Breaking: Edwards Calls for Support of Dodd's Fillibuster of Bad FISA Bill

[jsamuel]

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/23/john-edwards-on-fisa/

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."

Firedoglake

John Edwards is the perfect person to lead with this message. Such an action would illustrate his genuine commitment to change and fighting vested interests in Washington, and hopefully it will channel that intense anti-immunity passion toward his campaign.

ACLU Petition Here:
https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Reid_FISA_petition3&s_s=AO&JServSessionIdr003=nx1rxffmb4.app20a

[patrice]

1. Would it do any good to call my Repuglican Senators?

Or is there someone else that might be more worthwhile to talk to.

[jsamuel]

5. Well, I don't think they are likely candidates, but always worth a try. Also call Clinton and Obama

If they get on board, it will make it easier for other Dems to do so too.

[patrice]

7. Excellent idea! A little collaboration would be good for the party right now. nt

[bvar22]

57. Clinton & Obama publicly STANDING UP for an important issue?

:rofl:

I don't think this would Focus Group well with the Conservative Voters.



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[avaistheone1]

6. Defintely. Let them know there are voters in their district that are mighty upset about immunity

and that you vote and you don't take this lightly.

[cynthia]

73. love that picture

can the red eye be fixed?

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

9. Phone often.

[Divine Discontent]

14. this is where I wish I could clip just David Letterman's laugh about Edwards saying Dave was just as

much a respected individual around the world as Oprah, and show it right as you ask, "Would it do any good to call my Repuglican Senators?"

BWAHAHA... They probably have told their employees, I don't care to hear any messages of dissent.

[avaistheone1]

32. Tell them anyways. It will un-nerve them if enough of us call.

[kelligesq]

16. YES because this is an election year. let them know you know it.

tell them how you're sick of their supportin multin national corporations over the interests of Americans.

[gateley]

27. I've actually e-mailed my senators on issues and told them MY vote for them

depends on THEIR vote on the issue. (But I lied -- I wouldn't vote for either of them anyway -- Burr and Dole!).

[kelligesq]

42. kick it

:kick:

[asdjrocky]

17. It never hurts to do something, and they count those calls you know. Even the pugs.

[kelligesq]

37. Yup and K & R

do it for John Edwards, yourself and the country.

[SammyWinstonJack]

62. I doubt it would do any good for me to call Hutchinson or Coryn

:rofl: They'd probably have me sent to Gitmo. :silly:

[Demeter]

63. What Do You Want To Call Them?

AND Would your mother approve of your choice of words?

[tbyg52]

76. Talk to all of 'em, I say.

Put 'em on your cell phone speed dial. My particular exercise in futility is Cornyn and Hutchison, but at least I called... ;)

[jlake]

2. Way to go Edwards!

[kelligesq]

43. Tell them to STOP spying on Americans - and drop ATT & Verizon service

too

wouldn't hurt.

[saltpoint]

3. An affirming, instructive, and progressive post on a near-universal topic.

Recommended.

[Guaranteed]

4. We shouldn't even have to be filibustering this stuff. nt

[IndianaGreen]

13. Blame Harry Reid. He sleeps with the giant telecoms.

Can't trust people by the letter that follows their name, don't ya know?

[kelligesq]

21. My letter to Harry Reid sent by the link at bottom of thread (thanks for link)

To give immunity to the telecoms who have broken the law, at the behest of a president who has broken the law is beyond dereliction of duty.

You are supposed to represent THE PEOPLE, not the corporations.

ATT and Verizon will not go bankrupt, but your failure to act responsibly is bankrupting the country and destroying the Constitution of the United States.

[gateley]

28. Great letter!! nt

[Greylyn58]

8. Way to go John!!

Now let's see if Obama and Clinton return to the Senate and prove they can lead and take care of business.

[smokey nj]

10. Thank you John!!!!

[eridani]

11. Well, good for him. Another point in his favor n/t

[cynthia]

12. let's hope it does some good

I can't believe the Dems can't use their numbers for SOMEthing!

[gateley]

15. HERE'S A LINK: -- IMPORTANT

This is from the ACLU and it will be sent to Reid AND to your senators. It's about the 4th time I've posted it, so make sure you don't re-sign if you already have.

ALSO -- call your Sens offices.

https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Reid_FISA_petition3&s_s=AO&JServSessionIdr003=nx1rxffmb4.app20a

[smokey nj]

19. Signed!!

[iris5426]

20. done! nt

[jsamuel]

23. Thanks, I posted in the OP.

[gateley]

24. Thank you!! nt

[patrice]

26. Here's what I said:

If I had done what the phone companies did, I would be in prison. Retroactive Immunity just confirms that the People do not matter. We are not your Slaves; legal redress of our rights to privacy is the only course that is good for America. Government fishing expeditions in the biggest databases in history violate our rights to our own lives, to self-determination, and to our own definitions of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I demand that you provide active support in Senator Dodd's genuine fillibuster of retroactive FISA immunity for telecoms.

[Lugnut]

30. Done. n/t

[stickernation]

64. THANK YOU !!!

signed !!!

-s

[patrice]

18. Is there a bill numbe? please and thank you. nt

[troubleinwinter]

22. Thank you, thank you, John! (& Signed)

[frogmarch]

25. Good for Edwards! I signed. nt

[balantz]

29. Already Signed

K&R

[kelligesq]

31. kick it

:kick:

[smokey nj]

33. Kick!!!

[bbgrunt]

34. so what are Clinton and Obama doing?

[sandnsea]

46. Obama has supported Dodd for months

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/10/obama_camp_says_it_hell_support_filibuster_of_any_bill_containing_telecom_immunity.php

[kelligesq]

49. Good. Dodd is fillibustering Harry's move to push thru immunity - so

will you fill out the form and write what you think to Harry?

[sandnsea]

51. Does it occur to you I already have?

And simply don't feel the need to break my arm patting myself on the back.

[kelligesq]

35. Shameful. DU partisan posters dont give a damn about this country, 34 posts only - all they want

to do is push push push their messiah candidate and attack any other candidate.

Fiddling while the Constitution is burned and shredded by the DLC democrats in Congress who jump for the corporations and ignore THE PEOPLE, us.

I guess they dont care about having their phones, faxes, and emails illegally
tapped by big brother, and the phone companies, and then given immunity from prosecution.

makes me think they dont even know what this election is about.

[maddiejoan]

36. Maybe we're busy calling?

Obviously it's great --I just didn't think my adding another "Go Edwards!" was going to help.

Recommending the thread not enough action for DU?

[kelligesq]

40. There's a link upthread to a form to send to Harry Reid - we need to be on them loudly & strongly.

:kick: Harry's ass

[cali]

54. your logic is sadly faulty.

pathetic even. You can't possibly know what posters have done. This is my first post in this thread, and I've signed the ACLU petition, written emails to both my Senators, and called their officers. Your high horse is lame and stumbling, dear.

[cooolandrew]

38. I appreciate this move by Edwards it will move the candidates in line with Dodd. It must be stopped.

[cooolandrew]

39. FDR " If you want to have good legislation then you have to make me, it's how goveernment works"

[kelligesq]

44. good one, and he was a man for the people!

:kick:

[stickernation]

68. it's called LEADERSHIP !!!

Edwards is FIRST on the issues that are IMPORTANT TO ME.

Supporting Dodd for months is great ! Nice one Barack. But to fail to take advantage of such an obvious publicity opportunity - one that obviously would have benefitted the first mover as it certainly will Edwards - the TIMING of the Obama campaign is off. Obama missed another big opportunity to be a leader for the progressives. I really wonder if he's playing for keeps here or if he's just here to knock Clinton down a notch or two. I just feel that his campaign is not as SERIOUS as it needs to be.

Obama needs to look at current events and time his releases to flow towards them. As a celebrity candidate he has the opportunity to EDUCATE the people supporting him. Many Americans know nothing about this righteous crusade. Obama could be educating them and proclaiming his opposition FIRST and thereby reap the gratitude Edwards is going to get.

All of this expresses that Edwards is running a QUALITY CAMPAIGN. His strengths as a campaigner and strategist are multidimensional. he's got the gift, as the oracle in the matrix would have said !!! His timing is impeccable, and the narrative of his victory at the convention and in the General is inspiring to all of us who have followed politics for years. He has seriously studied case studies of candidacies, and now with Feb 5 not going to decide between Obama and Clinton he simply has to outlast one of them and beat the other in a face-off debate.

[kelligesq]

41. HERE'S LINK TO SEND HARRY REID A LETTER ON IMMUNITY FOR TELCOS

https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Reid_...

[0007]

45. Received a call from AT&T a few days ago, they were hustling

their high speed internet service. I ask them if they were still spying and if so how could I trust them as they advertise? I got an ear full of silence.

[kelligesq]

50. LOL -me too - and I did the same thing. LOL - silence also so

I demanded she tell the vice president of the company exactly what I said.

:bounce:

[FirstLight]

47. Ye-HAW

I came, I saw..I signed! and sent emails to all my friends...

thank God someone is listening, I hope John continues to make as much noise as possible!!!

[Political Heretic]

48. THANK YOU JOHN!!!

[Silver Gaia]

52. K&R! n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

53. Great! K&R n/t

[mod mom]

55. Good for Edwards!

[redqueen]

56. So, so easy to support this guy...

and HUGE thanks to Dodd... for continuing this fight.

I want to hear the other candidates talk about this... we need more in the electorate pressuring their senators... NO IMMUNITY FOR TELECOMS!

[chimpymustgo]

58. Kicking for the fight ahead.

:kick:

[smiley_glad_hands]

59. K & R eom

[Canuckistanian]

60. It's really quite simple isn't it?

Giving in to the telecoms'(and Bush's) demand is really a severe compromise to the Constitution's assurance of the "rights to secure papers" from the government's prying eyes.

Glad to see at least ONE candidate recognizes that.

[MzNov]

61. Kick!

:kick:

thanks smokey nj !!!!! :hug:

[smokey nj]

65. .....

:hug:

[frogcycle]

66. hmmm - Obama is my senator

maybe a call or two would not be a bad thing

I'm not sure I could be civil if they tried to give me the brush-off, but I could try

[Infinite Hope]

67. That's the leadership we need in the White House. n/t

[MasonJar]

69. Call Rockefeller; he is the big obstacle to preventing the passage.

He needs to be bambarded by everyone we can get.

[Indenturedebtor]

70. Signed

Thanks for posting

[stickernation]

71. what would total silence from obama and hillary on this mean ?

obama and hillary supporters - what if they don't go back to DC to filibuster ? what if they stay quiet on the subject ? what will you think of your candidates then ?

another big plus for Edwards - he understands the dynamics of the Senate enough to throw his weight behind Dodd and thereby cause confusion among the Senate Democrats who would find themselves vulnerable on this subject. Visualize this call to arms bringing even Pelosi and Reid in line.

-s
ps: ok a stretch i admit :rofl:

[debbierlus]

72. Smart move - Already signed the petition!

Very pleased to see this message from Edwards, where the hell are the other two?

[ChiciB1]

74. And As He Always Does... He Stands His Ground & Tells It Like He

SEES IT!! Just give this guy a CHANCE... I'm telling you, it will be MUCH better than the other two!!

I'm not trashing the others, but they just don't seem like they are as concerned about "we the people" as Edwards is.

Go, Johnny, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

[ChiciB1]

75. Calling Nelson & Martinez Won't Do Me Much Good!! n/t