BIG DAY FOR PATRIOTIC AMERICANS IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TOMORROW

My pal Christy sent me a list of the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning-- as well as some phone numbers where they can be reached:

Patrick Leahy (D-VT)- Chairman

Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Joseph Biden (D-DE)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Benjamin Cardin
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
John Kyl (R-AZ)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)

1 (800) 828 - 0498
1 (800) 459 - 1887
1 (800) 614 - 2803
1 (866) 340 - 9281
1 (866) 338 - 1015
1 (877) 851 - 6437

She had something in mind. Tomorrow the Committee will take up S.185, "a bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. The bill was written by the committee's ranking Republican, Arlen Specter (R-PA) and is co-sponsored 18 senators, all Democrats-- from liberals like Feingold, Kennedy, Whitehouse and Leahy to presidential candidates like Hillary, Obama and Dodd to corporate shills like Biden and Feinstein to a bona fide reactionary, Ken Salazar. But not one Republican. It's even co-sponsored by freshman senator Sherrod Brown, who voted for it as a House member last year, forfeiting his endorsement from Blue America.

Christy is urging everyone to call their senators-- including non-committee members, since this is going to get voted out of committee and onto the floor of the full senate where Miss McConnell (R-KY) will try to kill it by parliamentary maneuver-- and also announced that tomorrow Firedoglake will host a habeas corpus special with some folks from the ACLU (noon, PT, 3pm back in DC). This is the first chance to start rolling back the worst of the outrages perpetrated against the Constitution by the Bush Regime over the past 7 years. Christy isn't the only one urging people to contact their senators. Patrick Leahy has launched an online advocacy campaign where people can urge their Senators to co-sponsor the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, to build as much support as possible for the bill before Thursday's vote, and hopefully ensure swift floor action.

And while you're at it, keep in mind that the Senate Judiciary Committee members need to be reminded about something else of great importance that they will be dealing with Thursday: Bush's nomination of the supremely unqualified bigot, Leslie Southwick, for the U.S. Court of Appeals. One call: two crucial issues on the same day.

We can make a difference; Bush and his rubber stamp Congress eliminated a fundamental safeguard of our basic liberties. We can erase that disgrace tomorrow.