What to do with spineless Democratic Senators (and coming soon: house members) who do the "el foldo" and vote in favor of torture? One of the best weapons is money and volunteer time. Don't give one damn dime or one damn second to any so-called Democrat willing to vote for torture. So what to do with your money and time? A few suggestions:
Give heavily to the following:
(1) Any non-incumbant Democratic candidate. And let them know why! Get them before they lose their spine and go all molusk
(2) Local candidates like Deval Patrick for governor of MA, or State legislature candidates, or Van Os for TX attorney general. They don't get a say in the torture, but we can get them while they are still local.
(3) The ALCU, the CCR, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and the like. Because they are the next line of defense if Democratic Senatorial spines turn to jelly.
No constitutent money, no netroots money, no boots on the ground, no GOTV, no office workers, no canvassing, no nothing for any Democratic Senator who votes for the Torture Bill. They may get votes, but that is it. If incumbants don't stand firm and erect against torture, then we give our time and money to the next generation of Democratic pols. We let that next generation know what we think of torture and those who support it. But we also show that our full support means something, that our boots on the ground something, that our money and contribution is fiercly loyal but it is not cheap.
And give time and money to the organizations who are going to fight this bill in the US courts, the international courts, and the courts of hearts and minds. Let Dems who vote for torture know that our support is going elsewhere.
Me? My time is going to Deval Patrick. And I can always send a few bucks to the ACLU and Amnesty.