Chris Dodd to Fillibuster FISA?

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/24/2008 6:48:05 AM

Why can't we have more Senators like Chris Dodd (D-CT)?  Here's Dodd on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which the Senate is now considering.  Specifically, Dodd opposes granting retroactive immunity to telecom providers

"Few things are more detrimental to this country than the erosion of and attack on the civil liberties we enjoy. This isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue; this is an American issue. If after debate, the Senate appears ready to pass legislation granting telecom providers retroactive immunity I will use any and all legislative tools at my disposal, including a filibuster, to prevent this deeply flawed bill from becoming law.  More and more, Americans are rejecting the false choice that has come to define this administration: security or liberty, but never, ever both. For all those who have stood with me throughout this fight, I pledge, once more, to stand up for you."

Good for Chris Dodd.  Now, let's see how many other Senators support his fillibuster.  (For statements by the Democratic presidential candidates, see the "flip")

h/t Open Left
Barack Obama

I strongly oppose retroactive immunity in the FISA bill. No one should get a free pass to violate the basic civil liberties of the American people - not the president of the United States, and not the telecommunications companies that fell in line with his warrantless surveillance program [... T]hat is why I am proud to stand with Sen. Dodd and a grassroots movement of Americans who are standing up for our civil liberties and the rule of law.

John Edwards

In Washington today, telecom lobbyists have launched a full-court press to win retroactive immunity for their illegal eavesdropping on American citizens.  Granting retroactive immunity will let corporate law-breakers off the hook and hamstring efforts to learn the truth about Bush's illegal spying program.

It's time for Senate Democrats to show a little backbone and stand up to George W. Bush and the corporate lobbyists.  They should do everything in their power -- including joining Senator Dodd's efforts to filibuster this legislation -- to stop retroactive immunity.  The Constitution should not be for sale at any price.

I'm not sure whether Hillary Clinton has issued a statement or not, but Open Left reports that Clinton "reaffirmed to [Markos] the senator's opposition to telco amnesty, and her support for a filibuster, if necessary."

Comments



Will the presidential candidates (Teddy - 1/24/2008 8:35:23 AM)
actually come help Dodd in his filibuster (because I fully expect it to come to that)? This is another one of those slicing of salami situations, a seemingly small case of marginal loss of liberty in exchange for security, why get upset?  But the truth is, we have here the whole enchilada, that is, salami. We must here and now halt Bush's push to fascism.

Senator Dodd needs every bit of support we can offer, including sending him e-mails and phoning his office supporting him. Let him know that some, at least, understand, support, and appreciate his efforts.



Senator (leftofcenter - 1/24/2008 9:57:45 AM)
Dodd needs to be the majority leader. Reid needs to go. Good point below-I don't either remember when the MAJORITY party had a filibuster. WTF is up with that?? I just don't understand why EVERY democratic senator isn't standing up with the Dodd. This supporter list is very short.


Because they're afraid of being (Lowell - 1/24/2008 9:59:46 AM)
attacked by Republicans as "weak" on U.S. national security.  Why we don't bash Republicans for being "weak" on defending American values, freedom, and the Constitution is beyond me.


Seems (leftofcenter - 1/24/2008 10:37:30 AM)
to me every time we have a great issue-like the SCHIP bill-where rethugs vote against it that the dems don't come out with a statment. We don't hear a peep about it or like all these subpeonas that aren't getting enforced. Why doesn't anyone stand on the steps of the Capitol and fight back? You're right, no one ever seems to bash the rethugs for all the outrageous things they do. But they have no problem bashing us for all the good things the dems try to get done. Seems backwards to me.


I cannot remember a time (Silence Dogood - 1/24/2008 9:35:21 AM)
When a Senator in the MAJORITY had to filibuster to get something done.  I'm sure it's been done before, but I'm more than a little humiliated to see that we're still acting like the minority party in Senate.  Oh well.

BTW Teddy, "Will the presidential candidates actually come help Dodd in his filibuster?"  They don't have to.  It is not the case that you need 40 votes to sustain a filibuster, but that the other opposition to the filibuster needs 60 votes to pass cloture and break it.  So if 90 of 100 Senators show up for a session and someone filibusters, even if there are only 31 Senators present who will vote to continue discussion, the filibuster will not end because that leaves only 59 senators to vote for cloture.

Sadly, I think that with 48 Republican Senators (McCain won't leave the campaign trail) and Joseph Lieberman, they'll find 11 Democratic Senators who aren't comfortable with the horrible, horrible things that will be said about them if the don't vote for cloture.  They'll force a floor vote.



Sen. Obama - Get up to DC (sndeak - 1/24/2008 9:41:55 AM)
I would like to see him fly up to DC today and stand with Dodd. Even if it is for just one day.


How about Sen. Webb? (Science Virginian - 1/24/2008 11:27:24 AM)
Does anyone know if Jim Webb plans to support Dodd on this?


Good Question (BP - 1/24/2008 12:45:54 PM)
He signed off on Feingold's letter to Reid last month: http://www.commondreams.org/ne...

I haven't heard whether or not he would actually participate in the filibuster Reid seems to want to force.



call NOW. (lgb30856 - 1/24/2008 12:59:13 PM)
 Contact your Senators! (0 / 0)
It's fast, easy and free!  Call your senators!  Stand up and be counted:

From Firedoglake

Numbers for Senators are here.  Numbers for House members are here.  Toll-free numbers for Congress from Katymine:

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

We should also focus on the 14 Senators who promised to help Sens. Dodd and Feingold last December, and who pushed for removal of retroactive immunity. Here are their fax and phone numbers:

Name                    Fax                      Phone
Feingold (202) 224-2725           (202) 224-5323
Dodd (202) 224-1083           (202) 224-2823
Obama (202) 228-4260           (202) 224-2854
Sanders (202) 228-0776           (202) 224-5141
Menendez (202) 228-2197   (202) 224-4744
Biden (202) 224-0139           (202) 224-5042
Brown (202) 228-6321           (202) 224-2315
Harkin (202) 224-9369           (202) 224-3254
Cardin (202) 224-1651           (202) 224-4524
Clinton (202) 228-0282           (202) 224-4451
Akaka (202) 224-2126           (202) 224-6361
Webb (202) 228-6363           (202) 224-4024
Kennedy (202) 224-2417           (202) 224-4543
Boxer (415) 956-6701            (202) 224-3553
I would particularly focus on Clinton and Obama...I emailed, but they damn well better be there to help Dodd filibuster.