Everyone, attend what Bamage found out earlier today (emphases mine):

http://letters.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/01/23/reid/permalink/e49f38c5f46867f1daa5a82570541f30.html

I called Dodd's office to determine whether Sen. Dodd intends to filibuster (YES) and whether Reid has ever given Dodd an answer as to why Reid chooses to ignore Dodd's hold (NO).

Called Reidss office w/ question on why Reid is ignoring Dodd's hold. I'm referred to an online statment from Reid and cut off. Reid's statement does NOT address the question.

Called Reid's office back. I'm told "during the Dec. 14th debate, Sen's. Reid and Dodd AGREED debate would continue in January, so Reid is NOT ignoring a Dodd hold."

I called Dodd's office, and relayed this info. Somewhat surprised, I was, by the response. Something to the effect of, (paraphrasing)"No, we did not know Reid's office was stating that as their position, thank you very very much for calling, I will see that Sen. Dodd receives this information as soon as I can."

In other words, Reid's office is lying their butts off in order to deflect the heat we're putting on them. Pile it on, HOTTER!

It's beyond ridiculous. He is behaving more like a Republican than a Democrat.

I called the Democratic Party on this issue. The party leadership may need to know what this issue means to its constituents.

My own sense is that the more phone calls, the better.

I appreciate any other suggestions.

I'm making phone calls now.

Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious, but if terrorists in a cell (or other criminals) purchase pre-paid cell phones, discard them in 30-60 days & purchase new ones with different numbers MONTHLY, how is it possible to find a pattern in their calls? Wouldn't the same apply to using e-mail addresses, internet cafes, wireless, remote servers etc? Will we be required to show passports at Wal-Mart before we can buy a $19.00 Tracfone?

Actually I just got back from Italy and they wouldn't let you use an internet cafe computer unless you had a passport- then they swiped it in some machine and probably tracked everywhere I went. The reasoning? Terrorism prevention. I don't know if we have similar requirements here since I don't frequent internet cafes when I'm not traveling.

As for pre-paid cells- hasn't someone in the Senate, besides Obama, been watching The Wire? Easy as pie to avoid wire taps. :-)

What options are available to citizens to recall Reid and Pelosi? Is there anything at all we can do to get new leadership? Their so-called "leadership" has been dismal.

I'll be back up in your neck of the woods come next St. James Art Fair (or before then, I sure like that portion of Louisville), but I wanted to comment on something you said: 'If they are only going to act like Republican Squared, why should I donate my time, money and energy to getting these clowns elected? I've yet to hear an answer and come November, I might just sit at home.'

Now as far as donating your time & money, if you feel like you do right now, don't. But make no mistake about it, Sen. McConnell wants you to stay at home in Nov. & if you do, he'll be cackling with glee.

You see the old SOB more than I do. Think about how happy he would be if a progressive voter like yourself stays home on election day (ick, I thought about it & I'll try to keep that picture out of my head).

It's a looong time to November. Please keep the faith.

How sad is this? Only 14 US Senators willing to defend the rule of law and the Bill of Rights. What was that oath of office they took?

The good news is: the "war on terror" may be over. The bad news is: I think we lost. What a pathetic and corrupt bunch.

Majorities are worthless when they're riddled with fools, maybe voting straight Democratic ticket wasn't the best thing for my country after all.

Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious, but if terrorists in a cell (or other criminals) purchase pre-paid cell phones, discard them in 30-60 days & purchase new ones with different numbers MONTHLY, how is it possible to find a pattern in their calls? Wouldn't the same apply to using e-mail addresses, internet cafes, wireless, remote servers etc? Will we be required to show passports at Wal-Mart before we can buy a $19.00 Tracfone?

It would seem that mining such huge amounts of data for pattern-related calls COULD ONLY work effectively against customers with fixed names & addresses on their accounts - or retroactively once law enforcement knows a variey of names & numbers to look at.

I will contact Congress & Edwards, but it seems to me the entire argument for necessitating this expansion of power is specious and if that's true, I'd like to hear any Dem say so.

Reid & Pelosi should be deported, but failing that, voted out ASAP.

Casey and Specter no longer have "Civil Liberties" as a possible subject line on their web forms.

Weird.

I ended up using "Civil Rights" for Specter and "Clean Government" for Casey.

I don't have high hopes for either of my Senators.

For all of Specter's reputation for being a true independent conservative and believer in small, restrained government, he hasn't done much of anything to stop the President's power-grab and has facilitated it as member and former Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

As for Casey, he voted for the FISA bill last time. Then again, he did vote for cloture on restoring habeas corpus rights - so one might infer that he would have voted in favor of said rights. He also votes YES on all of those oh-so-important Support-the-Troops/English-is-the-Common-Language/Christianity Exists-and-is-Historically-Significant pronouncements that take up so much of the Senate's time these days.

(BTW - if you wonder how your legislators have voted in the past, go to votesmart.org.)

I called Dodd's office to determine whether Sen. Dodd intends to filibuster (YES) and whether Reid has ever given Dodd an answer as to why Reid chooses to ignore Dodd's hold (NO).

Called Reidss office w/ question on why Reid is ignoring Dodd's hold. I'm referred to an online statment from Reid and cut off. Reid's statement does NOT address the question.

Called Reid's office back. I'm told "during the Dec. 14th debate, Sen's. Reid and Dodd AGREED debate would continue in January, so Reid is NOT ignoring a Dodd hold."

I called Dodd's office, and relayed this info. Somewhat surprised, I was, by the response. Something to the effect of, (paraphrasing)"No, we did not know Reid's office was stating that as their position, thank you very very much for calling, I will see that Sen. Dodd receives this information as soon as I can."