The Senate had begun the debate on the FISA bill. Again, this is the one that will likely lead to retroactive immunity from lawsuits and prosecution for all the telephone companies that surrendered on bended knee to Bush’s demand that they cooperate with warrantless wiretaps on American citizens. You, know, the ones Bush claimed weren’t happening a couple years ago. Senator Leahy pulled the provisions out, but Majority Leader Reid is insisting on them, bringing us to a showdown – a showdown led by Chris Dodd in the form of a filibuster.
And not just a cloture vote filibuster, a talk-it-do-death filibuster, where Dodd will simply not yield the floor. Where he needs help is on breaks – he can take questions of up to 20 minutes long, which can give him a chance to catch his breath. So far only Senators Kennedy and Feingold have agreed to back him up. At this point, if any Senators are serious about this, they have to do more than spout anti-Bush soundbites, they have to back the filibuster (although at least our guys are showing up – unlike the likes of Presidential candidates Clinton, Obama and Biden who, after voicing sometimes tepid support for Dodd, have simply turned tail and run on the issue, opting to be conveniently on the campaign trail, rather than in the Senate doing their jobs. Cowards.).
Where are our two Senators – Leahy and Sanders, perennial heroes of civil rights and progressivism? Dunno. Haven’t seen a statement or heard anything about their participation in the filibuster. Still, you can hardly blame them. There are more important things to worry about, after all. Why, I only just received this attachment from Bernie’s office within the last hour. You remeber Bernie – the one who waxed activist about how much more impact a single Senator can have while he was on the campaign trail?
Mr. Roger Goodell
Commissioner
National Football League
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017Dear Commissioner Goodell:
We write to express our concern that many Vermonters may not be able to see the final regular season game of the year between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants on December 29. Under the NFL’s current policies, New England Patriots fans in Boston and New York Giants fans in New York City will be able to see the game on free television, but most Vermonters will not. (snip)
PATRICK LEAHY, United States Senator
BERNARD SANDERS, United States Senator
PETER WELCH, United States Representative
Well, thank heavens Bernie & Patrick. We’ve all got out priorities straight today. Civil liberties can always wait for football.
God help us all (click here for a previous diary with contact info). Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m waiting to meet my kid so we can look at the World Series trophy in the Statehouse today…