Below is a copy of an email I received less than an hour ago. The Center for Constitutional Rights is asking we target 8 Senators. I included the entire email since it give a good run down and very specific language to use when we call. I know we are in a very up hill battle here but if not now when? Even if we win the house and the Senate in Nov. this legislation won' get rolled back. Bush will just veto any attempts to curtail his power. We have to fight this fight now! You can Fax them tonight through the Center for Constitutional Rights website.
The Vote is Expected Thursday Morning
Dear Friend of CCR,
You live in one of eight key states: your Senators could be the deciding vote in the critical fight to stop the White House from acquiring unlimited power to detain non-citizens indefinitely, without access to the courts--even if they are not charged with any crime.
What began as legislation to regulate the trials of men at Guantánamo has grown so sweeping that it would encompass any non-U.S. citizen picked up anywhere in the world, even permanent legal residents detained inside the United States. There is so much wrong with this bill, from regressively redefining rape and sexual abuse, to sneaking in a new definition of enemy combatant so broad it could include an anti-war protester at a rally in Washington, D.C., to ending sixty years of protection under the Geneva Conventions. We have urged Congress to reject the bill in its entirety, but there is one amendment under consideration that would address one terrible aspect of the legislation, and we need you to urge your Senators to pass it.
Senator Specter has introduced a bipartisan amendment to remove a provision that denies non-citizens access to courts if they are designated "unlawful enemy combatants" or if they are awaiting a designation. It is essential that you call your Senators and urge them to vote for the Specter Amendment to remove the court-stripping provision from the military commissions bill.
The White House made drastic changes to the military commissions bill over the weekend. This version of the bill includes a broad new definition of "unlawful enemy combatant" expanded to include anyone determined by a tribunal under the authority of the President or the Defense Secretary to be an unlawful enemy combatant. The bill would deny anyone determined to be an enemy combatant - or anyone "awaiting such determination" - the right to challenge their detention, treatment, or conditions of confinement in court. The bill passed in the House of Representatives late this afternoon and will likely be voted on in the Senate on Thursday. The amendment will be voted on in the morning. Please call your Senators at the numbers provided below and send them a fax through our website.
There are over 35 million non-citizens currently living in the United States. This provision would allow any one of them to be imprisoned indefinitely without their day in court. There is real reason to fear that they could be investigated, detained, interrogated, and tortured without judicial remedy.
Recent history shows that this power will not be exercised with restraint, but will substitute racial and religious profiling for true suspicion and evidence of wrongdoing. Please act now to ensure that our Constitution continues to protect all who reside in this country. Call your Senators immediately and urge them to vote for the Specter Amendment to remove the court-stripping provision from the military commissions bill.
Thank you for taking this important action!
Vincent Warren
Executive Director
For more information, please visit our website at www.ccr-ny.org.
THE LIST OF CRUCIAL SENATORS:
Lincoln Chafee (R - RI) - (202) 224-2921
Fax: (202) 228-2853
Chief of Staff: David Griswold
Legis. Dir.: Deb Brayton
Military LA: William Ralph
Susan M. Collins (R - ME) - (202) 224-2523
Fax: (202) 224-2523
Chief of Staff: Steve Abbott
Legis. Dir.: Jane Alonso
Military LA: MacKenzie Eaglen
Mike DeWine (R - OH) - (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 224-6519
Chief of Staff: Laurel Pressler
Legis. Dir.: Paul Palagyi
Military LA: Stacie Oliver
Chuck Hagel (R - NE) - (202) 224-4224
Fax: (202) 224-5213
Chief of Staff: Lou Ann Linehan
Legis. Dir.: Jill Konz
Military LA: Fran DuFrayne
Joseph I. Lieberman (D - CT) - (202) 224-4041
Fax: 202-224-9750
Chief of Staff: Clarine Nardi Riddle; phone: 224-4041
Legislative Director: Joe Goffman
Military Legislative Assistant: Fred Downey
Richard G. Lugar (R - IN) - (202) 224-4814
Fax: (202) 228-0360
Chief of Staff: Marty Morris
Legis. Dir.: Chris Geeslin
Military LA: Keri Maloney
Robert Menendez (D - NJ) - (202) 224-4744
Fax: (202) 228-2197
Chief of Staff: Ivan Zapien
Legis. Dir.: Chris Schloesser
Military LA: Jessica Lewis
John E. Sununu (R - NH) - (202) 224-2841
Fax: (202) 228-4131
Chief of Staff: Paul J. Collins, Jr
Legis. Dir.: Jamie Burnett
Military LA: Dave Cuzzi
So what's wrong with this list of targeted Senators? Aside from the usual suspects, Lieberman, Snowe, Collins, Hagel, Chaffee. Manendez
That's right the NJ Democratic "incumbent" who is in a tight race against Kean Jr. is a needed vote to save the foundations of the rule of law. As a Jerseyite I can't even begin to say how utterly PISSED OFF I am about this.
So Pelase give us a hand and give all the senators on the list a call but especially Senator Manendez. Help us explain to the Senator what it will take to get our votes in Nov. and our work on his campaign until then.
Here is a list of NJ Counties and zip codes