Today, the United States Senate is scheduled to begin consideration of the FISA Amendments Act, a proposed law that gives the Attorney General to declare unilaterally that government spy operations against the American people are legal, without any judge being able to rule to the contrary. The legislation places the President, through the Attorney General, above the law.
Yesterday, the Ulysses Democratic Committee sent a letter to our U.S. Representative, Michael Arcuri. On June 20th, Congressman Arcuri introduced a resolution to limit debate on this far-reaching law to just one hour, with less than ten minutes given for the law’s opponents to speak. Then, Arcuri voted for the FISA Amendments Act.
The Ulysses Democratic Committee’s letter reads,
Dear Michael Arcuri,
We, the Ulysses Democratic Committee, in the Town of Ulysses, County of Tompkins, State of New York, are very disappointed, in your vote for the FISA Amendments Act. While we were petitioning to get you on the ballot, you were working to undermine our Constitution, and give retroactive immunity to telecoms that are illegally spying on us. We hope you continue to support the Constitution and the voters in your district.
The Ulysses Democratic Committee also sent letters to senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Barack Obama has declared that he will vote for the FISA Amendments Act, even if amendments are not passed to improve the law. The committee’s letter to Obama reads,
Senator Obama,
We Democrats in the Town of Ulysses, County of Tompkins, the only county you carried in New York State in the primary election, are deeply disappointed over your support for the FISA Amendments Act. Senator Obama you have said that if elected you would investigate the crimes of the present administration. Passing the FISA Amendments Act would remove some of these crimes from consideration and further damage our rights as citizens as defined by the 4th amendment to the Constitution. Bill Burton, a spokesman for Senator Obama, vowed that you would “support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.” It is essential that you declare his intention to honor this pledge now. We need 41 senators to maintain a filibuster of this seriously flawed legislation. Senator Obama, as the likely nominee of our party, you are the de-facto head of the party. We need your leadership in-order to find these 41 senators.
Senator Hillary Clinton has not been clear about her intentions with the FISA Amendments Act. The Ulysses Democratic Committee sent her the following letter:
Dear Senator Clinton:
Our community is very disappointed with the House for voting to pass the FISA Amendments Act. We call upon you to join our Senior Senator from NY, and Senators Dodd and Feingold, in acting to filibuster the bill in the Senate if telecom immunity is not stripped from the bill. We also question the need for increased powers for the Executive branch to spy on the American people without a warrant, which we understand to run contrary to our constitutionally-protected rights.
New York’s senior senator, Charles Schumer, has clearly expressed his opposition to the FISA Amendments Act. Thanks to him for making that stand.
I am wondering if someone can spell out the purpose and goals of the Ulysses Democratic Committee.
I am a democrat in the Town of Ulysses, so the letters were sent on my behalf.
However, i was never consulted in those matters.
Can someone clarify for me?
Comment by Carissa — July 9, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
Carissa,
Speaking only for myself, just one member of the Ulysses Democratic Committee, I would say that the purpose of the committee, is to promote the principles of the Party, primarily, but not exclusively, on a local level, because we feel that this is the best way to promote the general welfare to ourselves and our children.
A majority of the committee felt that supporting the FISA Amendments Act, worked against this purpose, and violates the Fourth Amendment of our Constitution,
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
If we believe our country is headed in the wrong direction, we must do more than just complain. These letters were a small part of what must be constant pressure put upon our elected officials if we hope to counteract the enormous pressure being put upon them by lobbyists and the neoconservative movement.
A slight majority of Democratic Senators voted against the FISA bill today. One of those was Senator Clinton. She got one of our letters. Perhaps we played some small part.
I am pleased that these letters were sent by the committee. We realize that not all members of our party will agree, in fact not all members of the committee agree. We reached a decision to send the letters via the democratic process. If you don’t think we should have sent them, you should explain why, and post it here, and also send the explanation to David Filiberto, the chairman of the Committee.
If you wish to be consulted on all actions of the Committee, perhaps you should join.
Comment by Allen Carstensen — July 9, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
I for one am very happy our local democratic organization took a stand on this. I think it is great leadership on their part. Perhaps if you go to their website you might be better informed. I found it here:
ulyssesdemocrats.com
Comment by john — July 10, 2008 @ 9:10 am
Hi, Allen. I see that your letter to Michael Arcuri specifically states “We the Ulysses Democratic Committee…” while the other letters use more general language (”We Democrats…”). I’d like to request that when you are sending letters to elected officials that you speak for yourself or for the committee you belong to and not for all Ulysses Democrats. As a Ulysses Democrat, I do not wish to be included in your letters of opinion. Please be sure to speak specifically for youself or your committee in the future. Thank you~
Comment by Ann DiPetta — July 10, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Ann’s comment explains my feeling succintly.
The point is not whether or not i agree with FISA, but whether or not it is democratic for a letter to include me when i haven’t been given a chance to comment on it.
Comment by Carissa — July 10, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Ann and Carrissa,
OK, point taken. We will phrase our letters as you suggest next time. Apparently the ACLU agreed with the sentiments we expressed on your behalf. They filed suit against the government the moment Bush signed the FISA Amendments Act into law. But, if you don’t want the Ulysses Dems sticking up for your Constitutional rights for you, fine. Maybe they’ll go after our 1st Amendment rights next time, and it will become illegal for us to write these letters at all. That’ll solve the problem.
Comment by Allen Carstensen — July 13, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Oh so sorry the local democratic committee didnt check with you before they sent out a letter. I gather you both must people of some importance. HA! That would be funny. Are either of you on the committee? do either of do anything to support local democratic politics. didnt think so. Get a life and whine about something else, nobodies.
Comment by john — July 14, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
John, that is mean and unnecessary. I am on the local Dem Committee, and can assure you that there was (before the vote to send the letters) and has been (since the vote to send the letters) discussion of the possible inappropriateness of the action– coming at least from me. I think people have differing expectations of what a local Democratic Committee should do, which I have no desire to discuss in this forum, but, which will continue to be discussed in the Committee meetings, which are open to all registered Democrats (although, John, if you call people “nobodies” in the meeting, Sheriff Meskill might look at you sternly).
Comment by Krys Cail — July 15, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
oooh we are SO scared of pete meskill looking at us “sternly”
Comment by x — July 18, 2008 @ 2:26 am
Democrats,
Obama’s FISA vote and the way the Democratic congress always caves and gives this corrupt president anything he wants has caused me to change my status from Democrat to Independent. I am seriously considering alternate presidential contenders. From what I have seen since we elected a majority to congress and having Obama lie to us about FISA I am really having a hard time seeing any difference between the Democratic and Republican parties. They both try to sell themselves by pandering to different people to get into office so they can take advantage to all the perks including giving themselves hefty pay raises and selling their votes for more perks. When it all comes down to what we get, the majority are a bunch of lying thugs who don’t give a rats ass about the constitution or bill of rights. Obama or McCain, Republican or Democratic congress, all the same. At one time there were differences but politics is so corrupt that it is all about power and money for them, not those of us who work to hold this country together. I had high hopes for Obama. While he was working for our donations and our votes he tickled our ears. Now he will tickle the ears of whomever has the most money and we all know it is not the average person around here. It just didn’t take long to corrupt him I guess.
Comment by Obamatherat — July 20, 2008 @ 10:36 am
carissa, i think your husband sits on the ulysses democratic committee. are you telling us you dont know what goes on in your own household? maybe you should have some better communication at home before you come onto an open forum and shoot your mouth off. good luck with that.
Comment by x — July 21, 2008 @ 10:41 pm