Chris Dodd is my candidate
In response to reports from Reid's office that the Senate FISA bill containing retroactive immunity for telecom companies could go to the floor despite Dodd's hold, Dodd has upped the ante. Here's an e-mailed statement from the Dodd camp:
Are you willing to go to the mat to restore the Constitution?
Just last night, we heard there are plans to disregard Senator Dodd's intention to place a hold on a FISA bill that includes amnesty for telecommunications companies.
That would be a pretty extraordinary move, but Chris Dodd has pledged to stop this horrible bill any way he can.
So if the hold is not honored, he is prepared to go to the Senate floor and filibuster.
Rolling back the Bush Administration assault on the rule of law has been a major focus of Chris Dodd's work in the Senate -- and it's also a centerpiece in his campaign for President.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/19/124346/52
As mcjoan wrote earlier, Chris Dodd has said he will filibuster the Senate FISA bill if it contains provisions for retroactive immunity for telecom companies. Those provisions may yet be stripped out before a filibuster is necessary, but they must not be allowed to go through. It is not ok for Congress to say we live in a country in which following George W. Bush's orders is an acceptable defense for any illegal act any company or person commits.
Chris Dodd is leading on this issue. Where are the other Democratic presidential candidates in the Senate? Obama and Biden have at least both said they oppose the immunity provision. Clinton has yet to do that.
But it's not enough to say they'll vote against immunity. At a bare minimum, they need to be willing to vote to sustain the filibuster. Anything less says "I am not willing to stand strong against George W. Bush's assault on the Constitution." Leadership would entail participating. If Dodd's reading from the phone book, stand up, take it from him, and keep reading.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/19/134036/18