..said they were getting "a ton" of calls on this issue, sounded quite happy about it. They also suggested people call Harry Reid's office -- when I asked for the # the young feller said he didn't have it on hand but he'd go look it up so he could give it out to the next caller.

I called Harry Reid's office (202-224-3542). Had to wait on hold for a bit -- hope that's a good sign, but the staffer there didn't seem very interested in my call.

Today the New York papers report that Barack Obama raised $1 million in a single day when he sent an appeal out over the Net. Not to single out Obama, but it would seem that in spite of approval ratings in the teens and collective left-wing dismay over Democratic capitulation to the Bush regime, the money for our incumbent Democratic presidential candidates keeps rolling in. Why? How have these candidates come to deserve this largesse when they have done absolutely nothing remarkable to stop the onrushing tide of the corporatocracy?

I suggest to you that it might be a good idea to cut the Democrats off--as in no more bucks for the DCCC, DLC, Chuck Schumer, Rahm, Nancy, "Give-'em-hell-Harry" Reid, Hillary, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Barack and any other Congressional incumbent who is out there soliciting. Unless and until they start behaving like they have read the Constitution and intend to uphold it, that is.

Now, I know that the Dems have uncovered new, vast treasure troves from the corporate coffers--that's the point of this article after all. And today they also tell us that Hillary has so far raised more from Wall Street than all the Republican candidates combined. However, these candidates cannot survive solely on corporate donations, so the time is right for we non-corporate funders to shake these people up or discard them completely.

If this "law" makes it through the system and is installed, who then can argue that our system is not a system of fascism?

Leave out the racism and "dictator" definitions of fascism and what we have here in the grand ole USofA is fascism. Look it up. Go to any dictionary. Leave out the racism sections of the definition. Tell me that America is not a fascist state. No, there is not a "dictator". But, do you really believe that? How many times have you thought of George and Dick as dictators? Isn't this exactly what Glenn is indicating by bringing up lectures on thrid world democratic revolution?

Essentially, fascism is big business and government walking down the aisle and getting married. It's been in operation here for a long time. It has just been expertly hidden by the ruling class.

-Derek Java

Now, it isn't so much hidden as it is not talked about, especially by our media, mainstream anyway.

Will members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association do? All the ones I know are guys, I'm afraid.

I think it's better that both of my Senators and my rep are repugs and live down to my double-basement expectations of them. I'd go insane with bush-dog dems in their place.

But how I envy Louisvillians, and their wonderful, fabulous, proud-and-loud liberal rep John Yarmuth.

I'm calling his office to order some of the buttons he had made up and passed out last week, that say, simply:

Article 1

Apparently more than a few of his "colleagues" didn't know what it meant.

What, if any, implications are there regarding warrant-less surveillance that took place before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks?

... laws impairing the obligation of contracts, are contrary to the first principles of the social compact, and to every principle of sound legislation [...] and [...] are prohibited by the spirit and scope of these fundamental charters. -- Frankly, citing Madison, Federalist #44

I think the long-term degradation of this principle has had a pervasive, little recognized influence in our present helplessness with respect to the powerful. During the past ~25 years large organizations, especially large private sector corporations, have become increasingly free of the need to obey the details of their contracts with "little people". Also, those contracts have grown complex for the purpose of disguising what is being lost.
We've been softened up towards this kind of bastard legislation by things like: 1) software EULAs that use reams of fine-print to get you to inadvertently sign away rights, 2) credit & cell phone contracts that force binding private arbitration on the consumer as a precondition for doing any business, 3) insurance contracts with multiple layers of loopholes that deprive the purchaser of what he reasonably should expect in the way of reimbursements (I think my extremely canny old father is the only man I knew in Greater New Orleans who was truly "made whole" by his homeowner's insurance after Katrina.)

Part of the "ignorance" that the American people display in response to this particular abrogation of our rights is "learned helplessness" taught to us by the kinds of 10 page, 8 font, screw jobs I've mentioned above.

Glenn's blog deservedly attracts many erudite, impassioned, well-informed writers. I'd encourage as many of you as possible, just for today, to direct that informed, impassioned erudition to Senator Chris Dodd's blog, particularly the thread on this crucial topic. Glenn posted the address but here it is again:

http://chrisdodd.com/blog/dodd-responds-bush-telecom-immunity

I posted there & found his comments section remarkably user-friendly, if disappointingly under-used. Jim White has thankfully raised the very real possibility of blocking this repugnant legislation & Democratic capitulation with a senatorial "hold". Given that Senator Dodd has pledged his determination to do whatever he can to block immunity for telecoms engaged in illegal surveillance, this is a measure he should be politely, passionately, eruditely encouraged to consider.

While jamming the Senator's phonelines with calls of protest/support may be marginally effective, I worry it could be more of a burden than a blessing to an honourable Senator in need of resources & encouragement. Posting on his blog's comments section effectively frees his hardworking staff from the time-costly work of answering calls, listening to callers, taking messages & passing them on. Post on his blog & all a staffer has to do is press PRINT. He'll have everything you wanted to say in a form that's equally eloquent & far more useable. Since, I dare say, many of you express yourselves at least as well writing as speaking, it's well worth your & the Senator's while to make your much-needed point in a format that is most effective, practical & convenient to this uniquely principled politician.

If scores of us (yeah, me too) can take the time to vote for Glenn in some dumb-ass blog popularity contest then it should be equally worthwhile (& arguably much more important) to take the time to post a considered, well-written comment regarding this execrable legislation & Democratic capitulation on Senator Dodd's far-more-user-friendly site.

Best regards from the fragrant antipodes.