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OpEdNews Poll: Should anyone be immune from our laws?
Follow the link to vote!
June 23, 2008
Issues-Advocacy:
Should anyone be immune from our laws?
By Paul Kruger
http://www.opednews.com
Poll
Should anyone be immune from our laws?
The House passed the FISA bill which, in part, grants immunity to telco's for spying on Americans whenever Bush asks them to. There is only one reason Bush or the telephone companies would want or need immunity; they have already or intend to break the law and illegally spy on Americans' private communications and feel they should be above the law.
Should Congress grant immunity knowing that the above is the only reason anyone would want immunity? Should they even be permitted to grant immunity for anyone who has or openly intends to break the law and violate a constitutional right?
Follow the link to vote! June 23, 2008 Issues-Advocacy: Should anyone be immune from our laws? By Paul Kruger ... more -
Telecoms get free ticket
Congress has confirmed once again that they represent major corporations, and not the people who elected them.
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House Rejects Eavesdropping Immunity
"After its first secret session in a quarter-century, the House on Friday rejected retroactive immunity for the phone companies that took part in the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program after the Sept. 11 attacks, and it voted to place greater restrictions on the government’s wiretapping powers." "After its first secret session in a quarter-century, the House on Friday rejected retroactive immunity for the phone companies that t... more
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U.S. House passes surveillance bill stripping telecoms of immunity. Bush, Senate ...
"The Democratic plan would allow telecommunications companies to be sued for their role in the administration's much-disputed warrantless surveillance program .
The bill now goes to the Senate, but both the Senate and President Bush have made it clear they will not support the bill without the immunity provision."
We need more Democrats in office, people! Obama or Clinton, let's get this thing moving! "The Democratic plan would allow telecommunications companies to be sued for their role in the administration's much-disputed warrantl... more -
Citizens say no to warrantless wiretapping
...and retroactive immunity for telecoms. Video produced by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the People for the American Way.
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"You are not a Lap Dog!" Call-In Day
THURSDAY Feb. 21: "You are Not a Lap Dog!" Call-In Day
Call Speaker Pelosi at 202-225-0100 and Majority Leader Hoyer at 202-225-4131. Tell them to stay strong against warrantless wiretapping and $102 billion more for Iraq.
In a surprising and long-overdue display of courage, the House Democratic leadership last week stood up to Bush and refused to bring to the floor a bill that would allow Bush to continue to spy on the people of this country without a warrant. Also every Democrat but one voted to hold Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton in contempt of Congress. Can this newfound Democratic courage last?
We need Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to continue to stand strong against domestic spying and telecom immunity. And we need them to learn that they do have power if they choose to use it, and apply this lesson to ending the occupation of Iraq. Pelosi and Hoyer can start by simply refusing to allow Bush's $102 billion Iraq war funding request to come up for a vote.
Thursday Feb. 21: Join United for Peace and Justice, Democrats.com, AfterDowningStreet.org, Progressive Democrats of America, and other groups in a Massive National "You are NOT a Lap Dog*" Call-In Day!
Call Speaker Pelosi at 202-225-0100 and Majority Leader Hoyer at 202-225-4131. If you don't get through to a person, leave a voicemail.
Talking points:
1. Thank you for standing up against Bush's warrantless wiretapping, and keep standing up.
2. Stand up against Bush's new $102 billion Iraq war funding request by refusing to bring it to the floor for a vote.
In addition to your call, please sign our petition to your own Representative and Senators: No More Funds for Iraq
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/124
This Democratic Congress was elected to end the war, but they have given Bush one blank check after another, most recently for $70 billion on January 16. But 42 Democrats and 4 Republicans finally said no in January, so our calls and emails are making a difference, and we need to keep up the pressure.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll011.xml
And we must do more than call and email - we must take to the streets and put pressure directly on our Representatives. Here's a flyer you can hand out in front of your Representative's office today:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/outofiraq-wanted-flye...
Connect with other Democrats.com members in your Congressional District (login required):
http://democrats.com/local
Look down to your Congressional District, read past posts and add your comments, or create a new post with your ideas and plans.
In mid-March, UFPJ member groups and allies around the country will mobilize for a wide range of powerful actions marking the 5th anniversary of the war and occupation in Iraq. Join us in March to say, 5 YEARS TOO MANY!
http://resistinmarch.org
THURSDAY Feb. 21: "You are Not a Lap Dog!" Call-In Day ... more -
Roll Call: S.2248 Bill Passage on Telecoms
List of senators who voted to protect telecom companies from litigation for aiding government eavesdrop programs.
According to Senate.gov, Senators Clinton and Obama did not vote on the bill.
The Bill passed 68/29
List of senators who voted to protect telecom companies from litigation for aiding government eavesdrop programs. ... more -
Senate votes to give retroactive immunity for telecoms
Despite criticism of his attendance, Obama votes against immunity, while Hillary doesn't even bother to show up.
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Take the FISA bill OFF the table! Call NOW!
New email from DFA: Dear Angelina,
What is wrong with our Senate leadership?
Three times now, DFA members like you and me have made phone calls demanding Senators stand up to the Bush administration and pass a FISA bill without granting immunity to telecommunication companies who spied on innocent Americans.
Each time, Washington insiders predicted that we would fail to stop it. And because of you, each time the insiders were wrong.
But President Bush is determined to get telecom immunity passed before he leaves office because he knows the lawsuits against AT&T and Verizon are America's last chance to hold the Bush administration accountable for spying on you. He's even promised to veto any FISA reform bill that doesn't let his cronies off the hook.
How many Americans will die in Iraq while the Senate spends another worthless day fighting over a flawed bill that only the President and his friends want passed? How many children will continue to go without health insurance because the Senate is too busy helping AT&T instead of fighting to expand S-CHIP or provide health care for all?
Why is a "get out of jail free" card for Verizon more important than stopping global warming?
It's time to take FISA reform off the table until America elects a new President next November. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could end this once and for all -- today.
Call Senator Reid right now and demand: No new FISA reforms while President Bush is still in office.
Democratic Majority Leader
Senator Harry Reid
(202) 224-3542
Suggested Script:
"Take telecom immunity off the table. Pull the FISA reform bill and extend current law until President Bush leaves office. The U.S. Senate has more important work to get done than figure out how to let AT&T get away with spying on Americans."
Please report your call here:
www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/reportfisacalls
Wait! Don't stop there. Contact your senators too! They need to know where you stand. Senator Reid is more likely to stand strong if your senator stands with him. Please call your senators now:
Senator Barbara Boxer
(202) 224-3553
Senator Dianne Feinstein
(202) 224-3841
Don't forget to report how your calls went here:
www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/reportfisacalls
Washington insiders say we can't stop this bill. Maybe they are right, but we've heard it before. Let's see what they are saying after you and I and our progressive community make thousands of calls today.
We will stand up to President Bush today. Together, we'll demand the Senate follows our lead.
Thank you for everything you do,
-Charles
Charles Chamberlain
Political Director
New email from DFA: Dear Angelina, What is wrong with our Senate leadership? ... more -
Speak out against telecom immunity with your photos, videos, and phone calls!
Don't just tell Congress to stop the spying -- show them.
Countless citizens have told Congress to reject telecom immunity, but the Senate is still threatening to pass a bill giving immunity to lawbreaking phone companies. It's time to get creative and move beyond words. Let's show our elected representatives who supports the rule of law -- ordinary Americans from across the country. We'll deliver your multimedia messages to lawmakers to drive the point home: no immunity for lawbreaking telecoms!
Don't just tell Congress to stop the spying -- show them. ... more -
Senators Clinton and Obama: Your ready to lead? Prove it - Stop Telecom Immunity...
Clinton and Obama should be leading the fight to stop telecom immunity! They should vote no! They should be leading the Filibuster! If they aren't willing to stand up and stop telecom immunity, American voters need to know why? It's too important to all of us to be ignored! Clinton and Obama represent our voices today in their current elected positions. We need their voices today! We need their votes today! Stop Telecom Immunity! Clinton and Obama should be leading the fight to stop telecom immunity! They should vote no! They should be leading the Filibuster! ... more
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Dodd will filibuster
Senator Dodd spoke passionately tonight on the Senate floor, detailing the abuses of the Bush administration and the danger of allowing any American corporation to be put above the rule of law. Who will stand with him? Senator Dodd spoke passionately tonight on the Senate floor, detailing the abuses of the Bush administration and the danger of allowin... more
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Why Retroactive Immunity Matters
Yesterday afternoon Matt Browner-Hamlin sat down with AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein. Hes the technician who revealed that the NSA has secret rooms for sweeping up massive amounts of electronic communications on the internet.
Klein is calling on the Senate to not grant telecommunications companies retroactive immunity. He's also testifying to the scale of the Bush administration's electronic surveillance:
"Everything you could imagine you use the internet for flows through these cables. It's not only international traffic, but a huge amount of domestic traffic too."
Watch the video of Klein talking about why he opposes retroactive immunity.
Help Oppose Telecom Immunity
The first step is to make sure retroactive immunity doesn't make it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee -- where it will be considered shortly.
If we can get it stripped there, it will have to be offered as an amendment to the overall bill where it will be a lot easier to get 41 votes against retroactive immunity than 41 to sustain my filibuster if necessary.
Take a moment and call up members of the Judiciary Committee and ask them whether they will oppose any legislation that includes retroactive immunity. Let us know what they said, and join others in tracking our progress in stopping the provision in the Committee.
http://chrisdodd.com/immunity Yesterday afternoon Matt Browner-Hamlin sat down with AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein. Hes the technician who revealed that the NSA... more
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Telecom Immunity
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Telecom Immunity
