Mydd: The debate on the torture bill is NOT over! Take action!

[beachmom]

From Matt Stoller:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/9/27/14112/4703

There are two debates going on, one internal and one in public. In public, the Democrats are rolling over, hence the anger at moral scolds like Obama. In private, it looks like the Democrats are not rolling over on this. They are furious about this compromise, which eviscerates Habeas Corpus.

snip

Skelton is objecting to this bill, though a few days ago Skelton was saying "I will need to look at the final bill carefully, but elements of the compromise I have seen are promising." He's angry that the Democratic amendments were turned down.


The Senate is where this bill can be stopped. The key Senators to move are the Maine Republican Senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. If we can shift them, we can stop this bill from being passed.


Anyone from Maine here?

Get calling:

Susan Collins
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Olympia Snowe
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

And, everyone, call your senator!

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

[blm]

1. I've called. We need to haul ass on this.

No more diversions - our battles are with the voting machines, torture, NIE, Afghanistan. Priorities. Be the media. Make them hear us.

[whometense]

2. Great!!!!!

I knew there was more to it than we've been getting.

What about Chafee, I wonder? He can't vote against this and expect to win in RI in November. Or is he already counted as a no?

[beachmom]

3. He voted for the Levin alternative bill

So, yes, I believe he will vote against the torture bill.

[ProSense]

4. Find House Democrats who voted for torture

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll491.xml

[pberq]

5. It is sickening to see all those Dems voting for torture

[femmedem]

11. He's a Repuke, but my Congressman Simmons voted yes.

This had better cost him the election. It is one of ten in the nation considered a real toss-up. Oh, I feel a blistering LTTE coming on. No, I feel a demonstration...

[theanarch]

14. curious...

...i was about to recommend the DSCC/DCCC adopt filibustering torture and kangaroo courts for critics as a major campaign theme; after all, it's the American thing to do, isn't it? What better way to frame the election, rally the base, reach out to disaffecteds, and embarrass the foe, than to self-righteously rail against cruelty, inhumanity, obsessive secrecy, authoritarianism and arbitrary 'justice'?

Then i clicked on the link to the (House) vote on the bill, and was (not) terribly surprised to see how many Democrats voted for it (34), and which specific Democrats were among them. Sherrod Brown. And Harold Ford.

[blm]

6. Make sure this gets back up tomorrow morning.

.

[beachmom]

8. Will do.

Anyone know what's happening tomorrow in the Senate? When is the vote for the bill? Originally I had heard on Friday, but I don't know for sure.

[femmedem]

10. Thursday a.m.

according to an e-mail I got from the Center for Constitutional Rights. They hate the entire bill, but are urging everyone to push for the Specter amendment.

Goddammit.

[WildEyedLiberal]

7. Why is it that the posts saying Dems won't fight this get 100 posts...

... while this thread has SIX replies?

Given the choice between piling on in a hatefest and being productive, most DUers will choose the hatefest every time.

[beachmom]

9. I know.

You know when I met with local Dems in my area, most of them were NOT on blogs. I wonder what the percentage of DUers are activisits and what percentage are just the 101st keyboard division of whiners.

[BeFree]

12. Whiners, indeed

Most had no idea that the Senate would take up this bill, and it isn't likely to pass.

Of course, the 30 some odd house members of the dem persuasion are good targets for their wrath. Them and the 210 pukes who will have to get elected after voting to ok torture.

Torture: It not just them, anymore. We do it too. America is joining the terrorists.

[ProSense]

13. The United States of Torture!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2238201&mesg_id=2238201

[wtmusic]

15. Kick. nt

[wtmusic]

16. Both fax lines are wide open

Mine:

Honorable Senator Snowe,

Though Senator Graham claims that S.3929 "upholds our longstanding commitment to the Geneva Conventions", nothing could be further from the truth. Geneva Conventions, Article 17:

"No physical or mental torture, NOR ANY OTHER FORM OF COERCION, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind."

Senator, do you regard sleep deprivation and cold rooms as unpleasant? What about waterboarding, which Steve Hadley has already admitted will be made acceptable by presidential directive? Do you feel the president should be given a free hand to interpret the conventions, as he was in his decision to attack Iraq, with disastrous consequences? Are you prepared to be held accountable for the legacy of suffering brought about by this legislation, and to accept responsibiility when American soldiers are tortured similarly overseas?

Torture is unnecessary, barbaric and a huge step backwards for American foreign policy. I urge you to VOTE AGAINST S3929 AND THE UNCONSCIONABLE ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY TORTURE BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, and to pardon them for their part in war crimes which have taken place at Guantanamo and elsewhere!

wtmusic

[progressoid]

17. Very good fax. I'm typing mine now.

[blm]

19. Excellent.

And thanks for sharing - it can guide others.

[Amonester]

18. K&R!

[rateyes]

20. Called them both just now and told them....

to put the Constitution ahead of politics and vote against this bill!!! Hope it helps!

[Ladyinblack]

21. Called

Called Snowe, collins, and my won Senators.

[Tippy]

22. Just called

Then I wrote to my Congressman who voted to allow torcher....he got an ear full.....

[rockymountaindem]

23. I just called Collins' office and I got through on the first ring

Jam the lines!!!

The staffer was nice though.

[Fiendish Thingy]

24. Called Snowe and Collins...

Snowe's office said she hadn't taken a position yet...didn't ask Collins...

[ChiciB1]

25. Can't Get Through!!! Keep This Kicked!

Emailed Senator Bill Nelson of Florida though! C-Span on right now, looks really really BAD for Democrats from what I'm seeing!!!