Urge Dodd to stop the FISA Bill Today! [updated: SUCCESS]

If there is one person who has the ability to stop the wrong-headed FISA bill that would provide retroactive immunity to the tele-comms, it's Chris Dodd.

He has made the Constitution a centerpiece of his campaign from day one, and has a chance to back his words with action ... today.

Big Tent Democrat at MyDD urged Senator Dodd to "lead the resistance to the Dem Senate Cave in on FISA" and I think we all agree we need someone to step up.

Atrios talked a little bit more about Dodd's unique position to do something about it.

Dodd is our best chance to stop this bill.  Read more below to take action.

I did a little digging and found the name of his Policy Director on this website.  Call into his campaign headquarters and tell him the American people need leadership NOW on this issue.

Campaign HQ Phone Number: 202.737.3633
Name: Amos Hochstein, Policy Director

Update: CTLiberal reports that Senator Dodd is getting a bunch of phone calls and is considering stopping the bill.  That's great!  Let's keep it up, and make sure you are polite and thank the Senator for his leadership.

Update 2: Dodd will be placing a hold on the bill!  Here is his statement.  Make sure you send Senator Dodd some love.  He's shown great leadership on this and now he's putting his words into action.

•  Great idea.

  by Fire Dog Lake on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:05:48 AM PDT

  •  The new Democratic whips

    People powered rapid response is the wave of the future.

    by Bill White on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:18:32 AM PDT

    •  THERE'S M'F'in DODDMANIA in this MFin town

      a "la Snakes on a plane"

      by horatius on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:21:11 PM PDT

  •  Don't just call the Campaign --

    Call his Senate office too. that's where the stop will come from, not the campaign trail:

    U.S. Senator Chris Dodd
    448 Russell Building | Washington D.C., 20510
    Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

    by Timroff on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:06:09 AM PDT

    •  I called the Senate office and left a message...

      I tried to call Hochstein, but his mailbox is full.  He probably hates this site about now.

      I've been intrigued by Dodd all along.  If he actually takes this step, I'll be so intrigued that I'll have to write him a check.

      We have 4 Dem senators w/ law degrees who are running for prez.  Is Dodd the only 1 of them who perceives that giving a prez the express authority to rewrite laws to legalize past illegal conduct is a truly scary concept?

      by RFK Lives on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:50:48 AM PDT

    •  I called the Senate office too - thanks! n/t

      by AnotherMassachusettsLiberal on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:59:21 AM PDT

•  Thanks much, Fran! Will do this now. :)

  by boofdah on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:07:43 AM PDT

•  you got it,

  I will do this right now!

  The Dems are the MAJORITY. It's time they started acting like it. Maybe Dodd can do some convincing!

  by o the umanity on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:10:49 AM PDT

•  I just called - the staffer said...

  ...that they'd already gotten several calls on this topic.  I told them that I'd volunteer for the campaign if he places a hold on this bill - and I bring some small fundraising clout with me, having raised over $3,600.00 in two races so far this year, as well as personal donations to both Edwards and Obama.  I hope they take me up on the offer!

  by AnotherMassachusettsLiberal on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:10:58 AM PDT

  •  Yeah, that staffer told me that, too...

    ...and that Amos wasn't the correct person to contact re: the FISA issue. He said he'd already gotten a deluge of calls re: this issue and that Chris Dodd's team was doing all they could to stop the bad bill from going through. He didn't identify himself, but he said he appreciated my call.

    by boofdah on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:19:23 AM PDT

  •  Hey Mass - assuming you're a Sox fan

    then the one thing you and this Indians fan can agree on today is that Dodd deserves lots of new volunteers if he stops this thing.  I certainly plan to do my part here in NE Ohio if he does!

    by danps on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:08:13 AM PDT

    •  I am in CO

      and you can say the same thing for Rockies fans! Though our primary is not early enough to really effect the outcome.

      by Something the Dog Said on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:15:48 AM PDT

    •  Actually, I'm an evil empire fan...

      I grew up in CT, moved to MA in 1984.  But no matter - let's get Dodd behind this, and then we'll get behind Dodd!

      by AnotherMassachusettsLiberal on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:36:36 AM PDT

      •  You're a Yankees Fan?

        Oh my God, I always thought you were a Red Sox fan! You're just not the Mass liberal I thought you were, I'm crushed!

        by Mae on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:08:58 AM PDT

        •  If it's any consolation...

          ...I'm also a Patriots fan!  I get weird looks when I wear my Yankees cap with a Patriots t-shirt!

          by AnotherMassachusettsLiberal on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:24:51 PM PDT

          •  I'm sure you do

            you must look schizophrenic

            by Mae on Sun Oct 21, 2007 at 09:28:19 AM PDT

      •  Were you one of those booing Giuliani?

        For that moment, the Yankees were truly America's team.

        by Tony Seybert on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:36:11 PM PDT

        •  I was there in spirit...n/t

          by AnotherMassachusettsLiberal on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:50:49 PM PDT

•  My call

  I told the staffer that if he doesn't stop it, that is the end of his Presidential campaign.

  His cornerstone has been restoring the Constitution and if he doesn't use his power as an United States Senator than why bother running for President.

  The staffer agreed with me.

  by jalapeno on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:16:52 AM PDT

  •  I told him if he -did- stop it,

    then I belonged to Dodd from here on out.

    The whole honey/vinegar thing.

    by GussieFN on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:07:56 AM PDT

    •  Save the country, Senator,

      and we will put you at its head.

      by Simplify on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:15:08 AM PDT

    •  I'm with you...

      And I will be with Dodd.

      From a practical campaign standpoint, the timing couldn't be better.  Since it's pretty much now or never for Al entering the race (and "never" is looking pretty likely), all of us who were hanging back in hopes of his running will finally have to start thinking seriously about who we will support.  A bold move by Dodd right now could collect a lot of Gore voters.

      by lineatus on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:43:24 AM PDT

      •  true

        I may certainly be one of them

        by leaveonlyfootprints on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:09:35 PM PDT

  •  He stopped it and I just sent my first donation

    I haven't donated to anyone yet (I'm a Gore fan and have been waiting for him). But Dodd deserves rewarding, so he got my first presidential candidate donation.

    by Erin in Flagstaff on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:40:39 AM PDT

•  Be polite and make clear cash will follow

  I'm not a big fan of making someone's phone explode, but if you're gonna do it please be polite. And really if he does do this he deserves at least as much as it costs for a night out at Bennigans or Denny's with your significant other.

  Bother them now and make sure to give later.

  Dodd Squad... who the f- came up with that name? Anyways, despite that just be polite.

  by Windowdog on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:39:34 AM PDT

  •  Asking him to do something and saying there is

    a cash donation if he does is tacky. I thought we were against trying to "bribe" candidates. Better to just say you would appreciate his help and leave it at that.

    by IndySteve on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:00:44 AM PDT

    •  Yeah after reading it over I didn't like it eithe

      r

      Didn't mean to suggest a quid pro quo. Just meant make it clear that if he's going to bat on issues like this then he's the candidate for you and you'll gladly support him.

      Having said all that if he does do this then we need to open the cash spigot something fierce, IMHO at least.

      by Windowdog on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:08:21 AM PDT

  •  I told the staffer that should Dodd come through

    on blocking this FISA bill, I would 'enthusiastically vote for him to be President.'  The staffer sounded pleased by that.

    by sap on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:00:35 AM PDT

•  So, Dodd staff Kossacks, are you reading?

  Dodd has the chance to be a real hero today.  Will he step up to the plate?

  We'll do our part to encourage him.  Hope you'll do yours as well.

  by MsSpentyouth on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:44:00 AM PDT

  •  Yes

    We are reading the posts here and on many other sites. We are getting a very high volume of calls on this. Thank you all for acting on this issue and we will keep you posted on what happens next.

    by Matt Browner Hamlin on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:50:57 AM PDT

    •  What can we do to help encourage Senator Dodd?

      Thanks for speaking up and letting us know he is listening.  I appreciate his leadership more and more as this campaign goes on.  He's certainly become my favorite candidate and one of my favorite Dems.

      Whom best to call and what do we say to urge him to take a stand on this?

      by Cory Bantic on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:57:22 AM PDT

      •  Follow up with a call to your own Senator

        if appropriate.

        I did, and was the first person to call Kerry's office on the issue. The woman I spoke to didn't know about it.

        She does now.

        by Smallbottle on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:19:18 AM PDT

        •  I have been calling Feinstein alot lately.

          Boxer, too.  If Dodd pulls this off, I will be out in the street carrying a sign for him (and sending $$)

          by bloomer 101 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:26:24 AM PDT

          •  Feinstein is hopeless

            We really need to get a real Dem to challenge her corporate compromised ass.

            by Dave925 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:51:02 AM PDT

            •  I got a robo-email from DiFi the other day

              I had written her last August scolding her for her FISA vote and telling her we took our constitutional rights and they weren't granted by any Senate.

              I will make every effort to ensure [sic] that new legislation will continue to protect [sic] the privacy rights of all Americans [sic] without restricting the intelligence community's ability to protect [sic] the nation.

              by GW Chimpzilla on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:30:29 AM PDT

              •  Here's What I Wrote Back This Time

                Thank you for writing to me about domestic electronic surveillance and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA).  I appreciate you taking the time to write and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
                [snip]
                Finally, there will be intense oversight of activities conducted under the Act.

                Executive privilege obviously trumps your assurance. You and the Senate are too afraid to go to court against Bush's ridiculous claims of executive privilege to effectively provide any meaningful oversight.

                It is beyond me why you trust the executive branch after all these years.

                You cannot assure the public that the Bush Administration doesn't use wiretapping to gain information of Democratic campaigns and use that information to elect Republicans.

                And you cannot assure the public that the Bush Administration doesn't use wiretapping for the purpose of corporate espionage -- giving crony businesses secrets gained their competitors through wiretapping.

                by GW Chimpzilla on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:57:37 AM PDT

        •  Capitol Switchboard at [phone]

          Going to call my senators now.

          by joanneleon on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:31:13 AM PDT

        •  Won't work here, my senators

          are Burr and Dole. No need to waste our breath on those two. Instead, we kick them, and the ones like them, to the curb.

          Assuming that Edwards doesn't take the presidential nomination, it's doubtful that he will want to mount any sort of late 08 campaign against Dole. Anyone know his thinking on a 2010 challenge to Burr?

          by Black Max on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:46:35 AM PDT

          •  I'm in the same dry-docked North Carolinian boat

            Not only are Burr and Dole in the president's pocket but their staffers are rude and have no patience for people who don't agree with the senators.  They do whatever it takes to make sure we know we're not represented.

            by MsSpentyouth on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:40:24 AM PDT

        •  Kerry's office didn't know about this?

          groan

          by pontechango on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:47:53 AM PDT

          •  Not a clue

            This was the person answering the phone in DC.

            by Smallbottle on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:58:27 AM PDT

            •  Same thing when I called Herb Kohl's

              office. She had to have me repeat myself a few times as she took the message. But Russ Feingold's office said they'd had a lot of calls. He's a great senator! The woman I spoke with at Dodd's headquarters was nice, too, and thankful for my call.

              While I was at it, I called Obama's Campaign HQ, too, just to ask his support against this. I told the staffer that I think restoring the constitution is going to be one of the most important things our next president will do. Leadership in this area will go a long way toward helping me make up my mind. The staffer said that Obama was working on formulating his position. I think I may just call the other senator/candidates' offices, too, just to get the message out.

              by coolsub on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:34:07 AM PDT

              •  plenty of time to "formulate his decision"

                When he joins us "happy internees" in one of the DHS/Blackwater Re-Education Resorts in 2009.  

                I'm so over this guy.  Forget being president, he's a shitty senator.

                by arbiter on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:52:26 AM PDT

          •  You're f--ing kidding me, right?

            And this dude ran for PRESIDENT ???

            by boofdah on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:23:09 AM PDT

      •  Chris' Dad

        was a prosecutor at Nuremberg--so he knows from War Crimes!!!

        by serrano on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:26:32 AM PDT

      •  Honestly

        What's being done now is being heard loud and clear. We have received hundreds of calls in the last couple hours and our front desk is doing everything they can to hear peoples' concerns and record their comments. Thank you all for taking the time to contact us and I'll keep you going with updates as I have them.

        by Matt Browner Hamlin on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:32:08 AM PDT

        •  President Dodd?

          I'm becoming more and more impressed with Senator Dodd.  Increasingly, he seems to be the only Dem candidate with principles, for which he is actually willing to fight.

          I haven't thrown my support or money behind any candidate yet, but if he can pull this off he'll have both... in spades.  And I'm sure I'm not the only one.  I think something like this could be the lever that helps catapult his candidacy to the next level.

          People are begining to take notice.  Keep up the good work.

          by Hang em High on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:50:00 AM PDT

          •  Ditto

            I've been standing back - feeling really unimpressed with the Dems in general.  I'm waiting for someone to actually show some leadership.  It ain't coming from Hillary or Obama so far.  Edwards is good, but I'm not close to sold yet.  

            If Dodd shows leadership, he'll win me over.  And while I'm not trying to "bribe" a candidate - if he stops this, he's getting a donation from me... and I haven't donated to anyone in a while because I'm so sick of the spineless Dems.

            by ShadowRunning on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:55:44 AM PDT

            •  I just donated

              Like you, I'm waiting for leadership. I say we reward good behavior.

              by Erin in Flagstaff on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:41:51 AM PDT

              •  Agreed

                I just donated to him and signed up on the Dodd Sqaud, etc.  This is my first donation of the primary season and it feels good.

                by ShadowRunning on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:05:09 PM PDT

              •  I just sent him some $ too

                nothing like some cash to give the candidacy a boost.  Dodd has shown he's not afraid to take action, and he deserves props for that!

                by CarolynC967 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:17:27 PM PDT

          •  I'd vote for Dodd in a second..

            With no reservations what so ever.

            by dotdot on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:50:43 AM PDT

        •  Sen Dodd has my support

          I have been warming up to him for a while but dammit, if he can stick it to the fascists (yes that is what they are) and their cowardly Dem enablers, I'll go to the mattresses for him.

          by Dave925 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:52:40 AM PDT

          •  and thanks for nothing Hillobama. Bravo Dodd.n/t

            by NetRootsDaily on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:58:53 AM PDT

        •  This is his chance to get some of us

          ... Gore supporters, as the writing on the wall gets clearer.

          by lineatus on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:46:51 AM PDT

        •  Thank your boss so much for listening!!

          I've got tears in my eyes -- I can't believe we were actually heard -- and I just made my 1st financial contribution to Dodd's campaign.

          Chris Dodd ROCKS!

          by Cory Bantic on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:26:25 PM PDT

      •  I agree

        Dodd is a sleeper and clearly, is the only candidate who publicly appreciates what has been done to this nation by these traitors and scoundrels calling themselves "Conservatives". That so many Dems have gone along with this march to lawless authoritarianism is a shame that will not so easily be removed from them.

        Dodd can wash it clean starting today.

        by Dave925 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:49:49 AM PDT

    •  ::smooch::

      Thanks.  If you'll agree to rebuild the Constitution, we'll provide labor and resources.

      by MsSpentyouth on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:57:24 AM PDT

      •  And Dodd

        does have the handsomest staffers too!!!

        by paddykraska on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:18:47 AM PDT

        •  Hmmm ... is that a nonpartisan finding?

          by MsSpentyouth on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:21:55 AM PDT

        •  Paddy Paddy Paddy

          I love you too.

          by Matt Browner Hamlin on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:45:36 AM PDT

    •  Read below please

      Wasn't able to reach anyone or leave a message(your mailbox is full).

      by cwaltz on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:59:16 AM PDT

      •  I got through earlier and they said

        they were receiving "a slew of calls" about this issue.  I take the full mailbox as a hopeful sign.  Let's hope output matches input, eh?

        by MsSpentyouth on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:03:12 AM PDT

        •  just called

          the guy said they are getting THOUSANDS of calls - then I told him it time to put up, or shut up - after the Veto overriding failure, I'm tired, very tired of nothing getting done and being in the loosers bracket every single freaking day!

          by bobnbob on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:19:03 AM PDT

    •  Matt, is there something else we can do?

      (I can't even believe I'm having to ask this question. "How, with a Democratic Congress, do we prevent said Democratic Congress from capitulating to a criminal president's meaningless "demand" for immunity for his law-breaking enablers?" SIGH...)

      Kudos to Sen. Dodd for speaking out so forcefully against this assault on the rule of law and the Constitution.

      by twilight falling on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:04:46 AM PDT

      •  Call the Senate

        Make your voice heard, no matter who your Senator is. Civil liberties do not vary based on whether your party affiliation is Democrat, Republican, or anything else.

        by Matt Browner Hamlin on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:38:41 AM PDT

        •  I called Joementum....

          ...in fact I called him an asshole for a whole year, but he still got re-elected.

          I wouldn't waste the time on him now.

          Matt, I know Senator Dodd will do the right thing here. Maybe Feingold will stand with him on this.

          by roguetrader2000 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:35:13 AM PDT

  •  You can leave comments on their blog, too

    http://chrisdodd.com/...

    If you can't get through on the phones, why not leave a comment for them?

    by ShadowRunning on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:15:21 AM PDT

•  Jane sent me

  by stumpy on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:47:19 AM PDT

•  Not good

  I just got that the mailbox is full and didn't get to speak to anyone. Does anyone have ANOTHER number that would allow me to let them know I will volunteer to phone bank and contribute 5 $20 donations over a 3 month period at the very least if Dodd can derail this?

  by cwaltz on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:56:54 AM PDT

  •  press 4 for the political office

    just spoke to a staffer and had a great, brief, conversation with her.

    she said she'd pass along my request that Sen. Dodd kill the bill.

    Dodd is GOOD!  DAMMIT!

    by netguyct on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:11:36 AM PDT

  •  Got through

    by pressing "4" after hearing the message that the mailbox was full.  I spoke to one of Senator Dodd's aides who said they are doing everything they can to find a way to stop this.  Also called Senator Rockefeller's office.  Aide wasn't too helpful (or friendly) and said reports of what is in the legislation are premature.  He said we should wait until this afternoon to see the final product.  I said we already know what it contains and Senator Rockefeller is a disappointment and tool of the telecoms.

    by bamaky on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:50:57 AM PDT

  •  or, press 0

    (or wait) and go to the operator.

    by TracieLynn on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:06:39 AM PDT

    •  That was where I got the mailbox is full

      I wonder if since you didn't get the mailbox is full if they cleaned it out. Anyone I'd say that the poster above has a pretty good idea. If the box is full press 7 or perhaps use the prompts to get to Amos. If we make it clear this is important then perhaps our Congressfolk will do the right thing.

      by cwaltz on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:16:26 AM PDT

      •  I probably

        got through because I called fairly early today on this, after seeing BTD's post but before kos' front-page post.  For once, I had great timing on something!

        by TracieLynn on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:21:59 AM PDT

•  left Amos a message

  by condoleaser on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:58:07 AM PDT

•  i called dodd and rockefeller

  dodds office answered
  rockefeller's  i went to voice mail

  for those poor like me with no cell phone

  1 (800) 828 - 0498
  1 (800) 459 - 1887
  1 (800) 614 - 2803
  1 (866) 340 - 9281
  1 (866) 338 - 1015
  1 (877) 851 - 6437

  by MantisOahu on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:58:42 AM PDT

  •  Did get through to Rockefeller's office

    but the staffer kept putting me on hold when I told him what the call was about.  He finally said reports of what is in the legislation are premature and we should wait until this afternoon.  He put me on the Senator's e-mail list, but I don't think I'll be surprised when I see what the legislation contains!

    by bamaky on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:57:10 AM PDT

•  I Support Dodd in The Primary

  Because he's done a lot of talking about -- and a fair bit of acting on -- restoring our civil liberties.

  I see his action (or inaction) on this bill as the definitive statement of whether or not he's the right man for the job.

  by ChapiNation386 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 08:59:50 AM PDT

  •  this could be the spark

    that launches dodd to the top tier. i am undecided and i am so hungry for a courageous and visionary leader.

    by MantisOahu on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:02:22 AM PDT

    •  Amen

      n/t

      by paddykraska on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:17:30 AM PDT

    •  Paging Senator Obama....

      paging Senator Obama!!!

      by serrano on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:27:38 AM PDT

      •  Don't bet on it

        He'll sneak in and cast the proper vote at the last minute, but will show no leadership on the issue.

        by Black Max on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:48:53 AM PDT

        •  Why are Obama and Clinton silent on this?

          OK, I'm as cynical as the rest of you, but why oh why aren't Obama or Clinton saying something about this? This would be such a heroic thing to lead on and yet from our front-runners I see no friggin' leadership! Have these two been bought and paid for by the telco's too? Or are they just askeered they'll be painted as supporting the terrorists because they can't come up with a logical argument?

          A word after a word after a word is power. -- Margaret Atwood

          by tmo on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:18:20 AM PDT

          •  "This would be such a heroic thing to lead on"

            It takes a leader to lead... there's your answer.

            by lineatus on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 10:58:35 AM PDT

          •  Hillary and Obama...

            are not leaders.  They will only follow when polls tell them how to react.  I'm impressed with Dodd on this and agree with others who have said he deserves a closer look.  If he comes through, I'll be sending my first '08 campaign  contribution.

            by miriam on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 12:45:00 PM PDT

    •  Yes, excatly

      i am so hungry for a courageous and visionary leader.

      Couldn't have said it better.

      by ShadowRunning on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:01:50 AM PDT

•  It just might work!

  It's simple, quick and effective.
  Now, what would prevent this from happening?  Would the telecoms be able to lean on Dodd to hold on the hold by threatening to scuttle any campaign contributions next year?    

  by goldberry on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:03:25 AM PDT

  •  Dodd? Worry?

    He's CT's favorite son and a shoo-in. There is no beating Dodd in a Senate race. Shit, we couldn't beat Lieberman, and people didn't like him. People love Dodd. He can't lose. One of the safest seats we have.

    by Eddie in ME on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:07:42 AM PDT

•  Dodd is my senator

  I will make sure to fax him a letter on this by no later than mid afternoon today.

  Thanks for the alert!

  by newjeffct on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:04:33 AM PDT

  •  Lucky bastard!

    (But then your other senator is Jumpin' Joe...)

    I'm stuck with Dole and Burr. :(

    by polecat on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:18:43 AM PDT

    •  I faxed Dodd's washington office

      seemed to go through...

      But, it sucks having Lieberman as a senator.  I feel embarrassed to post here and on other liberal sites at times because of it.

      And, then my rep - Chris Murphy - votes to condemn Move On over Petraeus...  (groan)

      by newjeffct on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 11:21:36 AM PDT

•  I suspect that

  the Dems think they are trading retroactive immunity for some sort of increased protection going forward. They are, again, not thinking clearly unless they explicitly state that the immunity from lawsuits ends the day this bill passes. Without that the telcos and bushco will assume that whatever restrictions and limits are in the bill do not apply since they are exempt from all laws whenever they merely utter the magic words 'national security'.

  by global citizen on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:06:36 AM PDT

  •  The best protection going forward

    Is criminal prosecution and punishment.  That IS the intent of the punishment part of the justice system, afterall.

    Nothing says "Do not EVER EVER do that shit again" like being sued out of existence and going to jail.

    That policy works wonders on Presidents too, by the way.

    by Terminus Est on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:48:31 AM PDT

•  Important issue for Americans abroad

  There's quite a bit of e-mail traffic circulating among Democrats Abroad members about the FISA bill, since we are one of the groups most affected. Action by any candidate at this moment would be very favorably noticed by ex-pats (who have 22 electoral votes at the convention).

  by cadejo4 on Thu Oct 18, 2007 at 09:09:09 AM PDT