Chris Dodd for President

So, Matt Browner-Hamlin was traveling with Chris Dodd to Ottumwa, Iowa for a little light video blogging when he whipped out his camera ... and it was frozen.

R.I.P Matt's camera.

By far, one of my favorite user-generated video submissions. I might be a Cubs fan (and by extension, an Iowa! Cubs fan), but I have nothing but love for the Rally Monkey.

The campaign released the following statement earlier today.

Washington, DC- Senator and Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd today expressed his condolences to the family of Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated earlier today in Pakistan.

Dodd, who has kept in touch with Bhutto over the past few weeks of turbulence and unrest in Pakistan, and is a 26-year member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that this is again another reminder of the experienced leadership our country needs at a time when critical regions around the world are in turmoil.

"Today's news from Pakistan is both shocking and saddening. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have had the opportunity to travel to Pakistan and come to know Former Prime Minister Bhutto very well over the years. I spoke to her personally several weeks ago and have stayed in close contact with her since. She was a respected leader who played an important part in moving Pakistan toward democracy.

"As we recognize the loss of a leader today, we must also recognize the implication of today's tragedy to the security of the region and to that of the United States.

"At this critical time we must do everything in our power to help Pakistan continue the path toward democracy and full elections. Our first priority must be to ensure stability in this critical nuclear state.

"The United States should also stand ready to provide assistance in investigating this heinous act. And as Pakistan perpetrators to justice, it should also demonstrate that it will not allow such violence to derail democracy and proceed with elections in a timely manner."

Famed WMD hunter Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) took the time Tuesday to "demand!" our campaign return contributions received since last week.

You can imagine only the most sincere incredulity coming from the man who posted a "basic guide to building an atmoic bomb" on a Congressional website, paid for with your tax dollars. And as Hoekstra currently bangs the drums of war against Iran, the IAEA feared Hoekstra's folly could "help states like Iran develop nuclear arms." Amazing.

Additionally, a White House spokesman accused us of using the telecom companies that helped spy on Americans as "political props."

They're afraid we're going to win.

They just aren't used to Democrats showing some spine and pushing back. But more to the point -- they see the damage we've done to the prospects of giving a free ride to telecom companies who have broken the law.

Of course, they don't want a real debate on this issue, or it would be offered in a stand-alone bill -- not inserted into a measure that sunsets in February. Much like Hoekstra acknowledged earlier this year "If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose."

After all that, it's really hard to take someone seriously who actually claimed, IN 2006, that he found the WMD in Iraq.

Are you willing to go to the mat to restore the Constitution?

Just last night, we heard there are plans to disregard Senator Dodd's intention to place a hold on a FISA bill that includes amnesty for telecommunications companies.

That would be a pretty extraordinary move, but Chris Dodd has pledged to stop this horrible bill any way he can.

So if the hold is not honored, he is prepared to go to the Senate floor and filibuster.

Rolling back the Bush Administration assault on the rule of law has been a major focus of Chris Dodd's work in the Senate -- and it's also a centerpiece in his campaign for President.

Your contribution will help us take our message of restoring the Constitution through the cornfields of Iowa, the streets of New Hampshire, and into the White House.

http://www.chrisdodd.com/constitution

Democrats were elected to change the course of this country - to restore our security and our values - and for too long Congress has not.

It's time to take a stand.

Your support over the past twenty-four hours has been inspiring -- but with both Republicans AND even a few Democrats pushing back -- Senator Dodd needs it now more than ever.

http://www.chrisdodd.com/constitution

There is a direct relationship between our diminished standing in the world and the current Administration's assault on the Constitution.

Standing up for the values enshrined in that document doesn't make us more vulnerable ... they make us more secure.

The Senator likes to say that if he is sworn in at noon on January 20, 2009, he'll begin restoring the Constitution by 1 P.M.

You can help get him there right now.

http://www.chrisdodd.com/constitution

The Senate just voted to approve, by a margin of 76-22, the Kyl/Lieberman "Sense of the Senate" amendment on Iran.

Senator Dodd was one of the few voting no, and had this to say of vote:

"I cannot support the Kyl-Lieberman amendment on Iran. To do so could give this President a green light to act recklessly and endanger US national security. We learned in the run up to the Iraq war that seemingly nonbinding language passed by this Senate can have profound consequences. We need the president to use robust diplomacy to address concerns with Iran, not the language in this amendment that the president can point to if he decides to draw this country into another disastrous war of choice."

He added:

“We shouldn’t repeat our mistakes and enable this President again.”

We've received a few inquiries in the past week wondering when Chris Dodd is going to invite the email list out for a meal.

Hillary's done it. Barack's done it. John Edwards taught his email list how to make a pecan pie. The press following the internet in the 2008 election really wants to know -- what are we gonna do to feed you?

The short answer is, Chris Dodd would prefer to lead with you -- not eat with you.

We've led on habeas corpus, gaining eight votes since the measure was offered as an amendment to the Military Commissions Act.

That was us, working together.

Chris Dodd was the only Democratic Presidential candidate to vote against the Levin-Reed compromise bill that would have done nothing to end the war -- a bad bill that actually lost votes since its last roll-call.

That, again, was us ... "stopping a bad bill."

But as we head into the last days of what could be the final fundraising deadline before the primaries, we need your help getting our message out to supporters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and across the country.

Can we count on your $25, $50, or $100 contribution right now?

http://chrisdodd.com/leadership

The bottom line is this: while other candidates recite parables of personal growth about past political failure, Chris Dodd is leading.

He showed results by getting one of the most important pieces health care legislation since Medicare passed: his Family and Medical Leave Act.

He has the best health care plan in the race to make sure all Americans have health care.

And he is leading the way to expand benefits of his Family and Medical Leave Act to include caregivers for wounded warriors returning from Iraq and their families.

Chris Dodd is leading, and we need your small-dollar support to help guide us through the primaries and onto the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Can we count on your contribution right now?

http://chrisdodd.com/leadership

A little less Paris, a little more Baghdad.

A little less hair cuts, a little more troop cuts.

So no, we aren't inviting you over to "do lunch," but we would like you to help Chris Dodd restore the Constitution on his first day in office.

Thanks for all you do,

Tim Tagaris
Chris Dodd for President

There seems to be a little bit of confusion about what, exactly, Levin Reed actually would have accomplished. The short answer is ... nothing.

That's why Senator Dodd voted against the legislation earlier this morning.

Despite pledges about only casting votes to end the war, Chris Dodd was the only Presidential candidate to stick to his guns in the Senate this morning. Here's his statement:

"This bill (Levin-Reed) will not stop this President from continuing to wage this war. While a firm deadline is necessary, it is not sufficient without it also being enforceable through the power of the purse. Given this President's loyalty to his own failed policy, it is clear to me that anything short of firm, enforceable deadline that forces his hand will only serve to perpetuate our involvement in this civil war. I will only vote to fully fund the complete redeployment of our troops out of Iraq." -- Chris Dodd

Levin-Reed bill was, of course, a toothless "compromise" bill, and even that couldn't get support.

Dodd raises the stakes ... The only surprise: Chris Dodd, moving the anti-war target, voted against it on the grounds that it's too weak.

Levin-Reed: The Secretary of Defense shall...

Bush: No, the Secretary of Defense shall not.

Congress: Oh. Well, what now?

Here's a statement from Senator Dodd that went to press only moments ago.


"Despite the exemplary performance of our troops, we are coming off the bloodiest summer of this misguided war and it should be clear that there can be no military solution in Iraq.

"It is useless to argue the merits of a specific tactic when the strategy itself is failed.

"In fact, debating over military tactics when there is no military solution only undermines efforts by those of us who believe that we must change course in Iraq now and begin to immediately redeploy US combat forces so that Iraqi leaders will have the impetus to find a political accord."

Please take a moment and sign-up (on the right side of the screen) to receive updates like this, as they happen, directly from the campaign. -- Tim