Well, it now the word out of Washington is that the FISA debate will begin in the Senate tonight, though currently it doesn’t look like votes will take place until tomorrow. My former coworker from the Dodd campaign, Tim Tagaris, has a post up at Open Left explaining the likely legislative process on FISA.

First order of business will be the Judiciary Bill as a substitute to the horrific Intelligence version. That will probably get tabled by Republicans (per Harry Reid’s helpful suggestion) and go away with an overwhelming vote.

Then we’ll go to amendments, including Dodd/Feingold that would strip Title II (Retroactive Immunity) from the bill. There are other amendments, including ones that will substitute liability from the telecoms to the Administration. Dodd is opposed to this, to the best of my knowledge.

There is also a Feinstein amendment that is the big wild card. That would let the FISA court determine whether lawsuits can go forward. That could conceivably pass.

And when we know what a final bill looks like, we’ll know if a filibuster is going to have to happen.

I wouldn’t bet on Dodd backing down if a bill contains retroactive immunity.

I’m sad to say it, but this is outlook means that we can’t give up now, we have to redouble our efforts to make sure that our voices in opposition to retroactive immunity and in opposition to warrantless wiretapping are heard in the halls of the Senate.

Contact your Senator now and ask them to stand against warrantless wiretapping and against retroactive immunity.

And if it comes to it, they need to know that YOU want them to stand alongside Senator Dodd during a filibuster.

Cross posted at the CREDO Blog.

Disclosure: I have joined the CREDO Mobile team to stop the Bush administration’s illegal wiretapping program and hold the telecom companies accountable for their lawbreaking.