Dear Mike,

Senators Dodd and Feingold are standing up against telecom immunity.

Over the past 72 hours you've made over 13,000 (!) phone calls urging your Senators to stand up and fight against FISA legislation which gives immunity to phone companies guilty of spying on Americans.

At this point the outcome of this legislative battle is still in doubt, but your efforts have forced our leaders to take notice. You showed that ordinary Americans will not stand idly by as their rights are trampled.

In response to your calls and e-mails, Senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin have taken to the Senate floor and the airwaves promising a filibuster and demanding others join them and show the backbone to oppose this latest Presidential power grab. In a time like this, it's important to celebrate leaders like Senators Dodd and Feingold who stand with us against all odds and are working to stop this bill.

Contribute $25 to thank Senators Dodd and Feingold:    http://www.truemajority.org/NoToFISA

We'll use your contribution to buy ads in Senator Dodd and Feingold's home states - thanking them for the leadership they've shown this week. After you contribute, we'll follow up and ask you to record a personal thank you message to the Senators to include in our radio advertisement. Any extra money raised will be used to keep up the pressure in the fight to protect our civil liberties and reverse the abuses of the past eight years.

After all, this is what accountability looks like. Holding politicians feet to the fire when they do the wrong thing, and thanking our leaders when they have the courage to stand up. Earlier this week everyone thought this compromise was unstoppable. Now, thanks to your efforts, we have a crucial ally in the United States Senate.

Thanks for supporting real leaders,

-Ilya

Ilya Sheyman
Online Organizer

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for TrueMajority.

If you haven't signed the petition yet here's your chance.  From Brave New Films:

1. Watch the video
2. Sign the petition

Joe Lieberman is a war hawk, plain and simple. He staunchly supports George Bush's War in Iraq and John McCain's plan to stay in Iraq for 100 years. But Lieberman's new alliance with the Republican Party runs even deeper. He has endorsed and stumped for McCain, wants to be the star of the Republican National Convention, and has even served on a 527 group that smeared Barack Obama with a nasty attack ad.

And yet Lieberman still holds a top rank within the Senate Democratic Caucus as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The Senate Democratic Steering Committee needs to know just how much of a conflict of interest this is. That's why we created Lieberman Must Go.

Here's what you can do: Sign our petition today and tell the Senate Democratic Steering Committee to strip Lieberman of his leadership role in Congress. Then, e-mail this video to everyone you know and spread it on sites like Digg and elsewhere.

Recently in Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall suggested that the best way to limit Lieberman is by encouraging the Steering Committee to render him powerless in 2009. Lieberman must go, and you can make that happen by donating to Brave New Films today.

Yours,
Robert Greenwald
and the Brave New Team

---
Brave New Films is supported by members like you, please consider making a donation. You can get our latest videos on email, iTunes, RSS, Facebook, and YouTube here. To stop receiving the latest videos from us, click here. We are located at 10510 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232.

I know a lot of us are focused on helping to win a true majority in the US Senate this year through campaigning, and contributions to key competitive campaigns.

The GOP considers the North Carolina Senate race between one of Bush's most loyal rubber-stampers, Elizabeth Dole and the progressive, people-oriented Kay Hagan among the top ten competitive races in the country.   We have a real shot at taking this seat to help get us a real majority in the Senate.  Today was my day for monthly contributions to Kay's campaign and other highly competitive Democratic Senate races including those of Rick Noriega of Texas, and Al Franken of Minnesota.

If you can do it today, please contribute to help elect Kay Hagen for US Senate and Retire Elizabeth Dole For Good!!  Thanks!

Associated Press
June 18, 2008

RALEIGH, N.C. — U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan is opening a new critique of incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole, questioning her energy policies as gas prices surge past $4 per gallon.

Hagan will meet with consumers Wednesday at a gas station in Raleigh, talking to motorists about the high cost of gasoline.

The Democratic state senator from Greensboro has called for the repeal of billions of dollars in tax breaks for oil companies and increasing fuel economy standards for vehicles. Hagan’s campaign criticized Dole for voting last week against a measure that would have added a windfall profits tax to oil companies.

Dole had sided with fellow Republicans who said the tax would do nothing to solve energy problems. She’s seeking a second term in office.

Back to The Newsroom

It never ceases to amaze me how the neocons in Congress continue rubber-stamping Bush's big business agenda.  We need to get riod of them for good!  I'm doing all I can to retire Elizabeth Dole and elect Kay Hagan.  In two years I'll work to get rid of Richard Burr.

Without fail the two US Senators elected by the people of North Carolina consistently vote against the people, while my Representative is constantly voting exactly the way I want, as in below (you can go to the links to see how your reps voted):

John McCain Doesn't Know How to Use a Computer

I think I have them captured on video!!

Mysterious HellNOBama, aka Democrat in New York, NY, aka "CHANGE", aka LetFreeDemRing, aka...

Apparently he/she is on a mission from the McCain, GOP or Limbaugh teams to recreate and widen the split in the Democratic party. If they are paying her/him I think it should be given back since he/she really isn't good at this.

They have been blogging hateful diatribe all morning under the user name of "CHANGE" and now they've changed to "Hell NOBama". They were are also "Democrat in New York, NY", and LetFreeDemRing from a few days ago (I saw these from the profile lookup, and when I hit "Reply" to one of their posts.

I wonder what she/he will be calling themself this afternoon. I have a few suggestions but am not crass enough to say them.  Well, right now I'm not.

I call and email Pelosi weekly to assert my views on a number of topics, mostly to stop funding Bush's Iraq debacle, and to prevent expansion of domestic spying and telecom immunity.

In case you aren't aware we are all free to contact her in her Speaker of the House position (which I hope she gets booted from) by email: Speaker Nancy Pelosi - Contact Us

Or by mail or phone:

Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

Please send your Rep a note: 

             Urgent: Say No to Senator Bond's FISA Capitulation No Compromise on Bush's illegal wiretapping. Congress must not capitulate to President Bush's lame-duck demands for warrantless wiretapping and retroactive immunity.
 

Here we go again. For over 30 years, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has dictated necessary and appropriate ways for the U.S. government to collect intelligence on its own citizens for the sake of national security. In February, the House of Representatives rejected President Bush's FISA "reform" proposals and protected our Constitution—but now the Senate is getting ready to cave in again.

Senator Kit Bond, Republican of Missouri, is now proposing a complete overhaul of FISA. He calls it a "compromise," but we call it a catastrophe. It includes unlimited warrantless wiretapping for the executive branch for the next six years—without meaningful judicial oversight—and also grants retroactive immunity to the telecom companies that are alleged to have helped the Bush Administration wiretap us without the warrants required by FISA.
 

Tell your Rep. to reject the latest FISA "compromise from the Senate."

In order to avoid this disastrous legislation, all the House has to do is stand strong on their February vote, and stick with the current version of FISA. Send a message to your Rep. today and ask him to vote for the Constitution by voting against Senator Bond's catastrophic FISA "compromise" when it comes to the House.
 

Click here to sign the petition to your representative.

After you take action, please be sure to pass word along to a few friends. We can win this fight, but only if our representatives hear from us in big numbers.

Thank you for working to build a better world.

Michael Kieschnick, President
CREDO Mobile
 

P.S.—Click here to find out more about CREDO Mobile, including our free phone and contract buyout offers.

When I signed the petition I added:

Also stop using US warships as floating prisons in international waters.  Give us back full habeas corpus, but before we get it back throw Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Rove, Gonzales, Wolfowitz, Mukasey and all the other Bush-regime war criminals in the hole and make them talk! 

"The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times."

-- Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote in today’s landmark Supreme Court decision.

You’ve been standing with us in these extraordinary times. Now, it’s time to tell America’s leaders to close Guantánamo, end indefinite detention without charge, and restore the rule of law.



 

Dear ACLU Supporter,

Finally, the Bush administration system of injustice is starting to fall apart.

In a stunning blow to the administration’s failed detention policies, the Supreme Court ruled today in Boumediene v. Bush that the U.S. Constitution applies to the government’s detention policies at Guantánamo Bay. The Court made clear that detainees held at Guantánamo have a right to challenge their detention through habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus is the freedom from being thrown in prison illegally, with no help, no end in sight and no due process. As the ACLU has said all along, no president should ever be given the sole power to call someone an enemy, wave his or her hand, and lock that person away indefinitely.

You have helped the ACLU argue for years that America can be -- and must be -- both safe and free. Now, take heart in these words from today’s remarkable Supreme Court decision, authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy:

"The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times. Liberty and security can be reconciled; and in our system they are reconciled within the framework of the law."

The ACLU stands ready to stop any effort by the Bush administration to get around this decision. Right now, we need your help to make sure this decision marks the beginning of the end of the reprehensible practices that have been carried out in the name of the American people at Guantánamo Bay, including the failed Military Commissions system.

Tell America’s leaders that it’s time to close Guantánamo, end indefinite detention without charge, and restore the rule of law. Sign the ACLU’s Close Guantánamo petition right now.

The tide is turning. Be part of history by acting now to build on the Supreme Court’s clear-cut affirmation of habeas corpus. Because, if we do, this can truly be the beginning of the end for all the lawlessness and injustice we’ve worked so hard to expose and stop.

Sign the petition: Close Guantánamo.

Thank you so much for all the hard work you’ve done and continue to do in the name of freedom. Today is truly a day for everyone who loves liberty to take heart and redouble our efforts to restore the Constitutional principles so eroded over the last eight years.

Together in freedom,

Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
ACLU

© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004

From: Congressman David Price

To: Mike ...

Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 5:14 PM

Subject: Reply from Congressman David Price

June 12, 2008

Mr. Mike ...

Raleigh, NC

Dear Mike:

Thank you for contacting me about funding for the war in Iraq. It is good to hear from you.

As you know, I have opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning, and I have introduced several legislative initiatives to end the war. I continue to believe that the best course for our nation, and for Iraq, is for the U.S. military to begin withdrawing troops. While the much-touted surge has unquestionably produced some tactical military gains, we and the Iraqis have yet to build a sustainable political and security architecture that brings us closer to our goal - a politically coherent Iraq that can manage its own security so that U.S. troops can leave.

The United States military mission in Iraq cannot be held hostage to Iraqi progress (or lack of progress) toward security or political benchmarks. We simply cannot continue to commit our overstretched personnel and resources without regard to Iraq's progress toward governing itself.

After working unsuccessfully to change the President's course for the last five years, I have concluded that Congress must no longer give President Bush a blank check to continue waging the war. Congress has already appropriated over $500 billion for the war in Iraq, and President Bush is seeking nearly $200 billion more. Without assurances that this funding will be spent on a strategy that protects our national security interests and moves us closer to our strategic goals in Iraq, I cannot in good conscience support such a staggering drain on our national treasury.

For that reason, I am opposed to the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations funding package for Iraq currently under consideration in Congress. I voted against the funding component of the package, which was defeated by the House. The Senate version of this legislation would continue funding for the war.

Many of my colleagues have signed a pledge that they will not vote for any further funding for the Iraq war that is not specifically designated to fund a withdrawal. Pledges on funding for various items are frequently circulated in Congress, and I have long made it a practice to avoid such pledges, regardless of whether I agree with them. However, my votes against the last two no-strings Iraq funding packages proposed in the House should be a clear indication of where I stand on funding President Bush's war.

I should also note that, during consideration of the funding package, the House approved a broad array of policy prescriptions designed to force President Bush to change course. These provisions would require the President to initiate a near-term withdrawal and place limits on the length and frequency of military deployments. They would also require any status of forces agreement with Iraq, such as the Administration is currently pursuing, to be ratified by Congress. Further, the provisions incorporated my legislation - H.R. 2740 - requiring legal accountability for private security contractors. These restrictions, along with the House's vote against war funding, are critical steps forward in forcing President Bush to change course.

Supplemental funding bills are not the only - or even the ideal - way to alter our Iraq policies, however. I have introduced legislation, H.R. 645, which would initiate a near-term withdrawal, require the completion of the withdrawal within one year, and revoke authorization for the war. I have also introduced a bill, H.R. 3797, designed to launch a diplomatic "surge," one of the key recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and a step that is vital to facilitating political progress in Iraq and the region. Both of these initiatives have won significant support in the House, and I continue to work toward their passage.

Unfortunately, it looks as if much of the mess in Iraq will be left to the next President to sort out. Even if we were to begin a withdrawal tomorrow, it is unlikely that 140,000 troops, as many as 100,000 contractors, and their equipment could be removed before January. It is my great hope that the next President will bring a fresh perspective to the conflict and a deeper understanding of the costs of continuing occupation. You can be sure that I will continue my efforts to compel the Administration - this one and the next - to bring our troops home.

DAVID PRICE

Member of Congress

PS: Please sign up for periodic updates on issues, events and town hall meetings at http://price.house.gov/contact/email_updates.shtml.

4,085 US Soldiers Killed, 30,143 Seriously Wounded!!!! 

Spent & Approved War-Spending - About $600 billion of US taxpayers' funds. President Bush has requested about $200 billion more for 2008, which would bring the cumulative total to close to $800 billion.

U.S. Monthly Spending in Iraq - $12 billion in 2008

U.S. Spending per Second - $5,000 in 2008 (per Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on May 5, 2008)

Iraq War Results & Statistics as of May 28, 2008

The Bush/Cheney regime and all they stand for have begun to crumble--Bush's legacy will an open book for all to see.  Sometimes even the neocon-stacked Supreme Court surprises me. 

Breaking News Alert
 The New York Times
 Thursday, June 12, 2008 -- 10:32 AM ET
 -----
 
 Justices Rule Terror Suspects Can Appeal in Civilian Courts
 
 The Supreme Court ruled that foreign terrorism suspects held
 at Guantánamo Bay have the right to challenge their detention
 in U.S. civilian courts.
 
 Read More:
 http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na
 

I subscribed to the RFO communications and just received the following:

Another Reaganite Joins R.F.O.
June 12, 2008

Fellow Republicans,

I'm proud to announce that Delbert Spurlock has joined the R.F.O. effort.  Mr. Spurlock is a former General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Army under President Ronald Reagan.  

In his first piece for our site, Mr. Spurlock remembers a close friend of his-- Lt. Gen. William Odom.  William Odom served as Reagan's Chief of Army Intelligence, and had been friends with Del Spurlock ever since.  This past spring, Mr. Spurlock and Mr. Odom were discussing the prospect of an Obama presidency.  Just two weeks ago, on May 30th, Mr. Odom passed away.  

Read more of what Del Spurlock had to say of this American Patriot and fellow Obama supporter.

You'll also notice that the site has a slightly new look.   Thanks to Evan and our other volunteers, we now can get more of our members' content front and center on the homepage.

Sincerely,
R.F.O. Leadership

to support if you can.  VoteVets Candidates

I've posted their information in the extended post below.

Our Democratic Congress keeps wimping out:

IMPEACH PELOSI AND REID

"Americans are furious about what's going on," declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and want Congress to do something about oil company profits and "an orgy of speculation" on oil markets.

But Republicans argued the Democratic proposal focusing on new oil industry taxes is not the answer to the country's energy problems.

"The American people are clamoring for relief at the pump," said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., but if taxes are increased on the oil companies "they will get exactly what they don't want. The bill will raise taxes, increase imports."

The Democrats failed, 51-43, to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster and bring the energy package up for consideration.

Your profile wouldn't let me send you a note. I posed a little suggestion for you here: 

Feminist Unite! I'm sure McCain Didn't Mean it!

Look about mid-way throught the blog under the "You're a what???" subject.  I hope you'll think about it.

This is especially poignant for folks in NC but important for our broader push to get a true majority in the Senate. Below is a letter to the editor I wrote for several NC newspapers:

Kay Hagan was born in Shelby, NC and she and her family remain active in the community. As a state Senator for ten years, she has a proven voting record of helping the people, creating jobs, supporting our soldiers and veterans and balancing our state budgets. She's praised for making North Carolina the most military-friendly state in America.

My family and friends have had enough. We'll vote for Kay Hagan to represent us in Washington.