Ned Lamont Backs Habeas Corpus -- and Chris Dodd

Ned Lamont has been laying low since his November loss to Joe Lieberman, Connecticut's Independent junior Senator. Yet now Lamont is stepping up to help Connecticut's senior Senator, Chris Dodd, promote his bill to restore habeas corpus and other rights that were revoked by last year's Military Commissions Act.

Lamont remains a popular figure among the netroots, which catalyzed his primary campaign and made him to the top candidate in netroots donations during the mid-terms. Now he is asking his Internet supporters to back Dodd's ambitious new bill, the "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007."

"This legislation is a chance for the Senate to start asserting our true American values again by unequivocally rejecting the gravely mistaken Administration policies on detainee treatment - policies which have only made us less safe," Lamont wrote in a recent email to his national supporter list, driving traffic to Dodd's new website, Restore-Habeas.org. The website is part of Dodd's broader Internet campaign, including live-blogging at sites like Booman Tribune and buying ads on top blogs like Daily Kos and MyDD, to promote the legislation and his presidential campaign. As John Nichols recently explained, Dodd is making the Constitution and rule of law "central to his outreach to voters." Dodd also tapped former Lamont aide Tim Tagaris to run the campaign's Internet outreach.

Of course, the Dodd Campaign welcomes Lamont's support of the legislation and Dodd's candidacy. Spokesperson Benvea Schulte told The Nation, "We are very pleased Ned Lamont is supporting Chris Dodd for President. He brings great energy and enthusiasm to our campaign effort, and we look forward to his support and that of others around the country as we move forward in our campaign."

But will any of Lamont's netroots magic rub off on Dodd?

So far, Dodd has not completely won over the top blogs in his own state, which were very influential in Lamont's race. A recent post on My Left Nutmeg commended Dodd's "Habeas campaign," but then lamented his "subservient" comments about his junior counterpart, Senator Lieberman, and offered some advice: "If he were merely to convey the same level of benign disregard towards Lieberman as Lieberman continually does towards him, Dodd would be the hero of the netroots and immediately gain traction in the race."

Over at the national blog Firedoglake, which offers a "yeasty mix of commentary, invective and inside jokes," according a recent New York Times profile, Dodd has been warmly received. In a chat last month, readers commended his work fighting torture, Iraq escalation and passing the Family Medical Leave Act. One commenter wrote Dodd's commitment to "speak out against torture" made him a "hero in [her] heart." But she made sure to add that she would vote for Gore or Edwards for in 2008.

------- UPDATE: Readers such as John Maasch and Mask argue that Lamont's endorsement may actually be unhelpful, since he lost the November election. But Dodd is focused on winning an uphill battle in a Democratic primary -- precisely the challenge Lamont conquered last August.

Comments (35)

1. Lamont...now thers an endorsement I think I might shy away from given the end result of his election , ah, loss.....

   Posted by john maasch at 02/25/2007 @ 7:33pm

2. I will probably give Dodd some money for his campaign as well as Richardson. I have already done so for Biden, even though I am supporting John Edwards.

   I just believe that the media should not be telling us which candidates we are supposed to support (Clinton and Obama), when it is clear those two are the least electable of the major Democratic candidates.

   Everybody should register their protest the same way.

   Posted by susannunes at 02/25/2007 @ 7:58pm

3. "But will any of Lamont's netroots magic rub off on Dodd?"

   Dodd probably praying...it doesn't!

   hehe

   Posted by Mask at 02/25/2007 @ 8:35pm

4. I like Chris Dodd. He's a man of integrity, principle and a fine human being. But he's never going to be president... way to stuffy.

   And America isn't looking for stuffy at this point in time

   Posted by Will C. at 02/25/2007 @ 9:38pm

5. I suspect Dodd does not say or do too much against LIEberman because the latter is using the threat of caucusing with the GOP to discourage active criticism against the Republican-backed "independent."

   Posted by ARCHANGEL_M at 02/25/2007 @ 10:48pm

6. "And America isn't looking for stuffy at this point in time "

   and it sure ain't lookin' for Dodd..stuffy or not...loser.

   Posted by john maasch at 02/25/2007 @ 10:50pm

7. and it sure ain't lookin' for Dodd..stuffy or not...loser.

   Posted by JOHN MAASCH 02/25/2007 @ 10:50pm

   Another interesting assessment maasch. Bwah Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Perhaps your inner kook was unaware that Senator Dodd was elected for five consecutive terms to that august house of congress.

   Posted by Will C. at 02/25/2007 @ 11:15pm

8. Will,

   Doesn't matter...can't get elected anywhere out side CT...too left for the rest of the nation..

   Posted by john maasch at 02/25/2007 @ 11:35pm

9. Doesn't matter...can't get elected anywhere out side CT...too left for the rest of the nation..

   Posted by JOHN MAASCH 02/25/2007 @ 11:35pm

   He's way too stuffy for the voters that matter. You hamsters will be regulated to the nose bleed seats for this one.

   Actually I'm afraid you'll be spending many more elections to come up there flitting with the moths. At least you'll have something to eat.

   Posted by Will C. at 02/25/2007 @ 11:40pm

10. I think that Dodd is running for VP. Paired with the right headliner (i.e. not Hillary, for geographical reasons), he could be a great choice.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 08:00am

11. Posted by SKELETONMAN 02/26/2007 @ 08:00am

    Obama's "Cheney" figure? Older man with "gravitas" and a resume?

    Posted by Mask at 02/26/2007 @ 08:57am

12. Who are the American Citizens protected by the constitution and laws of the U.S.A. that have been denied this right?

    Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 09:31am

    I believe his name is... Jose Padilla.

    Posted by Mask at 02/26/2007 @ 09:51am

13. At least Dodd;s ancestors were not owned by Jesse Jacksons. oh, man, sharpton is going to be on fire.

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/26/2007 @ 09:53am

14. That right RIO, no other people count. Only US citizens should have the right to view the evidence against them, have a right to a trial and have the right to be defended by a lawyer. Everyone else is a savage, untouched by hundreds of years of legal precedent.

    Sniveling coward.

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/26/2007 @ 09:56am

15. According to PONTIFICUS logic, Padilla should be set free anyway, he was never charged with dirty bomb. Remember the dirty bomber? That must be part of the fantasy world the "left" lives in.

    How many more have been abducted that we don't know about? How about the "most vicious" 400 that were let go, after NO charges were filed against them. AFTER they were held for YEARS!!

    that is not America, that is chimpies frightened Amerika.

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/26/2007 @ 09:59am

16. Now there's a campaign slogan for the left..."Free Padilla"...he should be right where he is...or further down...about 6 feet.

    Posted by john maasch at 02/26/2007 @ 10:19am

17. Obama's "Cheney" figure? Older man with "gravitas" and a resume?

    Posted by MASK 02/26/2007 @ 08:57am

    Yeah, but without the psychosis.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 10:57am

18. Or the shitty aim.

    Where was it that he shot 'old Harry?'

    Oh yeah, IN THE FACE, for cryin' out loud.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 10:58am

19. Honestly, I think that Darth Cheney is one of those people, like an uncle of my ex-wife's, who just isn't happy unless he is killing something.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 11:00am

20. Who are the American Citizens protected by the constitution and laws of the U.S.A. that have been denied this right?

    Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 09:31am

    Surely you realize, Rio Pollo-shit, that Habeus Corpus is one of the broad principles upon which all of Western law rests and has so rested for about 800 years or something.

    Without the right to be heard in court, we are but one very short step away from mob rule. This is one of the things separates 'us' from 'them,' or did, that is until your fellow chicken shit sucking friend Chimpy came along and made America no better than the rest of the world.

    Though I have said this here and elsewhere about a billion times since dipshit and his handler Darth were handed the keys, if we throw away the principles that make this country great in our haste to have at the 'evil doers,' we have lost the very thing that makes our nation worth fighting for.

    All that I can say, River of Poultry Excrement, is be ready when they come for you, because by the time they do get around to you, there ain't gonna be nobody left to stand up for you. We'll all be gone by then, son.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 11:16am

21. Now there's a campaign slogan for the left..."Free Padilla"...he should be right where he is...or further down...about 6 feet.

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 02/26/2007 @ 10:19am

    How about " Try Padilla, once and for all".

    I was merely pointing out that, according to PONTIFICUS, the original charges against Padilla, that he wanted to set off a nuclear device in the US, have been dropped or were never actually brought, then there is no crime. Just like Libby. But, of course Ponti is full of it. Padilla should have a trial, SOON. He has been in solitary for years!! He may indeed be what the feds say, a terrorist. So try him!! Why have they not done so? I think it is because they have nothing but a jail house snitch as a witness against him and his trial will expose that he was used as a propaganda tool when Chimpy needed to detract from his incompetence. They have a long history of holding info, then releasing it when a bad news story about the admin comes out.

    Libby on trial? Whip out some Iranian weapons that have been in US custody for months. Ring a bell?

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/26/2007 @ 11:29am

22. RIOcacadePOLLO. here it is from a man of God. Pay attention this time, I posted it 9 months ago.

    First they came for the Jews

    and I did not speak out

    because I was not a Jew.

    Then they came for the Communists

    and I did not speak out

    because I was not a Communist.

    Then they came for the trade unionists

    and I did not speak out

    because I was not a trade unionist.

    Then they came for me

    and there was no one left

    to speak out for me.

    Pastor Martin Niemöller

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/26/2007 @ 11:33am

23. Jobs for RIO and LUVVY:

    The Army Chaplain Corps now has about 520 vacancies, its most severe shortage in history.

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20070226-124607-1118r.htm

    Posted by crabwalk at 02/26/2007 @ 11:38am

24. Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 12:45am

    I answered the question....or am I on RIO's Ignore list?

    Posted by Mask at 02/26/2007 @ 12:48pm

25. Want to try answering the question or does it just feel better to rant senselessly?

    Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 12:45am

    Hey Rio Barfo, I answered your question in terms of a broad concept, that of Habeus Corpus (the basic principle of Western Law that everyone get her/his day in court). Or did that escape your steel trap-like mind?

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 1:36pm

26. Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 3:10pm |

    The point that I am making my obstreperous friend is that our government is systematically abandoning the principles that made us the the nation that we have been - up until your hero Chimpy and his leash holder Darth Cheney were handed the 2000 election.

    Without our principles, we are no better than anyone else, fool. That is what I am saying. Without the Rule of Law applied evenhandedly to ALL that fall within the reach of our legal system, the Rule of Law eventually will come to mean nothing. Does that penetrate the pure rockonium that comprises the various layers of your cranial vault?

    What protects you in the end from Chimpy, or some future president saying "I think that Rio Bravo character is a menace to society, and I am going to brand him a terrorist, an enemy of the state?"

    If you allow one man to rule by fait accompli, you stain the principles that we allegedly are fighting and dying for in Iraq, numb nuts. That you don't fucking get it is either evidence that you are willfully ignorant or have been lobotomized by fear.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 4:08pm

27. Wow...I guess I AM on RIO's Ignore. hmmmm...feel pretty good about that actually.

    Okay, so SKELETON...ask him about Padilla for me, will ya?

    Posted by Mask at 02/26/2007 @ 4:55pm

28. Rio -

    Mask answered: Jose Padilla.

    Posted by Hman23 at 02/26/2007 @ 4:58pm

29. sorry skeletonman,

    So to call it one man as in George Bush is to ignore the facts.

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 02/26/2007 @ 5:39pm | ignore this person

    When I referred to one man ruling by fait accompli, I was referring to GWB's belief that he and he alone can designate anyone he so chooses an 'enemy combatant' - essentially unworthy of the protections of the law. In essence, your boy-would-be-king has taken it upon himself to create a sub-class of human.

    That the courts and congress have hitherto been complicit in this despicable betrayal of our nation is repugnant to anyone who believes that we are in fact, all created equal (in both the eyes of humankind and in the Eyes of God). I say 'hitherto,' because I do have hope that in the fullness of time, our co-equal branches of government will see the error of their ways and bring to heel this wayward knave and his evil master.

    Posted by skeletonman at 02/26/2007 @ 7:31pm

30. Again, there is "NO U.S.A. Citizen" being denied habeous corpus.

    a lie. Padilla is one. since they are held incommunicado, in secret prisons around the world, one cannot be sure there aren't more.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 02/26/2007 @ 10:41pm

31. it just feel better to rant senselessly

    Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 12:45am | ignore this person

    you should know.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 02/26/2007 @ 10:43pm

32. Posted by RIO BRAVO 02/26/2007 @ 8:54pm

    Padilla was born in Brooklyn, NY....so, stupid joke aside, is he an American citizen???

    Posted by Mask at 02/27/2007 @ 10:13am

33. Padilla is not being tried under the MCA. He is being tried in public court in Florida. With the next hearing scheduled for April. He is receiving Habeas Rights.

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 02/26/2007 @ 5:36pm

    An immaterial point to Rio's initial question. Of course, NOW he is - because the government decided to bring charges in state court rather than risk an unfavorable federal ruling. But for years prior to the charges, he was detained as an "unlawful combatant" even though he was a citizen.

    Posted by Hman23 at 02/27/2007 @ 12:33pm

34. Rio -

    Yaser Esam Hamdi is (was) a citizen too.

    Posted by Hman23 at 02/27/2007 @ 12:43pm

35. Liberty -

    You seem to be overlooking the tense of Rio's question ("have been denied"). I know Hamdi has agreed to renounce his citizenship (hence "was" in my parenthetical). You admit he was classified as a citizen. At one time, the government denied Hamdi habeas rights. Case closed.

    Posted by Hman23 at 02/28/2007 @ 09:52am