Pull The FISA Spy Bill…..Act Now. July 8, 2008 : High Noon In The Senate

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activities/93

Call Senator Reid right now and demand he pull the FISA "compromise" bill which will lead to retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies who spied on Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Washington DC: 202-224-3542

If the DC number is busy – Try reaching his district offices

Reno Office: 775-686-5750
Vegas Office: 702-388-5020

Suggested script:

"I’m calling to ask Senator Reid to use his power as Senate Majority Leader to pull from the floor the FISA "compromise" bill which will ultimately grant retroactive immunity to telecommunication companies who spied on Americans."

Today may be out last chance to stop senators from voting to pass the so-called FISA "compromise" bill.

Last week, thousands of us called our own senators. Thousands more DFA members personally delivered our message to senators at their district offices. And tomorrow every senator will receive DFA petition signatures from members in their district demanding they stand up to President Bush and vote against the "compromise."

Yet there is still one person who can stop this bill today: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

This is it. We have gone all out and stopped President Bush from getting his way and letting AT&T and Verizon of the hook four times.

It is up to us to stop it again.

Thank you for taking action. Thank you for everything you do.

Daniel Ellsberg & Tim Ferriss: ACTION on What Every American Needs to Know & Do About FISA Before the Vote July 8th

Tim Ferris : http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/07/07/what-every-american-needs-to-know-and-do-about-fisa-before-tuesday/

Bush: Telecom Immunity More Important Than Surveillance Powers

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/07/bush-telecom-immunity-more-important-then-surveill

Today the Bush Administration released a letter threatening to veto the upcoming FISA legislation if it included the Bingaman Amendment, which puts both telecom immunity and the court cases on hold until after the Inspector General reports about the warrantless wiretapping program. If given the choice between new surveillance powers without immunity for telcos on the one hand, or surveillance under the existing law on the other, the Bush Administration said its choice was clear: keep with the existing law.

Even though the White House "strongly support[s]" the FISA bill, and contends it is necessary to provide "our intelligence professionals the tools they need to keep our Nation safe," and urges the Senate "to act as soon as it returns from its recess," the Bush Administration is willing to veto the legislation and forgo these tools unless the telecom immunity is given effect immediately.

Assuming that the President would not put the financial interests of large corporations ahead of the safety of the American people, today's veto threat puts the lie to the dire warnings put forth by the Bush Administration. Alternatively, if the government is being honest about the need for immediate legislation, today's veto threat shows a callous indifference to that purported danger, favoring special interests over security.

Ted Kennedy floor statement back in December:

After the Fourth of July holiday, the Senate will vote on the FISA Amendments Act (FAA), a bill that would betray the spirit of 1776 by radically expanding the president’s spying powers and granting immunity to the companies that colluded in his illegal program. Now that the House has passed the FAA, the Senate is the last front left in the battle against immunity, and every vote -- from cloture, to the amendments, to final passage -- counts.

Therefore EFF urges all patriots to celebrate the Fourth of July this year by demanding that their senators uphold the rule of law and stand up for civil liberties, by voting against the FAA and for the amendments to the bill that would eliminate or weaken its telecom immunity provisions.

There Is Real Danger In The FISA Vote For Obama
By Ed. Dickau(Ed. Dickau)
(Ed.) Netroots activists who helped Barack Obama to become the Democratic party's presumptive presidential nominee are unmoved by the senator's explanation of his change of heart on a pending bill regarding warrantless wiretapping. ...
The Impeachment Hearing Room - http://theimpeachmenthearingroom.blogspot.com/

http://theimpeachmenthearingroom.blogspot.com/2008/07/action-alert-reminder-fisa-vote-act-now.html

Last week, Blue America launched a call tool to help you get in touch with Senators regarding the FISA bill. We'd like you to put it to some serious use today.

We are asking Senators to vote IN FAVOR of the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy Amendment (S.A. 5064 to H.R. 6304). We're asking for a NO vote on cloture, and a NO vote on the final bill as well.

We also launched a tool last week to help you track activity and elected official public appearances in your area.

The hope is that it has helped and will continue to help you organize action in your neighborhood and to connect with other folks who want to do the same. If you were active over the weekend -- with signs, meetings, and what not -- and have pictures or video to share, please send them along. We'd love to see and share some action from all of you!

A few months back, SF Gate cartoonist Mark Fiore introduced his character Snuggly, the Security Bear, with a brilliant take on telecom immunity. Now, Snuggly is back, and he has a few words to say about "compromise." http://www.markfiore.com/spies_who_love_you_0

Sen. Russ Feingold has a fact sheet about the current FISA bill that contains useful information on the various problems with the bill.

ACLU Tool Link

Additional Readings:

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/07/new-decision-immunity-myths

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/07/03/al_haramain/index.html#postid-updateE3

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/07/05/monarchy/index.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/5/142117/9908/132/547016

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/06/fisa-and-wmds.html

http://www.alternet.org/rights/

NSA Spying

http://www.buildupthatwall.com/writings.html

Obama: I'll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA

Posted by David S Morgan

He Would Be Well Advised To Do So!