I just got this email from Edwards. He stops short of calling for Obama and Clinton to go to Washington but he does say all of the right things otherwise. I think those calls and emails are helping.

Dear Jim,

When it comes to protecting the rule of law, words are not enough. We need action.

It's wrong for your government to spy on you. That's why I'm asking you to join me today in calling on Senate Democrats to filibuster revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would give "retroactive immunity" to the giant telecom companies for their role in aiding George W. Bush's illegal eavesdropping on American citizens.

The Senate is debating this issue right now -- which is why we must act right now. You can call your Senators here:

Mel Martinez, (R): (202) 224-3041

Bill Nelson, (D): (202) 224-5274

Granting retroactive immunity is wrong. It will let corporate law-breakers off the hook. It will hamstring efforts to learn the truth about Bush's illegal spying program. And it will flip on its head a core principle that has guided our nation since our founding: the belief that no one, no matter how well connected or what office they hold, is above the law.

But in Washington today, the telecom lobbyists have launched a full-court press for retroactive immunity. George Bush and Dick Cheney are doing everything in their power to ensure it passes. And too many Senate Democrats are ready to give the lobbyists and the Bush administration exactly what they want.

Please join me in calling on every Senate Democrat to do everything in their power -- including joining Senator Dodd's efforts to filibuster this legislation -- to stop retroactive immunity and stand up for the rule of law. The Constitution should not be for sale at any price.

Thank you for taking action.

What is the statutory reference to the "State Secrets Act" that Senator Rockefeller mentions?:

Rockefeller added: "If people want to be mad, don't be mad at the telecommunications companies, who are restrained from saying anything at all under the State Secrets Act. And they really are. They can't say whether they were involved, they can't go to court, they can't do anything. They're just helpless. And the president was just having his way."

Good catch. There is no such act. But it is true, in defence of Rockefeller(BFF-WV), that "the president was just having his way". Rockefeller took a pause after he said this, and rubbed his sore bottom....

Cheers,

N/T

I'll check with my lawyer and see if your gracious award is acceptable.

Click my signature for more.

Glenn, if this is a breach of protocol, please remove.

Reid Challenges GOP to Filibuster Anti-Immunity Provision

By Paul Kiel - January 24, 2008, 11:50AM

So here is where the FISA debate, which kicked off in earnest this morning, stands.

The first vote today will be on the Senate Judiciary Committee's version of the surveillance legislation, which contains no retroactive immunity for the telecoms who collaborated with the administration's warrantless wiretapping program. That will be at two o'clock this afternoon. There is no agreement that such a vote meet a 60-vote threshold, so when the Republicans move to block that bill, the vote will be held on a 50-vote threshold. If they win that vote, then the bill will revert back to the Senate intelligence committee's bill, which has a retroactive immunity provision.

After that will come a number of amendments, among them Sens. Chris Dodd's (D-CT) and Russ Feingold's (D-WI), which contains a provision to strip the immunity from the bill. Reid says that he supports such a bill. And he said today that Republicans will have to actually filibuster if they want to stop any of the amendments from getting a simple majority vote:

"As I have said before, if there are Senators who don't like these amendments and think they should be subjected to 60-vote thresholds, these Senators are going to have to engage in an old-fashioned filibuster. These amendments are by and large germane, and I believe they should be adopted if a majority of the Senate supports them."

You can Reid's entire statement here.

When Reid said something similar yesterday, a number of people interpreted it as in reference to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) who has said that he would filibuster any bill that contained retroactive immunity. Now it seems as if that remark was meant for everyone.

As for what happens next, I think we'll just have to wait and see. We'll keep you updated.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005130.php

On substituting the JC Bill (no immunity) for the IC Bill (immunity).

I.e. to kill this version and proceed to the SSCI version that contains immunity:

Yea - 60

Nay - 34

The motion to table the SJC substitute bill has passed. The substitute bill has been killed. Everything from now on will be based on the SSCI bill that contains immunity.

Thank you, "leader" Reid, for your "leadership".

Another loss for our side, but not the one that counts. This ain't over yet.

Yes Allard is complete waste of space, thankfully this is his last term. Hopefully Mark Udall can win his seat. I'm sure he'd be a real dem, instead of the DINO Salazar. Salazar has been an embarassment since he got into office. I wish he'd just pull a Nighthorse Campbell and switch to the repug party, he votes with them more then he does the real dems anyway.

On another topic, this comment thread has been shooter free. I'm beginning to miss the chap, just joking. The previous comment section shooter said what's the big deal if the gov't does what a private company does? I and others responded that gov't has more power, can put people in jail, will use it to target others etc etc. Shooter and that coward anonymis know, or have been told, about the history of abuses committed by our gov't. The FBI cointelpro, the Palmer raids against the labor movement. Citizens not doing anything wrong but merely exercising their rights to advocate for themselves. That reminds me of a great quote I saw. "Beware of the man that studies but appears to not grow wiser. He did not come by his ignorance honestly." I'd say that quote perfectly illustrates people like shooter.