Worth repeating.

BTB at Horses Ass…

Chris Dodd, with a strict emission standards and carbon tax proposal that won over the likes of Al Gore, had arguably the best energy plan out of the entire 2008 Democratic presidential field.

He was an early and forceful voice on FISA and has since discussed the idea of Bush administration torture trials. Plus he had the balls to endorse Ned Lamont over his long time colleague and King Rat Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) in 2006.

Now Dodd stands up for marriage equality in the middle of a re-election race that the Republicans are salivating all over.

He deserves more love from the left. If you know someone in Connecticut, where Dodd’s polling has been dismal all year, I suggest you call them.

Yep.

What he said.

Steve M. on FISA...

Snark aside, the big problem is that the public isn't with us on this; on Iraq, on Katrina, on the economy, on Terri Schiavo, the vast majority of America is on our side -- but on dirty, nasty things done in the shadows in the name of security, Americans are still at the wrong end of the learning curve. I'm not sure the 120 days before a presidential election are the right time for a cram course, and that's what I think Obama is thinking, too; it's regrettable, but I don't blame him.

And this, too, from Jeralyn...

Obama's FISA stance was predictable months ago. He has always been a compromiser. It's why he wasn't my first or second choice for the the Democratic nomination. I don't want a President who reaches out to Republicans when he should be fighting them.

Nonetheless, as between a President who reaches out to Republicans and one who is a Republican, the one who merely reaches out is preferable.

I wish this was the first or last thing I think Barack Obama is wrong about, but I'm conscious that I'm not a typical American - or even Democratic - voter. If issues like FISA were at the top or most folks agenda, Chris Dodd would be pondering potential running mates about now.

That doesn't mean we should shut up about the attack on our 4th Amendment freedoms, but as we try to educate our fellow citizens, we should be looking for more effective vehicles than attacking our nominee.

It's nice to have a Congressman…

…who cares about my civil liberties.

Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7] voted 'Nay' on the question: On Passage: H R 6304 FISA Amendments Act of 2008 regarding H.R.6304 To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes.

Those "other purposes" will get ya' every time...

More of this.

I, for one, do not intend to back down – not to the terrorists and not to anyone, including a President, who wants Americans to cower in fear.

We are a strong nation. We cannot allow ourselves to be scared into suspending the Constitution. If we do that, we might as well call the terrorists and tell them that they have won.

Chairman Silvestre Reyes, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Me neither.

"I’m not in a very trusting mood these days.”

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Want to be my leader?

First, be a leader. Mcjoan looks at the FISA fight and the role our presidential candidates could play, even if campaign pressures on the day before Super Tuesday kept them away from the Senate floor (and I, for one, don't feel particularly forgiving on that score. There's more press to be obtained and, I'd argue, more votes to be won by doing their jobs than by filling one more day with stump speeches)...

Among the Senators endorsing Clinton that need to be moved on this are Bayh, Bill Nelson, Feinstein, and Whitehouse. Obama's list includes Ben Nelson, Conrad, Johnson, and McCaskill. The presidential candidates would do well to contact these Senators and urge them to cast their votes in their stead.

I have to admit that if one of the candidates moved more of their endorsers on this one than the other, it would figure into my February 9th calculations. Showing up on the floor to cast a vote against immunity could secure my vote in the caucuses.

Mcjoan's right (a redundancy, I know). This is a time to lead.

Ouch.

Tim Tagaris takes aim at the Majority Leader's travel plans...

If you were ever led to believe the Constitution is a priceless document, we appear to have found the going rate.

I've been a pretty consistent cheerleader for Harry, but he's just wrong on FISA, both in form and substance. Notably, maybe critically, wrong. 'Majority Leader Dodd' is starting to sound pretty damned appealing.

The Marshall plan…

…for FISA. When Matt Stoller pinged the Darcy Burner campaign for a statement on the FISA fight, she forwarded this from the late Justice Thurgood Marshall…

"History teaches that grave threats to liberty often come in times of urgency, when Constitutional rights seem too extravagent to endure. The World War II relocation camp cases, and the Red Scare and McCarthy-era internal subversion cases are only the most extreme reminders that when we allow fundamental freedoms to be sacrificed in the name of real or perceived exigency, we invariably come to regret it."

Yep.