2007.10.28: October 28, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Connecticut Post: Dodd opposition to Bush earns points

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Dominican Republic: RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic) : RPCV Chris Dodd: Newest Stories: 2007.10.28: October 28, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Connecticut Post: Dodd opposition to Bush earns points

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Dodd opposition to Bush earns points

Dodd opposition to Bush earns points

Dodd placed second last week in a monthly "straw poll" conducted by DailyKos, a popular liberal Web log, after failing to register at all in the same poll a month earlier. The 21 points were the biggest gain for any candidate and put him within reach of John Edwards, who leads the liberal Internet poll. "We've had a great response from people across the country who are as dismayed as the senator is that this president keeps trampling on the Constitution," said Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for his presidential campaign. Since he announced his plans, Dodd's campaign also has received more than $200,000 in online contributions driven to a great extent by liberal bloggers who tout Dodd's actions as a sign of a strong leader. MoveOn.org has launched a campaign to pressure other Senate Democrats to follow Dodd's lead. "Americans want to see accountability from the Bush administration and not immunity for lawbreakers," said Nita Chaudhary, a spokesperson for the web-based advocacy group. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.

Dodd opposition to Bush earns points

Dodd opposition to Bush earns points
PETER URBAN purban@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 10/28/2007 01:58:02 AM EDT

WASHINGTON - After a week of presidential campaigning in Iowa, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd returned to a near empty U.S. Capitol Friday to decry what he perceives as a power grab by President Bush in the name of national security.

"It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law," he said. "These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring."

Dodd has been launching such rhetorical attacks on the campaign trail for months to little fanfare — raising concerns about torture at Abu Ghraib and denial of basic legal rights at Guantanamo Bay.

But, people are starting to listen.

Just over a week ago, Dodd announced plans to use Senate privileges to block passage of a bill that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that violated the privacy rights of its customers.

The Senate Intelligence Committee recently endorsed reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that includes the Bush administration demand to grant immunity to AT&T, Verizon Communications and other companies being sued for allegedly handing over millions of customer records in violation of federal privacy laws in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001.

At least one company — Qwest — refused to participate in the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretap program, citing concerns about the legality of it.

By
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placing a "hold" on the bill, Dodd has delayed any floor votes on the legislation. He also has caused Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton to essentially jump on board.

So-called Net Roots activists went wild, and Dodd now appears to be their darling.

Dodd placed second last week in a monthly "straw poll" conducted by DailyKos, a popular liberal Web log, after failing to register at all in the same poll a month earlier. The 21 points were the biggest gain for any candidate and put him within reach of John Edwards, who leads the liberal Internet poll.

"We've had a great response from people across the country who are as dismayed as the senator is that this president keeps trampling on the Constitution," said Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for his presidential campaign.

Since he announced his plans, Dodd's campaign also has received more than $200,000 in online contributions driven to a great extent by liberal bloggers who tout Dodd's actions as a sign of a strong leader.

MoveOn.org has launched a campaign to pressure other Senate Democrats to follow Dodd's lead.

"Americans want to see accountability from the Bush administration and not immunity for lawbreakers," said Nita Chaudhary, a spokesperson for the web-based advocacy group.

The group has gotten nearly 200,000 on-line signatures of members calling on members of the Senate Intelligence and Senate Judiciary committees to oppose the amnesty, she said. The Judiciary Committee plans to hold a hearing on the bill on Wednesday.

While not endorsing Dodd, Chaudhary said that his actions could only help but build support for his presidential campaign.

"Voters want leaders who will stand up and fight. That is what Chris Dodd is doing," she said.

Although Dodd's campaign can only be helped by the Internet buzz, it may not be enough to pull him out of the also-ran column.

"This issue is probably not going to change the race," said Jennifer Duffy, a campaign analyst for The Cook Political Report. Dodd has failed to garner more than 1 or 2 percent in polls surveying likely voters in Democratic primaries — trailing far behind Clinton, Obama or Edwards. He also trails them in campaign fund raising. At the end of September, his campaign had $3.8 million cash on hand.

Clinton had $50 million and Obama $36 million.

"The Net Roots reaction does show that this issue resonates with them but does it resonate with more moderate Democrats? I'm not sure we know that," Duffy said.

Dodd said Friday that he appreciates that people are interested in this issue but was motivated by his longstanding commitment to protecting the Constitution and individual freedoms.

Indeed, Dodd harkens back to his father's experience as a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials at the close of World War II.

"What America accomplished at those historic trials was not a foregone conclusion. It took courage," Dodd said.

"When Joseph Stalin and even a leader as great and noble as Winston Churchill wanted to simply execute the Nazi leaders, we didn't back down in this country from our belief that these men, as terrible as they were — some of the worst violators in the court of history of mankind — ought to have a trial," Dodd said. "We did not give in to vengeance. As then, the issue before us today is the same. Does America stand for all that is still right with our world, or do we retreat in fear?"




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Headlines: October, 2007; RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic); Figures; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Politics; Congress; Connecticut





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Story Source: Connecticut Post

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Dominican Republic; Politics; Congress; Election2008 - Dodd

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