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Chris Dodd’s Filibuster for the Constitution |
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Today, Chris Dodd starts his filibuster to protect the U.S. Constitution. He will take a stand against retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies who collaborated with President Bush to trample on the 4th amendment and spy on American citizens without a court warrant.
The last true filibuster occurred 15 years ago in 1992. As many are well aware, these days a threat of a filibuster is all that is needed to scuttle a bill. Republicans have used this phenomenon to great effect when Democrats lack the 60 votes needed to cut off debate, successfully blocking Iraq war withdrawal legislation and energy reform, among others.
Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, has decided to ignore this tradition and force Chris Dodd to actually filibuster on the Senate floor. Reid used every procedural maneuver possible to get around Dodd’s hold. He is a traitor to the Democratic party and to progressive values. But in a way, the outcome is fortunate.
When Chris Dodd begins his never-ending speech, he will fight the good fight. He will take a strong stand, a stand that defines him as a fighter for the Constitution and the American people. All Democrats should practice this kind of leadership if they hope to govern effectively. I’m glad Harry Reid is giving Dodd the chance to show the nation how a real progressive fights for what he believes in.
I stand in full support of Dodd’s filibuster. As I said in my endorsement of Dodd’s candidacy:
I want a candidate who fights harder when push comes to shove. I want a candidate who plays politics like Republicans, just for my side. That’s leadership. That’s why I’m voting for Chris Dodd in the primary.
Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Russ Feingold have all said they will support Dodd’s filibuster. Hundreds of citizens have registered their support on Crooks and Liars and Firedoglake as well, and those comments will be read by Dodd on the Senate floor. As the Dodd campaign rightly points out:
It’s time to see the Senate stand up for the rule of law.
You don’t demonstrate leadership in the footnotes of a press release, or parroting responses from focus groups.
Leadership is demonstrated through action.
There are many ways you can support Chris Dodd’s filibuster, all outlined at www.thankyoudodd.com. The most important one is to call your Senator. If you believe in the Constitution, if you believe in the values Dodd is fighting for, if you believe our government should not spy on its citizens, then now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. Pick up the phone.
The Dodd campaign has a whip count up counting votes for or against any FISA bill that includes telecom immunity.
Give your Senators a call right now and ask them how they will vote. Urge them to stand with Dodd, support his filibuster, and vote against any bill with retroactive immunity.
For the good of the Constitution and the country, I hope 41 Senators have the backbone to stand with Chris Dodd today.
Update: Firedoglake has a list of Senators who have said they would stand with Dodd. Give them a call and make sure they keep their word!
| 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 just called up Menendez’ office and the staffer said he hasn’t made up his mind yet, so if you’re from NJ, please call him up!
Menendez voted against cloture. Nice going NJ folks!
Likewise, Senator Clinton plans to vote against cloture. Good for her. Senator Schumer has not made up his mind. So NY people, give him a call!
Where can I check out the current state of voting? I want to check up on what my own Senator has done.
I haven’t seen an online rollcall yet. Here’s what I’ve heard. Voting against cloture, and therefor against immunity, were:
Boxer - D/California
Brown - D/Ohio
Cantwell - D/Washington
Cardin - D/Maryland
Dodd - D/Connecticut
Feingold - D/Wisconsin
Harkin - D/Iowa
Kerry - D/Massachussetts
Menendez - D/New Jersey
Wyden - D/Oregon
Hi - glad for the news, I%u2019m with you, blah blah.
Weirdest thing: WHERE the hell did this article, from the NY times come from, claiming Dodd *lost*??
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/washington/17cnd-nsa.html?_r=1&ref=b usiness&oref=slogin
ER
That article was published after the 1st cloture vote, which cut off debate about debate, and allowed Senators to introduce the actual bill in 30 hours. In that 30 hour span, Dodd and friends were speaking. It wasn’t a true filibuster (Dodd would have actually filibustered after that 30 hours), but Dodd made it clear to Reid that he had some powerful allies and was going to take up all the time he could on the issue. Reid backed down.
So the NYTimes was right, in a sense. Dodd did lose a vote. But they didn’t get the full story. Which is really unfortunate.