Dodd filibuster threat causes Reid to withdraw FISA bill.
“Senator Chris Dodd won a temporary victory today after his threats of a filibuster forced Democratic leadership to push back consideration of a measure that would grant immunity to telecom companies that were complicit in warrantless surveillance.” Watch it:
A Reid aide tells Greg Sargent that “Reid refused to jam this bill through the Seante because he believes it’s an important bill that deserves to be debated thoroughly.” FireDogLake writes, “Well played, Senator Dodd.”
UPDATE: Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV): “I’m disappointed legislation to modernize and improve FISA will now have to wait until January. As I’ve said many times, it is one of the most important bills before Congress, and one that should not be rushed in the final hours before Protect America Act expires.”
UPDATE II: Harry Reid’s statement here.
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75 Responses to “Dodd filibuster threat causes Reid to withdraw FISA bill.”
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Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!
Round 1 to America! Hopefully folks like Dodd can keep up the fight and put these traitors to “We the People” out to pasture.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:17 pmThree cheers for the fabulous Chris Dodd.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:19 pmHas Reid offered any explanation as to why he’ll let a hold from a lunatic like Coburn stand up, but not one from one of the most respected and experienced members of the Senate on an important Constitutional issue?
December 17th, 2007 at 8:20 pmFinally, a Democratic Senator with some balls.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:21 pmWe need him as Majority Leader - maybe after some primaries he’ll come back to DC and oust Harry.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:21 pmreid is just playin you along. he really has no thought process. kowtows to big business. end of subject
December 17th, 2007 at 8:21 pmDo you guys REALLY think that the Bush Administration won’t eventually get their way on this one too?
Wake up folks.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:24 pmDo you feel a little bit better now ?
I do.
Way to go Dodd ! At least we have 1 great Senator in Connecticut.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:25 pmLoving the Dobb balls….loving them……..
Wonder if he could loan at least one to Reid
Yabba
December 17th, 2007 at 8:30 pmhttp://www.yabbadabbahubbado.com
Dodd is the man. Reid rolls over and plays dead again. At least this time it worked in favor of America.
~Sean
December 17th, 2007 at 8:31 pmWhen are you Dems going to put Feinstein in charge, at least she can count votes.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:32 pmat least she can count votes.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 17, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
We’ll put Feinstein in charge the day you have a real point to make…
December 17th, 2007 at 8:35 pmGo Dodd go =)
And Jason, get back in your mom’s basement…..
December 17th, 2007 at 8:36 pmWhen are you Dems going to put Feinstein in charge, at least she can count votes.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 17, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
CHL, that comment was so lame I can’t even summon up the energy for a clever put-down.
Just sad.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:36 pmThis is good news!!!! Dodd, you are my HERO of the day!
December 17th, 2007 at 8:37 pmHow are them “Urban Heat Islands” doing now days, Jason?
December 17th, 2007 at 8:37 pmDo you feel a little bit better now ?
I do.
Way to go Dodd ! At least we have 1 great Senator in Connecticut.
Comment by overlap — December 17, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Well said, overlap. I feel the same way. Finally some Democrats oin the Senate show some spine and bring some game.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:38 pmNotice Hillary and Obama didn’t even show to vote on this important issue at all.
The only 2 Democratic Candidates that are actually doing something and not licking Bush’s butt are Dodd and Kucinich.
And the media is trying to shun both…..
Only Dodd or Kucinich should get through the primaries, if the Democratic voters have any brains at all.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:44 pmJason yo’ Mama is so big, her red dress makes everyone yell “hey Koolaid!”
December 17th, 2007 at 8:46 pmDoes anyone know of any protests in DC or other major metropolitan centers in response to this bill? I’d really like to be able to make a bigger stand then just the letters, petitions and so forth that have been going on the past few days. They have their place for sure but a visible demonstration may be useful too. If anyone has info on this I’d be greatly appreciative. Thanks.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:47 pmI’m not gettin’ all excited yet. Lets see what our fearless Harry Reid has in store.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:48 pmAlright!! Keep up the good work!!
December 17th, 2007 at 8:49 pmCold_limp_right,
Thanks for raining on the parade. Sorry your unexplainable desire to see corporations immune from the rule of law has been delayed. Keep trying though and you can have your fascist state soon enough.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:49 pmamerican cowardice at its finest.
first Bush cowers behind secrecy and presidential signings
and then this dickless mormon can’t do they right thing with a MAJORITY in the house.
you ALL need to be strung up.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:51 pmEven the Obstructionists know this is just a “temporary victory.â€
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Are you and Jason competing for the lamest troll prize or something?
December 17th, 2007 at 8:52 pmCold_limp_right,
Thanks for raining on the parade.
Comment by Stupid Git — December 17, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Sure, that’s what Jason was TRYING to do, but unfortunately for his mom, he forgot to check the wind direction before pulling out his tiny rainmaker.
Now he’s gotta say he got splattered washing the dog.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:55 pmAre you and Jason competing for the lamest troll prize or something?
Comment by Wayne — December 17, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
CHL is Jason.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:56 pmw00t!
December 17th, 2007 at 9:02 pm#20, For Truth,
LOL, oh, oh, my turn, heard this one on Rush Limbaugh and laughed:
Yo’ mama is such a pig, she puts mayonaise on aspirin ….
December 17th, 2007 at 9:04 pmCHL:So?
nice burn,man
*sarcoff*
December 17th, 2007 at 9:07 pm#20, For Truth,
LOL, oh, oh, my turn, heard this one on Rush Limbaugh and laughed:
Yo’ mama is such a pig, she puts mayonaise on aspirin ….
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 17, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
As opposed to your momma, that lubes up with mayonnaise (learn to spell ivy-league) for her brother, otherwise known as your daddy?
Come on aspergers boy, tell us, what other ‘tardation do you have? Aspergers isn’t enough to explain what a stupid, raving lunatic you are! What other DEMONS lurk under that hateful thin skin of yours?
December 17th, 2007 at 9:14 pmEven the Obstructionists know this is just a “temporary victory.â€
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
ROTFL!!! Funny, that’s EXACTLY what the GOP is thinking as they OBSTRUCT CONGRESS!!! But 2009 can’t come soon enough, for those of us that are SICK of you ‘tards screwing things up!
December 17th, 2007 at 9:15 pmDodd was absolutely brilliant on the floor this afternoon. He destroyed, point by point, a list of the proponent’s reasons for retroactive immunity.
Unfortunately, the FISA Extension will no-doubt see amendments of compromise on the issue.
I urge all to write and call their senator to say that no compromise should be considered.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:20 pmAnd just why did Reid have to bring the Intelligence Committee version of the bill up for a vote and why did so many Dems support bringing it to a vote? I am so proud of Dodd and so pissed at Reid and Feinstein and Schumer and Pelosi and Rahm I could spit. They don’t understand how mad people are. Games are notleadership. Harry Reid just wasted a full day to get nothing done and nothing resolved. He can bring any bill he wants to the floor and he chose the the worst version.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:34 pmGood.
After putting forth that Bill, I hope Sen. Reid is out. IMO, he represents the Democratic Parties all too willingness to roll over on important issues.
No Immunity for Companies that break the law.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:41 pmRalph the Wonder Llama is Republicans Hate Facts.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
“cold hard left” is nobody.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:42 pmGreat job by Senator Dodd. Perhaps a pulicity stunt to rally his flagging Presidential campaign, but if that’s what it takes to get the Senate to defend the Constitution, so be it.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:45 pmDodd Rocks
December 17th, 2007 at 10:05 pmSen. Dodd stood in front of a fast moving train today — and he stopped it. May his forceful gutsy courageous be contagious.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:07 pmIt is about time. Good work Senator Dodd! I think it is time to consider new leadership in the Senate. If Harry Reid does not want to take a hard stance, then he should be replaced. No legislation is a much better choice than bad legislation. If the Republicans want to filibuster things, then they should be required to actually conduct a filibuster. No more gentlemen’s agreements. Tough times require tough decisions. Get tough Senator Reid, or step aside!
December 17th, 2007 at 10:10 pmConservatives hate freedom.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:34 pmLiberals are clearly not interested in Protecting America.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
What a silly, pointless comment.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:42 pmConservatives hate freedom.
Comment by marlow — December 17, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Conservatives FEAR freedom and HATE, period.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:43 pmI definitely agree…it’s time for Reid to step aside. He just doesn’t have the stomach for the fight any longer. Perhaps, other Democratic Senators can show him the door in a courteous manner. If he accepts their recommendations and actually does step aside, make sure everyone screams at the top their lungs to “GO F**K YOURSELF” as he walks out the door.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:57 pmEven the Obstructionists know this is just a “temporary victory.â€
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
You mean the Repigs? They hope its a temporary victory for America, but count on the rest of the GOP treason party to force it through. CHL is most eager to destroy this country. Typical Bushite.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:11 pmSen. John Rockefeller (D-WV): “I’m disappointed…”
Gee, I guess all of Rockefeller’s supporters* could have called in and urged him on.
* - If he had any.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:18 pmRockefeller says:
As I’ve said many times, it is one of the most important bills before Congress, and one that should not be rushed in the final hours before Protect America Act expires.â€
And may we say, Senator Rockefeller, that you are full of crap. There is no rush if the act expires. All that will do is we will go back before the “Protect America Act” was rushed through before the August break. Does anyone besides me get the idea that Rockefeller is acting much more like a Republiscum than a Democrat. It’s time to get rid of him and by rid I mean completely out of the Senate. It’s up to you West Virginians!
December 17th, 2007 at 11:31 pmEven the Obstructionists know this is just a “temporary victory.â€
Comment by cold_hard_left
You are probably right. The obstructionist Republiscums think this will only be a temporary victory. But, if we all hit the phones, e-mail and snail mail and let our Senators know that we expect them to stand up for “we the people” and if they don’t, they will pay with their jobs, maybe they might start listening to us.
You gotta love the troll loons like CHL who call the Democrats obstructionists. That is a MAJOR projection on their part.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:35 pmNo Immunity for Companies that break the law.
Comment by S.D.
At least without getting anything in return. When prosecutors give someone immunity, it’s because they gave the prosecutors something to get the immunity. I would be fine with giving the telcoms immunity if they give us Bush, the whole enchilada, who, what, when, where and how. The “why” will have to be left out because I don’t think that there is any other “why” for Bush than $$$$$.
I posted yesterday about the NYT article that said an AT&T engineer is willing to testify that Bush started his spying on us weeks after he took office. That may have had something to do with Reid’s cave. Imagine how embarrassing it would be for the Democrats to give the telcoms immunity only to find out for sure that they started helping Bush spy on us way before 911 ever happened.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:42 pmSo Jason, CHL or any other loon on this thread, what if it turns out to be true that Bush asked the Telcoms to spy on us weeks after he took office and well before 911 happened. Would you think that was OK? What possible reason could Bush have to spy on the citizens of the USA before any terrorist action happened?
December 17th, 2007 at 11:47 pmLiberals are clearly not interested in Protecting America.
Comment by cold_hard_left
So, CHL, please tell us how Bush is protecting America by spying on it’s citizens.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:50 pmSo, CHL, please tell us how Bush is protecting America by spying on it’s citizens.
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 17, 2007 @ 11:50 pm
After all, it worked so well, we never had a major, successful terrorist attack.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:58 pmCNN.com doesn’t even mention Dodd’s name. Scumbags…
December 18th, 2007 at 12:04 amOsama parties on in Pakistan with his virgins while the chimp-in-chief pisses on our country and everything it stood for. Not a problem for sh*tbird cowards like CHL. They never liked it in the first place, and now we see them trying to fool the rest of us with their craven whinings. Reid, you make me sick.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:06 amSo Reid is even a pussy when a Dem shows a spine. Get rid of that useless pile and get a leader who wants to fight back.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:37 amLiberals are clearly not interested in Protecting America.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
ROTFL!!! Ironic comment, coming from the GOP - the party that BROUGHT YOU OSAMA BIN LADEN (don’t forget he was an ally in the fight of the commies), and Ali Mohamed the WTC mastermind and CIA AGENT GOP RESOURCE, not to mention the PARTY and LEADERS that gave Iran it’s NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY and Saddam his WMDS!!! You poor little ‘tard! If you were 1/1000th as smart as you believe you are, you’d realize what a FOOL you actually are!!! ROTFL!!
December 18th, 2007 at 12:37 amWhere was Hillary and Obama when Dodd was standing up for our Constitution? I think maybe Iowans might want to reconsider their choices and caucus for Dodd. It’s time the Democratic Party received a strong message about wimpy leadership.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:00 amCouldn’t agree more, 60. It’s hard enough holding off the fascist scum without your own people running off the field.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:24 am.
So, if Sen. Reid thinks providing retroactive immunity along with permission to continue to VIOLATE OUR RIGHTS, just what, then, does he support and defend?
Possibly, the right for global corporations to VIOLATE OUR RIGHTS?
T R E A S O N!
.
December 18th, 2007 at 3:19 amLiberals are clearly not interested in Protecting America.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
And you teams advance of ANTI-American values, unconstitutional principles is somehow keeping us safer?
Then I say, go find that country where TREASON is LAWFUL. Where WARRANTLESS and TORTURE are legal. Go, find it. Be free to destroy other people’s Liberty and pursuit of happiness. Just why is doing it in America’s name anything BUT unpatriotic?
WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA SO,
THAT YOU SEEK TO UNDO HER?
.
December 18th, 2007 at 3:24 amanyone else want to kick Reid in his spineless back? Sure, this is a positive step but come on, look at what he’s done.
December 18th, 2007 at 5:00 amKeep your eyes fixed on Reid, his lips are moving.
December 18th, 2007 at 6:35 am“So Jason, CHL or any other loon on this thread, what if it turns out to be true that Bush asked the Telcoms to spy on us weeks after he took office and well before 911 happened. Would you think that was OK? What possible reason could Bush have to spy on the citizens of the USA before any terrorist action happened?
Comment by bilbobaggins”
Since none of the right-wing loons answered, how about an answer from a left-wing loon? I’d be willing to bet that bush and his stooges, will say that this was their secret response to islamofacist threat blahblahblah, that they were defending america, that clinton didn’t have the balls to do the job right, etc. and chl,(coldhardloser) jason, frank, drywall et al will eat it up, along with the msm.
December 18th, 2007 at 7:13 amValiant effort by Chris Dodd! Kudos to Dodd for being a true patriot. He did a fabulous job describing what is going on and totally destroyed the argument(s) in favor of the defacto immunity. He also destroyed all of the arguments any Rethug presented. Warner, in particular, looked like a flaming moron using tired rhetoric and false assertions to make his point (the only point left to this guy is the point at the top of his head!).
Now let’s watch Dodd’s numbers soar!
December 18th, 2007 at 8:02 amBilbo: As the whistleblower indicated, Bush DID begin using the telecoms for illicit spying on americans immediately which means that it was in advance of 911. This information (the dates involved) is precisely why the bill was pushed back to allow for information to be gathered - critical information - like which telecoms were involved, the date they began the spying, etc.
With this information gleaned from the telecons combined with the intel of foreign agencies warning of an attack, Bush will be rendered as a totally worthless president. It will be shown that Bush knew about 911 and did nothing to stop it.
Why do you think Bush wants this to go away and be shoved under the rug? For precisely that reason. Once the people get the dates of what he knew and when he knew it (like the NIE report which he’s now lying about), they will be outraged.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:06 amOnce again, we will find that this deceitful president only used these unconstitutional tools against the people - to gather evidence on political foes to silence them, to gather evidence on scientists and silence them, to gather evidence on people who disagree with him and blackmail them. Even if it’s only done tacitly, it works.
The final straw for the people will be when they realize they’ve been spied upon which is patently illegal and it didn’t even protect them from attack.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:09 amSen. John Rockefeller (D-WV): “I’m disappointed legislation to modernize and improve FISA will now have to wait until January. As I’ve said many times, it is one of the most important bills before Congress, and one that should not be rushed in the final hours before Protect America Act expires.â€
So you rush it now instead?
I don’t know much about Rockefeller, but with that name I’d be tempted to say he is one of the faux-republican ‘establishement’ democrats… His actions and words only reinforce that impression.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:28 amHurray for Sen. Dodd. Finally a democrat with some BALLS. My friend got a real PAIR on you, Chris. Now I’m for DODD for President. He’s the only DEM with balls enough to stand up the the republican minority. I only wish he was majority leader.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:35 amGood job, Senator Dodd. Between now and the time this is re-addressed in January, each and every Senator should receive approximately 44,000 copies of the Fourth Amendment in their email inbox.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:28 amThank you Senator Dodd you make me hopeful in the face of so much mediocrity . Keep the teeth in the new FISA bill , let harry reid keep his in a glass by his bed stand , he’s gotten so very old .
December 18th, 2007 at 9:41 amHarry Reid leader of the compliant majority , step down and make way for someone who is willing to make hard choices in the face of this un precedented assault on our constitutional rights and privacy by an administration which ignores the very laws which are passed by the elected representatives of the American people ,through the use of signing statements .
December 18th, 2007 at 10:03 amSpying without oversight on the American people ,making wars for conquest of resources with a resume of torture , secret rendition, secret prisons , and secret government , to make stalin or hitler proud .
Constructing democracy abroad with the bodies of a million souls and the body parts of many times that while dismantling our own feverishly at home . Harry Reid step down the democrats can no longer afford you .
Democracy can no longer afford , it would seem ,most of the lawyers in either party and recent polls and approval rating tell me I am not alone in this . Harry Reid democrats are setting the stage for a serious third party challenge . If the democrats want to remain viable in the next election cycle they had better act alot more like Chris Dodd .
December 18th, 2007 at 10:18 amGOD BLESS CHRIS DODD!!!
December 18th, 2007 at 10:39 amTHANK YOU CHRIS DODD! I’ll add Dodd’s name to the other three dems who have balls: Kucinich, Waxman and Feingold.
Beyond that, jellyfish appeasers like Reid, Pelosi, Jimmy-George WebbAllen and Feinstein need to be removed. They have lied to and betrayed their constituents.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:02 amyesterday I was embarrassed to live in the state of ct with lieberman. Today I am very proud of Sen Dodd…God Bless You Sir!
December 18th, 2007 at 8:23 pm