So, there will be no vote on the Spector amendment or the full torture bill until tomorrow. Also, several more amendments are scheduled to be heard. That means that the fight to end this travesty is not over. Everyone who is outraged that the Constitution is being tread upon for cheap political gain, let's get to work.
From now until the last vote on the last version of this terrible, terrible bill, we should:
Call, fax, and write every Senator. Start with the ones in your state, and then Obama, and then the 2 Maine Republican Senators Snowe and Collins. If the Senators you talk to are against this torture bill, then thank them for being true patriots and PRESS FOR A FILIBUSTER. If they are not against it, or if they have no position, tell them that Americans do not torture. Tell them that Americans believe in habeus corpus and the rule of law. Tell them that Americans are not afraid to do what's right, and that's why we're Americans. Then get your friends to tell their Senators the same thing. Be succinct, polite, but don't hesitate to be forceful.
The way things stand now: If (big, huge, gigantic if) the Specter amendment succeeds, there will be less than 48 hours to reconcile the House and Senate bills. And they really, truly, will have to (1) get a committee convened to approve a new bill, even if it is just to rubber stamp the house bill, and (2) vote again on the new bill. Formalities maybe but they take time.
So what we want all of our Senators to do is:
1. Vote for Specter Amendment
2. Raise hell on floor about this outrageous bill, because we all think more public debate, not less, is what this needs
3. Stall baby stall
(Thanks, Femlaw)
More below:
As previously reported, this vote may hinge on how Maine's two Senators choose to vote. Let them know what you think (doubly so if you're a Mainer):
Susan Collins
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2523
Fax: (202) 224-2693
Olympia Snowe
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5344
Toll Free: (800) 432-1599
Fax: (202) 224-1946
Also: Obama needs to speak out. The press love him, he's a de facto Democratic leader. So let's get him to speak out:
Barack Obama
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
1-202-224-2854
Capitol Switchboard (all Senators)1-866-808-0065