Loungers, have you called your senators yet re. the torture legislation?

[speedoo]

I know, the Lounge is not the place to discuss such things, but every now and then, something urgent comes along. IMO, legislation that legalizes torture by our government and suspends habeus corpus, just to name a couple of the things this legislation serves up on a platter to Bush and his evil administration, is pretty urgent. It is expected to be voted on by the Senate today. Since our glorious House of Representatives passed it yesterday, it will become law if the Senate passes it.

I wish I had made a few phone calls back when the IWR was being considered. This legislation, if passed, is just as damaging to our country, IMO.

What I hope you will consider doing, TODAY, if you have not already done so:

Call the Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Harry Reid, and your senators to register your strong opposition to this bill, AND to ask that it be filibustered if necessary, REGARDLESS of its final language.

Phone numbers here:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Edit: here's a toll free number to the switchboard in the Capitol: 866-808-0065

Edit 2: here is how to contact Sen. Reid:

Washington, DC
528 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Toll Free for Nevadans:
1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Yup. Just finished about 10 minutes ago. Thanks for posting this.

[Tyler Durden]

2. Yup. TWICE actually.

Once for the regular morning call, then again for the "Torture Bill."

[buddhamama]

3. i've called and written

done.

[speedoo]

4. Thank you, all.

and a kick.

[VelmaD]

5. wouldn't do a damn bit of good

My senators are Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn. It's sorts like talking to a rock...only a rock is more likely to provide a response.

[speedoo]

8. I agree re. your senators.

Both losers. But a call to Reid's office re. filibuster would help.

[Avalux]

23. I called them anyway; Cornyn's office hung up on me.

I also sent nasty faxes. Made me feel better at least. :D

[speedoo]

24. Ha!

Cornyn is such a tool. I don't envy you at all.

[swag]

6. Yes, thanks.

One will do the wrong thing (though apparently he just made a big show of supporting habeas corpus) and one will do the right thing. And my Congressman always does the right thing.

See you in late October? October 28 meetup?

[speedoo]

7. Yep. On my calendar.

See you in Portland. Thanks.:hi:

[speedoo]

9. Update: Specter's amendment to save habeus corpus failed.

Very narrowly.

I think it means the only hope is a filibuster.

[tigereye]

10. I already complained to Specter about it

complaining to Santorum is probably useless (I always get a politely smarmy letter back telling my why I am oh, so wrong and full of shit.) But oh, well, I'l try again.


The Senate is much more sensible about this than the House, though. (I know that's not much consolation, but)

[China_cat]

11. My senators are

Jim DeMint and Lindsay Graham. You really think a call is going to do any good? Except to make sure my name goes on a list yet again.

[speedoo]

12. A call to Sen. Reid to encourage a filibuster would help.

The dems are fighting hard in the Senate. So should we.

[Orrex]

17. Ugh. Mine are Specter and What's-His-Nose.

A call from a li'l ol' liberal in the western part of PA won't make a difference to either of them.

[speedoo]

19. I'd call Specter and Reid.

Santorum's brainless and hopeless, but Specter might vote against the final bill.

[Orrex]

20. A little help? I'm a cube-drone

What's the timeframe here? Do I still have a chance?

[speedoo]

22. Definitely. Specter has crossed party lines twice..

on two amendments. His own on habeus corpus, and on Kennedy's, just now.

I don't have c-span either. Following the action here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2247685#2248054

[China_cat]

25. What part of western PA?

My family still lives in Butler County.

[Orrex]

38. I'm in Lawrence County

Which, to my shame, went to Bush in 04.

[billyskank]

13. No, no, no. The proper way to ask is:

"CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN!! RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!"

:D

[buddhamama]

14. i've called Reid

twice now. We need a filibuster.

[speedoo]

15. kick nt

[huskerlaw]

16. Thankfully, I don't need to

neither of my senators has her head up her ass on this one.

Ok, really only one of my senators EVER has her head up her ass ::cough:: DiFi ::cough::.

I really should let Senator Reid know my thoughts on the matter, however.

Edit: cuz when you have a : and a D next to each other it makes a smiley. And oddly, her name's not :DiFi

[speedoo]

18. I hope you'll do that.

It's not too late, but it's getting close to decision time in the Senate.

[huskerlaw]

21. I'm trying to...

but I'm at work and well...can't really use the work phone.

(although apparently I have no problem using their internet connection...) :p

[YellowRubberDuckie]

26. Call me negative nancy or debbie downer if you will...

But when was the last time this has worked? Everytime I do this I get a nice letter in the mail telling me thanks for my comments but they know what's best for me and my country and I'm basically three IQ points away from Retarded, so I shouldn't worry my little head about it. Those congressmen are only there to fill their pockets, swell their power and get their winkies wet. They don't give a shit about us anymore. And if any of you think I'm wrong, I will draw your attention right back to the vote today. The ones who voted against it are not the ones I speak of. I guess I'll see you guys in the camp. How about we make the SW corner of the gathering yard the DU corner?
Duckie

[speedoo]

27. I'd rather call you a fighter.

No, it did not work today. But I can assure you that a lot of Senators heard a lot. I know mine did because I had to try many times before I could get through.

I'll never stop fighting for what I believe is right, no matter what I think of the assholes running the country. If we don't fight, it is hopeless.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

28. How do you stay motivated and positive...

Even when the system is corrupt and fighting against it for the last five years has yielded very few results?
Duckie

[speedoo]

30. Some of the things I think about....

Declaration of Independence
U. S. Constitution
4 dead at Kent State in 1968
Edward R. Murrow and Keith Olberman
My kids
Nazi Germany, which is what you get if you stop fighting.

[bigwillq]

29. I'll make calls tomm.

I was out all day and just turned on DU and the news.
Just finding out about the torture bill passage.

[filer]

31. I'd call my senators, Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn...

But they're probably "tied up" torturing each other for practice.

[idgiehkt]

33. mine too

Burr and Dole. blech, no hope there.

[Arugula Latte]

32. Yep. And the Republican one (Gordon Smith, R-ASSHOLE) doesn't give a s@#$

I always call his office and it never does any good. He always votes exactly the opposite of the good guys.

[WCGreen]

34. Duh, what's a Senator....

[femmocrat]

35. I don't think it would make much of a difference to Santorum and Specter.

[Joey Liberal]

36. Inhofe (R-Insane) would have me "Disappeared" n/t

[bullwinkle428]

37. YES! Both of them! I had to hit the eject button from the GD cockpit

after a couple of posters tore me a new one. I said I was still planning on voting for the Dem. CHALLENGER (HELLO - he's not in there right now, so he didn't vote on this bill) to one of the few Republicans to vote against this bill. I'm still trying to figure out why some are throwing in the towel on everything. I couldn't feel worse than I did on Election night in 2004, but I found the strength to carry on eventually...