FISA: The good guys win a big one

First off, Steny Hoyer, I apologize for anything I might have ever said about you in relation to the Blue Dogs and FISA. I was wrong. You were great today. Thank you. The shrewd planning of Pelosi and Reid really tied the Republicans in knots, taking away all of their tricks for derailing the bill through obnoxious and obstructionist procedural maneuvering. Chairs Conyers and Reyes were excellent in sheparding their committee members.

Particularly deserving of thanks, though, are those Freshman Dems who would not be intimidated by everything being thrown at them by the Republicans--the robocalls to their constituents saying they were with the terrorists, the deceitful and inflammatory Defense of Democracy's crazy television ads. Particularly of note are Mike Arcuri who managed the Rule on this vote, and Nancy Boyda, Carol Shea-Porter and others who stood on the floor during these debates and strongly stood up for our civil liberties. You can show your support for them here.

As for those 21 Blue Dogs who wrote that letter a few weeks ago telling Pelosi she should rubberstamp the bad Senate bill, that letter that the Republicans tried to use to bludgeon the Dems about "bipartisanship"? SevenFive (I'm math impaired) of them, Shuler, Boren, Cooper, Holden, and Carney stuck with the Republicans. Lincoln Davis voted present. (The remaining "no" votes among Dems who are progressives and are generally opposed to surveillance legislation at all.) Thanks to the hard work of leadership in whipping the remaining 16, as well as all of you who made phone calls and sent e-mails for flipping them. And thank you 16 for doing the right thing. You showed the Senate it can be done.

Lists and contact info below the fold.

Update: Links to roll call votes, relevant ones are 144 (the Rule) and 145 (final passage).

Update II: Take special note of this story from Los Diablo, who just called Rep. Boswell's office:

...they thanked me for thanking him because they are getting a hammered with negative calls because he supported this.

The same is probably true in a lot of Blue Dog offices. Your calls can make the difference between pride and regret. [Kagro X]

The hang-tough Dems:

• Jason Altmire (PA-04), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Mike Arcuri (NY-24), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Nancy Boyda (KS-02), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Joe Courtney (CT-02), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Paul Hodes (NH-02), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Steve Kagen (WI-08), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Ron Klein (FL-22), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Tim Mahoney (FL-16), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Harry Mitchell (AZ-05), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Christopher Murphy (CT-05), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Tim Walz (MN-01), Phone:  [phone], Fax: [phone]

The Blue Dogs who were with us:

• Rep. Leonard L. Boswell, D-Iowa -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, D-Ala. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone] [did not vote]
• Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

The Blue Dogs who were with the Republicans:

• Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Tim Holden, D-Pa. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
• Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C. -- Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]