Today I received a joint email from Patrick Leahy and John Conyers asking their supporters to contact the local newspapers and ask them to write in support of the House version of FISA reform legislation and against retroactive immunity for big telecom companies that helped the Bush administration spy on Americans without warrant. I always love it when I see incumbent Democrats use their email lists not for fund raising, but for activism on pressing issues in Congress. I think the Dodd campaign really helped define the extent to which this sort of activism is both possible and effective – and I’m glad to see other good Democrats take these lessons and apply them today.