THURSDAY Feb. 21: "You are Not a Lap Dog!" Call-In Day

Call Speaker Pelosi at 202-225-0100 and Majority Leader Hoyer at 202-225-4131. Tell them to stay strong against warrantless wiretapping and $102 billion more for Iraq.

In a surprising and long-overdue display of courage, the House Democratic leadership last week stood up to Bush and refused to bring to the floor a bill that would allow Bush to continue to spy on the people of this country without a warrant. Also every Democrat but one voted to hold Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton in contempt of Congress. Can this newfound Democratic courage last?

We need Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to continue to stand strong against domestic spying and telecom immunity. And we need them to learn that they do have power if they choose to use it, and apply this lesson to ending the occupation of Iraq. Pelosi and Hoyer can start by simply refusing to allow Bush's $102 billion Iraq war funding request to come up for a vote.

Thursday Feb. 21: Join United for Peace and Justice, Democrats.com, AfterDowningStreet.org, Progressive Democrats of America, and other groups in a Massive National "You are NOT a Lap Dog*" Call-In Day!

Call Speaker Pelosi at 202-225-0100 and Majority Leader Hoyer at 202-225-4131. If you don't get through to a person, leave a voicemail.

Talking points:

1. Thank you for standing up against Bush's warrantless wiretapping, and keep standing up.

2. Stand up against Bush's new $102 billion Iraq war funding request by refusing to bring it to the floor for a vote.

In addition to your call, please sign our petition to your own Representative and Senators: No More Funds for Iraq
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/124

This Democratic Congress was elected to end the war, but they have given Bush one blank check after another, most recently for $70 billion on January 16. But 42 Democrats and 4 Republicans finally said no in January, so our calls and emails are making a difference, and we need to keep up the pressure.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll011.xml

And we must do more than call and email - we must take to the streets and put pressure directly on our Representatives. Here's a flyer you can hand out in front of your Representative's office today:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/outofiraq-wanted-flyer

Connect with other Democrats.com members in your Congressional District (login required):
http://democrats.com/local
Look down to your Congressional District, read past posts and add your comments, or create a new post with your ideas and plans.

In mid-March, UFPJ member groups and allies around the country will mobilize for a wide range of powerful actions marking the 5th anniversary of the war and occupation in Iraq. Join us in March to say, 5 YEARS TOO MANY!
http://resistinmarch.org

Background

* "We're not the lap dog of the president or the United States Senate."
-Rep Hoyer on Feb. 13, when the House leadership refused to bow to political pressure on warrantless wiretapping.

Early last week, the Senate passed an extension of the Orwellian "Protect America Act" that allows Bush to wiretap all of us without a warrant and offered immunity to telecoms that facilitated illegal wiretaps in the past. Bush and the Senate wanted the House to quickly pass the Senate bill, because the act expires on Feb. 15. The House stood up to Bush and the Senate and allowed the "Protect America Act" to expire. The fear-mongering has not stopped, with Bush claiming that terrorists are planning an attack that will far surpass 9/11, and he will be helpless to stop them without the ability to spy on us without a warrant.

Unfortunately, the battle over domestic spying and telecom immunity is not over. The House will return to the subject next week. The leadership must be assured that they did the right thing by refusing to bow to pressure and fear mongering, and that they must continue to defend the Constitution.

The battle over FISA teaches an important lesson about Congressional power - the Democrats have it, if they care to use it. Pelosi and Hoyer have demonstrated that they are willing to go to the mat over domestic spying and telecom immunity - now we want to see them go to the mat to end the occupation of Iraq.

Bush has requested another $102 billion for Iraq - which would push total spending on the war so far above $624 billion. Rep. John Murtha, Chair of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, is preparing a bill to fund that request. He says the bill will be ready by the end of February. The peace movement will have to wage a strong campaign to defeat the war supplemental, or to turn it into a bill that only funds the withdrawal of all troops and contractors. It won't be easy - the presidential elections are capturing the attention of activists and the general public. We must keep the pressure on!

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