Tornado Alley (PROG)

[StephanieVanbryce]

EDIT - Keep those calls and e-mails flowing!

Maybe we have a CHANCE ..! read this & follow up post - please ..I am really going now . ... lol ..

Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 06:17:29 PM PST

Here's Reid's official statement on the need for more time on deciding on telco amnesty:
http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=289303&

"The Senate is committed to improving our nation’s intelligence laws to fight terrorism while protecting Americans’ civil liberties. We need to take the time necessary to debate a bill that does just that, rather than rushing one through the legislative process. While we had hoped to complete the FISA bill this week, it is clear that is not possible. With more than a dozen amendments to this complex and controversial bill, this legislation deserves time for thorough discussion on the floor.

"We will consider this bill when we return in January. In the meantime, I again encourage the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to make available to all Senators the relevant documents on retroactive immunity, so that each may reach an informed decision on how to proceed on this provision. I oppose retroactive immunity, but believe every Senator must have access to the information to make this important decision."

From what I've heard from Senate offices, the volume of constituent calls on this issue was huge. Reid referenced that himself when he announced on the floor that consideration of the bill would be postponed:

"So, this is an issue that the American people are focused on. I've gotten in the last week or so, thousands of inquires from all around the country. This is an issue they understand, they don't like."

We don't like it, and kudos to all of you who made that clear to Senator Reid and to your own Senators. It made a difference. So keep in touch with them over the next few weeks, and make sure they know that the issue is going to be just as critical to us in January as it was today.

And while you're at it, a few thanks yous are in order. Kudos to the Senators, including Boxer, Kennedy, Wyden, Brown, Feingold and Bill Nelson for engaging with Dodd on the floor on this issue, showing their willingness to stand with him and help in the filibuster, and to Reid for listening to us.

But most importantly, thank you Senator Dodd.

Update: Some stats, courtesy Dodd's whip count crew:
http://chrisdodd.com/blog/some-stats-fisa-activism

11,300+ people emailed the Senators (16,000 people visited the page, a 75% follow through rate)...

506,000+ emails were sent to the Senate...

5,700+ comments were submitted through the website (350+ were posted on Twitter) in 7 hours...

135+ people joined the Facebook group since 11am...

340 people reported the phone calls they made to the Senate...

That's just from Dodd's action page, and doesn't count everyone who called or e-mailed on their own.


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/17/211634/20/514/423569