I had already emailed Obama and called Hoyer (getting the usual unsatisfactory responses), but I finally put my money where my mouth is and donated $100 through the ActBlue page. Thanks for all your work on this, Glenn!

if the Attorney General certifies [] that [] the assistance [] was [] the subject of a written request [] indicating that the activity was [] lawful.

I am not a lawyer, but this seems like a clear violation of the separation of powers. Is the executive branch empowered to determine at its sole discretion when conduct is lawful and thereby immunize it from court review?

This is probably a stupid question, but is it possible to challenge this legislation on some basis? How is it that Congress can tell a Court in advance that they ~must~ rule a certain way? Isn't that an infringement on the Court's authority?

During the Bush years, I have been horrified and appalled at what our government has done. I have been sickened by the torture, the lies, the killing. But, given the world view of the Bush Regime, none of what they were doing was surprising.

This FISA deal is different. I feel completely betrayed by Pelosi, Reid and Hoyer. (I also think Pelosi and Reid should be on the receiving end of some of the ads.) I am literally shaking with anger.

I told Hoyer's assistant that if she had any sense of honor, she would resign her job. Pelosi's office just gives you the "I know nothing, please leave a message" -- very polished and completely non-reactive. The message I left on Pelosi's machine was not polished nor non-reactive.

Also just donated more than I could afford to ActBlue.

It's time to make these bastards pay.

stevio, you can email Obama's campaign: here's the link--

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2

Here is another number to contact Hoyer's office:

202-225-4131

I'm assuming the timing of this (just after Obama wrapped up the nomination) and the fact that no Democrat is speaking out in anger or fighting this publicly means that Obama is actually behind this and has put out the word that everyone must get on board.

That's the only explanation that makes sense to me. Otherwise I just crossed into the twilight zone sometime last week and didn'y know it...

I actually got someone to answer immediately all three times. I told all three that the one, single thing the democrats have accomplished was stopping this bill before, and now they're throwing away this one accomplishment for nothing.

For Obama I asked him to get out in front of this and stop it.

Pelosi's office I said the same thing (but I forgot to ask where she stands on this bill)

Lynn Woolsey's office (she's my rep) I did remember to ask, and the person didn't know. I said this is very important, and a constitutional issue, and that her position should be clear by now, since apparently they're voting on it tomorrow.

Hope it did some good. Hope's about all we've got these days.

--Ron

From Kos's page, here are #s (they all worked when I called):

Call Barack Obama and urge him to make a public statement reiterating his opposition to telco amnesty. His opposition could kill this deal: Phone (202) 224-2854, Fax (202) 228-4260

Call Steny Hoyer and tell him this is a bad deal: Phone (202) 225-4131, Fax (202) 225-4300

Call Nancy Pelosi and urge her to pull the bill from the House schedule: Phone (202) 225-4965, Fax (202) 225-8259

Here's a link to Kos's page with more #s for BlueDogs

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/19/115414/787/632/538388

I just called the Obama campaign. Keep pressing 0 until you get a live pick up. It took me about two minutes to get a rep who was very polite, informing me that my call would be logged (that they all would be) and that they were getting a very large number of calls regarding the Amnesty Bill (or Amnesty Bail, as any Democrat who supports this is bailing all too visibly on their purported identity, never mind their constituents).

She sounded harried and apologized for being quick, but had all her lines to answer for similar callers.

Let's keep this up!

At least shooter242 and Elephantman are happy!

-----

I called my rep. Rush Holt's office; the person who answered the phone was unable to tell me what Holt plans to do. I said as an author of the RESTORE Act, Holt needs to seriously oppose the Democratic leadership.

Sigh......

'Nuff said.

They immediately switch you over to the speaker's voice mail to leave a message.

Here here. I informed the Obama campaign yesterday that if this bill passes and Obama has not done EVERYTHING in his power, as the de facto leader of the Dems, then he's lost my vote and my money.

I will NOT vote for ANY Democrats in the Fall, in fact, will actively vote AGAINST any and all Democrats, if this bill passes.

I am more pissed now than I ever was during the previous 8 disastrous years of the Bush Disaster.

It truly looks like the government completely broken and CANNOT be fixed without a REAL revolution (again).

The combination of fury and helplessness I feel toward the Democratic Party is close to paralyzing me. While I was out of the country, living in Dublin, Ireland, for three and a half years, I couldn’t understand American apathy. Now I do. No matter what Progressives do, the Corporate Party composed of Democrats and Republicans rolls right on over us.

I’ve contributed to various online fund-raising campaigns—Move On, ActBlue, and others. I’ve taken to the streets, signed petitions, wrote emails, called my representatives. (The last seems pointless on this bill, as my congressman is a conservative Republican. But I’m actively supporting his Democratic rival in November.)

And yet it all seems for naught! I keep thinking, “Only six more months.” But the damage this administration can accomplish in that time is sickening. Telecom immunity. Abolish the moratorium on offshore drilling. Establish an iron-clad commitment on American troops in Iraq for the next century. Bomb Iran. A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. And on and on.

Moreover, as lemecdutex points out and given the recent history of Democratic complicity, will an Obama administration overturn these travesties?!

After living abroad, the short-sighted stupidity of so many American voters is demoralizing. I absolutely cannot believe that people will fall for McCain’s proposed gas-tax moratorium. Or actually approve opening our coasts to offshore drilling. Just how many extra years would that give Americans to go on living as if fuel were limitless? Only to face this same moment-of-truth eventually as ill-prepared as we are now.

I feel trapped on a runaway train, with no emergency brakes, headed for a washed-out bridge.