Letters to the Editor
farbie
Published Letters: 171 Editor's Choice: 2
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WRITE YOUR CONGRESSPERSON & SENATORS NOW!
[Read the article: NYT circulates fear-mongering claims on FISA debate]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I block-copied a quote from Glenn's article, and added language to my Congressperson and Senators as follows and sent it to them, with copies to Pelosi and Reid (Hoyer's e-mail has a zip-code screen on it to prevent one from non-constituents to send him e-mail):
Dear Congressperson Eshoo and Senators Boxer and Feinstein:
I am gravely concerned that the FISA bill propounded by Senate Republicans and Rockefeller Democrats will end up becoming law, giving Bush and Cheney a free pass for the blatantly illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping done over the last seven years, because the August deadline is fast approaching. This time, I will not allow Congress to cave in to Bush in a last minute “rush” to “fix” FISA before the August deadline for the existing Protect America Act (PAA) surveillance orders to expire.
As Glenn Greenwald, a former constitutional lawyer and superb blogger on Salon.com noted:
“Democrats control the agenda in Congress. They determine what bills are voted on. All they have to do is force a House and Senate vote on a bill that does two simple things: (a) exempt foreign-to-foreign calls from FISA's warrant requirements and (b) extend the PAA surveillance orders by 6 or 9 months. When the GOP filibusters that bill, or when George Bush vetoes it, then that will obviously preclude the GOP from using the expiration of those PAA orders as a club to beat Democrats, since it will be as clear as day -- so clear that even our national press corps can understand it -- that it was the President and the GOP, not Congressional Democrats, which caused those orders to expire.”
Since this bill is currently in the House, I expect Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer to honor our committment to the rule of law, and the Constitution, and to, at minimum, introduce a temporary “fix” bill as outlined above. If Bush vetoes it, or Senate Republicans block it via a filibuster, they will only have themselves to blame for FISA’s limitations on surveillance.
I will be following Congressional action closely on this issue.
cc: Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid
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THIS DECISION HIGHLIGHTS WHY WE MUST ELECT OBAMA AS PRESIDENT
[Read the article: Supreme Court restores habeas corpus, strikes down key part of Military Commissions Act]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is the last election where we will have a more or less free choice (at least in those states with a valid paper-trail) to elect a President, unless Obama is elected. I can only hope that Obama doesn't shy away from this issue: protecting the Constitution of the United States of America from further erosion. If McCain is elected, we can kiss goodbye to the most sacred instrument that has governed us wisely since its inception: the Constitution. Kudos to GG for his quick post on this important decision.
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DON'T FORGET FISA, GLENN
[Read the article: Newt Gingrich, supreme fear-monger]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Glenn, I know that Newt Gingrich offers a rich target for any normal person such as you. Don't forget, however, your promise to get more information on the latest 'compromise' on FISA. This AM, I already called my congressperson's office, along with Pelosi and Hoyer's offices, and advised them in no uncertain terms that any compromise on the FISA legislation with BUSH (and his 28% approval rating) was completely unacceptable to me, especially given their reluctance to impeach Bush and Cheney for their numerous war crimes. This follows Friday's e-mail where I incorporated your proposal for how Congress should deal with the pending August expiration of the existing FISA orders. Everyone should get on the telephones now and jam Pelosi's, Hoyer's, and their own congressperson's telephone lines.
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GLENN: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION!!!!
[Read the article: The company we keep]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Glenn, I am not going to let Congress cave to Bush once again! I sent the following e-mail to Moveon, Firedoglake and Markos Moulitsas, at Daily Kos. I can also send it to Democrats.com, and others that you might suggest:
E-mail to the [Progressive Community]:
Now is the time for urgent action on the warrantless wiretapping legislation that is currently before Congress. It is time for Congress to stand up to President Bush, he of 29% approval rating, and not give in to his incessant demand for “retroactive immunity” for the telecom industry. There is news that a “compromise” has been reached with Bush on the issue, which would give Bush what he wants: retroactive immunity.
The focus, in particular, needs to be on the blue-dog Democrats in the House, as well as the Senate, who cave to Bush every time he mutters the word “terror.” The public will strongly support allowing the suits against the telecom industry to move forward, given the fact that the public does not want to give the President free reign to wiretap anyone in the so-called war on terror.
We need to bombard our Congresspeople and the airwaves with e-mails, You-Tube videos and the like. Read Glenn Greenwald's posts at Salon.com for further info.