Actionable

Reminder:  We have a special FDL Film Salon this morning at 11 am ET/8 am PT with Stephen Grey on Frontline’s Extraordinary Rendition.  Hope you can join us. 

The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are in for a double whammy today.  Let’s start with some input from Marty Lederman:

This is a terrific letter to Judge Mukasey from the ten Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, basically daring him to continue to express agnosticism on the question of the legality of waterboarding.

Most distressing thing about it: No Republican signed.

Potentially the most intriguing: If Mukasey now does not publicly agree that waterboarding is unlawful, could (principled) Dems who signed a letter such as this really vote for him?  (emphasis mine)

That is a great question, isn’t it? Let’s ask them. And, if you can get any Senator on the record on this issue, let us know in the comments.

While you have SJC folks on the phone, it is a good time to push for a couple of things on FISA:  (1) no retroactive immunity for telecom companies or wayward presidential administrations and (2) no “basket” or “umbrella” warrants — make them spell out surveillance targets specifically and expressly in individualized warrants as they have been doing since the inception of FISA. 

What exactly do they have to hide with this desperate need not to spell things out individually anyway?  These are American citizens being surveilled, the least the Bush Administration can do is be honest about why they are surveilling them.  Because if they don’t do their jobs on this, a filibuster is looming…for very good reason.  It’s called the rule of law — you’d think the entire Senate Judiciary Committee would understand that by now, wouldn’t you?  Let’s get to work.

Senate Judiciary Committee Contact Information:

You can reach your Senators toll free thanks to these numbers that katymine found:

1 (800) 828 – 0498
1 (800) 614 – 2803
1 (866) 340 – 9281
1 (866) 338 – 1015
1 (877) 851 – 6437

Also, the Senate Judiciary Committee membership and contact information is as follows:

Arlen Specter – Pennsylvania – (202) 224-4254      Fax (202) 228-1229
Joe Biden — Deleware — (202) 224-5042      Fax: 202-224-0139
Orrin G. Hatch – Utah – (202) 224-5251      Fax (202) 224-6331
Patrick J. Leahy (Chairman) – Vermont – (202) 224-4242      Fax (202) 224-3479
Charles E. Grassley – Iowa – (202) 224-3744      Fax (515) 288-5097
Edward M. Kennedy – Massachusetts – (202) 224-4543      Fax (202) 224-2417
Jon Kyl – Arizona – (202) 224-4521      Fax (202) 224-2207
Herbert Kohl – Wisconsin – (202) 224-5653      Fax (202) 224-9787
Jeff Sessions – Alabama – (202) 224-4124      Fax (202) 224-3149
Dianne Feinstein – California – (202) 224-3841      Fax (202) 228-3954
Lindsey Graham – South Carolina – (202) 224-5972      Fax (864) 250-4322
Russell D. Feingold – Wisconsin – (202) 224-5323      Fax (202) 224-2725
John Cornyn – Texas – (202) 224-2934      Fax (972) 239-2110
Charles E. Schumer – New York – (202) 224-6542      Fax (202) 228-3027
Sam Brownback – Kansas – (202) 224-6521      Fax (202) 228-1265
Richard J. Durbin – Illinois – (202) 224-2152      Fax (202) 228-0400
Tom Coburn – Oklahoma – (202) 224-5754      Fax (202) 224-6008
Benjamin Cardin — (202) 224-4524      Fax (202) 224-1651
Sheldon Whitehouse — (202) 224-2921      FAX  (202) 228-6362

(Photo via InfraKen.)

PS — Secretary of State Condi Rice will be testifying before Rep. Waxman’s committee beginning at 10:00 am ET.  The committee website will be streaming it live here.  Thought folks would appreciate a heads up…

Related posts:

1. Sheldon Whitehouse: “No Further Actionable Intelligence Was Obtained” from Abu Zubaydah by Waterboarding
2. HJC Schedules “Get Democrats to Cave on PATRIOT” Hearing
3. Obama Administration Finally Takes a Stand against Waterboarding
4. PATRIOT Renewal Hearing, Day One Wrap Up: Who Protects Us from the Protectors?
5. State Secrets Bill Passes House Judiciary, 18-12