by Charles Harker [courtesy of Blog for America]

If so, would somebody PLEASE tell me how these people can continue to get away with betraying us and the country?..If it happens it would be another example of how congress has completely abandoned what they were put in power to do.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Monica Smith [courtesy of Blog for America]

As you've probably heard, a number of telecommunications corporations made their telephone lines and satellite connections available to the federal government so their customers could be spied on without their knowledge, consent, or the approval of a court.

Now, while it's entirely legal for these corporations to collect all kinds of personal information about their customers in the process of conducting their business, it's against the law to hand this information over to government agencies unless they've persuaded a judge that they really need it for a law-enforcement purpose. In addition, in not keeping their customers' private information secure, some corporations have violated their duty to their customers and are being sued in court for damages.

So, what are the corporations to do? That's easy. Taking a page from the Bush Administration, their response to a law they don't like is to try to get it changed, after the fact. And that's where we're at.

As part of some amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, some members of

by Airpower [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]

All of us are familiar to one degree or another with the evils of media concentration, corporate ownership, and deliberate misreporting/bias against elected leaders of the Democratic Party, Democratic candidates, and liberal ideas.  There are multiple parts to this problem but, since power flows from the grass roots up, it is necessary for us to push for action through our Party structure.  Below the fold are six resolutions you can introduce and support in your local Democratic club, county central committee, and state Democratic Party caucuses to help bring about constructive change:

- A Resolution in Support of the Free Flow of Information
- A Resolution in Support of Net Neutrality
- A Resolution in Support of Returning the Fairness Doctrine, Equal Time Provision, and News and Public Affairs Requirements
- A Resolution in Support of Copyright Reform
- A Resolution in Opposition to Funding of California Elections by Corporations