Right now, Senator Dodd is leading an actual filibuster on the floor of the Senate. This is the first time in 15 years that an actual filibuster crystallized into reality, instead of floating around as an intangible threat.

Dodd is doing Americans a great service today, not only by bringing back the great art form of the filibuster but also for fighting against the consistent erosion of our civil liberties. This time the erosion takes the shape of immunity for telecom companies. Immunity from prosecution for spying on you and me.

So thank you Senator Dodd for fighting for our liberties, thanks for bringing back the filibuster in its tangible form, and thanks for giving me good reason to show a West Wing clip.