I don't think I'm exaggerating, or using hyperbole, in saying that Chris Dodd just raised this debate to a whole new level, with an historic and profound speech about this administration and the FISA debate on the Senate floor.

It lasted for half an hour this morning, from just before 11 a.m. EST to 11:36 a.m., and deserves to be distributed far and wide, and especially to every member of the House and Senate.

Dodd connected the dots so, so well between all the various abuses of power, lawless actions, and resistance to full, fair and open democratic debate by the leadership of this administration, as mirrored by Republicans in the Senate. [I was glad to note, as well, that Sheldon Whitehouse, who has still not rejected immunity in all forms, presided in the chair throughout Dodd's speech.] Dodd also pointed out that Feinstein's FISA court immunity amendment pushes that court beyond its Congressional mandate in a too-hasty, unstudied fashion (while noting that all the FISA judges are appointed by one man), and persuasively tied his argument against that secret approach to reviewing the telecom lawsuits to the fundamental need for openness and public debate that a democracy demands.

A few phrases that particularly registered:

The FISA immunity measure is "self-preservation" and "secrecy for secrecy's sake."

This administration has demonstrated "contempt for the rule of law" in favor of "backroom deals" over and over again.

"Truth is no one's private property."

Those don't even scratch the surface. This speech needs and deserves to be printed and read in full, or recorded and watched, to be appreciated for what it is.

Senator Dodd's speech today demonstrated what honoring our Constitution means.

WOW, indeed.