I think one of the things we've come to learn over the course of the past several years is that we have a disproportionate amount of influence in primary elections.
You know the races as well as I do: Ned Lamont, Donna Edwards, Jon Tester, Jim Webb ... Barack Obama, even.
That's why the votes happening this week in Puerto Rico at SEIU's Convention just might be even more important than the one that went down here yesterday. As you read, SEIU members from around the world have come together in San Juan under the theme "Justice for All." A HUGE part of the platform is something called "The Accountability Project."
So ... you might have heard there's a vote in Puerto Rico this weekend.
In fact, there was a pretty important vote for working families that happened earlier today. The result was overwhelming.
The Strategic Unity plan outlines SEIU's goal to organize 350,000 new health care workers over the next four years. But that's just one piece of what's happening in Puerto Rico -- here's a bit more about SEIU and the candidate you were thinking of when you read the title of this diary.
While I originally posted this at Open Left, I felt it deserved a mention here as well.
The enthusiasm you brought to the Dodd campaign, and the Senator himself, in those contentious October and December days was something special to all of us.
Can't wait to do it again ... Lord knows we'll have plenty of chances with this caucus.
I'll use this diary to post updates as I get them over the course of the effort to top stop FISA today. I'll use the above the fold portion to highlight the most recent update(s), and then archive others in the extended entry. -- Tim
Latest Update 11:24 AM I understand that Hillary Clinton will NOT make it back for any votes on FISA, or support of Chris Dodd's filibuster.
Also, Rockefeller indicates that the vote on the Leahy Amendment (Judic.) will be happening at around 2 PM. Update reflected below.
Update - 11:32 AM MoveOn goes out to their list asking Clinton and Obama to return and participate in a filibuster.
Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both said they oppose this immunity bill, but now is a time we need real leadership. Senators Obama and Clinton have enormous influence with Democrats right now-if they helped lead a filibuster against this bill, other Senators would take notice and the public would see Democrats showing principle and backbone.
Can you call Senator Barack Obama today? Tell him we need his leadership to help block immunity for phone companies that helped Bush break the law. Here's the number to call:
Lest there was any doubt that threats from anonymous aides in Roll Call Magazine would discourage Chris Dodd from filibustering a bad FISA bill, you can put those to rest. His Senate office just sent this release moments ago.
"Few things are more detrimental to this country than the erosion of and attack on the civil liberties we enjoy. This isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue; this is an American issue. If after debate, the Senate appears ready to pass legislation granting telecom providers retroactive immunity I will use any and all legislative tools at my disposal, including a filibuster, to prevent this deeply flawed bill from becoming law. More and more, Americans are rejecting the false choice that has come to define this administration: security or liberty, but never, ever both. For all those who have stood with me throughout this fight, I pledge, once more, to stand up for you."
Update [2008-1-4 4:11:44 by ttagaris]: Just got back to the hotel. Well ... it didn't go the way we wanted it to this evening, but Chris Dodd ran a campaign we can all be proud of. When Matt & I spoke with the Senator tonight, he was in good spirits and seemed enthusiastic to return to the Senate and continue the fights he has led throughout the campaign: ending the war, restoring the Constitution, and working towards a corporate carbon tax. You all have given him a tremendous amount of strength.
On another note, a heartfelt congratulations to the Obama campaign for their impressive victory. There are a number of great candidates left, and we're well on our way to making sure one of them replaces George Bush in the White House.
Thank you, everyone, for all of your support throughout the campaign. You can be sure you haven't heard the end from Chris Dodd. -- Tim
I remember the first time I met Chris Dodd. It was during the Lamont campaign right after he filmed a commercial for Ned in the closing weeks of the general election.
Until then, my feelings about Connecticut's Democratic Senator were probably about the same as many of yours: "who is Chris Dodd?"
Relevant note: I am proud to serve as Chris Dodd's internet director
UPDATE! 7:30 P.M: Senator Reid is going to pull the bill, actually, looks like he is in the process of doing it right now. This was a team victory. Senator Dodd's leadership and grassroots support. Will have more shortly. (/update)
With your indulgence, I'll use this space to keep you updated on Senator Dodd's efforts to stop any FISA bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that helped the Bush Administration spy on America citizens.
I'll place updates throughout the day in the extended entry. Until then, here are potential avenues for meaningful participation.
1.) Contact your Senators and ask them to vote NO on any bill that includes retroactive immunity (LINK)
2.) Send a note to stand with Dodd as he prepares to stand and filibuster in the Senate (LINK)
3.) Use the contact tool to ask Senators to ask Senator Dodd questions during a potential filibuster (LINK)
Relevant Note: I am proud to serve as Chris Dodd's Internet Director
Well, the moment of truth appears to be quickly creeping upon us.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has made it clear earlier today that he intends to disregard Senator Dodd's hold on FISA. And because he chose the path of least resistance for it's passage, it appears we'll see a filibuster next week.
Chris Dodd will lead that effort, but he can't speak forever and will need to lateral the ball at some point if we are going to sustain a filibuster for more than 8 hours or so.
You may, at this point, recall all the breathless press releases from candidates saying they would "support a filibuster." I didn't exactly know what that meant at the time, but it sure was celebrated. The intent to most was rather clear, they would filibuster with Dodd if necessary.
You remember Paul Hackett's Special Election in 2005?
I sure remember sitting in the Cincinnati war room on election night, thinking back on the two weeks prior as the blogs and DFA funneled nearly $550,000 into his campaign coffers.
We came up just short that evening (after leading most of the night), but comparing this year's Ohio Special Election with that one shows us just how far we have come as a party, and the importance of the 50 State Strategy.
Relevant disclaim: I am Chris Dodd's Internet Director
Well, we scored a nice little victory today, didn't we?
Make no mistake about it, if it wasn't for our efforts, together, retroactive immunity would be well on its way to sailing through the Senate ... largely unnoticed. But this is only one victory in a larger battle, in an even larger fight. In a sense, our work has just begun anew.
Because information is just coming out fast and furious, it's important to note two things as the debate moves to the full Senate.
1.) Chris Dodd's hold / pledge to hold any bill that contains retroactive immunity remains operative as long as today's bill that passed Judiciary is only "most likely" going to be reported to the full Senate.
2.) Unlike Mukasey, those who would erode the Constitution will need SIXTY votes to pass any amendment that includes retroactive immunity, or any substitute that is immunity by another name.
Welcome ... from Philadelphia ... on site at tonight's Democratic Primary debate. We've got a lot of cool features at our online debate "war room," and we wanted to invite you inside tonight for a unique perspective into tonight's action.
Or, you can stay right here and follow the debate in the Daily Kos formatted version of the room. Open the door and enter in through the extended entry.
Famed WMD hunter Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) took the time Tuesday to "demand!" Chris Dodd's campaign return contributions received since last week.
You can imagine only the most sincere incredulity coming from the man who posted a "basic guide to building an atmoic bomb" on a Congressional website, paid for with your tax dollars. And as Hoekstra currently bangs the drums of war against Iran, the IAEA feared Hoekstra's folly could "help states like Iran develop nuclear arms." Amazing.
Additionally, a White House spokesman accused us of using the telecom companies that helped spy on Americans as "political props."
Hey everyone. As you can imagine, it's been an exciting few days over the Dodd campaign HQ. The overwhelming amount of support the Senator has received in the past week rivals anything I saw while working on Paul Hackett's race and even the Lamont campaign.
Of course, it's been building for months now. And as wmtraillawyer noted in a top recommended diary yesterday, it's "So Much More Than Telecom Immunity."
But that's the battle we face today, and Firedoglake is hosting the Senator at 11:30 Eastern to talk about FISA, restoring the Constitution, and his hold on any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. You can leave your questions in the comments below, or at the Firedoglake thread and we'll do our best to have the Senator get to as many as possible.
There seems to be a little bit of confusion about what, exactly, Levin Reed actually would have accomplished. The short answer is ... nothing.
That's why Senator Dodd voted against the legislation earlier this morning.
Despite pledges about only casting votes to end the war, Chris Dodd was the only Presidential candidate to stick to his guns in the Senate this morning. Here's his statement:
"This bill (Levin-Reed) will not stop this President from continuing to wage this war. While a firm deadline is necessary, it is not sufficient without it also being enforceable through the power of the purse. Given this President's loyalty to his own failed policy, it is clear to me that anything short of firm, enforceable deadline that forces his hand will only serve to perpetuate our involvement in this civil war. I will only vote to fully fund the complete redeployment of our troops out of Iraq." -- Chris Dodd
As most of you know by now, Senator Dodd voted for the Boxer amendment and stuck around to cast his vote against the abhorrent Cornyn amendment that took place only minutes later.
He released the following statement moments ago:
"It is a sad day in the Senate when we spend hours debating an ad while our young people are dying in Iraq. Now that the Senate has twice voted on this ad, it is time to move on and vote to end the war." - Chris Dodd
He also thought it would be a good idea for people to email their Senators and ask them to spend more time voting to end the war than condemning an advertisement. You can easily do that here:
Finally, this has been a rough 48 hours for progressives. First we saw the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act go down, then we actually LOST a vote on the Webb amendment, and Feingold-Reid and Levin-Reed will happen today or tomorrow.
Know that Senator Dodd has led the fight in the Senate to end the war and make sure President Bush doesn't get yet another blank check from Congress.
So ... this is an email the campaign just sent out to our entire list of supporters. We're not asking you to pick our campaign theme song, we're asking you to help prevent bad legislation on Iraq from seeing the light of day in the Senate.
If you have your own blog, please encourage your readers to contact their Senators on the reported "compromise bill."
It's also important to note, there is a solid alternative that ALL Democratic (and Republican) Senators should be rallying behind during the upcoming Defense Department Authorization bill. More information on that below the fold.
As I'm sure you've already, Chris Dodd earned the race-changing endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters earlier this week. Wednesday's announcement started a week long roll-out tour that included Iowa, New Hampshire and events today in Las Vegas.
A lot of people note that the Senator is talking about very important issues and deserves more attention. From restoring the Constitution, to leading the fight against blank-check supplemental bills in Iraq, to proposing a corporate carbon tax.
You're right. He does deserve more attention, and we're going to take every opportunity to bypass the traditional media filter and bring him directly to you.
You can watch the Las Vegas portion of the IAFF endorsement tour right now, live, in this diary. Take a listen to what the Senator has to say and how he earned the endorsement of the of the most important unions in the nation.
As of this second, the clip you're about to hear may very well be the talk of the Yearly Kos Convention. Matt Browner-Hamlin and I just got done presenting on a panel where we debuted the clip and it was met with thunderous applause.
Apparently the video will air tonight on "The Factor," and we'll have it up at chrisdodd.com the second it runs. Until then, here's what you'll see tonight ... in audio format.
Please visit Chrisdodd.com to hear the clip and stand with Senator Dodd against unfair attacks on the netroots. Then be sure to come back and post a comment.
Tim
Note: I am tremendously proud to work for Senator Chris Dodd.
