Letters to the Editor
farbie
Published Letters: 128 Editor's Choice: 2
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EVERYONE SHOULD SEND AN E-MAIL TO THE CAMPAIGNS
[Read the article: Lawbreaking telecoms still conniving to obtain immunity from Congress]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I will not take GG's reporting on this issue sitting down. I have written the e-mail which is at the bottom of this post, and have sent it to each of the major Democratic candidates, and the people listed at the bottom of the message. Feel free to copy it and send it to your favorite candidate, and your representatives. Of course, you should edit it to put your own name on it, and your own representatives. The issue of Retroactive Telecom Immunity is THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE that Congress will deal with this year, even more important than the Iraq War or dealing with the recession. Retroactive Immunity is Bush's way of putting the permanent cabash on investigating Bush and Cheney for their blatant law-breaking!!! Here's the e-mail:
January 17, 2008
VIA E-MAIL ONLY
Senator Hillary Clinton
Washington, DC
Senator Barack Obama
Washington, DC
Former Senator John Edwards
North Carolina
Re: NO RETROACTIVE TELECOM IMMUNITY!!!
Dear Senators Clinton, Obama, and former Senator Edwards:
I am writing you as an undecided California voter, who will be voting for a Democratic Presidential Candidate in the California primary on February 5th. I will make my final decision based, at least in part, on how you respond to the vitally important issue that is now before the U.S. Senate: retroactive telecom immunity.
The issue of retroactive immunity for the telecoms is THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE that will be dealt with by Congress this year, more important that the Iraq War, more important than economic relief for the recession that I believe we are now in, and more important than a host of other important issues.
The reason it is important is very simple: George Bush and Dick Cheney have operated above the law, with impunity, for the last seven years. If we are to restore faith in our government, and faith in the rule of law, there cannot be retroactive immunity for the telecom industry!
Retroactive immunity has absolutely NOTHING to do with the intelligence-gathering that the FISA amendments will enable the government to do. I am certain that the FISA amendments provide immunity going forward for any telecom company that cooperates with the government in a lawful manner. The only purpose for retroactive immunity is to cut off liability for the illegal snooping that was done at the direction of George Bush and Dick Cheney.
I expect each of you to make a strong committment to the rule of law, and demand that Senator Reid bring the Judiciary Committee bill to the Floor, and table the Intelligence Committee bill. After all, former Presidential Candidate, Senator Chris Dodd, put a hold on that bill, which Reid conveniently ignored in December. All Reid has to do is to honor Dodd’s hold. Let the Republicans try and amend the Judiciary bill to add Retroactive Immunity. Dodd can then filibuster the Amendment, and not have to filibuster the entire bill.
I will be judging each of you by your committment to the rule of law, and not your committment to the telecom industry!
Thank you for your time.
Very truly yours,
"farbie"
cc: Senators Reid, Rockefeller, Feinstein and Boxer
Representatives Pelosi and Eshoo
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SEND E-MAILS TO REIDS OFFICE!!!!
[Read the article: Will the Democratic presidential candidates adhere to their rhetoric?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This issue, more than any other issue, is vital for the future of this nation. I signed the ACLU Petition and sent an e-mail to both Anthony Romero (Exec. Director, ACLU) and Moveon.org, to get them to organize a massive e-mail campaign directed at two-faced Reid. (says one thing and does the opposite) I also sent the following letter to Senator Reid, with copies to my own Senators:
January 23, 2008
VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL AND E-MAIL
Senator Harry Reid
U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse & Federal Building
400 South Virginia Street, Suite 902
Reno, NV 89501
Re: BRING THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BILL TO THE FLOOR
Dear Senator Harry Reid:
I am writing you as the Senate Majority Leader, and the person who has direct responsibility over which bill is presented to the Senate for its consideration.
I am a former attorney, having practiced law for nearly 25 years, and consider myself reasonably well-versed in constitutional law.
You have a chance to redeem yourself from the awful behavior that you demonstrated in December. I watched, on C-Span, the “debate” on the warrantless wiretapping bill issue, including your absolutely shameless handling of Dodd’s “hold” on the Intelligence Committee bill, simply ignoring it, while honoring the countless holds on other bills by Senator Stevens and others.
Your staff person told me that you issued a statement on December 14, stating that you were “against” retroactive immunity. If you truly are “against” retroactive immunity, why don’t you simply honor Dodd’s hold on the Intelligence Committee bill, and bring the Judiciary Committee bill instead to the Senate Floor for consideration? Those that desire retroactive immunity can then bring amendments to the floor for consideration, which Dodd can then filibuster.
By ignoring Dodd’s hold on the Intelligence Committee bill, and bringing it to the floor instead of the Judiciary Committee bill, on the obscure basis that it was “first” in time, or that it had more “yes” votes than the Judiciary Committee bill, you make a mockery of the Senate traditions, and give lie to your statement that you are against retroactive immunity.
Put your money where your mouth is, Senator Reid. Honor Dodd’s hold on the Intelligence Committee bill, and bring the Judiciary Committee bill to the floor for consideration.
Thank you for your time.
Very truly yours,
"farbie"
cc: Senators Boxer and Feinstein (via e-mail only)
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I'M CALLING REID'S NEVADA OFFICE INSTEAD
[Read the article: Your Harry Reid-led Senate in action]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This issue has consumed my entire morning. Started with a worthless phone call to Reid's Washington DC office, followed by writing an e-mail to Reid, followed by submitting a couple of posts to Glenn's blog, followed by reading Glenn's latest post, followed by this post. Obviously, Reid has already decided to re-introduce the IC bill, rather than the JC bill. GAGG!!!!