No time today, but thanks, Glenn for a great summary and to everyone who has participated for what looks like progress. We can't stop now. We all need to follow through on Monday to make sure we beat the SIC version.

As Glenn has so carefully illustrated, this is no victory; rather, it is a stemming of the tide in order to marshal enough public and private ammunition to flatten this travesty of justice.

What is most heartening to me is that the power of collective American intelligence came to bear against cynicism and back room corrupt dealings. I have often speculated about what it must have been like prior to the American Revolution, when citizens gathered in homes and whispered in taverns and town squares about the injustices wrought by King George and Parliament. What makes this effort even sweeter is that it is a public stand, loud and passionate.

The Senators and lobbyists who conspired (a strong word, with dark, sinister implications) to rob America of its birthright have been chastened, but by no means are they finished scheming to establish retroactive immunity for the telecoms. With the vigilance of those who do not wish to be dispossessed of a proud and beacon-like heritage, this shameful attempt to sweep responsibility and unlawfulness out of sight will lay fully exposed.

To all of you who work so diligently and passionately to let your voices be heard: America is thankful.

Are there any plausible theories as to why the 12 Dems who voted to table the SJC Bill voted as they did?

This development is as significant as it is surprising, and in hopeful moments, one may detect the beginning, however small and halting, of a trend. Consider Chris Matthews' grudging apology for his demented and unceasing blather about Hillary Clinton as another example of how the Establishment can be dragged, kicking and screaming, naturally, into the harsh light of reality. Though the sight isn't so appealing, its effects are undeniable; Very Serious People are nervously glancing out into the vastness of the rabble they generally dismiss, and are horrified to find themselves in a hail of rotten vegetables. Better late than never.

Aside from keeping up the pressure on the serial manipulators, who suddenly don't seem quite as "cocky" as they did just a day or two ago, I think it is of equal importance to praise, repeatedly and gratefully, those who stood in their way. Senator Dodd's gracious ackowledgment of the support he received from the netroots should, aside from being receieved as a deserved pat on the back, be seen as an example of what can be achieved through positive reinforcement.

While it ought to be unnecessary to applaud politicians for the simple act of upholding their oaths of office and representing their constituents, just as it should be equally unnecessary to shower praise on journalists for merely doing their jobs thoroughly and with integrity, clearly those who do so are so few in number and are facing such disdain and ridicule for so doing, that all of us owe them a debt of gratitude.

We should all enjoy this rare opportunity to brush up our skills at writing a letter of thanks for a change, even to recent, reluctant converts like Reid and Rockefeller. Maybe even lay to one side, momentarily, our disgust at the hiring of Bill Kristol and thank the NYT for its editorial.

It couldn't hurt.

Believe it or not, I got an e-mail from Harry Reid on Friday in which he said he was determined to DEFEAT the telecom amnesty provision in the FISA bill. I almost threw up. This from the fellow who chose to bring the bill with amnesty up for a vote instead of the bill without amnesty. God, I hate it when politicians and the major news outlets treat me like I'm stupid.

What a gift you are. Thanks.

I intend to call all 12 On Monday. It would be helpful if I could address their concerns whilst imploring them to oppose cloture.

Thanks in great part to your coverage of the FISA debacle, I've taken some concrete steps to participate:

1. I've donated to Senator Dodd -- twice now, and, if he makes the filibuster work, I'll empty the sock in the back of the sock drawer if I have to in order to help him.

2. I've resolved not to support either the state or the national Democratic party with a single red cent. All my donations this round are going to go to targeted candidates, whether in my state or not, and not to support the re-election of politicians like Reid or Rockefeller. They'll get the corporate money, of course, and it's unlikely that they'll miss my few dollars, but it's what I can do.

I would humbly suggest that, if personal contributions from small donors shrink dramatically, so that it becomes obvious just how beholden the national parties are to corporate interests, there may be a backlash from the voters.

While the fight isn't over yet, it's definetly a hopeful development that this telco immunity can be stopped. I just wonder how much the repug betrayal on this issue, will light a fire under the dems. Of course the media will never expose how cynical the repugs and Bush have been on this issue. Saying we need this eavesdropping law or the terrorist will kill us. Then making sure the law doesn't get passed to use for political advantage. Or that Bush will veto any legislation that doesn't include telco immunity. I guess it would be "liberal-bias" to point that out. Well let's keep up the good fight.

It's certainly not the time to rest on our laurels. Beside the fact that it would be uncomfortable as hell, it's now the time to bear down and let the leadership of the Democratic Party know that we're watching and we intend for them to do our bidding, not the other way around.

Targeted donations would be an excellent way to do this. Another way is to return any and all beg slips (requests for donations) from those Democrats who support the current administration with a note explaining why you haven't included a check.

Let them know!

I also still think it would be great to see Clinton, Obama, and Edwards stand united on this issue this coming Monday. Don't let them (especially Clinton and Obama) remain silent on this and therefore be able to duck the consequences.