My previous related diaries in chronological order, some with additional links embedded, here and here and here and here. If you don't yet know what this is all about, read the FINGER website for background on Martial Law and Section 1076.
Welcome to Day 2 of FINGER. (Thank you to sbwoodside for the great additional logo. We need to keep that pressing finger from becoming a thumb of oppression.)
Sunday morning, we didn't have a website. I had only just sent my drafts of the site content to our wonderful websmith, sheddhead.
Monday morning, I woke up and found that we have a web presence. Many hits with people checking out multiple pages; many offers to help; many, many e-mails. Thank you to those to whom I have not had time to respond.
Today's developments and agenda below.
Be a star!: Starting with a little whimsy, we'd like to feature your photos on the website. If you will make up a sign with a legend supporting our position - something like "Repeal Section 1076," "Protect the National Guard," "Preserve Posse Comitatus," etc. - and have your photo taken holding the sign and pointing your index finger in the air, send it to us. Maximum size: 500 x 333 pixels. We also need some smaller square shots - 150 x 150 pixels, for the first page. If you have a bunch of friends and a panoramic camera lens, our banners are 720 x 80, and we'd be happy to feature you and your panorama. Bear in mind that we are trying to appeal to a broad audience across the political spectrum, so comport yourself to be polite and persuasive. Using your own children and pets in photos is OK, although unless you own a monkey I don't know if you can get a pet to raise one finger.
Now getting to the serious stuff:
The fax letter: The letter that we would like people to fax to government officials and candidates is prepared and on the website. Scroll down to the bottom of the first page and right-click on the finger to download. Then either print off as many copies as you'd like to fax, writing in the name of the recipient in the obvious space, or print off one copy and use a post-it or something to fill in the address information.
The recipient list: We're working on it. I've been sent some spreadsheets and referred to others and am trying to figure out how to make the best use of them. One of them, by cherryxxx69, looks like it's in good shape (though not complete), and we may need a place to host it temporarily before it can get onto the website. Getting a list of numbers is not the major trouble - though it may take a little hunting through a web site on your part - but what we can't do easily is create some interactive system where you can indicate that you've already written someone so others can please leave that poor candidate or politician alone now. So: please indicate who you've faxed and who you've called (to follow up) and who you've e-mailed (because why not) in the comments section. If someone has been contacted at least twice, leave them alone. If you call and verify that the message has been received, please let us all know. If someone can keep track of that information and send it to me to update periodically in summary form, please do.
The blog: We have set up a blog on the site. Eventually we will start using it. Until then, we're working here.
Outreach: A few people have said that they would try to raise the alarm on right-wing sites, whom we really want working with us on this issue if they do care at all about small government and the 10th Amendment, as the profess. I haven't heard the results of those efforts, although a couple of derisive e-mails suggest that they might have taken place. If you can spread this word, please do. Please let us know that you will, and then please let us know that you have, and then please let us know what happened as a result. (Were you banned? Sorry. Some people just don't care much about martial law, because the President seems like someone you'd like to have a beer with - just before you force the people of Bellevue, Washington or Rolla, Missouri or Manchester, New Hampshire to cower in their homes while people with machine guns patrol the streets looking for evildoers.)
Interviews: We need (1) people to be interviewed besides me (because I hope demand for interviews will outstrip supply of me), and (2) venues. This means compiling names of bookers at radio stations, compiling lists of names that other people have compiled because I don't have time to dig through everything, and calling stations yourself to see if you can drum up interest.
Writing: I've been trying to write things, but as you may guess have had a lot of distractions. So: you do it. Post it here if you want; others can please edit it. Then send it out. We need people to take initiative. Letters to the editor, articles for some web newsmagazines like Salon - I will do any e-mail interview you want. Stake a claim on some venue and get writing.
Research: One thing that I never figured out in law school is the precise implications of a declaration of martial law. What rights do you give up? First Amendment rights? Second Amendment rights? Fourth Amendment rights? Is the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment suspendable? Right to speedy trial? Due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? What can you be forced to do during the 365 days that the President can enforce martial law with National Guard troops ripped from the Governor's hands? You can be presumably forced to quarter soldiers in your home - that's what the "except in wartime" part of the Third Amendment is about. But what else? I was interested in these questions when I read the Korematsu decision, but people really didn't want to discuss it. Oh yeah - and how does this all fit with the Military Commissions law that was part of the same bill? I don't have time to do thoughtful research on the hair-raising possibilities, but if you can find it or do it, please do.
I'll be updating throughout the day, but won't always be as responsive as I'd like. If there's something urgent, please use e-mail: gregatcarter4nv - at - gmail - dot - com -- an address that is NOT affiliated with the Carter campaign -- is the one I watch most closely.