Turn Up The Heat On Congress Over FISA
Run, don't walk...
Christy at FDL has all the pertinent numbers.
There has always been a tension between individual liberty and governmental power. National security issues are a natural fault line, given the difficulty of protecting the nation while simultaneously upholding the values of freedom and liberty. And politicians, bless their hearts, always try to find ways to consolidate their power while pretending to do so in the public interest -- and not their own and that of their cronies who benefit in some way from their decisions.
They miscalculated this time regarding how many people in America are paying attention to civil liberties concerns these days. And it is our job to make certain that they learn just how badly they have misjudged this.
It is one of the many reasons we are working so hard to build incentive through our Blue America FISA actions. (You can donate here.)
UPDATE: Sen. Russ Feingold has a factsheet on FISA and why it's a bad deal for Americans.
Fuck the telcoms! No immunity for illegal activities!
Repeal FISA is now a day and a half old. We have ten bloggers with more in the works and have been visited by 560 unique viewers. Other sites have placed us on their links and people are posting about us independently.
Anyone who wants to is welcome to sign up and become a Poster. The purpose of the blog is to organize a drive to repeal the FISA laws and all laws that pardon or give immunity from prosecution anyone who has violated the Constitution during the Bush Administration.
If you have a blog already and you become a poster we will link to your site.
peace signs now appearing throughout California:
http://freewayblogger.blogspot.com/2008/06/peace-signs.html
more to come.
I even called Kit Bond, Senator from Missouri AND swimming instructor!
calling mccaskill next!!!!
feingold and dodd will work for us!!
Great idea. Let's go after the ENTIRE congress, not just one Senator who happens to be running for Pres. Think about the fact that if Obama reversed his reversal, we would still have this dilemma.
Donated.
KO needs to read Feingold's fact sheet on the air.
The Senate had better do the right thing and eliminate immunity for the telecoms! At least there're a few Senators that care about the Constitution.
Is it too late to put a hold on the senate bill? If not, that is Obama's job as leader of the Democratic Party an alleged champion of the Constitution.
Waddya bet those of us who turn up the heat on Congress regarding the new FISA betrayal will be among the first to be investigated by the new FISA?
Thanks obama.
Paul @ 8:
No Paul. It's Harry Reid's job. I sympathize with your anger, but let's not toss everything at Obama...yet.
ysbaddaden @ 9:
Then i guess we will need more of us to turn up the heat so they can't keep track of us all.
Feingold always seems to have the best grasp on the issues of anyone - Senator, pundit or otherwise. Why is he the only one who takes the time to actually read and dissect the bills he votes on?
.
Why are THEY(sic) debating the "COMPROMISING" of the Fourth Amendment... and FISA?
What redeeming quality is there to granting "immunity" if in doing so it also elivates the president above the law?
REMEMBER:
THEY(sic) HATE US FOR OUR FREEDOMS...
.
.
So I CAN rob a bank and then get legislation passed making it legal?
.
Obama has flip flopped on this issue now that he has the nomination. Just shows that he is not any different then the rest of them I guess. I am actually very disappointed in him and can tell you that if he does nothing to lead the Senate in stopping this he will loose me and how many thousands of other supporters? Maybe he should have waited before he said he was going to go it alone without public financing.
I just want to know how he can say he is a leader for change when he has stated that he supports this bill? If he does nothing to stop this and votes for this horrid bill he will have lost my support and NOTHING could fool me into trusting him again.
What of those of us who will no longer be able to support either parties nominees? I suggest we all write in a name so they will know we did not just stay home but could not support anymore of the politics as usual. Maybe Ron Paul would be president after all!
Obama is the key on this. Call his offices with your displeasure on his triangulating this issue. No word from Dodd. A blog I read say he's keeping his head down over favorable interest rates from Countrywide.
Obama Campaign: 866-675-2008. Wait for announcement and hit 0. If that doesn’t get you a live person redial wait for announcement and hit 6.
From comments I’ve read online, the conversations are input to their database (all the better to triangulate you my dear)
There’s simple petition to sign, asking Obama to stand in the Senate in opposition to immunity. So far only 368 people have signed on. Please sign & get your friends to sign also.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/nationalsecurity/gG5SRJ/co...
or
http://www.petitiononline.com/bo90210/petition.html
Left&Left @ 10:
And I want to add that Obama is really not the boss yet until those superdelegates cast their votes for him at the convention. Right now, there are probably a lot of Dems expecting him to dance to their tune if he wants their continued support.
EJG @ 15:
I keep hearing this same thoughtless shit, "there's no difference between the two parties". I also heard this crap in 2000.
Left&Left @ 18:
And you can see a difference? The reason you keep hearing this same "thoughtless shit" is that there are some of us out there that can see past loyalty to a party no matter what they can do. Just as the Republicans have the 28%ers it seems we have our own loyal followers who will go to their graves swearing that this party is better. I used to think there was a big difference too, until I started to really pay attention. The longer I watch the more that margin of difference shrinks. I am sick of it. Look at the difference between the mainstream parties and those who have not yet gained the attention they deserve. THAT is where you see a huge difference.
I am so incredibly disappointed that so many people caved.
Bushie @ 16:
the only way to turn Obama around on FISA (and I mean the whole uncontitutional thing) is for a revolt within his campaign. If a signifigant number of campaign workers from across the country threaten a walkout if he doesn't step up and kill this thing, then he will act. I don't know what mechanism they might use to contact and coordinate but whatever it is, it needs to happen now. If you work for the Obama campaign and feel strongly about FISA, please get the ball rolling. Thanks. (and I signed the petition)
Waddya bet if we turn up the heat on Congress over FISA
They'll suddenly discover global warming
Or
The cost of air-conditioning?
Embittered & Anti-Republicrat - Max-Hussein-1 @ 14:
If you know the right people. In this case the Congress members were accesories and they really don't want anybodyto notice.
Left&Left @ 5:
To sign the online petition asking Obama to reverse his position on FISA go here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/bo90210/petition.html
Please pass this on. Thanks.
xoites defends Constitution @ 23:
But why can't they realize that when they stick their head in the sand, we all see their ass?
First of all if the corporate media would begin to cover the FISA issue as the serious issue that it is , more people would be rising up , but that's not the game plan , ba- by .
Avoid and say little as possible , like they do with the U.S. backed invasion of Somalia by Ethiopian military , who's is accused of murder and rape . No wonder more people either don't understand or care , when they only hear CNN or CBS bring up FLOODS , McCain's accusations of Obama and soccer mom feel good stories .
When has CNN or CBS brought up FISA , during their deplorable news cast . And with Brian William's hand movements all over the screen , when has he brought it up .
Virtually NEVER .
Here's the typical CNN news SHOW .
FLOODS, reporter standing in the middle of a river and interview of victims .
McCain accusing Obama about something .
Indian girl with 5 legs .
Floods.
Floods.
floods
Mccain accusing obama of something .
Indian girl with 5 legs .
Now repeat this 20 X a day and you'll see NO story about FISA .
EJG @ 19:
So I'm an equivalent of a 28%er because I believe that a Pres. Al Gore wouldn't have been constantly vactioning ignoring critical National Security Reports, or selecting Roberts and Alito, or wouldn't have been stupid enough to invade and break Iraq? Bush and Cheney alone are absolute proof of this. Unless you can produce a Democratic equal to those two, you may want to go sit down....or maybe you're a 28%er.
don't waste your time. they are going to grant them immunity and your foolish to think otherwise.
the only thing to do is vote the people out who vote like this.
xoites defends Constitution @ 11:
Maybe they'll put us on the no-fly list. it's already over 800,000. Let's shoot for a million.
of course, we're assuming we're not already being tracked from this 'librul blog'.
O @ 27:
this makes me want to vote out ALL INCUMBENTS.
Obama has endorsed the FISA compromise. He will not stop it on the flooor of the senate. His betrayal is shockingly total. His feeble reservations aside, he wholeheartedly capitulated to the demands of the domestic enmies of our Republic.
One way or another, all the cash currently being solicited by Blue America will be directed back into the coffers of the same democratic party that willfully collaborated with the Bush administration in a mortal attack upon the Constitution. At the very best, the monies will, perhaps, just maybe, impact select congressional races in 2010. That is, a handful of democrats might- just might- be replaced by another handful. Still,as he proved with his endorsement of Lieberman two years ago and that Georgia cracker last weeek, Obama will certainly not permit a mass insurrection to be mounted against entrenched party officials with whom he is allied. For the sake of his own power, he'd have to fight hard to maintain the status quo. Assuming he is elected president this November, that will mean each and every democrat with whom he stood on the FISA vote. In essence, then, isn't Blue America now raising money to do future battle with the leader (and leadership) of the democratic party? I suppose it boils down to whether a person believes the democratic party is salvagable, or whether it should go the way of the Whigs. While the very thought still terrifies a very great number of people, more and more (reluctantly, in most cases) have come to believe it should. I'm one of them.
BaScOmBe hearts Lara Logan @ 29:
Let's keep the ones that voted "No." I happen to like those people. :)
Left&Left @ 10:
Wrongo, Left&Left! Harry Reid has already caved. He is a member of the house of representatives and the bill has passed!
Obama is a Senator...not a member of the house of representatives.
Reid has already caved...and the bill will now proceed to the Senate, where Obama will probably cave in too!
milquetoast @ 32:
As I presume obama would had he been in the senate during the passage of the AUMF.
28 BaScOmBe hearts Lara Logan
Wrong body part.
EJG @ 15:
I planned on writing in Ron Paul all along. He, Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader are the only candidates (even though Paul has "officially" dropped out now) who speak forcefully about "preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic." To me, the telecom companies are domestic enemies of the Constitution and now Obama and every elected official who supports the FISA legislation with telecom immunity is as well.
milquetoast @ 32:
Where do you get your info from? Reid is the Senate Majority Leader. BTW, I've contacted both of my state Senators in Illinois, Durbin and Obama, and asked them to filibuster this awful FISA bill.
Left&Left @ 36:
!whoops!(red faced) sorry yes...
...I mixed up Harry Reid and John Conyers! ...errr....their relative positions...(scuse me!)
BaScOmBe hearts Lara Logan @ 29:
Diebold.
Just called both my senators and signed the petition to Obama linked to Comments #21 and 24.
Wrote to the Obama campaign yesterday.
You there, reading this blog! Call your senators now! Christy at FDL has the numbers.
Just got back from google search for the senate oath and there are just two simple requirements needed to carry out your sworn duty.
# 1. support and
# 2 defend the constitution.
There's a couple more words but none to the effect that any time they feel a little too restricted the can compromise my basic constitutional guaranteed RIGHTS.
We made it through a revolutionary war, a civil war, two world wars and the cold war with the constitution intact, the only difference now being the level of intelligence at the top and a lack of self restraint on the greed thing for them and their buddies.
Write letters? Make phone calls? Email Congress?
How long are you going to keep this charade up?
Do you think they don't know the wants of 78% of their people?
No more for me.
Who you going to appeal to?
The president will have to swear to protect the constitution, and if they can't protect the constitution as a senator or a representative, then they have no business asking to become a president. This is a deal breaker for many people, and I fear Barack will lose the election if he doesn't put consideration of safety for the people before criminals.
Left&Left @ 26:
No actually, your a 28%er because you forgot to look up Dennis Kucinich and find out exactly his stances regardless of whether he saw an UFO or not. You helped in letting NBC, ABC, FOX, and the like edge out the ONLY candidate who stood for the constitution. The difference between Obama and Kucinich is MILES wide, and the true left follows there. I am not a centrist by any measure. My candidate was obscured, and ostracized, pushed to the fringe, and disenfranchised. HE was the one who was the BEST candidate and NO ONE got to hear what he stood for, only that he may have seen an UFO?? The hell. I have seen one too, may have been a weather balloon, a satellite or something but damn does anyone know what UFO stands for??? hmmm?? OH YEAH, would that be an unidentified flying OBJECT? that one? yeah, sure he is nuts.. right, is that why he is the ONLY congressman who has filed IMPEACHMENT articles against CHENEY and BUSH? WAKE UP.
You have been given the choice of evil and more evil, and nothing is going to change that fact. The true people who could have helped us have already been thrown under the bus.
Unfortunally even radio talk are turning their backs and minimizing the importance of this issue. I hardly heard anything about it on Air America and when I called Ed Schultz, his phone moderator, (who sounded as if she was hired by Limbaugh, prior to this job), debated me, instead of allowing me to take the call to Ed. They put me on hold without even caring about taking name and location. That's when you know you've been dumped.
Ron Kuby, whom I have immense respect took my call but to my disappointment he also defended Obama's position. My disappointment is greater because he understand the legal ramifications on this matter and has been a great critic against the government apying on Americans...until now.
Talk about being disinfranchised. This is not about electing a dignified, honest and respectful candidate anymore, it's about getting someone from the left into the the White House, even if he acting like a neocon.
Loosely Twisted @ 43:
So Obama is evil and Kucinich is good? Trust me friend, if Kucinich had gotten this far he would have been force to compromise some of his positions too. You're romanticizing.
Amy Klobuchar's camp is not ready to give any position at this time. I'm going to keep pounding their phones tomorrow.
Norm Coleman is convinced that companies that were told what they are doing is legal by guarantees of the president or DOJ should not be responsible for illegal actions. When I ask who should, I'm informed that my message will be forwarded to Mr. Coleman. It's funny how Coleman's office makes this matter solely about protecting the telecoms for what they were guaranteed was legal. What about all the other facets of this legislation that are so wrong. I'll be ringing Coleman frequently tomorrow as well.
Thanks C&L for the link to Feingolds FISA factsheet. This was very helpful.
"Sen. Russ Feingold has a factsheet on FISA and why it’s a bad deal for Americans."
Hey, lets all forward it to the Obama campaign.
Left&Left @ 45:
No...But despite the "Hope and Change" marketing plan...Obama is just as capable of evil as every other politician.
Pawn @ 46:
This means she's for it, but ashamed to say so.
Try to find any mention of FISA (or his stand on it.) on the Obama website. I can't.
Here's the "In the News" section. Nothing.
Leadership.
By the way, I called Obama's campaign office today as well. They must be getting drilled about this as they aren't quite as friendly as previous calls made to them. The position is the same, that he supports the bill, but will work to remove the retroactive immunity. I bring up unconstitutionality of it, they're not prepared. I bring up his being the leader of the democratic party, and his need to show that his leadership is "presidential" quality, and take the reigns in defining the path that democrats are to follow in this matter. He should not be awaiting lines to be drawn. The stated that they will pass the message on. Barack is beginning to fall back, and he may not find it easy to get back up.
obamas chicago phone number [the 312] listed from christy is "full", try the others
dun, with a letter to the senator
future vice president feingold
can you please, by any means necessary, why even a philly-buster might be warranted, join with senator dodd and any other like minded senator[s], and stop the evisceration of the 4th amendment
foreign to foreign, go ahead, canada to mexico, eat your heart out, even if it gets trunked thru our borders, but as i'm sure you know, if the callee or the caller fall anywhere in these here states, a warrant MUST be issued, specific to that PERSON, every time
if the president of vice (note change), or his lackey, george UU. bush, the vast majority of republicans, and the increasing minority of democrats, want more than that, they can go thru the process of changing the constitution
i know the news isn't what it should be, but between chyrons belittling anyone left of stalin on fox, the oh-my-god-they-are-pregnant stories on cnn, the hogan family dramas or why-is-glen-beck-on-my-teevee on cnn-hn, or learning how to succeed and grow in prison on msnbc, none of them have said we've altered the constitution
best of luck
"I support the compromise" -Sen. Obama
Obama and his supporters are fond of defending him here by saying. "He'll work to remove the immunity." Ok...but what about the other parts of this "bad deal" legislation that Obama supports.
Here's the bad news from the linked Feingold "factsheet".
-Lengthy Sunset
-Little Protection Against Reverse Targeting
-No Prohibition on Bulk Collection
-Loophole for Advance Judicial Approval of Court Orders
-No Limits on Use of Illegally Obtained Information
-Few Protections for People in the United States
WTF?
FISA is not the issue, retroactive immunity is not the issue. The issue is, a majority of Congress believe they can modify the Constitution by a simple vote, throwing out entirely the proper process for making changes. They violated their oath of office with their eyes wide open, they knew exactly what they were doing. They made a conscious choice to become the domestic enemies of the Constitution.
If our Constitution exists solely at the whim of Congress, we are fucked. We are Pakistan, we are North Korea. We have been conquered, and America no longer exists.
chris [not the troll] @ 55:
Yep. And we're letting ourselves get f*cked by both parties.
Yes We Can.
The “farce” of a surveillance law deal heralded by House Democratic leaders last week could permanently hide evidence of an "impeachable offense" on the part of President Bush. -Raw Story
"This is an astonishing giveaway. I don’t know what Sen. Obama’s going to do, but Democrats should be voting against this.” -Sen. Feingold.
"I support the compromise." -Sen. Obama
Left&Left @ 46:
think id rather trust kucinich !
paranoia @ 43:
If he doesn't stop FISA immunity, I will vote Green! Had enough of the 2nd republican party.
Just like Chimpy knows exactly what he is doing to our country, so do these so-called democratic leaders. They are not that stupid. The corporate payday is much nicer than anything they could ever get by representing the citizens of this country.
Fuck all these traitorous bastards! History does indeed repeat itself, and these assholes will not see the light until the guillotine pulls up in front of their house.
Come Monday! if Obama votes as he said he will for this bill, i say we all vote for a candidate that doesn't think that the constitution is just a piece of paper. Send both party a message. I am with you on the green party! We need lessor experience of weaselness in politics.
"There has always been a tension between individual liberty and governmental power. "
"...our Blue America FISA actions."
These two statements pretty mush sum up what is wrong in this country. Here we have the word "liberty", which is almost never mentioned on this site, and then to top it off, here we have "Blue America FISA actions"?
Excuse me, but didn't the bluest bluey of them all in the US, Barack Obama, vote to GIVE TELECOMS IMMUNITY FOR BREAKING THE LAW????
Hellooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Blue America FISA actions....that has got to be the funniest and most tragic thing I have ever heard.
You care about liberty? You want liberty? Well, if that is your TRUE concern, then advocate for upholding the Constitution and those people in office who do as well!
Anything less is just playing political footsy...
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