But, I think the Dems figure they have me on the ropes no matter what they do. I can't see myself voting for any of the Republican front runners, so the only other thing I can threaten is to stay home in November.

In most states, though sad to say not mine, you'll also have the option to vote for a number of minor party candidates. My advice: use it and support the candidate who best represents your values.

In Oklahoma, our ridiculous ballot-access laws we'll keep everyone but the Democratic and Republican presidential candidate off the ballot (barring a Bloomburg candidacy...he can afford the $100,000 or so it costs to pay people to collect the necessary signatures). We're not even allowed to write candidates names in. So my most likely presidential vote will be a blank ballot.

I too would cheerfully bet my own next paycheck that Calabresi is referring to the telecoms' refusal to continue terrorist wiretaps unless the FBI ponies up their paycheck, and was too lazy to re-read the stories that came out about it.

I'd bet half the following paycheck that this was a bit of pre-emptive poison poured directly into his ear by GOP sources who know full well how completely that story blew apart the weepy pleading of the noble patriotism the telecoms showed by their eagerness to break the law. That Calabresi not only didn't "re-read" the stories, but never read them in the first place, just took the word of some right winger who had bestowed on him the blessing of access.

I'm curious as the the Edwards camp's rationale AGAINST vociferously decrying telco immunity. Anything you can divulge?

I'm curious as the the Edwards camp's rationale AGAINST vociferously decrying telco immunity. Anything you can divulge?

There's no active opposition to what we're saying, just not yet an evident belief that this is really in their interest. In fairness, they have a lot they're considering right now - they're a bit disoriented after their very poor showing in Nevada, focused on winning an important state for Edwards (South Carolina), and it takes some time for it to seep into the places it needs to be.

I think it can generate some real attention and passion for him if he took the lead on it, and it really does fit perfectly into his overall message - it's a very populist argument. That's the pitch that we've been making, and I'm hopeful it will get through.

I think it can generate some real attention and passion for him if he took the lead on it, and it really does fit perfectly into his overall message - it's a very populist argument. That's the pitch that we've been making, and I'm hopeful it will get through.

...less "corporatist" than fighting against immunity for the telecomms.

Interesting timeline-oriented coverage of FISA related events:

http://tinyurl.com/2orrap

Senators Clinton and Obama now are in positions to be the agents of change they so freely talk about ever so frequently.

They both are today in WashingtonDC, in the U.S.Senate and both fully in position to start blowing things up and apart in regards to the pathetic DC DEMS leadership debacle over this telecom immunity being put in.

So...where will Hillary and Barack decide to be and stand?

Sadly one need not feel too much expectation that either of these two well entrenched DC DEMS will do what is right.

It is very likely they will both fall in with all the other DC DEMS who spent all of 2007 trying to run away from or thwart what took place in last national elections of November 2006.

Which is the rot and decay default position the DC DEMS and they both are fully guilty of.

I doubt Hillary or Barack will open a full frontal attack on what is the sad saga of DC DEM playbook quivering/soft spined needless cave-in repeatedly found in DC these days.

The record of both Hillary and Barack does not reveal that they are capable of the needed level of integrity.

John Edwards should be pushing/kicking this ajar door wide open.

I hope he figures this out pretty soon.

That's the pitch that we've been making, and I'm hopeful it will get through.

Will a push from the backfield help or hurt? I'm a regular contributor to Edwards' campaign and would be happy to do daily email nags to them on this if you think it would help.

I know I'm only one voter, and my primary (MD) isn't until after Super Tuesday, but my primary vote is going to depend on this issue. The leadership of the Democratic party sickens me with their refusal to actually lead on any important issue. I may well write in Chris Dodd's name even though he's dropped from the race. Or I may go for Gravel. In any case, I cannot vote for a candidate who enables Bush lawbreaking.

And that sentiment also holds for the general election in November.

You have to give credit where credit is due: somehow a president with 30% approval ratings is able to get exactly what he wants on every single important issue. Is that leadership? Maybe that's 21st century leadership. Maybe leadership has become just being beligerent and ignorant to the point that you refuse to budge on any issue, no matter how depraved it might be.

Or maybe it's time for SOMEbody on the democratic side of the aisle to freaking grow a pair.

Will a push from the backfield help or hurt? I'm a regular contributor to Edwards' campaign and would be happy to do daily email nags to them on this if you think it would help.

Definitely, but we just want it to be coordinated so it happens all at once - should be ready the next couple of days.

On a different note, in his Time article, Calabresi asserts that in the wake of lawsuits against telecoms, "telecoms have in some cases refused to help the U.S. intelligence community further."....

Here's what (some) telcos have done:

http://tinyurl.com/34zv9z

The AP reports that telephone companies “cut off FBI wiretaps used to eavesdrop on suspected criminals because of the bureau’s repeated failures to pay phone bills on time,” according to Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine. The “FBI’s lax oversight of money used in undercover investigations” resulted in “telecommunications carriers actually disconnecting phone lines established to deliver surveillance results to the FBI, resulting in lost evidence.”

Civic-minded to the last....

Cheers,