Letters to the Editor
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You can Digg this story ...
here:
http://digg.com/politics/Targeting_bad_Democrats
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All this domestic spying didn't come about by abiogenesis..
The war on terror is the war on drugs on meth..
Is there anyone reading my words who agrees with me that Democrats who support the war on drugs are "bad Democrats"?
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OK, I'm in.
Glenn, it looks like you have just about established a new PAC around yourself and this Salon column. Although I like what you write on these issues at hand, is that what you intended?
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Baby Steps
One downside of Dean's 50 State Strategy in the last election was that it inevitably recruits "Democrats" (Largely from the midwest) who are not necessarily in agreement with some of the more traditional Democratic ideals. Like privacy and freedom.
I really haven't looked to see if it is these newcomers who generally support this amnesty, But I would bet it is them, in higher proportions, than more traditional Democrats.
I'm not excusing this. I'm not supporting it. But it may represent the first steps, where we lose the battle but win the war.
Glenn, or anyone - Has anyone looked at where New vs. Old Democrat fall on this issue?
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DrEyeBall
Glenn, it looks like you have just about established a new PAC around yourself and this Salon column. Although I like what you write on these issues at hand, is that what you intended?
The fundraising mechanism is the already existing Blue America group. I'm just encouraging support for it and helping devise the message and strategy for the ads, as I've done before. I don't believe there are any issues of the type you're referencing from that.
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WTF...
...We get article after article here about how the government is illegally spying on us (which I do believe is happening) yet in order to fight against the spying, we are required to list our address & phone number?
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/getevenforfisa
That doesn't make sense.
If the Bush syndicate is really spying on us, then let me just list my (real) name, address, & phone number on a liberal blog in order to fight against the spying I already know is taking place. Maybe in this one instance all of my personal info will not be tampered with.
Again, that doesn't make sense.
It's not a matter of which data base all of this information is in, it's just a matter of how large it is.
There is no way in hell I am going to list my name, address & phone number on the internet in order to fight those who I already know are harvesting that information illegally.
Please create a more subtle (or even devious) approach.
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Leahy/Conyers?
Glenn, what do you make of the letter from Leahy and Conyers that bamage posted on Various Items (p.29)? Or the new admissions in the WSJ article also originally cited by bamage:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120511973377523845.html
1) Are Leahy and Conyers gearing up to make a real challenge, should we support them?
2) The WSJ article raises the stakes on the immunity, especially in the wake of the Quantico bridge disclosure. Hayden seems to be taking the same tactic as with torture, i.e. "Yes, you're right, we listen to all your phone calls. It makes you safer."
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Info on the 6 Dems?
This is a great idea and thank all of you for doing it. One question, though. I don't know anything about any of these people -- is there a crib sheet on these folks available?
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xititjur99
...We get article after article here about how the government is illegally spying on us (which I do believe is happening) yet in order to fight against the spying, we are required to list our address & phone number?
I wasn't involved in setting that up, but from what I can tell, the reality is the opposite of what you just said. The address and phone number lines - which, I'd guess, are just a standard part of the template -- are optional, not "required" ("* denotes required field").
Presumably, anyone who contributes to an ad campaign like this -- or any political campaign -- ends up giving some personal information. People who are afraid of the government and afraid to do that probably shouldn't. But it's just not true that that voting page requires your address or telephone number.
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I'm in
With a vote and a little change. Thanks for the opportunity, Glenn.
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Legal recourse
Glenn, Is there no legal action ordinary citizens can take against their elected officials for breaking the Rule of Law? Some sort of class action suit for not upholding their sworn duty to protect the Constitution?
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Unfortunately, Glenn...
"The fact that [Mark Pryor is] being re-elected with no opposition demonstrates his extremely strong political standing, i.e., that he cast these votes because they reflect what he believes. "
What his political standing really means is that his votes have coincided with the wishes of a large majority of his constituents. Sad, but true.
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FDL Blocked at Work
But I want to put in a plug for my favorite Kentucky DINO - Lexington's own Ben Chandler.
Voted for the bankruptcy bill, for torture, for gutting the Constitution, for making Smirky/Darth dictator for life (OK, that last he hasn't done yet but will any minute now.)
Unfortunately, he has no dem primary opponent and two repug opponents.
But he sure could use some public humiliation on his repug-fellating.
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I sa an article about how Japan
eliminated the lobbyist problem with lawmakers by paying them a salary of about $1 mill a year....
I actually think this a good idea..
But instead of just letting them vote thier own salary---Both members (civilian voters) should set some thresholds for a number of years-by district or state--and prioritize what are THE most important issues for them to get passed--say 2-3 problematic areas...IOW voters neeed to lay down the law with thier party leaders and tell them TELL THEM-not the other way around what is most important. Only after a number of years and seeing these things get passed-should they get a raise by thier constituents...NOT Congress.
I would also like to see the Better Business Bureau be remade and given a bigger-more powerful role that's independent of the govt.. ANY govt. (local, state, national).
this would keep score on legislators to reveal to voters any quid-pro-quo voting and shed some light on $$$ recieved from lobbyists.
They should have thier own courts-with judges picked independently of any partisan appointments as part of the BBB.
they would oversee cases of corporate fraud, unsafe products,harmful products, and environmental misconduct..
they also would be given comisurate salaries--and accept NO lobby $$$since they are independent of making and passing laws...
They could in fact, be instrumental in noticing illegal or harmful trends...and work closely with the Congress to testify as witnesses and experts to help enact legislation...
they should have the power to issue audits-within any govt branches who may be lawbreaking...
They would be independent of any FBI, CIA,Homeland Sec involvement....and would have the power for FISA warrents, even against govt officials and Pres.
I'm sure I could think of more things...but you get the gist....