I've been "offering everyone the opportunity to participate in the political process" (okay... nagging) on several issues lately, and I thought I'd let you know how they are moving along.
MoveOn got the 500,000 signatures opposing Samuel Alito's nomination and will be running an ad in Roll Call. The fight continues by hiring community organizers to mobilize local groups. (Remember when President Bush's "number one priority" was privatization of Social Security? Grassroots organizing was an effective tool for the political left on that issue, and it's being used again.)
The support for the anti-torture amendment is growing, which makes the threatened Presidential veto a politically dangerous move -not to mention unethical, but I've already covered that part. 90 Senators, including 46 Republicans, support the amendment and the US Catholic Bishops have come out in favor if it as well. Watch, though, for a proposed exemption for the CIA. That's the new idea from the White House and it would effectively gut the amendment.
As for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, it's still close. Sen. Maria Cantwell fought the good fight with a floor amendment yesterday. She came within three votes of stopping the plan for drilling. Unfortunately, a miss is as good as a mile. So the discussion moves to the House of Representatives. The house is likely to vote on the budget bill next week, so.... you know what to do.
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