Via Atrios, House Republicans are trying to push a discharge petition on the Senate's Cheney/Rockefeller FISA bill, even after a strong majority passed a much better bill last month.
But their targets, the Blue Dogs aren't biting:
"I am not going to sign it," said Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) a member of the Blue Dogs. "I just don’t think it is necessary."
Fellow Blue Dog Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) agreed with Mahoney, saying he would not subvert the rules process by signing the petition.
"I like the House version of FISA better than the Senate bill anyway," added Arcuri.
Here's the best part of the story:
"If they were smart, all of the Blue Dogs would sign it," said one House Republican leadership aide. "This petition shows separation from Speaker [Pelosi] who’s toxic in their districts and would be the right thing for our national security."
Right, Republican leadership is only looking out for those Blue Dogs, because this is the most importantest issue ever out in their districts. Just like it was for Bill Foster in Hastert's district. We all know what Republican leaders really think about this:
"Republicans have dedicated significant time and resources in engaging regional and local media, editorial boards, and talk radio over the break," said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner , R-Ohio. "We’re going to hold every Democrat accountable for their irresponsible actions on this bill, and we will ramp up the pressure until they do the right thing and pass the bipartisan Senate bill. In the end, we believe they will cave."
The Republicans are going to keep hammering this. They've resurrected the deceptive, fear-mongering Defense of Democracy ads, those ads they ran against Arcuri, Mahoney and a handful of other Freshman Dems.
As you have time today, counterbalance those attacks by calling the targeted Dems and the Blue Dogs who stayed with the majority to thank them for continuing to stand up to the Republicans and Bush. They are protecting the Constitution and their constituents instead of AT&T. And call the Dems who voted with the Republicans on the House version of the bill, and tell them to stop doing the Republicans' dirty work. Contact information below the fold.
The targeted Dems:
- Jason Altmire (PA-04), Phone: (202) 225-2565, Fax: (202) 226-2274
- Mike Arcuri (NY-24), Phone: (202) 225-3665, Fax: (202) 225-1891
- Nancy Boyda (KS-02), Phone: (202) 225-6601, Fax: (202) 225-7986
- Joe Courtney (CT-02), Phone: (202) 225-2076, Fax: (202) 225-4977
- Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Phone: (202) 225-3915, Fax: (202) 225-6798
- Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), Phone: (202) 225-2542, Fax: (202) 225-0378
- Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20), Phone: (202) 225-5614, Fax: (202) 225-1168
- Paul Hodes (NH-02), Phone: (202) 225-5206, Fax: (202) 225-2946
- Steve Kagen (WI-08), Phone: (202) 225-5665, Fax: (202) 225-5729
- Ron Klein (FL-22), Phone: (202) 225-3026, Fax: (202) 225-8398
- Tim Mahoney (FL-16), Phone: (202) 225-5792, Fax: (202) 225-3132
- Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Phone: (202) 225-1947, Fax: (202) 225-4060
- Harry Mitchell (AZ-05), Phone: (202) 225-2190, Fax: (202) 225-3263
- Christopher Murphy (CT-05), Phone: (202) 225-4476, Fax: (202) 225-5933
- Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Phone: (202) 225-5456, Fax: (202) 225-5822
- Tim Walz (MN-01), Phone: (202) 225-2472, Fax: (202) 225-3433
The Blue Dogs who supported the House's FISA bill:
- Rep. Leonard L. Boswell, D-Iowa -- Phone: (202) 225-3806, Fax: (202) 225-5608
- Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark. -- Phone: (202) 225-4076, Fax: (202) 225-5602
- Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark. -- Phone: (202) 225-3772, Fax: (202) 225-1314
- Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. -- Phone: (202) 225-2611, Fax: (202) 226-0893
- Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill. -- Phone: (202) 225-3711, Fax: (202) 225-7830
- Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga. -- Phone: (202) 225-2823, Fax: (202) 225-3377
- Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla. -- Phone: (202) 225-5235, Fax: (202) 225-5615
- Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif. -- Phone: (202) 225-6161, Fax: (202) 225-8671
- Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn. -- Phone: (202) 225-4714, Fax: (202) 225-1765
- Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah -- Phone: (202) 225-3011, Fax: (202) 225-5638
- Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind. -- Phone: (202) 225-4636, Fax: (202) 225-3284
- Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La. -- Phone: (202) 225-4031, Fax: (202) 226-3944
- Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan. -- Phone: (202) 225-2865, Fax: (202) 225-2807
- Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio -- Phone: (202) 225-6265, Fax: (202) 225-3394
The Blue Dogs who were with the Republicans:
- Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla. -- Phone: (202) 225-2701, Fax: (202) 225-3038
- Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa. -- Phone: (202) 225-3731, Fax: (202) 225-9594
- Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn. -- Phone: (202) 225-4311, Fax: (202) 226-1035
- Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn. -- Phone: (202) 225-6831, Fax: (202) 226-5172
- Rep. Tim Holden, D-Pa. -- Phone: (202) 225-5546, Fax: (202) 226-0996
- Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C. -- Phone: (202) 225-6401, Fax: (202) 226-6422