An Opposing View on FISA

In this video, an administration spokesman argues for telecom amnesty and continued warrantless wiretapping:



(link via the innominate one at Grylliade.org)

FISA Update: Tell Pelosi and Hoyer to Stand Firm

Here's the latest action alert from the ACLU:

TELL HOUSE LEADERS: KEEP STANDING UP TO BUSH

We will deliver your letter and comments next week to House Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and representatives who stood up to President Bush.

Please go here to sign the petition.

FISA fight moves to House

From an e-mail I (along with the rest of the ACLU's mailing list) received from Caroline Fredrickson of the ACLU:

Only bold, decisive action from a sizable bloc of House members -- led by the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- can stop warrantless wiretapping of Americans and telecom immunity from becoming the law of the land.

Tell your representative to oppose telecom immunity and warrantless wiretapping.

Then, because time is short, follow up with a phone call.

If the House caves, a bill that ignores the Constitution, condones overreaching executive branch power grabs and provides immunity to phone companies that sold out our privacy will soon reach President Bush’s desk.

If that happens, you can rest assured that the minute Mr. Bush reaches for his pen, ACLU lawyers will be headed to court. Because wherever this fight leads us, we will not let unconstitutional violations of our due process and privacy rights go unchallenged.

Now, though, is no time to concede defeat in Congress.

Demand your representative uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

Mom's Column

My favorite elected official's quarterly newspaper column recently appeared in newspapers throughout southern Ohio, including the (Hillsboro) Times Gazette and the Cincinnati Enquirer. I neglected to link to her September column, but it's still available at the Clermont County Democratic Party's site.

If You're Assaulted in Stark County...

...you might want to think twice before calling 911.

According to WKYC, Stark County sheriff's deputies responded to an assault call by taking the victim to the Stark County Jail, where she was brutally strip-searched by both male and female deputies and left naked in a cell for 6 hours without medical attention or even a blanket. WKYC has a full report, including chilling video footage of the attack. (Link via The Agitator)

The perpetrators of this outrage report to the Honorable Timothy Swanson (D-North Canton) who, according to the Stark County Board of Elections, has a general election opponent. I almost always vote Democratic, but I can think of at least one Democrat I'd vote against if I lived in Stark County.