Mr Dodd Goes To Town
by digby
Today, Chris Dodd is going to show the Senate what integrity looks like. It’s probably going to be quite shock. It’s a rare thing these days.
As you all probably know, the illustrious Senate Majority leader is insisting on allowing the bill that contains retroactive immunity for huge wealthy corporations to be the basis for debate on the new FISA legislation. (I won’t go into all the arcane details, but suffice to say that he’s making it impossible for an alternative bill, which doesn’t contain immunity, to pass, which he doesn’t have to do.)
Chris Dodd signaled his intention some time ago that he would place a “hold” on such legislation, which is Senate speak for tying a bill up indefinitely. Republicans do it all the time — the latest example is Huckleberry Graham’s hold on the new anti-torture legislation that would have required the CIA to adhere to the Army Field manual. Senator Reid is honoring that hold as he has honored every other hold Republicans have put on legislation.
For reasons that can only be speculation about, Reidis not honoring Dodd’s hold. Therefore, Dodd is going to filibuster. A real Jimmy Stewart style filibuster, not the “signal of intent to filibuster” that is done these days to keep the Senate moving. Reid has not required any Republicans to do this despite the fact that they are setting records for filibusters in this congress.
Dodd needs help. He’s going to be talking a long time and he could use some suggestions from average people about what to talk about. If you have a special historical speech or literary passage you think might be relevant, that would be great. leave them in the comments here and I’ll collect them. (Links would be useful.) You can also express your support for Dodd filibuster here. They will be collecting the comments and putting them on the front page for the press and others to see.
Senator Dodd is prepared to stand up and talk and talk and talk as long as his voice holds out. He will have a little help from his friends, Feingold and Kennedy (bless the old Lion.)
He could also use some help from his fellow Senators. Courtesy of FDL, here are the phone numbers of the 14 Senators who promised to support Dodd. Give them a call today if you have the time and ask them to go to the floor and give Dodd a breather.
Name Fax Phone
Feingold (202) 224-2725 (202) 224-5323
Dodd (202) 224-1083 (202) 224-2823
Obama (202) 228-4260 (202) 224-2854
Sanders (202) 228-0776 (202) 224-5141
Menendez (202) 228-2197 (202) 224-4744
Biden (202) 224-0139 (202) 224-5042
Brown (202) 228-6321 (202) 224-2315
Harkin (202) 224-9369 (202) 224-3254
Cardin (202) 224-1651 (202) 224-4524
Clinton (202) 228-0282 (202) 224-4451
Akaka (202) 224-2126 (202) 224-6361
Webb (202) 228-6363 (202) 224-4024
Kennedy (202) 224-2417 (202) 224-4543
Boxer (415) 956-6701 (202) 224-3553
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