A few fries short of a happy meal?

by: DianeS

Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 22:35:59 PM EDT

After casting a 'yea' vote on Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 6304 -- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978) I received an email from Senator Debbie Stabenow today.  The subject:

"Filibuster-Proof Senate in 2008!"

After effectively killing the efforts of Senators Dodd and Feingold to filibuster the attempt to pass the bill giving President Bush the authority to continue his illegal wiretap program, and grant telecos retroactive immunity...Debbie Stabenow is happy to boast a 'filibuster-proof senate'?  

It gets better. From the email:

"There are only four days left . . .

. . . before the end of this fundraising cycle. Democratic candidates around the country are pushing to raise as much as they can by June 30 because when they report their fundraising figures for the quarter, it will be used as a gauge of the strength of their candidacies.

Media outlets watch these numbers closely. The Republicans watch them even closer.
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That's why your help today is so crucial. Never before have we had so many amazing Democratic candidates running for U.S. Senate all over the country. Because of these great candidates, we have a real chance in November to significantly increase our Democratic majority in the Senate.

It takes 60 votes in the Senate to overcome Republican filibusters of important legislation, like health care for children, ending the war in Iraq, fixing the housing market, and creating good-paying American jobs here at home. Republicans are blocking our every effort to get this country back on track. But all of that can change in November!!

But only with your help.

That's why I have set up a page on Act Blue, a federally-registered PAC that helps candidates raise money online. Since 2004, they have raised over $53 million for Democratic candidates across the country.

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More below the fold...

There no doubt will not be any criminal prosecution of any government officials, and if Bush issues any pardons before leaving office this becomes a totally closed issue.  

The latest news I hear is that there will be a FISA vote on July 8th, including an up or down vote on the Dodd-Feingold amendment to strip telecom immunity from the bill.  This gives us all a chance to write/email/call our Senators(Carl Levin also voted to invoke cloture, but at least didn't send out a request for cash right after!)and ask them to please stand up for our Constitution, and support the Dodd-Feingold amendment to strip telecom immunity.

Contact information follows:

DC Address: The Honorable Debbie A. Stabenow
United States Senate
133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2203
DC Phone: 202-224-4822
DC Fax: 202-228-0325
Electronic Correspondence: http://stabenow.senate.gov/ema...
WWW Homepage: http://stabenow.senate.gov/

District Offices:
    243 West Congress, Suite 550
Detroit, MI 48226 Voice: 313-961-4330
FAX: Not Currently Available

3335 South Airport Road West, Suite 6B
Traverse City, MI 49684 Voice: 231-929-1031
FAX: Not Currently Available

221 West Lake Lansing Road, Suite 100
East Lansing, MI 48823 Voice: 517-203-1760
FAX: Not Currently Available

1901 West Ridge
Marquette, MI 49855 Voice: 906-228-8756
FAX: Not Currently Available

2503 South Linden Road
Flint, MI 48532 Voice: 810-720-4172
FAX: Not Currently Available

3280 Beltline Court, Suite 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Voice: 616-975-0052
FAX: Not Currently Available

DC Address: The Honorable Carl Levin
United States Senate
269 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2202
DC Phone: 202-224-6221
DC Fax: 202-224-1388
Electronic Correspondence: http://levin.senate.gov/contac...
WWW Homepage: http://levin.senate.gov/

District Offices:
    124 West Allegan Street, Suite 1810
Lansing, MI 48933-1718 Voice: 517-377-1508
FAX: 517-377-1506

107 Cass Street, Suite E
Traverse City, MI 49684-2602 Voice: 231-947-9569
FAX: 231-947-9518

524 Ludington Street, Suite LL103
Escanaba, MI 49829-3835 Voice: 906-789-0052
FAX: 906-789-0015

Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, Suite 1860
477 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226-2594 Voice: 313-226-6020
FAX: 313-226-6948

Gerald R. Ford Federal Building, Room 720
110 Michigan Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2313 Voice: 616-456-2531
FAX: 616-456-5147

515 N. Washington Ave., Suite 402
Saginaw, MI 48607-1242 Voice: 989-754-2494
FAX: 989-754-2920

30500 Van Dyke, Suite 206
Warren, MI 48093-2109 Voice: 586-573-9145
FAX: 586-573-8260

If you get any response, or a confirmation on how either intend to vote on the issue, I hope you'll post those responses here in the comments.  I'll also include my email address if you'd rather communicate that way...I know we have some rather shy readers. ;)

Also, if you choose to write a letter to Senator Stabenow, perhaps consider including one of those McDonald's coupons for a happy meal.  We wouldn't want her to be short a few fries, or heaven forfend, a chicken mcnugget on the 8th.

Peace,

Diane Sweet
diane@rawstory.com