We are in the midst of a constitutional crisis. The executive department has informed the judicial and legislative branches that they must stand down in their investigations of the executive branch so that agencies accused of wrongdoing can investigate themselves without “hindrance.” Meanwhile, the Bush administration is on the cusp of herding our Congresscattle into passing a law that would make it impossible for the constitutionality of widespread warrantless wiretapping to ever be ruled upon by the judiciary. Both measures ignore bedrock constitutional protections that prevent our nation from falling into tyranny.

Debate on the bill to prevent judicial rulings on warrantless spying is set for Monday in the Senate. That’s tomorrow! Here’s what you can do, right now.

The tally you see in this graphic shows how many Senators have agreed to support Senator Christopher Dodd’s filibuster of the bill. It will take 41 Senators to oppose the bill in order to make Senator Dodd’s filibuster stick — otherwise the Senate can force Dodd’s filibuster to end and ramrod the bill through. Click on the tally graphic to see if your Senators support the filibuster. If they don’t, follow the directions on Dodd’s website to call your Senators and ask them to support the filibuster.

Events of the past seven years have shown us that we can’t trust our Senators to do the right thing; we have to push them into it. Please, call your Senators now. Be part of a tidal wave of righteous fury, smashing against the Capitol building. Don’t let the Senate wash their hands of the Constitution and all it stands for. Call.

(P.S. Dodd’s website contrasts greatly with Robert Wexler’s nominally pro-impeachment website. Wexler’s website is a wee husk covering a re-election effort. Dodd’s website empowers Americans to actually make a difference and engage in direct action. Thank you, Christopher Dodd.)