Yike's! Feingold is in Trouble on the Senate Floor (C-Span now)

Anyone watching this? Specter is putting up a fight against Feingold's attempt to clean up the flaws in the Patriot Act, which Feingold had announced he was prepared to fillibuster to prevent passage.

i think we need to let both Feingold and Specter know how we feel about Feingold's bipartisan effort to clean this up..

Because Arlen isn't happy?

"This isn't about Druthers" this is about the Constitution!

correction from "is" about druthers to "isn't" about druthers!

sheesh, a stupid spelling error like that changes the whole damn meaning!

Save our liberties!! I'm tired of that piece of crap!

arlen is the great mediator - as he likes to think of himself..

looks like they're taking a break on this for the day, and apparently will get back to it tomorrow or later this week.

let's send out reminders to friends to express support for Feingold, and to let both Feingold and Specter know where this country stands on this issue.

Also as a reminder, Russ Feingold is blogging over at talking points memo, this was posted yesterday, but it has important links and message, and it's where he will be periodically updating:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/12/13/102010/33

-- and contact both senators' offices.

Feingold's view will prevail in the long run, I hope.

Arlen Specter is a man adrift. Just when you think he might show some clarity and spine, he plunges headlong into pigshit.

It's imperative that he prevails! And isn't like there isn't any support for Feingold's position - there is on both sides of the aisle.

Note - Mr. Magic is my new nickname for Arlen, on account of his giving us the Magic Bullet theory

Dear ...

In November, the House/Senate conference committee recommended a version of the PATRIOT Act that included many of the same badly flawed provisions that I continue to feel unnecessarily infringe upon our rights and freedoms. I told you then that if this flawed version came to a vote, I would have no choice but to use everything in my power, including the possibility of a filibuster, to stop this bill from being reauthorized.

Unfortunately, the conference committee failed to make the common sense changes necessary to protect our rights and freedoms. And so now, as the Senate vote on reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act approaches, I am left with no recourse but to resist this bill in any way we can.

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/filibuster

In July, both parties came together in the Senate and approved a reasonable compromise. While this compromise wasn't perfect, I felt that it sufficiently protected our rights and freedoms, and it passed unanimously. It's unfortunate that the Senate and House conference committee has failed to adopt many of the provisions that my Senate colleagues and I believe fix the PATRIOT Act.

Four years ago, I was the only Senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act. I voted against it because I took the time to read it in full. While I strongly support the vast majority of the law, there were some provisions I found deeply disturbing. This week, many of these same provisions will come up for another vote, but I'm not standing alone anymore. A bi-partisan coalition, including Senators Durbin, Craig, Sununu, Salazar, and Murkowski have all agreed with my call to fix the PATRIOT Act.

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/filibuster

A filibuster, or speaking for unlimited time on the Senate floor, is not a tool that I take lightly. But this is an issue which I feel very strongly about and I hope that I can count on you to support my efforts. Among the documents I plan to read on the Senate floor is our Bill of Rights and related commentaries on it, because it's this document that I feel is in jeopardy with the current proposal for reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act.

The reason I have been so vocal on this issue is because of the letters, calls, and comments that I've received from so many of you. I ask you to continue to support my effort, by symbolically joining me by signing the petition found at http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/filibuster. I want my colleagues to know as I'm speaking on the Senate floor this week about the PATRIOT Act that I'm speaking for you, and most Americans, who believe that we can fight terrorism while still preserving our rights and freedoms.

Sincerely,

Russ Feingold

Russ Feingold
United States Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund

i did already sign and emailed to others.. but i don't remember if i put it out on this board. so, good work!

assassination. He has never been right about anything in his life!