A little over a week ago we learned that Senator Specter reached a “compromise”
with the administration that would make legal the illegal NSA warrentless wiretapping
program and grant the executive sweeping new powers. As Atrios
writes, this bill represents an extreme threat to our nation and is an obvious
attempt to destroy its foundation. This bill must die. If you need a refresher
on just what is wrong with Specter’s bill, Glenn
Greenwald would be happy to get you up to speed. As I think I noted, this
is exactly the sort of bill that ought to get people contacting their senators
and representatives to voice opposition. Not surprisingly, Christy
from Firedoglake has produced a list of contact information for the senate
judiciary committee and is asking people to contact both of their senators regardless
of Committee assignment. Those of us who live is states represented by a member
of the Judiciary committee should really get to work as the first hearing is
scheduled for Wednesday. Read what Christy writes and then consider taking part.
If you have a blog, consider helping to spread the word. I don’t generally have
too much faith in this sort of effort, but it’s better than doing nothing, so
go ahead and make the call. You can call the Capitol switchboard toll free at
888-355-3588. Most senators have contact information on their webpages. Here’s
a list of Judiciary Committee members with fax numbers.
Arlen Specter, Chairman – Pennsylvania – Fax (202) 228-1229
Orrin G. Hatch – Utah – Fax (202) 224-6331
Patrick J. Leahy – Vermont – Fax (202) 224-3479
Charles E. Grassley – Iowa – Fax (515) 288-5097
Edward M. Kennedy – Massachusetts – Fax (202) 224-2417
Jon Kyl – Arizona – Fax (202) 224-2207
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. – Delaware – Fax (202) 224-0139
Mike DeWine – Ohio – Fax (202) 224-6519
Herbert Kohl – Wisconsin – Fax (202) 224-9787
Jeff Sessions – Alabama – Fax (202) 224-3149
Dianne Feinstein – California – Fax (202) 228-3954
Lindsey Graham – South Carolina – Fax (864) 250-4322
Russell D. Feingold – Wisconsin – Fax (202) 224-2725
John Cornyn – Texas – Fax (972) 239-2110
Charles E. Schumer – New York – Fax (202) 228-3027
Sam Brownback – Kansas – Fax (202) 228-1265
Richard J. Durbin – Illinois – Fax (202) 228-0400
Tom Coburn – Oklahoma – Fax (202) 224-6008
make those calls. Please.
Done. The phone number is 1-888-355-3588 for the Capitol switchboard. Just ask to be put through to your Senator’s office. When you do get through be respectful but make sure that you disapprove of Senator Spector’s bill which would essentially gut FISA and give Bush a free pass on all domestic surveillance without any significant oversight from Congress or the Judiciary.
Btw, I called Senator Schumer’s office (being as he’s both on the Judiciary Committee and my Senator) and his staffer said Schumer is “concerned” about the bill. I told them he should be a helluva lot more than just concerned and that in my view the bill was unconstitutional in what it would allow Bush to do.
I just spent 10 minutes arguing with the staffer at Specter’s office (202-224-4254 for anyone who feels like calling), who kept trying to tell me that I was suggesting that the judiciary shouldn’t have any role in overseeing wiretapping. Despite my repeated insistence that transferring these cases to a supersecret FISA court wasn’t going to do a thing to hold the administration to account for their illegal behavior, which is what really need to be done…and at one point he even bragged about how Abu Gonzalez was sworn in at last weeks hearing.
It is the first time I have ever raised my voice to a staffer on the phone. What a putz.
CSPAN aired the ABA Q&A about their panel’s findings on the Presidential Signing Statements today. If you need incentive for that call to your senator on the warrantless wiretapping, take a break and watch the re-run.