Up til now, the FISA reform "compromise" debacle has been rolling smoothly along - merrily whizzing out of the House in less than 24 hours. Our only chance to stop it lies in slowing it down, gumming up the works, making every procedural vote count and running out the clock. Protecting the Constitution has meant poking sticks in every wheel that comes by in the hopes that a few of them might work.

Today, news has emerged that we've got two new sticks. First, the stalwart Constitutional champions from the last FISA go-round have stood up again. Senators Dodd and Feingold have promised, yet again, to filibuster any bill that includes immunity for lawbreaking telecoms (including the current House version). Via the Huffington Post:

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) released the following statement today in response to the announcement that the Senate this week will consider the compromise legislation that would reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

This is a deeply flawed bill, which does nothing more than offer retroactive immunity by another name. We strongly urge our colleagues to reject this so-called 'compromise' legislation and oppose any efforts to consider this bill in its current form. We will oppose efforts to end debate on this bill as long as it provides retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies that may have participated in the President's warrantless wiretapping program, and as long as it fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans.
If the Senate does proceed to this legislation, our immediate response will be to offer an amendment that strips the retroactive immunity provision out of the bill. We hope our colleagues will join us in supporting Americans' civil liberties by opposing retroactive immunity and rejecting this so-called 'compromise' legislation.

Majority Leader Reid has said he will support their effort to strip immunity from the bill. But even better than that comes news from Reid's office that the Senate may simply be too busy with other legislation this week to take up FISA reform before the July 4th break. From dday, via Atrios comes the news:

Senator Reid just informed his colleagues on the Senate floor that, because of all the other bills in the queue (like the housing bill, and the Iraq supplemental), FISA may not get a vote until after the July 4 holiday recess.

What does all this mean for you? It means we get an extra window, an extra precious few weeks, to convince our Senators to abide by their oaths to defend the Constitution. Get to the phones (202)224-3121, get to the free faxes. Get your neighbors and friends to call. Our chance is slim - but it's a chance nonetheless.

Updates: Senators Wyden and Boxer will also oppose cloture (i.e. support a filibuster) on any bill that includes immunity.

Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake has direct numbers for target Senators (Durbin - (202) 224-2152) and also an encouragement for everyone to call our beloved Junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama:

Senate DC office: (202) 224-2854
Senate DC fax: (202) 228-4260
Campaign: (866) 675-2008 (choose option 6)

Hat Tip Glenn Greenwald