Go to the ACLU website and help them save the freedoms our Dems sold out.

[madfloridian]

This is posted in GD forum, but needs large attention.

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/spying/

From the email:

"Democratic “leaders” have crossed the line and betrayed the will of the majority who put them in power in 2006. This week, a timid Congress caved in to President Bush and his demand for more out-of-control authority to spy on Americans.

The FISA gutting legislation voted on last weekend allows for massive, untargeted collection of Americans’ international communications without court order. The law allows for no meaningful oversight by either Congress or the courts and leaves decisions about the collection, mining and use of American information up to the Bush Administration’s Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales. Tell Congress you believe in the Constitution and demand that it fix this legislation.

In short, instead of putting the brakes on the Bush Administration’s continued and reckless abuse of power, Congress handed them more power to invade our privacy and ignore our Constitutional rights.

And it never had to happen if leaders in the House and Senate had had the courage to take a stand and say “no more” to the Bush administration.

We need you to stand with us and tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that we’re sick and tired of Congress failing to defend freedom.

The ACLU is launching a major new campaign to hold Congress accountable. But we can't do it without you. Stand with us today as we send Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi a wake up call.
Tell Reid and Pelosi: “We Won’t Let Congress Fail Freedom” by signing the petition.

https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Dont_Fail_Freedom_petition

Congress can only redeem itself by taking immediate action on four key demands:

End unchecked surveillance and warrantless spying on Americans.
Restore habeas corpus and due process.
Shut down Guantánamo Bay and give those held there access to justice.
Stop torture and secret “renditions” to countries that torture.
Democrats were elected to stop a President that is out of control - not grease the wheels for further abuse. In the weeks ahead, the ACLU will mobilize activists across the country, run newspaper ads in the districts of members who sold out the Constitution, and bury Capitol Hill in a sea of petitions protesting Congress’ utter failure to stand up for the rule of law. If Members of Congress only respond to political pressure, then that’s what we’ll give them. Are you with us? Sign the petition.

This Congress has proven to be as spineless in standing up to the Bush Administration as the one that enacted the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act. That’s why it is so important that you immediately sign our “Don’t Let Congress Fail Freedom” petition right now.

Only a huge public outcry can convince a Congress that is afraid of its own shadow to stand up to the President on our four pressing demands. Please act right now."


Since our Democrats are not explaining themselves to us, then I will donate to the ACLU again to help them move ahead for us.

[demobob12]

1. r

thanks will do

[Vincardog]

2. Done

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. K & R

I'm glad to see that SOMEONE thinks our Constitutional freedoms are worth fighting for.

[Faux pas]

4. Thanks! I wrote to the aclu a few months back asking if we the

people could file some sort of class action suit against bush, et al. They wrote back and said that wasn't the kind of work they do. This'll do though. First R.

[Cameron27]

5. Done

*got it in my email*

[On the Road]

6. My Comments:

Dear Senators Reid and Pelosi --

What in the hell are you thinking on the FISA bill? It is not only blantantly unconstitutional, it allows the Attorney general way too much leeway in deciding who to spy on. You have ample evidence of Justice's abuse of its traditional power without adding new ones.

Are you not concerned that some of this surveillance is politically motivated and directed at Democrats?

Please, please overturn this as soon as possible. Preferably before the six-month expiration. Please do not give a Republican judge the chance to bless this provision and make it common practice.

[Tesha]

13. They can't overturn it now.

They can't overturn it now; that would require
passing legislation and the Republicans would
simply filibuster it.

They had their chance to win by defeating this
legislation in the first place; they blew it.
And when it sunsets in six months, watch them
vote it right back in again lest they be called
"soft on terra".

Tesha

[On the Road]

19. Right. But it Has to be Renewed in Six Months

I think Congress might renew it as well. That is the point of the comments.

[peace frog]

7. Hell yes, I signed

and passed it along to others.

Enjoy your summer recess, cowards. We'll be ready and waiting for you when you return.

[AtomicKitten]

8. done

thanks

[madfloridian]

9. How many Dems have been on TV today standing up for our rights?

I have not watched anything but HDNews. I really don't know.

I know I talked to a congressman's office just now...making several calls a day. I said did they sell out because of fear? Dead silence.

SO...which Dems were on TV speaking out?

I am very thankful for the ACLU right now, and I don't blame them for being angry with the Democrats.

[KoKo]

16. I've checked in from time to time....Same old "Iran killing troops" on CNN and MSNBC

doing the Hillary Crowning with Obama coming in second.

There's always CNBC where the Market Whores are pumping BUSH'S GREAT GLOBAL ECONOMY...and frankly I find watching CNBC more FUN than checking our two CABLE ALL NEWS CHANNELS.

It is what it is. Our Democrats cut out of town after they gave the last "key" to Bush. They will be there with him when he leaves.

OOPS...forgot... Leahy has given Justice Department a FINAL DEADLINE to tell him just WHAT the NSA has been doing SPYING ON AMERICANS since 2001. He extended the Deadline again but this is the FINAL ONE. He want's all the e-mails and documents delivered by AUGUST 20th! He sounded very angry in his letter.

Leahy's link to letter and statement is up on TPMuckraker Site...if you want to read it. I didn't even want to pass it on here...I'm so disgusted. DO THEY THINK WE ARE IDIOTS? Congress isn't even in SESSION on August 20th...but Leahy is DEMANDING THIS FINAL DEADLINE.

It's gotten to be a joke...like watching some Banana Republic Regime with "enablers" trying to pretend they are LIONS when they are MICE....

[madfloridian]

10. Just talked to a FL Blue Dog Dems office...

Got nowhere, just as I did at the previous call. They are NOT talking.

They think they don't have to answer to us at all.

This office denied it was Blue Dogs...I said 30 of 41 were. I said there is proof they had meetings with McConnell and Bush to talk deals.

They do NOT care.

If this were the right wing, there would not be so many numbers not busy. I have not had to wait on any calls I made.

[madfloridian]

11. Allen Boyd's office said it took courage to vote against your party.

I kept my cool, but I asked how much courage to stand up to Bush and Gonzales? No answer.

[inna]

12. ACLU Rocks!

thank god for the ACLU.

this really makes me want to become a civil liberties lawyer.

[Poll_Blind]

14. The ACLU gives the best return on donated money of any organization...

...I know of. They don't always pick fights that I like, but they pick fights that ultimately keep the Constitution strong.

  And that's a hell of a return.

PB

[MNWild]

15. Done. My comments were as follows:

You both had unlimited discretion in whether and in what form to bring this legislation to the floor. You decided that the best thing to do would be to give Alberto Gonzales sweeping new powers to surveil and eavesdrop on whom so ever he please? What a horrible thing to do! If you don't have the courage and good sense to protect and defend our Constitution, then you should step aside for the good of the Party and the Country.

[slipslidingaway]

17. Thanks K&R, signed and will donate. n/t

[K in FL]

18. Mr. Bush, now that you can listen to me on my phone, listen...

GET OUT OF MY FREE COUNTRY!!!!