Since Senator Dodd announced that he would be placing a hold on FISA legislation that includes retroactive immunity for telecom companies that enabled the President's assault on the Constitution by providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization, we have been overwhelmed with praise for Dodd's leadership. Over 10,000 people have signed on to stand with Senator Dodd. While there have been countless brilliant comments, I wanted to share one from a man named Aaron:
I'm sure I'm not the first, or even in the first thousand, to say such a thing, and I urge you with all the desperate force of half a decade's frustrated hope and effort: if you mean what you said today, sir, stand by it for the sake of all of us, and I believe you'll find that there are many and many more standing with you.
Sir, you have seen by the response to your action today that you have our attention. We've seen by that action itself that we seem to have your attention, as well. Stand firm on that -- listen not merely to the citizens of your state, but as you hope to be President, listen to the citizens of your nation -- and I believe you will find us standing alongside you.
That's pretty much all I've got to say, and it seems whatever pitiful gift for oratory I might possess has exhausted itself. I'll just close with this: What you did today gave some hope to a lot of people who've been turning over rocks and digging under houses to find any possible excuse to have just a tiny speck of hope that we might be able to save our country. Right now you have our attention and our support. Please, for the sake of anything you hold dear or consider decent, please don't disappoint us.
Senator Dodd has been clear in his commitment to the rule of law and restoring the Constitution. Today Dodd's leadership took the form of placing a hold on a bad bill, the action needed to ensure that the Senate doesn't do anything to hurt the fight for the rule of law in America.
Not only is Chris Dodd leading, but he's standing where the Democratic base is -- and they're standing with Dodd. As Chris Bowers of Open Left wrote, Dodd has "an impressive list of taking leadership on important issues in this campaign." Bowers goes on to ask, "Why not Dodd?" -- a question that Open Left commenter Josh Bolotsky says he has been asking for a long time.
For those of you who see in Chris Dodd the leadership that you've been looking for from the Democratic field, now is the time to get involved. Dodd's commitment to the rule of law and restoring the Constitution will not falter -- nor, if you're reading this, do I doubt will yours. I'm asking for your help to bring our efforts together - Democrats who believe in the US Constitution and the one candidate who is standing up and leading to ensure that America will continue to be defined by the moral authority we generate from our commitment to the rule of law.
Join the Dodd Squad and make a contribution to support Chris Dodd's leadership today. Now is the time.
Comments
I support you Chris in putting a hold on the FISA legislation!!!!! Please do not let allow President Bush to get away with this crime nor allow the telecommunications company retroactive immunity. They all broke the law! please protect our rights to privacy under the US Constitution.
Sincerely,
Sheryl
Your courage is getting very little notice in the mainstream media today. But we on the Internet have a way of bringing things to their attention in a BIG way! Go Dodd. I'm filled with Dodd Mania! I hope the problems with your web site (which seem to go away, with patience) are because so many people share this gratitude!
We agree with you completely. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,
I support your standing up and putting a hold on this insane bill.
Good for you on the FISA bill.
Finally! Thank you for your stand in support of our Constitution. I strongly support the hold you put on the revision to the FISA bill. Retroactive amnesty for complicity in illegal wiretapping cannot be tolerated. Too often in recent months I have been apalled by Democrats caving in to the President's imperial intransagence. If Bush wants the abillity to intercept foriegn communications passing through U.S. routers, let him accept that without any get-out-of-jail-free card for past corporate transgressions. This is particularly important as we do not yet know the extent of those transgressions.
Thank you for your integrity.
Thank you for having the courage to stand up and actually protect the American people by supporting the Constitution. We the people stand with you!!!!!
Nancy Wilson
...Thank you Chris for trying to put a stop to this illegal and unconstitutial program...please try to convince those on the other side that it is time to put country before party...we are all Americans...for God sakes, ACT LIKE IT!!!
Thank you for putting the hold on FISA. I appreciate your courage, not only in applying the hold but also saying publically that you're the one who did it.
I don't get to vote in the Democratic primaries, but you have my good wishes.
Thanks again.
Senator Dodd,
Thank you for taking a stand on this issue.
Please don't back down to this criminal regime, 70% of the country has your back!
Chris,
Please stand firm on protecting our Constitution. The FISA act protects citizens against governmental evesdropping. This administration has consistantly attacked our freedoms and liberty by systematically destroying our constitution.
Why is it that the CEO from Quest communications is jail for refusing to comply with the Bushies, with regard to turning over their records on wiretaping?. And Why do the other communication companies seek immunity from prosecution, again with regard to providing wiretapping records of Americans?. Why do the Bushies try to cover, alleging terrorism as their need for survelience when in fact they started this insidious illegal act prior to 911, in fact 6 weeks after he was elected?.
We need a president that, like Roosevelt stands tall on courage and determination, and not use the "fear factor" when it is politically to his advantage. We have ruthless incompetent thugs running our country.
Stand tall for America
This reminds me of the enabling act that Hitler used to stifle competion at the polls and gain imformation on theirn populus. I would like to think that they have not spyed on this message but have an uneasy feeling that I may be renditioned at any time.
A book titled "It Can't Happen Here" written by Sincalir Lewis in 1938, is a fictional story of what is currently happening currently in America. you need to change only the names and the party and the script woul read like todays news.
I wish you the very best in you drive for the office of Presidentn and may be the oly candidate that will stand up for middle class Americans.
Sen Dodd, Thank you so much for having the courage to put a hold, on this bill.Dora
Thank you, Senator Dodd for using the tools available to you to block this bill.
I dropped all ties with AT&T and Yahoo a year and a half back because of their participation in this program which they entered into illegally without warrants and for profit. What are they getting retroactive immunity for? We don't even know.
We must protect our constitution from further harm, especially the 4th Amendment which has been violated since before 9/11.
I support keeping all appropriations bills from getting onto the floor until Americans RIGHT to Privacy is restored. After all it is our right, not a privilege.
Restore Habeas Corpus
Stop Rendering
Stop Torturing
Give us healthcare
Impeach this President
Stop Spying
Stop Bush's lying, hold him accountable for war crimes, deceiving the American public into war, fear mongering and for turning our country into a fascist regime.
Read 1984. Watch "Network". Draw parallels.
Follow the money.
Uncover the truth.
End the war.
Peace = Prosperity
Matt, one of the diaries over at DailyKos about Senator Dodd's courageous FISA bill stand today has several very negative comments about his vote on what they call the "cluster bomb" amendment a little over a year ago. It does look like Dodd voted with the Republicans on this amendment, and it's hard to understand why he would vote against an amendment that claims to protect civilians from cluster bombs. I am a big fan of Senator Dodd and really want to see him get some traction from today's events. Could someone there explain this vote to his supporters so we will know how to defend him? I'd like to have a good response ready if I can. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Senator Dodd, for fighting to protect our rights as American citizens.
Bush and his people have been ruthlessly and systematically trying to destroy them ever since they stopped counting the votes in Florida during the first election. I am tired of the hypocrisy, of the way they vigorously try to protect the confidentiality of the president, vice-president and their corporate cronies while simultaneously trying to destroy our rights to privacy and due process.
According to the constitution, it should be the other way around. They should be accountable to us.
I fear we are descending into fascism. Thank you for doing your patriotic duty and defending democracy.
Bush knows the people are against his policies, and he just doesn't care. (so much for being an example of democracy to those to whom we are supposedly bringing it). I am terrified at what these selfish, greedy people have planned in order to hang on to their power, especially in light of the upcoming election.
That's what really scares me this Halloween season! Thanks again
thank you senator for your refusal to let president bush and the telecoms off the hook,, no way please inform your fellow senators that they had better get some guts or they will be looking for other work. thank you once again charles w wilson monterey,ca
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Please stand firm on FISA. We support you!
"Why not Dodd?" has always been tough to answer. But in what is a pretty good and large field of candidates, one must also ask "Why Dodd?" What does he bring that better known/likelier candidates like Edwards or Obama do not? I never disliked Dodd, but now for the first time I'm seriously considering joining your camp.
While I remain an undecided primary voter for now, I do want to thank you, Senator, for doing what you can to stop this nonsense. These issues really go to the heart of who we are as a nation and I'm thankful that someone in Congress is doing what they can to stop further unnecessary erosion of our rights. It would be one thing if you were being asked to retroactively legalize something specific, like warantless surveillance of foreign-to-foreign communication that passed through the US. But you're being asked to immunize them retroactively for any crime the president may have asked them to commit. That's not acceptable. If after an investigation into the matter you determined that telecoms had broken the law in necessary ways, this blanket immunity would still be unacceptable.
Also, about the president's veto threats... Not including this immunity in FISA legislation does not tie the presidents hands or take any power from him he previously had. Congress is not responsible for the president's refusal to accept additional powers. Think about that. The president is saying, if you give me power X, and don't take anything away, but don't also throw in Y, I'll refuse and it will be your fault. That's insane. And I only point it out to ask, where are the Democrat's on the Sunday talk shows and in our op-ed pages making this point? Who is out there pointing out that it is not the Democrats but the President who is holding his own power to eavesdrop on terrorists hostage unless he gets another power he has worked without for seven years? Whatever your thoughts on whether the telecoms should get immunity, that simply isn't an emergency that must be dealt with right away.
But too many Democrats seem to work under the assumption that what voters are going to hear about any issue is going to be what Republicans say about it and they will be judged accordingly. Also, too many seem to have come to accept that it's okay for the president to be stubborn, and when he does, it's Congresses job to take the President's position as a given and legislate accordingly. Any presidential veto is Congress's fault, because the President said he would veto and they passed something anyway, and never the president's fault. Please knock some sense into your colleagues and get some of them to join you in actually defending this stand rather than avoiding defending and instead acquiescing because they'll just get beaten up if they do the right thing.
I fully support the non-passage of the
Bush agenda/bill concerning FISA...
thank you for taking a stand for true liberty and American values
I'm in complete support of Dodd on this issue. Thanks for taking a stand!
You guys blow me away with your comments. Thank you all for taking the time to voice your support here. We deeply appreciate it. I'll be sure Senator Dodd sees this outpouring on this.
I strongly support your stand in stopping this piece of legislation that would only further erode our rights to privacy embedded in the US Constitution. The FISA bill is a reckless measure of collecting completely unnecessary data without any budgetary controls. We have so many intelligemce agencies that had already collected a tremendous amount of data on suspected terrorists that had existed well before September 11. The Bush Administration is adding insult to injury in trying to achieve extreme executive power.
Dear Sen. Dodd,
Thank you for putting a hold on FISA granting telephone companies immunity. The bill is a travesty of justice. Accountability goes hand in hand with responsibility. The American people need to know if the law was broken, and by whom. Thank you for your courage.
Donald L. Buresh
I support your work in putting a hold on this legislation, and always appreciate hearing your righteous passion and logic when expressing your pov on the issues on the campaign trail.
What gets me the most is that I should not have to plead with Dem leadership to block a bill that tanks the 4th Amendment. What is happening to Democrats. This is insanity, selling out our freedom, for perceived security. Not real security, but George W Bush fear-mongering security. That's all Bush is offering, a pig in a poke. He spends 4 years not looking for bin Ladin, and now, when he wants more power, suddenly the boogey-man is back and we must be very afraid. Call him on this crap. Call all of them on this crap.
Thank you, again, for taking a stand!
Thank you Senator
For trying to restore our constitution. America is a great country but what Bush has done is treasonous and should be punished. Good luck and we are behind you.
You are doing the right thing!! It is time that someone PINS THE SPINE ON THE DONKEY!!!!
Thank you Chris for standing up to the people backing this terrible bill. Let's hope more Dems step up to the plate.
It's being reported that Sen. Reid plans to introduce this bill in November despite your 'hold'. Is this true? And, again, thank you.
I support you. Thank you!
Thank you for putting a hold on this unconstitutional legislation!
protect the constitution,hold the violaters responsible!!!!!thank you for courage.paul.
protect the constition!!!tani
Thank you so much for not caving to the President. I support you completely. I wish we had more senators with your conviction. Keep fighting the good fight!
Thank you for taking a stand on the FISA legislation. You are my hero! For too long, I have wondered who our elected officials were working for; the corporations or us. Our country is in peril and the outrage you have expressed echos the beliefs of a significant number of citizens who feel helpless to effect any change. Full speed ahead!!! We are behind you!
Dear Senator Dodd,
Forget "stay the course" in Iraq, we need you and all the members of Congress to "stay the course" on The Constitution. Please do all you can (with the aid of Congressman Kusinich and others) to implore your colleagues of conscience to stand up to the bully/coward chickenhawks in the White House who are systematically shredding that hallowed document and attempting to dismantel all the institutions that have helped to build a mighty American middle class. Do not let them succeed, as it may be the last bastion preventing an Imperial Presidency and possible totalitarianism.
My wife and I applaud you!
Senator Dodd, thank you for standing up for the constitution and opposing immunity for telecoms who have performed warrantless wiretapping. Please keep turning up the heat on your fellow Democrats and standing up for our rights.
-Chris
There comes a time to make a stand. If you can't protect the Constitution, how can you protect the country? You certainly have my support: go get 'em!
Thank you Senator Dodd. Please do not back down. The post at the beginning speaks so profoundly for so many of us...
"I'm sure I'm not the first, or even in the first thousand, to say such a thing, and I urge you with all the desperate force of half a decade's frustrated hope and effort: if you mean what you said today, sir, stand by it for the sake of all of us, and I believe you'll find that there are many, and many more standing with you..."
Dear Senator Dodd,
For the past 6 years I have had a bumper sticker on my car that says "Ignore your rights and they will go away." I have lost count of just how many rights we have lost during the current administration. This has been aided by the Congress - both Republicans and Democrats who are elected by us to serve and protect our rights.
I fully support you in your endeavor to not only protect each American citizen's right to privacy, but to hold those who take such rights away from us accountable. This is the real war and you are a true hero.
Sen. Dodd,
I grew up in New Haven, always surrounded by reminders this nation's founders, what they stood for and their "work product" in the form of the Revolution, the Declaration and Constitution. Needless to say, these last 7 years or more have proven most depressing, nay, revolting. The single worst thing of this period has been watching rich and powerful people, allegedly fervidly patriotic, sell out this nation and it's future in service of some pompous windbags whose cumulative wisdom wouldn't fill a thimble with spit.
So it is with a great sense of relief that a fellow Nutmegger has taken a stand (finally!) in defense of that which made this country great over the last two-plus centuries. I'm wondering why the other New England Senators aren't also manning the barricades! Have they forgotten from whence we all came? Are they so cheap as to be bought so easily by people who have nothing but disdain for what makes this counry work in the first place?!
So thank you for doing what most are simply too cowardly to even ponder, much less act upon. Not only are you now on my presidential "radar," I'll be contributing to your campaign. My first (and perhaps only) contribution of this election cycle.
Whatever happens with that, you have certainly earned my respect, gratitude and support.
Many people like myself know that in a just world that George Bush would be impeached for his illegal spying and bypassing the FISA process. Although the Democratic leadership doesn't seem capable of understanding this fundamental Constitutional principle, I appreciate that at least one Democrat understands that the crimes of Bush can NOT be codified into law or taken as an acceptable compromise in a real democracy committed to real freedoms. If telecom companies are also beyond the law then I don't know what corporation can't soon also be immunized from even more horrific crimes that we, as ordinary citizens would NEVER be allowed to commit without punishment. Why not just give Blackwater a free pass, too, regardless of what innocents they've killed?
I frankly don't understand why so many Democrats cave under a preceived "pressure" when something so fundamental as basic rights is at stake. In the days ahead I hope you'll remember that no pressure should be as great as the one you feel to uphold the oath you took to protect the Constitution from enemeies foreign and domestic. It's the domestic ones that will be most insidious in the next few weeks. They may be clueless or may be disingenuous but they MUST be resisted.
Best news in a long time. Go Dodd. This FISA issue is very important.
You may have a new supporter.
Sincerly
KB
You the man, Chris. Stop this power hungry president.
Senator Dodd,
I live in Connecticut, but let me make it clear that you do not represent me or my views. You may agree or disagree with the appropriate scope of warrantless wiretaps, but it is evident that you don't have the will to challenge the substance of the program. If you believe the President's conduct was illegal, then challenge the President -- indeed, call for his impeachment if you wish -- but don't go after businesses that responded to government requests in what, they no doubt, believed to be in the interests of national security. Putting business persons in the position of having to decide whether or not a directive by the Federal Government is lawful only serves to increase costs for business, making our nation less competitive.
Grandstanding does nothing to preserve our national security or our civil rights.
James L. Burns
Stratford, CT
I support you Chris in putting a hold on the FISA legislation!!!!! Please do not let allow President Bush to get away with this crime nor allow the telecommunications company retroactive immunity.
America's first president, George Washington, warned of the destruction of our
nation's Constitution should America employ standing armies, for said standing
armies provided the means for the rise of an American Imperial Presidency.
The most valuable information Ret. Lt. Col. Kwiatkowski imparts in her article
comes from Laurence Gonzales' book Deep Survival. Re-read every word she has
written about his findings on who survives and why...she provides a blueprint
for implementing the massive paradigm shift required for not just our
individual futures but THE CONTINUED SURVIVAL OF AMERICA ITSELF.
Senator Dodd,
Stick to your guns on this! It seems your Democratic colleagues have developed, to paraphrase the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "... the backbone of a chocolate eclair!" The Democrats cannot continue to give ground on the vital issues of the American people and retain relevance as a Party. If CEOs decided, without legal grounds, to support the Bush Administration's assault on the United States Constitution they should be as exposed to prosecution as any American Citizen who breaks the Law. The CEO of QWEST denied access to the Bush Administration on legal concerns, so there is already a precedent set for disobeying the Administration's request in this matter. If we reach a point in America where citizens feel they can pick and choose the laws they obey we are on the fastrack to anarchy. Please Senator, hold your ground on this and don't allow retroactive immunity be granted to Corporate Fatcats ... despite the current thought process in Washington, that would be UnAmerican.
Thank you for your efforts, Senator Dodd, on behalf of the American people.
Sincerely,
FogBelter
About time!
Thanks from abroad (Italy): what happens in the US is meaningful for the whole world. I'm following this debate with great interest and I really hope that we all manage to increase public awareness about the importance of the role played by telecommunications in a modern democracy.
Thank you for your courage. Sometimes I wonder if anyone up there thinks about us like it's one big bridge game and we're the dummy.
CHRIS DODD ♥ US CONSTITUTION
.
Thank you for taking a stand! I am so thrilled to see a Presidential Candidate who is willing to stand firmly on our Constitutional rights. This is an issue that affects us all and not some silly non issue like who wears a flag pin and who doesn't. I will be sharing with my friends, family and any one who will listen that you are taking a stand for our rights. Please stand firm. I was unsure who I would vote for in the primaries, but your stance has helped me to make my mind up. Keep fighting for us!
Your stand on the Bush FISA issue is a significant step to restore the Constitution of the United States. Thank you!!
DB
While Senator Dodd has not been my first choice as Democratic candidate for President, but I am willing to reconsider in light of this action!! I want to congratulate Sen. Dodd for standing up and doing what is right. I just made a contribution to his campaign from over at Actblue. Keep up the good work!!!
Sen. Dodd:
I have been looking for a candidate to demonstrate that s/he is willing to take a principled stand on these civil liberty issues. I was pleasantly surprised to see that a Senator had done so, and I thank you for your service to our nation. If you continue on this path, you will have certainly earned my vote.
Sen. Dodd.
Thank you for your opposition to this travesty of a bill. Please continue to do everything in your power to stop it. Our constitutional rights must be constantly defended or they will be lost forever. We stand with you.
Sincerely,
Rick Lavin
Carrollton, TX
I support you. Please keep up your good work.
Dear Senator Dodd
Thank you for having the backbone to oppose this assult on our freedom. The fear and power mongers who currently hold office (that I shamefully voted for) are turning our country into a police state. Further more very few of our elected representives either Democrat or Republican have had the guts to do their job, protecting and upholding the constitution of The United States. Keep doing the good work you were elected to do.
Thank you for doing your part to protect America.
Mr. Dobbs,thank you for standing up to Bush and the rest of his school yard bullies. This man is completely out of his mind and has to be stopped. He stands for everything that the American people do NOT. He has totally destroyed this country and our values. You elected people in DC must fight this nut tooth and nail. You can NOT give in on anything he wants, they look at that as weakness. And tell the world that we are weak. It has to stop.
Thank You
Senator Dodd:
Thank you for putting a hold on the renewal of FISA. It is imperative that Congress assert their power and assure that our democracy is continued.
The folks in the Executive Branch right now are not to be trusted.
Please keep up the good work.
Senator Dodd,
Stand you ground on this. The caving to bush in FISA must stop. I am backing up my sympathies by donating to your campaign.
My vote is yours.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for putting our Constitution above party politics and power grabs. Please keep up your efforts in opposing the government's surveillance without FISA oversight. You are a true American!
I support your position on this issue. We must restore our civil liberties back to the people and have Congress uphold it's oversight role it has been given in the Constitution.
Thank you Senator Dodd.
I am with you 100% on this issue, Senator! You have earned my respect and admiration. Please fight this with everything you have. It's so incredibly important.
This is the kind of LEADERSHIP we need and should be getting from the Democratic Party! Thanks Senator Dodd! I appreciate your integrity! Devon, Ft. Worth, TX
Thank you Senator Dodd.
As we [should have] learned at Nuremburg, "I was just following orders" is no excuse for breaking the law. Those who colluded with the crime must be held accountable or there will be no incentive for not doing so again.
Thank you Senator Dodd!
Thank you, Senator, for standing up to the madness that has overtaken so many in Congress. I cringe when I think of those who've courageously given their fullest measures to protect our freedoms while so many in the White House, Congress and the courts surrender them willingly out of fear. Every capitulation to fear is a victory for those who would do us harm; every refusal is a victory for America.
Hero.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for doing the right thing. More Democrats should stand up for what is right.
Please help restore my faith in the rule of law and prevent these crimes from going on without resistence.
I have been a loyal democrat since the day I was born and I have been looking for someone to stand up to this administration since they unbelievably won the last 2 election cycles. Finally I have found someone in you Mr. Chris Dodd. The stance you took the other day on the FISA bill has renewed my faith in my party for standing up for what is our civil liberties and freedoms that our past generations fought for, you have won my support and vote for the 2008 election if you continue to fight this incompetent and abusive administration. Thank you again for doing what is right.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for taking a stand and placing a hold on the insane FISA legislation. This administration has committed so many crimes against the citizens of this country and, finally someone is taking a stand. I strongly support you in this action.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for doing the right thing. I appreciate your integrity! Please fight this with everything you have.
Thank you Senator Dodd!!
Keep up the good work in stopping the efforts to undermine our Constitution.