Before the holiday break, in defiance of the perverse decision by Harry Reid to bring forward the version of the FISA bill with telecom immunity, and thanks to your voices and leadership of Senator Dodd, this was beaten back by filibuster.
We need to keep beating them back by continuing to speak out on this.
No Telecom Immunity Action Page:
http://usalone.com/laesch/pnum778.php (anyone can use this link)
Facebook Version:
http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum778 (to use this you must be a member of Facebook and logged in)
And we have a new incipient national leader on this, John Laesch, who is running for the old Dennis Hastert seat (IL-14) in a special primary election coming up in just 3 weeks on March 5th. Please submit the action page sponsored by John above, and please also consider making a donation to encourage him to keep standing strong on the issues you care about.
John Laesch Donations:
http://www.usalone.com/donations_laesch.php
As the Democratic nominee in 2006, John Laesch pulled 40 percent against the powerful incumbent Hastert in the general election, and John is in the running again. With numbers like that, and especially given the shift in public sentiment in the last two years, this is a very winnable race.
Here is John's message to you on the importance of defeating blanket telecom immunity:
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President Bush and the National Security Agency enlisted the help of telecommunications companies to spy on American citizens without the FISA required warrants. Now Bush wants Congress to give the telecom companies permanent immunity from prosecution. I ask you to fight Telecom Immunity Telecom immunity means that corporations who worked with the government to illegally spy on our citizens would never have to answer for their actions.
This bill exemplifies how wealthy corporations have more rights than U.S. citizens. Large telecommunications companies spied on Americans, violating the 4th Amendment, the right to privacy, and now Congress and the president wants to give them a get out of jail free card. We need to protect the Constitution of the United States. Please join me in calling our U.S. Representatives.
They would avoid all prosecution and never be held accountable for their unconstitutional acts. I am appalled by this dangerous possible precedent that threatens our rights.
In August 2007, Congress betrayed the people and voted to give the telecom companies temporary immunity for their complicity until February 2008.
In December 2007, a bill to make this temporary immunity permanent came to the floor of the Senate. Due to the organized efforts of activists like you, a group of Senators led by Senator Chris Dodd managed to postpone a vote the FISA bill.
The Senate is back in full session on January 15th and we expect a vote on the bill soon...
In December your voice made the difference, and gave your Senators the most important support there is, the will of the people.
Now your support will give your Senators the courage and will to join Senator Dodd.
In December Senator Dodd told the Senate: "But here in this chamber, a minority-even an impassioned minority of one-has the right to stand against all the combined weight and machinery of government and plead: Stop!"
We can turn that minority into a majority.
Let your Senators know that the people will not support lawmakers who give immunity to those who violate our rights.
I ask you to call, write or e-mail your Senators today and tell them that we the people say no to Telecom Immunity.
Paid for by Friends of John Laesch
*** End John Laesch Message ***
Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.
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