Horne Calls for Filibuster on Warrantless Wiretapping and Telecom Immunity

In his announcement of his race for the U.S. Senate, Louisville attorney and Iraq war vet, Lt. Col. Andrew Horne (Ret.) gave the dramatic line, "While [Sen. Minority Leader/Obstructer-in-Chief]Mitch McConnell carred Bush's water on Iraq, I carried a rifle in Iraq." A powerful line, but I am glad to see that it is more than mere rhetoric. Today, Horne announced his support for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)'s efforts to filibuster Bushco's attempts to further trample on our Constitutional rights by giving permanent legitimacy to warrantless wiretapping and retroactive immunity to those telecom companies that cooperated with this un-Constitutional program while it was also still in violation of the FISA statute. (FISA= Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1974). FISA was enacted in the wake of Watergate's revelations about how abusive government surveillance had become--using fear of Communism and the Vietnam War to spy on civil rights organizations, peace groups, opposition newspapers, and all U.S. citizens who exercised rights of dissent. FISA made the govt. get warrants from the secret FISA court before spying on U.S. citizens.

Bushco, including McConnell, argue that new tech and the "war on terror" means this should no longer be necessary. Don't believe them. I am glad to know that presidential hopefuls Sens. Clinton and Obama will be here to support Dodd in this vote, as they were not previously. This is more important than campaigning. This is protecting our freedom.

Don't be misled by McConnell's fear tactics: FISA does NOT expire on 01 Feb.! All that expires is the stupid law passed in '06 that "expanded" FISA to permit warrantless wiretapping without any safeguards or conditions. McConnell and the GOP have blocked attempts to update the law for an age of terrorism in ways that still protect our liberties. So, we stop the Bushies NOW, here. If Feb. 1 expires without a new law, all that will happen is that the old FISA goes back into effect--you know, the law that Bush and the telecom companies broke with their warrantless wiretapping. And the lawsuits against these companies go forward--so that at least SOME accountability happens for trifling with the Constitution.

Three cheers for Sen. Dodd (whom I hope will replace the spineless Sen. Reid (D-NV) as Majority Leader) and 3 cheers for Andrew Horne. Show Horne some love by sending his campaign some cash, today.