FISA Victory on Countdown with Keith Olbermann
posted by Matt Browner-Hamlin, Campaign Blogger on December 17, 2007 - 9:23pm
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Well done today sir. Thank you.
I live in KY and have not had representation in the Senate for many years. It will take people with conviction, principles and courage to do what is right, and you have led the way.
Thank you Mr. Dodd for protecting our rights and civil liberties before they set flame to another Constitutional amendment. I hope you continue to steer the course of truth and virtue in all political affairs.
I'll admit it, I'm not the most politically aware citizen there is. I had not paid any attention to Senator Dodd's campaign before this news item, as I assumed the various Democratic candidates were basically similar, and my ultimate plan was to vote against whomever the Republican party throws up as their front-man next November on general principles.
This issue has changed that for me. My parents fled communist Cuba in their teens and came here so one day their descendants -- me! and now my two boys! -- could be born and grow up in a free country. I grew up hearing stories about how my grandfather was jailed for speaking up against Castro's government; how the communist regime turned neighbor against neighbor and encouraged people to rat on their 'dissident' neighbors; how the government spied on every day citizens' mail and phone calls. I will not stand by and watch my country do the same thing.
I believe in the rule of law. I believe the rule of law is even more important than whether or not specific laws are 'good', or 'just'; if we respect the Constitution and honor its protections, then even bad laws can change, given time and political will of the people. But when our government conspires to break the law, and pledges immunity to the lawbreakers who support the government in those illegal acts, democracy itself is in very real danger of disappearing forever.
Senator Dodd, I applaud your stand on this issue; and as long as you continue to champion honest, transparent government, and the principle that no one is above the law, you will have my support and my vote, no matter what your stand on other issues.
For me, it's a matter of common sense: We have to fix the system before we can hope to fix the laws.
Thank you Senator Dodd for your courageous stand to defend our constitutional right to privacy!
With great appreciation,
Cynthia Papermaster, Citizen
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! When I gave my husband the news he just yelled out, Dodd just won my vote. I hope you'll be hearing that all over the country. You are a true patriot, sir and you are the only one who has given us, the voters, a voice. Thank you again. I'll sleep more soundly tonight.
I realize the fight isn't over, but this is one battle that needed to be won.
God Bless
It was truly Chris Dodd's finest hour in the Senate today. In fact, it was a historic day in terms of reaffirming our nation's commitment to privacy rights under the constitution.
I had just about left the Congress and Democrats for dead as they have failed time and again to protect our civil liberties. It seems that the congress has lost its institutional identity.
It took Sen. Dodd, Feingold and others to remind us what our political system is all about. It was really ironic to hear Sen. Hatch accuse the Democrats of hysteria and fear mongering on the FISA bill, as he then proceeded to warn that failing to give telecom's immunity would leave everyone more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
How ridiculous and desperate he and the rest of his ilk sounded!
Sen.Dodd, you make me proud to be an American. Thank you for taking time out of
your demanding schedule to "do the right thing". All of the other"key" candidates seem
to have forgotten what their real job is and how important this issue is to the
American people. Thank you for all that you do.
Senator Dodd, Thank you for the courage of your convictions. I appreciate and commend you.bravo!!
Sincerely, Mary P. New Hampshire
I for one will not forget your actions today Senator Dodd. My senator (Wyden) also stepped up and acted like a patriot along with Feingold. Fight on Senator Dodd... they will be back with more poison in January and must be stopped.
Regards,
Ron
my heartfelt thanks to you senator dodd. this country needs more people like you.
Thank you Senator Dodd for making us proud today! You have shown real leadership, which is sorely needed.
Senator Dodd, you have gained my attention and deep respect. Is it possible that you could help more of your fellow Democrats to grow some cajones? Thank you for what you did today in standing up not only to Bush & co, but to your increasingly spineless party. I am no longer a Democrat because I'm just not masochistic enough to lay my hope in the hands of an organization that keeps giving in to Republicans and never really fighting back - or even standing up. There is a very good chance you'll get my vote, and I hope you stick it out. Dodd\Fiengold has a nice ring to it. Your filibuster means more to me than campaign stunts like Opra, Hillary's mom, or anything the Republicans have to say. I hope the "leaders" of the House and the Senate take note and grow some spine. I wish I could have written LEADERS and not "leaders" - but Pelosi and Reid need to start taking some risks. They need to risk losing now and then.
In any event, thank you very much, stay stout and seek the truth!
Bravo!
Dear Senator Dodd:
Thanks for standing up for us today.
I hope we get a few more members of the Senate to do so as well.
Kind regards,
Jim
Thank You, Thank You!
Please do NOT give in on this issue. What the people need at this time is a truly transparent government. Please ask other members to join in and stand up for the forth amendment of our constitution.
Pelosi and Reid need to start risking A WIN now and then...!!!
Thank you Senator Dodd. You have renewed my hope for our future. Keep up the fight and take back our country. GOD Bless you and yours.
Senator Dodd, today you stood up for the Constitution. It is a tragedy that citizens from across our land feel they have to thank you profusely for doing what you took an oath to do and what your constituency elected you to do. However, given the craven and feckless leadership of our party, and the silence from the junk news media on this vital issue, it still deserves at least a modicum of appreciation. You can expect a donation from me soon, as promised previously when you first announced your intention to filibuster this horrible and lawless bill. Courage = cash, Senator.
Perhaps this is the only language the white millionaire's club understands; well, so be it. I am, after all, a proud member of the reality based community.
Like Chad, I've had no protection from Bush administration zealots by my Louisianian representatives, either, so I'm especially appreciative of your excellent leadership.
My understanding is that the FISA law is adequate enough in its current state to meet the needs of this administration. The problem is that this secretive, dishonest administration wants no oversight in monitoring phone calls & e-mails of anyone they choose; as the most partisan administration in my 55-year-old lifetime, I wouldn't rule out the fact that they are primarily interested in monitoring information for their political gain.
I am very disgusted that this administration has had no accountability whatsoever. I'm at the point where I have no enthusiasm for contributing any money for political purposes until the Democrats begin impeachment hearings. That the American citizenry has had to endure the in-your-face propaganda, lies, & corruption of this administration without any accountability for the past seven years is just deplorable.
I've always been an admirer of yours, Senator Dodd. Your common sense & decency shine through.
Thank you for standing up for us today.
I watched and cheered your leadership on the floor of the Senate today.
You have given the American people hope for the future.
Thank you Senator Dodd.
God bless.
NO RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY!!!!!
Finally someone stood up for the constitution!!!
Chris Dodd is a true patriot for preventing Bush from getting away with another crime.
What the Hell is wrong with Harry Reid? he has as much spine as a worm! Harry is letting Bush get anything he wants?
When the repulicans threaten a filibuster he caves in how pathetic!!! he needs to be removed as majority leader now!
We need someone fearless with spine and willing to fight those republican bullys.when they threaten a filibuster make them do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! make them stay day and night thru the weekend what ever it takes for them to show the American people Who is representing their best intrest and who isn't.
It's time to put Chris Dodd in as Majority Leader!!!
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for your courage and determination today. I listened to the proceedings most of the afternoon and was especially pleased to hear your response to my own senator who whined about those "poor" patriotic telecoms whose profits and reputations might suffer if they were held accountable.
Thank you for protecting the Constitution and demonstrating true leadership today.
Senator Dodd, Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your stand against immunity for the telecom companies. I was completely disappointed that none of the other presidential candidates flew home from Iowa (or wherever) to support your efforts. My primary donation for today goes to you! Good luck in your efforts and your campaign.
Senator Dodd,
Thank you for articulating and giving a clear voice to this important issue.
Please encourage your distinguished colleagues to choose an issue, any issue, and follow your example.
Thank you sincerely for your principled stand on our rights to privacy. We must demand that the full truth is revealed as to the administration's violation of our constitutional rights to privacy and the pressures placed upon the telecommunications industry to be complicit in these crimes. Anything less is a failure on the part of congress to fulfill its oath of office to defend and protect the constitution. To look the other way or compromise away this obligation is to be equally complicit in the demise of our constitutional rights. As privacy is eroded our remaining rights will rapidly follow and we may no longer have the ability to reverse the descent to despotism. Thank you for your courage and tenacity. America and all freedom loving people throughout the world owe you a great debt of gratitude. You have demonstrated that it is possible for one man, armed with principle, to change the course of history.
I wrote the Courant today to ask why there was not any attention in today's (12/17) paper to your return from Iowa to address this crucial issue. We'll see whether my letter gets printed.
Thank you Senator for standing up for what's right, for standing up for the law and the Constitution. I know you sacrificed important campaigning time to return to DC and serve your country. I wish your colleagues had all left Iowa to stand together for this and send an important message to the President. I am gratified that one of my own Senators, Bob Menendez, stood up with you as well. Thank you sir.
It was Sen. Dodd's finest hour today as he stood strong and tall against those who would flush our civil liberties down the toilet in order to protect the lawless Bush administration and the telecoms who served him.
The only reason that I can fathom as to why the Democrats would play along with this nonsense is that they wish to eat from the same cash-rich telecom hands as the Republicans.
How ironic that Sen. Hatch accused Dodd and the Dems of hysteria and fear mongering on the FISA bill then turn on his heels to warn that failure to grant telecoms immunity would leave us vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Of course, it's all too secret to disclose, even to those who must vote on the measure.
Thanks Mr. Dodd for saying yes to the right to privacy and no to the fear mongers who would strip us of our civil liberties.
My deepest heartfelt thanks to you for your strength and courage for standing up for what is right. You won my respect the very day you stood up for this. That's when I really sat up and took notice of who is campaigining for president. I'm like the majority of people in this nation who are sick and tired of hearing the same ole canned political-rhetoric. We want someone who hears the voice of the people, who stands up for the rights of the people, and puts people first. We are tired of big corporations acting like they are the ones for which the Constitution was written. Corporations are NOT "we the people." With excellerated respect and admiration for your stand on this issue, I send my sincere gratitude to you.
Your action today (filibustering the FISA legislation in lieu of persuing your own interests, ie a campaign day) speaks loudly about your prioritites and demonstrated the kind of leadership we need from a President and a Democrat.
You have my vote. Continue this leadership throughout 2008 and you'll win the election!
M. Quinn
Thanks so much for your standing up against the others. Like you have said, the telecom companies knew what they were doing was wrong. There is no reason to excuse their behavior.
Thank you, Senator Dodd.
Your efforts and courage are exactly what we voted for last November
and have seen little of until today.
Kudos and keep moving forward.
Best regards.
Thank you for your hard work to protect us, repair our Constitution, and restore our international dignity.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you !
Thank you sir. Too many democrats in name only have kowtowed to this pretender President for too long. Senator Reid - you are no more immune than the telecoms and we will be watching you closely.
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Our representatives have been lacking in courage for far too long, and at last someone has taken a stand. Don't back down; never surrender. You have my support and that of many, many others.
Please inform Senator Dodd that because of this action he has my vote.
Count on Sam. Count on Sam.
Way to go Chris! So proud of you and your work.
My teen aged daughter caught me hooting it up and screaming greatness for you.
You made an impression on both of us!
The entire United States owes a debt of gratitude for your brave and principled stance protecting our constitutional liberties. Now, if we only could get more Democrats to stand up to that tyrant in the White House, we could take our nation to new and greater heights. But this is a great start, and my heart and tears are with you!!!!
Dear Senator Dodd,
I sent Senator Feinstein a fax this a.m. "commending" her on her stellar choice of an AG who did not have the understanding of a highschool dropout of what waterboarding entailed, then declined the right of the legislative bodies to pursue illegal activities of the cia. I had given up.
I am afraid to believe but your actions today give me hope.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I've always believed you were honorable. Unlike so many others, you have not betrayed my trust. When people say to me "they're all the same", I say "no they're not". Now I can name a particular action of yours to point to that truth.
Carolyn Ackmann, Simi Valley, CA
I thank you Senator Dodd for your courage on the floor today! You may deserve my vote if some of my concerns are addressed. Based on your BIO (http://www.nndb.com/people/233/000032137/), you are in the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and have also met with the Bilderberg Group. What place do these organizations have in supporting the Constitution of the United States?
Thanks!
Great news! Thank you so much for standing up for what's right AND doing something about it!
To all we owe a special thanks to Senator Dodd. There are many things that could bring the bush house of cards down but immunity for corporate law breakers is near the top of the list along with war crimes; the killing of over one million innocent Iraqis, the use of depleted uranium, theft of Iraqis oil, the list is too long but this is a start!
Thank you Senator Dodd! Hopefully your courage, and doing what's right will rub off on your fellow democrats. Backbone, such as yours, is mostly missing in Congress.
Thank you for your stand. This country is bleeding for a leader to oppose the jackals and snakes infesting this administration, and sorry to say, many many of our own party...
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. What will it take to remove our inept "leadership" from their positions? Reid and Palosi have demonstrated their unwillingness or inability to stand up and fight against the most corrupt, inept and anti-American administration in the history of the Republic. What a crushingly sad disaapointment Reid and Palosi are! Thank you for your service to our country and our Constitution. You make me proud again to be a citizen of this great country.
Please continue to stand up for We the People and our Constitution.
Thank you for proving that there is at least one Presidential Contender that is able and willing to defend the Constitution of the USA and the People. You were the only one of all the other Contenders that dropped your own pursuit of the Presidency in lieu of we, the people. This will be noted and remembered.
As you so eloquently stated, the telecommunication companies had a slew of attorneys to advise them, so how can they claim ignorance about the FISA law and what it covered. There should not be any retroactive immunity, and absolutely none in the future. They should be prosecuted for allowing our individual privacy rights to be violated.
I was so proud of you for standing tall today..as you always do. Your Father would have been so proud of you, also. You have shown which of the Contenders we need to represent America. We are tired of self-serving Politicians...we want and need men of conscience and integrity such as you.
Thank God
For Senator Dodd.
Thank you, Senator Dodd.
Bravo! Well said! The system works, sometimes. :)
CONGRATULATIONS! And thank you, Senator Dodd. Sadly, there aren't enough senators like you--senators with a backbone who care first about their country and its people. Your filibuster was the most courageous and inspirational act of the entire presidential campaign.
Senator Dodd I have no doubt that our Founding Fathers would be very proud of you. Today I
feel proud to be an American and energized to fight those that try to tear down our country.
Thank you for doing a great job on this and keep up the great work!
Thank you Senator Dodd. You are the true American Patriot who is deserving of the Presidency. You give me hope in a time in which hope is a rare commodity.
It was nice to see leadership from one of our Democratic members of Congress. Thank you for showing the rest of the Senate what a leader and a patriot looks like. Thank you for your actions on the floor of the Senate today.
It was nice to see that at least one Presidential candidate put the needs of his country ahead of his own.
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for stopping (at least for now) yet another travesty by Bush$Co.
Shame on Clinton, Obama and Biden. We all know that Clinton doesn't stand for any progressive cause based on her past voting record. And Obama - due to his current 'non-voting' record also proves that he lacks any leadership skills. He has skipped so many votes and then goes on talking about change! One of the biggest hypocrites of this year.
Thanks for Sen.Dodd for showing to his fellow democrats what real leadership is about since lot of them seem of lack any guts to confront the neocons.
Thank you so much, Senator Dodd, for standing up against the Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate, by threatening to filibuster the FISA bill if it included the provision to exonerate the telecom companies from illegally cooperating with the Bush administration to spy on our phone calls and emails. You are a REAL PATRIOT, who believes in upholding our United States Constitution. Keep up the good fight!
Keep going, Senator Dodd. We've got your back. *We The People* are behind you!
Big smile and kudos.
m m
THANK YOU SENATOR DODD!!!!!
A Grateful American
Thank you, Sir, for fighting *this* fight. I am having great difficulty finding words to convey the debt of gratitude I have within my heart to anyone who feels compelled to defend liberty from the corporate interests and criminals who claim they are protecting this country by removing our civil rights and waging unwarranted war on free people in foreign countries, and in brightly-lit, loud prison cells in clandestine locations.
In recent years, I have felt myself grow ashamed of this country and out actions abroad and domestically. We prey on countries and peoples weaker than ourselves, public opinion be damned, and turn loose some of our worst elements to conduct operations that can't be named for fear that jaundiced public may finally be goaded to anger at what is perpetrated in their name.
May we again someday be proud, and call ourselves defenders of liberty without the world laughing in cynical derision.
Chris, Thank you for giving us hope that our Constitution and internatonal reputation may be restored to their former glory. The rest of the Democrats had better step up to the plate for the preservation of our Country and future generations. You have my deepest gratitude and support.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for showing the Democratic leadership what a true Democrat looks like. My thanks also to the senators who stood with you. Pelosi and Reid need to take a few lessons from you. If Harry Reid listens to his constituents during the break, perhaps he will be on your side in January. Please keep up the good work and never back down, never back down, never back down!
Thank you.
Awww man, now you've gone and spoiled everything Senator Dodd. The lawlessness surrounding our government and corporate America...Blackwater, Halliburton, Enron, freaking AT&T...what are we to do without this kinder, gentler form of fascism?
Seriously though, I was glued to CSpan today and want to thank all of you who fought against immunity. I finally have a glimmer of hope again. Pelosi & Reid should be ashamed.
Thank you Senator Dodd!! Keep fighting the good fight!!!
Finally some long-needed leadership in Washington!
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Keep up the important work.
Thank you!
Good move Senator.
I get this warm and fuzzy feeling that rights have been protected (not just the American public either).
It almost seems as if you're trying to represent the people who put you in office...
Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much!!
All Americans owe you a debt of gratitude...regardless of their political affiliation. Now it's time for the rest of the Democrats AND Republicans to join with you and restore the freedoms we have lost during this trying administration. There is absolutely no excuse for ANY Congress critter NOT to agree with you on this one. Just as the Republicans ask about "undocumented" aliens "what part of ILLEGAL don't you understand?", all Americans should be asking the telecom companies AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT the same question. The powers of government ARE and SHOULD REMAIN limited. Thank you for standing up for "the rule of law"--our guaranteed rights under the Constitution, something the majority of Americans seem to have forgotten.
Don't know why the video image doesn't work.
This address does
THANK YOU SENATOR DODD!!
America is proud of you.
As an Iowan, I noted that every other presidential candidate who is a senator was out here in Iowa working for their personal ambitions, while you were in Washington fighting for our Constitution and Rule of Law. I am going to be talking to my neighbors, letting them know who is the ONLY candidate who will restore the Constitution and make us proud to be Americans again. When you are back in Iowa, I will travel to whereever you are so that I can shake your hand. God bless you!
Finally, someone has the guts to stand up for what's right.
Thanks,
Senator Dodd
Senator Kennedy
Senator Feingold
Benjamin Franklin The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.
I cannot tell you inspired I was to see Dodd's brave and principled speeches yesterday. I've been waiting for the Democrats to fight for what is right.. and he did. Made me proud to be a Democrat and THIS family donated to his campaign because he showed the kind of leadership that I want to have from a presidential candidate.
Kudos to you Senator Dodd. You just earned my respect as it was lost to the other 3 senators who are presidential candidates as they did not show up to support you and fight this. You are a class act and truly, an honorable man and senator.
Thank you.
Mr. Dodd, I am grateful to you, and Mr. Feingold and Mr. Kennedy for doing the right thing, and for your courage and perseverance. Our country desperately needs Leaders to fight to restore our precious Constitution. Keep it up! Our Way of Life is at stake!
Congratulations - At last someone showing some spine - also apparently more interested in the Constitution and our citizens than personal career. WONDERFUL - Gives me a little more faith in government - which has been seriously lacking of late.
This is beyond belief!. What was required was a break-through at the level of consciousness -- the Will to stand up for a universal principle. thank you Senator Dodd! You are the light shining in the darkness of this world.
Dear Senator Dodd,
Many of us had lost hope that our efforts would bring the changes America needs to become a country once again based on Constitutional law. The truth is that Bush has violated the Constitution and American law so egregiously and so often, it seems to be an overwhelming task to remember it all.
I was very heartened by what happened yesterday. If you hadn't been willing to lead the fight against telecom immunity, we would have been impotent on this issue, too. The outpouring of gratitude to you (and I add mine to it) is an indication of how badly we've needed a well-placed Congressional leader to bring us back from the morass of a toppling Constitution. I am grateful that you took time out from campaigning in Iowa for this fight and wish you great success on your return there.
The fight isn't over at all, we know. In January, both sides of the issue will be even more intense than yesterday, and the fight will be even more gruelling. But we must not let the forces that would tear away our Constitutional rights win. Please let us know what we can do to help. You can count on us as long as we know where to focus our energies.