I just got off the phone with a nice representative in Senator Clinton's office.  She confirms that Senator Clinton opposes the current FISA bill and any retoractive immunity for telecoms.  I asked if she would appear in the Senate to oppose or filibuster and they said her schedule hasn't been released.  I pointed out that she has agreed to a joint campaign appearance with Senator Obama on Friday June 27th and the representative did confirm that Senator Clinton isn't unavailable on vacation or anything like that.  So, no promises.  But they admit that she isn't away on some post election seclusion retreat as some have implied.

Might be a good idea if more called Clinton and really push on the issue of her making a campaign appearance with Obama.  I'd like to see them make a far more important appearance together on the Senate Floor.

(202) 224-4451
Don't be afraid to call, they're nice.

Of course, Senator Obama (202) 224-2854 needs to take the leadership role on this since he's our leader as we head into battle with the McCaininites.

But, there were also two other Senators who ran for president who promised to oppose telecom immunity.  Chris Dodd (who made it an issue in the first place and can be thanked at (202) 224-2823) and Joe Biden (202) 224-5042.

Let's get the Democratic Primary Class of 2008 together in the Senate! That's true party unity.

The Democratic leadership in the Senate has caved under pressure from a lame duck president and the telecom lobby.  Our party is considering a quick vote on a bill that will immunize the telecoms from the consequences of breaking the law at Bush's request between 2001-2007.

Not only does this reward telecoms for breaking laws that were put in place to protect our privacy but it sets the dangerous precedent that the law is whatever the president says it is.  All the telecoms have to do to get immunity is prove that the president told them it was legal.  That's it.

Our leaders have abdicated their responsibility.

Except that, as I keep hearing, we have a new leader now.  This is Barack Obama's party.  He needs to stand up for it with a filibuster of this bill.

I've also heard that another high profile party member, who wanted to be the party's leader and fought tooth and nail for the mantle, has some healing to do.  She could speed that along by standing with Obama in his filibuster.

If the two of them won't do this, I'm going to be left wondering just what it was we were all fighting so passionately about during the primary months.  If they'll both stand up for us now, and stand together, we'll know that all of those primary emotions were spent on behalf of the right people.