The FISA fight is heating up again, and Senator Chris Dodd's threat to filibuster any FISA bill with retroactive immunity in it still stands.
But where are the other presidential candidates? The time for talk is over. Show America what you can do and you'll have my vote.
You can bet Bush is going to push this one hard. With FISA expiring in just a few weeks, and the State of the Union coming up, he's going to see if he can still scare Congress into submission with talk of terrorists running around with unmonitored phone conversations. And he'll see if he can turn one of the most hated industries in America, the telecommunications industry, into some kind of perverse national heroes.
This campaign we've heard a lot of talk about change, leadership, and experience. It all sounds really good. But as Dodd himself said:
You don't demonstrate leadership in the footnotes of a press release, or parroting responses from focus groups.
Leadership is demonstrated through action.
So, Democratic candidates, what will it be, talk or action? Will you stand up for the Constitution, or will you pay lip service on the campaign trail and fail to stand by those who fight the good fight?
Glenn Greenwald, DownWithTyranny, Crooks & Liars, and Jane Hamsher have joined together to ask the candidates, specifically John Edwards, to publicly support Dodd in Washington DC as the filibuster commences.
Without the help of the presidential candidates, we are doomed to lose this fight. And all their calls for change will ring hollow if they allow George Bush to railroad this bill through a supine Democratic-controlled Senate because of their absence.
I'll add my voice to that choir. If John Edwards stands up, the rest will surely follow.
Chris Dodd won me over when he acted instead of simply talking. Whichever candidate stands with Dodd in this fight will have proven themselves worthy of my support. I'm sure thousands of Americans who care about this issue will agree.
Tell them it's time for action.
(originally posted at The Seminal)