Two new pacs forming with different strategies but strangely similar names: Accountability Now and Accountable America

Accountability Now is a coalition of liberals and libertarians who oppose the erosion of civil liberties. The coalition plans to target

both Democrats and Repbublicans whom they claim are "more responsive to the lobbyist moneypouring intheir coffers than they are to the interests of their constituents.

They have established connections between the "far left" of the Labour Party and the "libertarian wing" of the Tory Party.

Accountable America is a coordinated effort by progressives led by two progressives, Tom Matzzie, a liberal political operative and Judd Legum who was Hillary Clinton's research director.

The blog Firedoglake announces the formation of Accountability Now in a post by Jane Hamsher,
Libertarians and Liberals Unite: (Money) Bomb’s Away by Jane Hamsher.

We've formed a new PAC, called Accountability Now (a name suggested by cbl2 and voted on by our readers). We're going to be splitting off our positive, candidate-supportive activities that BlueAmerica engages in from the accountability campaigns which will now be handled out of Accountability Now.

With that in mind, we've joined together with the BreaktheMatrix folks, Trevor Lyman and Rick Williams (who did the Ron Paul money bombs) in a campaign to fund it. We're coming together as liberals and conservative libertarians (a la Bob Barr) because we're extremely concerned about our eroding civil liberties, and the politicians in Washington DC who seem consumed with protecting their own power and not very worried about what's happening to American right to privacy.

According to an article in today's Wall Street Journal, Paul Camp, Liberals Unite On Spy Bill written by Amy Schatz, which is quoted on the Firedoglake site:

Liberal activists and supporters of the Texas Republican and former presidential candidate plan to join forces Thursday and begin a "money bomb" protest of lawmakers who support telecom immunity in the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act. During a "money bomb," grassroots activists donate money during a short period of time -- usually a day -- to create buzz and raise money for their candidate.

The effort is timed to coincide with a planned Senate vote on the bill. Libertarians and liberal activists have blasted Democratic lawmakers, including presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, for supporting the legislation.

The New York Times today reports on Accountable Now in an article by Michael Luo, Group Plans Campaign Against G.O.P. Donors.

Nearly 10,000 of the biggest donors to Republican candidates and causes across the country will probably receive a foreboding “warning” letter in the mail next week. The letter is an opening shot across the bow from an unusual new outside political group on the left that is poised to engage in hardball tactics to prevent similar groups on the right from getting off the ground this fall.

Led by Tom Matzzie, a liberal political operative who has been involved with some prominent left-wing efforts in recent years, the newly formed nonprofit group, Accountable America, is planning to confront donors to conservative groups, hoping to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions.

“We want to stop the Swift Boating before it gets off the ground,” said Mr. Matzzie, who described his effort as “going for the jugular. ...”

snip

The warning letter is intended as a first step, alerting donors who might be considering giving to right-wing groups to a variety of potential dangers, including legal trouble, public exposure and watchdog groups digging through their lives.