Edwards Steps Up

Apparently this was supposed to be part of his TV appearances tonight, but we do have a statement from John Edwards on tomorrow's FISA fight:

In Washington today, telecom lobbyists have launched a full-court press to win retroactive immunity for their illegal eavesdropping on American citizens. Granting retroactive immunity will let corporate law-breakers off the hook and hamstring efforts to learn the truth about Bush's illegal spying program.

"It's time for Senate Democrats to show a little backbone and stand up to George W. Bush and the corporate lobbyists. They should do everything in their power -- including joining Senator Dodd's efforts to filibuster this legislation -- to stop retroactive immunity. The Constitution should not be for sale at any price."

He tailored it to fit his "corporate greed" argument. And this is fine as far as it goes. But, as a former Senator, Edwards does have floor privileges. He could go to Washington tomorrow. All three of the candidates could walk in arm in arm, united against this giveaway to the phone companies.

I'm not hopeful that this will happen, but it's a neat little dream.

UPDATE: Courage Campaign has an action to call Sen. Feinstein. I've gone back and forth on her compromise amendments, but the fact that the plaintiffs would not be able to be represented in a review process in front of the FISA court clinches it for me. The regular court system ought to be sufficient to determine the law in this case. They should not have that taken away from them by Congress.

Of course, Bush would veto any bill with Feinstein's amendment in it, making it a poison pill, so it has the effect of a filibuster and a way to short-circuit the process. Sadly, I'm not sanguine that we're headed into anything but immunity territory. I'm be calling tomorrow and so should you.