Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid loves parliamentary procedure so much that he is essentially selling out his own party to allow the Senate to debate the FISA bill with the telecom immunity. As Glenn spells out:
The summarized version is that there were two competing bills which Reid could have brought to the floor — the Senate Intelligence Committee version engineered by Jay Rockefeller and Dick Cheney which gives the administration most of what it wants, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which does not contain telecom amnesty and contains far more extensive oversight protections. Reid could have brought the bill to the floor using whatever process he wanted, and he has decided — contrary to weeks of assurances — that the SIC bill will serve as the “base” bill, meaning that improving it (by removing amnesty and increasing oversight) will require 60 votes, rendering such efforts virtually impossible. In doing so, Reid is brazenly ignoring the demands of 14 Senators — including all of the Democratic presidential candidates — to have the Judiciary Committee bill be the base bill.
Worse still, Reid is completely disregarding the “hold” placed by Chris Dodd on any amnesty bill — simply refusing to honor it, even as he respectfully honors literally scores of “holds” from GOP Senators such as Tom Coburn. And while Dodd is interrupting his campaigning to fly to Washington to lead the filibuster he vowed, Reid has ensured with scheduling manuevers that the filibuster will take place only over the weekend — when all of the members are away raising money anyway and journalists aren’t paying attention — with the intent to try to force cloture once everyone returns on Monday.
So if that’s the way Harry Reid wants to play it, Chris Dodd is going to use parliamentary procedure as well–to filibuster the SIC version of the bill. Thank the deity of your choice for a Democrat who not only represents Democratic values, but also acts like an opposition party leader. I don’t mean you, Harry. And like the The West Wing clip above, Senators Feingold and Kennedy have promised to help by asking questions, to give Dodd a chance to rest or have a bite.
But Dodd needs things to say while filibustering on the Senate floor. Shall he read the complete works of Shakespeare? George Orwell’s 1984? Every time I see Karl Rove’s face, I can’t help but think of Animal Farm, myself. Or perhaps Shock Doctrine? How about the transcripts to one of Olbermann’s Special Comments?
All good choices. But how about if Chris Dodd speaks for the American public as well? After 7 long years of feeling left out of the political discussion, there are many things I’d love to have a Senator say out loud on the Senate floor. I’ve been communicating with his office and they have authorized me to put out this invitation to you, as well as readers of FDL and other blogs.
What would you like to hear Senator Chris Dodd say as part of his filibuster?
I am going to sticky this post at the top of the page today to get as many responses as possible. Obviously, we’re making no guarantees other than his office will definitely be looking at your posts. Normal commenting policies still apply.
And Senator Dodd? Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Filed Under: Chris Dodd, Committees, FISA, Government Policy, Harry Reid, Oversight, Progressive Politics Action
No Trackbacks To “Dodd To Filibuster FISA Bill–Needs Material To Read on Senate Floor“
Please start with a full reading of the Constitution of the United States.
Thank you, Senator Dodd!
First of all, kudos to Chris Dodd for having the courage and patriotism to filibuster this horrendous knuckling under by Harry Reid in order to exonerate telecons who violated the constitution of our country!
Secondly, it’s time that this spinless shill named Harry Reid step down from Congress. He’s nothing more than a fraud and a puny, cowardly, sycophant. He’s a total disaster in Congress and now also a total embarrassment to the american people. What a whimp!
My respects to the Senator… he should run for President! E
I’ve heard that the presidential candidates (Dems) promised to assist him with his filibuster. Now we’ll really get to see what these people are made of. If any of the candidates reneges on his promise, he will be out of the running immediately.
This is a true test for each candidate regarding their level of commitment and patriotism to this country and a capricious renegade of an administration and executive whose abuse of power is legion and highly illegal.
My question to Senator Dodd:
Do you think it is really possible for honest people in this country to overcome the horrendous doings of the Bush/Cheney era?
Please reassure me that things won’t always be like this. I will help!
Thank you, Senator! I’m backing you all the way.
He should read The End of America by Naomi Wolf!
No question! Straight through! PERFECT!
If he did that, I would walk across the country campaigning for him…. Hell, I’d be his slave.
Senator Dodd could do a fine job of reading the Constitution - the preamble and bill of rights, for starters.
We the people….
http://www.law.cornell.edu/con.....amble.html
Time for new dem leadership and kick joe out of the caucus for endorsing McOld.
Reid is most certainly not “selling out his party”. He epitomizes the boneless wonders.
Go Chris Dodd! We’ll see if other candidates who’ve pledged support leave Iowa to help.
#3 Enor: In case you haven’t noticed, Christopher Dodd IS a democratic presidential candidate.
Following this showing of patriotism, I’m certain that his numbers will rise.
Goddamn! What can I do to help him!
Nicole Belle: Dodd needs things to say/read on the Senate Floor. They cannot continue debate or call for a vote as long as he is speaking and refusing to yield. Post here in the comments ideas for things that Dodd can say.
It’s becoming painfully clear that, other than a few good dems in Congress, what we were sold was another pack of lies during the midterms. Even in their lies, on a bad day, by far the dems are one hellova lot better than any of the perverted, hypocritical Rethugs.
This is what I want clarified. My understanding of FISA is that it allows the administration to conduct surveillance on potential terrorists/spies even without a judicial warrant, and that it allows the administration to do so for up to four days before requesting a warrant. So what is the problem? All this b.s. about the need for oversight getting in the way of protecting the country from the bad guys is just that - b.s.! No one wants a successful terrorist plot that kills thousands of people if not more. No one also wants an administration allowed to spy without any oversight (or no one should). FISA seems to be the perfect compromise. If modern technology requires longer waiting periods of spying before getting that warrant, then this part of the law can be updated. Therefore I have never understood there to be any legitimate problem here. It really has sounded like the administration wants unhindered power just for the sake of unhindered power. And too many frightened Americans buy into this.
So again, I want Senator Dodd to provide me answers as to why the administration has violated a law that really didn’t harm them at all, provided, of course their intentions were honorable. And Senator Dodd is indeed a hero!
I also wanted to add my thanks. Perhaps the comments from this thread, as representative responses from Americans still interested in the Rule of Law, would be appropriate material for his filibuster?
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Charlie Savage’s book, Takeover
Valerie Plame’s book
Paul Krugman, the Conscience of a Liberal
The Federalist Papers
Those should be useful after a reading of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Then he could read all of Dan Froomkin’s columns.
Is Dodd really going to Filibuster the FISA Bill?
Dennis Kucinch’s Articles of Impeachment.
First of all, this is great news about Dodd. I thoroughly support this filibuster and if he and Feingold can swing it so it happens during the week, so much the better.
As for what to recite: I think it would be instructive for Dodd to lay out all the government-sanctioned violations of the Constitution that Americans have suffered since the founding of this nation, including things like the Sedition Act of 1798 and the Palmer Raids of 1919-1920. Sadly, 1984 does not read like fiction anymore, so it would be germane as well.
Reid, on the other hand, is still the same spineless hack he has always been and though I would like to see someone of Dodd’s integrity and caliber in the White House, I think it may be more realistic to push for him to become the next Senate Majority Leader. And I mean “next” as in immediately. It’s time to transport Harry back to Navada so that Dodd can take the leader’s podium, where he belongs.
Definitely 1984.
I love that episode, and thought of it immediately a few years ago when some MA legislators engaged in a mini-fillibuster to run out the clock on the first day of the ConCon to take away equal marriage rights.
Go Senator Dodd! Go Senator Kennedy! Where’s Senator Kerry?
The Constitution, as mentioned.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Any good civics book you can find - some people in washington are in dire need of a reminder WHO the elected representatives in a democratic republic are supposed to serve.
The very hungry caterpillar - so that there is at least one text Bush is familiar with.
I would say starting with a refresher course of who our government is supposed to work, with an explanation of how the Co-Equal branches operate to keep eachother in check. hell, they can just run some old School House Rock’s.
Thank You Sen. Dodd.
All the above, esp. the Constitution would be terrific reading material. Perhaps if we all sent letters of support to him or if he read heartfelt material from “We the People” — that would also be a start. It seems many of our elected officials don’t listen to “We The People” unless it’s “We the Corporate Empire” that funnels big money into their accounts.
Macbeth’s Soliloquy
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
– Macbeth (V.v.19
Straight Shooter @ 1:
I concur with this comment. A lot of folks in that room have obviously never heard of it before.
Sen. Dodd should print out and read some Olbermann Special Comments, in addition to much of what people have suggested.
Dodd should recount all of the expenditures and contracts that have helped BA cronies, as well as how widespread these expenditures and contracts range within the Federal Government, and their success rate. That should take at least a couple of days.
orion @ 11:
It’s called humor.
Maybe Dodd can kill a few hours explaining it to you.
I support your recommendation. Recommended reading for the NATION!
99 @ 6:
1) The Constitution
2) Al Gore’s “The Assault on Reason”
3) 1984
4) A Transcript of a Boston Legal episode
5) The entire script of “Enemy of the State”
6) John Dean’s “Conservatives without Conscience”
7) At least TWO of Olbermann’s ‘Special Comments’
8) The Whole bloody FISA law itself.
9) For good measure, the CONSTITUTION AGAIN.
I would ask Senator Dodd to remind his Democratic colleagues that with the possible exception of a pedophile, no one is lower than a collaborator.
Don Quixote. Un-abridged.
I second the Shock doctrine. Anything by Chomsky or Gore Vidal. Also, he could read from the National Security Archive. He could read the Downing Street Memos or the Spanish memo. This is all information that is out there but the average person is unaware of. He also could read some international treaties, such as the Geneva Conventions or the UN charter. He could reread Kucinich’s impeachment filings.
I’d like him to read the US Constitution. Some of our Senators could use an update as to what is still ILLEGAL!!!
I concur with the above recommendations of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Common Sense, and other works associated with the foundations of our democracy.
I would caution against reading more modern writers, or works explicitly or, by implication, of specifically liberal or “Democratic” (big-D) in their leanings. The FISA bill should not be a partisan issue, even though it is to a large extent. Stick with the Founders.
Any book/text on Habeas Corpus, its importance, history, etc.
Also: “We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the world - no longer a government of free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of small groups of dominant men.” - Former President Woodrow Wilson
Senator Dodd can be our Mr. Smith goes to DC. I hope the senator does read the bill of rights and the constitution, then go onto other American writings. Thomas Paine is a good start. I want him to be the common man fighting against the evil-doers that work at the Whitehouse. Bring back our voice, and bring back our rights.
“[Oppose] with manly firmness [any] invasions on the rights of the people.”
– Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution, 1776. Papers, 1:338
John Dean’s book “Broken Government”.
Good for you, Senator Dodd. And shame on you, Senator Reid. A question: Why does Reid force a Democrat actually to filibuster, while he backs down to Republicans who merely threaten to filibuster? What’s the procedure for replacing Reid?
Suggested reading matter: 1984 would be good. I’d also suggest the Declaration of Independence, at least the part that says: “[W]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
My Pet Goat
Followed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Then…Crossing the Rubicon by Michael Ruppert
Thank the Diety?! Thank CONNECTICUT. Dodd is the CT senator that doesn’t suck.
PBS transcript of Keith Olbermann on Bill Moyers program - 12-14-07
Supporters of the Democratic Party are Charlie Brown to the Party Leadership’s Lucy. How many times will you let them yank the ball out from under you before you recognize that they are not part of the solution, but a key part of the problem confronting this country today. Time for Democrats to cut-and-run from the Party.
It has been maybe a year since I read of a lawsuit in one of the NE states against the local telecom and their surveillance activity.
Maybe someone remembers this and can provide an update with links.
My Hero, Senator Dodd would do well to read specific, court records that demonstrate the dangers of the bill.
AND… I like 99’s suggestion in post 6
“He should read The End of America by Naomi Wolf!
No question! Straight through! PERFECT!”
Kudos to Chris Dodd.
Where are the OTHER candidates, promising leadership??? Here’s an opportunity to demonstrate.
I would also suggest anything from The American Empire Project.
Also, I would like to concur with those suggesting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
First, and foremost, he needs to read the Constitution of the United States of America. Then Valerie Plame’s book, and I also like the idea of Orwell’s 1984.
My question for Senator Dodd is this: Why haven’t the Democrats been able to force BUSHCO into allowing imports for prescription drugs in this country? I was forced to sign up for a Medicare Part D plan, and hit the ‘doughnut hole’ the end of July this year. Since then, I have had to pay over $400/month for my medicines. Therefore, I have had to cut back on essentials, and had no $$$ with which to buy Christmas gifts. The fact that Congress seems to care more about Big Pharma than they do their constituents completely destroys my hope that the Democratic Party will EVER be able to undo all the horrors that the Bush Administration has thrust upon Americans. Bless you, Senator, for by standing up and having the courage to say very loudly NO!!! , you speak for all Americans who have had ‘way more than enough!“