Orrin Hatch has this to say on retroactive immunity for the telcos in the FISA [gag] Reform Bill:

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), also on the Judiciary and Intelligence panels, said the documents did not change his position that the surveillance activities "were and are" lawful.

Senator, you're threatening my cranial integrity.

Because if the surveilllance was so lawful, what the Fuck do they need retroactive immunity for???

And he's angry.

Text of letter sent to Progressive Patriots Fund members:

Over at Big Orange:

[FEINGOLD:] I wanted to link to a couple really good posts that I’ve seen in the past few days about the Democrats’ strategy on the Iraq supplemental spending bill.  They drive home what a mistake it is to just give up and pass a supplemental that doesn’t include language to stop the war:

http://www.dailykos.com/...

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/...

This situation is a collapse for Democrats.  We had a strong start, pushed back against the President’s failed policy and held our ground that the supplemental should include binding language to end the war.  But now, as Congress gets ready to send the President a bill that does nothing to get our troops out of Iraq, we are just folding our cards.  As one person commented under Greg Sargent’s great post at TPM cafe, "Send the Congressional Dems over to my place for some poker - I could use a windfall right now."

This is no time to back down.

Bingo.

This is a whole new deal. Democrats at the helms of both houses.

What's more, an ample majority in the House means a few outliers won't impede progressive action.

The Senate "majority," though, is a delicate thing. 49-49, with two independents who — we hear — will sit with the donkey caucus. With Dick Cheney waiting in the wings to break ties.

Clearly, the Senate needs bold leadership. As I see it, there is one person there who has stood on the right, and reality-based, side of every important issue. And so I wrote him this note: