Senator Edwards, We Need You To Lead-By: Jane Hamsher

[kpete]

Senator Edwards, We Need You To Lead
By: Jane Hamsher Tuesday January 22, 2008 3:00 pm

John Edwards should challenge his rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to go back to Washington, DC and fight against retroactive immunity for the telecoms.

The Republicans are not going to let Reid punt and extend the Protect America Act for another 18 months so it looks like the FISA bill is going to come back up again on Monday. Chris Dodd's objection to Unanimous Consent still stands, so they will pick up in the middle of the Motion to Proceed debate.

Glenn Greenwald:

It will be increasingly difficult to listen to Edwards, Obama and Clinton tout their supreme leadership attributes and their commitment to "changing the way Washington works" if they choose to sit by, more or less mute, and allow such a blatant and corrupt evisceration of the rule of law -- and such a vast and permanent expansion of the limitless surveillance state -- to occur without a fight. Any one of them, or all three, has a unique opportunity to actually demonstrate with actions, rather than pretty speeches, their commitment to the principles they claim to espouse.

John Edwards is the perfect person to lead with this message. Such an action would illustrate his genuine commitment to change and fighting vested interests in Washington, and hopefully it will channel that intense anti-immunity passion toward his campaign. He won't be able to participate in the filibuster himself, but by offering to leave the campaign trail and go back to DC with Clinton and Obama he'll be able to show leadership in challenging all Democrats to put thoughts of personal gain aside and join together in the fight to save the constitution.

Without the help of the presidential candidates, we are doomed to lose this fight. And all their calls for change will ring hollow if they allow George Bush to railroad this bill through a supine Democratic-controlled Senate because of their absence.

You can email Senator Edwards directly at [e-mail].

more at:
http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/22/senator-edwards-we-need-you-to-lead/#more-16095

[OneGrassRoot]

1. A big K&R -

I know everyone talks about "politics as usual" - but we are not in a USUAL state of distress in this country. The rest of the world sees it.

I would LOVE for John Edwards - or any of them if they want to drop all pretense and games - to hold a press conference to "out" the powers that be.

The language needs to be clear and unambiguous - forget nuance. Someone needs to say:

"There has been an assault on our Constitution. There has been an assault on your individual freedoms, on your worth, and on your humanity. I refuse to play nice with anyone who won't admit the truth - and it's staring everyone straight in the face. Those who stand to lose power by exposing the truth are doing their best to hide it; unfortunately for the American populace, those same powers control the mass media. (and if it would be Edwards saying it: "It's these same powers who have not wanted you to hear my message all along. But it's not really my message, it's YOUR message. I'm simply trying my best to be your spokesperson in this epic struggle and do my best to champion the cause of every American citizen.")

The only way to put power back into the hands of the people is to bring every crime and impeachable offense to light and PROSECUTE. Congress must start doing its job!

And the free press must once again return to having the news centers no longer required to generate profit. REPORT THE NEWS, dammit, don't manipulate it to fit your corporate power agendas!

This must be done so that every politician will be on alert and so that every tempted CEO with extraordinary power will know that THIS TYPE OF ABUSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY THE PEOPLE ANY LONGER."





Sorry...got carried away....thanks, kpete



typo

[Jack Bone]

2. Another BIG K&R!

:kick: :bounce: :patriot:

[stravu9]

9. 3 cheers for John!

HIP, HIP HOORAY!HIP, HIP HOORAY!HIP, HIP HOORAY!

[SeattleGirl]

3. K&R

[vanboggie]

4. K&R n/t

[stravu9]

5. How Can The MEDIA continue to SHUT HIM OUT!?!?!

Have they no shame!?

[Lugnut]

6. K&R n/t

[Monty__]

7. yup

I'm doing my part, donating, emailing everyone I know with every story that comes out, etc.

[K Gardner]

8. Oh gads, thanks for posting this.. we need to be prepared for Monday.

And yes, John DOES need to get back and stand up for this. Chris Dodd shouldn't be alone on this.

[KoKo]

10. K&R...it's the TRUTH!

[stravu9]

11. the truth will set you free!

!

[chimpymustgo]

12. Thanks, kpete! K and R. This is perfect for John. nt

nt

[stravu9]

13. Edwards Supporters!

don't deign to answer all the attack posts .
it just perpetuates them .
do like John , keep positive and on point.
they want nastiness, don't drink the kool aid!
let them wallow in their own filth!
they seem to enjoy it!


be better than the rest, GO JOHN!