to voice my support of stripping telecom immunity from the Senate bill.

“Dara” informed me that Obama now supports denying immunity to the telecoms.

Oh yeah, he supports it. Problem is, he seems to be providing as much support as a training bra.

Now they are 5. Reid will also back Feingold-Dodd and Feingold’s efforts to strip immunity on the floor.

Just got an answer to my FAX and my emails from yesterday…among other things, Senator Clinton said:
“Now, the Bush Administration has vowed to block any surveillance legislation that does not provide retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies. I believe that granting retroactive immunity under these circumstances is wrong and undermines accountability. To that end, I supported and co-sponsored efforts to strip this provision from the FISA legislation. I was discouraged to see that amendment fail the last time it was considered in the Senate. In the weeks to come, I will continue to work with my colleagues to pass an improved bill, one that takes the needed steps to defend our homeland while also defending and respecting our Constitution, our laws, and our privacy.”

Better to call his office than campaign office - she agreed with everything I said! Just exaggerating.

Good question. Before Friday and his jump to announce he’d support the FISA amnesty (even before the Senate had taken it up), I referred to Barry The Privacy Slayer as Sen. Obama out of respect.

I have no respect for those who swear an Oath to uphold and protect the Constitution and then work to disable it.

So BTPS wants to be referred to as Barack. Great. I want him to use his splendid oratory for something beyond his ambition to vault his (well-tailored) butt into the Oval Office. I want Barry to use his splendid oratory to oppose and withold unanimous consent from each and every legislative step in the Senate between FISA and a final vote for passage. I also want Barry to publicly call on Reid to delay passage of FISA by all possible Senate rules.

When Barry The Privacy Slayer does that, then I’ll respect him as a defender of the Constitution. Until then, he’s merely a lecturer in Con Law: the law that helps megacorp cons evade liability.