Bush threatens veto of 30-day FISA extension.
“The White House told Democratic congressional leaders” today that President Bush would veto “a 30-day extension of an expiring eavesdropping law and instead wants an expanded version to be passed by Friday.” In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-CA) called Bush’s posturing “shamefully irresponsible,” adding that “if there is any problem, the blame will clearly and unequivocally fall” on President Bush:
The White House threat to veto a short extension of the Protect America Act is shamefully irresponsible. The President is simply posturing in advance of Monday’s State of the Union address. […]
The House has already passed a FISA bill, and the Senate was ready to pass its own bill until Republicans blocked all amendments. At the same time, Democrats are ready to extend current law for as long as necessary, but Republicans are blocking that extension and the White House is threatening a veto.
Full statement:
The White House threat to veto a short extension of the Protect America Act is shamefully irresponsible. The President is simply posturing in advance of Monday’s State of the Union address.When it comes to providing a strong long-term Foreign Intelligence Surveillance bill, Democrats in Congress are focused on solutions, while Republicans are obviously playing politics.
The House has already passed a FISA bill, and the Senate was ready to pass its own bill until Republicans blocked all amendments. At the same time, Democrats are ready to extend current law for as long as necessary, but Republicans are blocking that extension and the White House is threatening a veto.
It is shenanigans like this that make Americans so eager for change. We hope the American public will remember these Republican stunts when they go to the polling booth this November.
In any event, current law ensures that no ongoing collection activity will be cut off on February 1. There will be no terrorism intelligence collection gap. But if there is any problem, the blame will clearly and unequivocally fall where it belongs: on President Bush and his allies in Congress.
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53 Responses to “Bush threatens veto of 30-day FISA extension.”
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Will Harry stand up for the Constitution or will he fold again?
Why does Shrub hate America?
January 26th, 2008 at 6:11 pmThe United States is a lost cause. There is nothing that will fix it, short of violent revolution, and Americans are too fat, stupid and lazy for that.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pmbut but but… we are in such GRAVE danger!!!
why would he VETO something that will ENDANGER us even MORE!!!
OH NO!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pmBush needs to sweep this under the rug….because he was probably conducting WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING before Sept 11th.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:18 pmCue up TrollSmearâ„¢ canned blather…
Rolling… 3… 2… 1…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:19 pmbecause he was probably conducting WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING before Sept 11th.
Comment by Badger — January 26, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
There certainly are indications of that, aren’t there?
January 26th, 2008 at 6:19 pmIMO Here’s how it will go down:
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Ried: Fine, here you go…
IMO, The Democrats need to hold the line, LET the GOP Filibuster and let the Pres. Veto it …
January 26th, 2008 at 6:20 pmIMO, The Democrats need to hold the line, LET the GOP Filibuster and let the Pres. Veto it …
Comment by S.D. — January 26, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
Unfortunately, that would take “b*lls”, S.D., ya know, “huevos”, “cojones”, “nads”, “stones”…
TESTICULAR FORTITUDE!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pmLet him veto the extension. Then let the repuglies fillibuster their asses off, until the entire damn law expires.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:33 pmAnd I certainly hope Bush brings this up in the SOFU, and screeches about Democrats ‘holding the nation hostage’…
Then the response from whomever shows up for the Dems is just to lay the facts out, showing that the repuglies are blocking the legislation…
More nails in the GOP coffin, version 08.11
January 26th, 2008 at 6:36 pmIt’s good to know the President is willing to put the financial interests of Verizon and the other telecoms ahead of national security.
Democratic leaders should use that sentence all week.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:39 pmI think the GOP is doing this so the Democrats will look like the do nothing congress before the elections.
Ergo, the Dems will let Bush has his way, its not like he needs the legislation to wiretap….
January 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pmLike a spoiled brat who’s going to hold his breath until he turns blue.
I think blue is a lovely color. Let him hold his breath til he passes out or dies.
This is beyond ridiculous. Can we get some adults in government, please??
January 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm#7: actually, S.D., it seems to be going like this:
January 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pmWH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: Fine, here you go…
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: hunh?
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: but I…
WH: Give us what we want!!
Unfortunately, that would take “b*llsâ€, S.D., ya know, “huevosâ€, “cojonesâ€, “nadsâ€, “stonesâ€â€¦
TESTICULAR FORTITUDE!!!!
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity @ 6:24 pm
reminds me, i haven’t seen COLBERT’s BRASS BALLS AWARD lately…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pmblue is my favorite color…
i might even like dubby better if he were blue…
fact, i know i would…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pmRight alongside the gutless, feckless, eunuched performance of the so-called ‘opposition’ Congress.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:48 pmAre you kidding me? Talk about acting like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants. Bush 2.0 continually lowers the bar when it comes to using the “war on terror” as a political football. This is truly disgusting.
Mr. Purple
January 26th, 2008 at 7:23 pmGood let him Veto it. If he wants to veto it say F-you veto it then. NO TELECOM IMMUNITY. Its about time someone stands up for out civil liberties and the constitution.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pmPresident Bush would veto “a 30-day extension of an expiring eavesdropping law and instead wants an expanded version to be passed by Friday.â€
And we worry about not passing any law because…..?
He has NO political muscle left. Leave him twist in the fu(king wind.
BYE, BYE GEORGIE YOU FU(KING TRAITOR!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 7:47 pmOne thing to note people:
This is not about telecom immunity in the past, folks…..
This is about telecom immunity and eavesdropping on us in the future…
January 26th, 2008 at 7:52 pmThis is a fight for the heart and soul of America is what we have right here
Bush can do whatever he wants, Harry. Remember he’s the Commander-in-chief, decider guy and impeachment is off the table.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:54 pmHe can burn the Constitution on the White House lawn, p*** on it to put it out and then go over to Congress and give you a wedgie and there’s NOTHING you can do about it.
Clearly, Bush has become the “enemy within” and needs to go. IMPEACH BUSH & CHENEY NOW BEFORE THEY DO MORE HARM TO THIS COUNTRY.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pmFlavorino: And the only thing Bush hasn’t done is wipe his ass with the Constitution on the White House lawn!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pmFlavorino: There IS something we can do about it if the people of this country get off their collective derriers and take back this country. These criminals within have all but destroyed our country and they must pay for what they’ve done. Prison time will be in their futures.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:26 pm#33 You got it! This is about Bush covering his sorry butt about violating the constitution. This is all about what they intend to do in the future - making us a total fascist nation. Congress cannot knuckle under here and must make a stand on this for the future of this democracy. It’s “cryin time” for congress. If they can’t take the heat, then let’s pitch every sorry one of them out on their ears.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pmAnd the next time we go around the world espousing our greatness based on our democracy, people will begin throwing rotten tomatoes at any politician!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:29 pmThe People To Congress: Let this moron “run out the clock” on this FISA stuff and let him twist in the wind. Then go after the traitorous telecoms for “aiding and abetting” in the violation of our constitutional rights.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pmSo well put.
“…and then go over to Congress and give you a wedgie…”
I can actually see this happening. Great post, flavorino.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pmLet the Lameduck bully eat his words. Let him veto it. His made his line in the sand now with the people of this country and The People will prevail - we always do. This lameduck bully has just called his last and parting shot and will lose.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:31 pmThe operative word here, flavorina, is “thinks” (as in thinks he can do whatever he wants). While that may be true at the moment, his actions carry dire consequences and these consequences don’t disappear the moment he leaves office either. He can still be impeached in absentia and expunged from the history books. He can still be put on trial and sent to prison. Once the fury of the people unifies, there will be hell to pay.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pmPlunger: Amen! Imprison the traitors. And the traitors “within” are well exposed at this point. The storm cloud of american anger is gathering and Bush may be driven from office. The People may appear to be distracted now by the elections but hell hath no fury like an american who’s been shafted, robbed, lied to and made a fool of…..their days are coming.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:35 pmI think King George is about to have a breakdown myself. This little temper tantrum is indicative of the fragility of his ego right now with people loathing him within his own country and a sense of defeat and disgust about his non-existent legacy. He’s coming apart at the seams and congress needs to let this baby twist in the wind, crap in his pants if he wants to and use the constitution to wipe himself…..whatever…..this bully’s day is over.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:38 pmStomp your feet a little harder George and maybe throw in a couple of Waaaaah, waaaaaaahs.
This clown looks more childish with each passing day. They can continue the practice for up to a year. There is no urgency. Let’s let the adults debate this after Mr. All hat and no cattle goes home.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:43 pmThe clock is ticking on this lil dictator and he knows it, let him squack,and get pissed. He’ll have to live with his damage for the rest of his life,probably out of a bottle.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:02 pmRemember, twelve Democrats voted with the Republicans to defeat the Leahy substitute for the Intelligence Committee’s FISA bill. CALL, EMAIL AND FAX the following Senators (especially if you are a constituent) and demand that they stand up against Bush and the Senate Republicans.
Here are the twelve:
Evan Bayh (IN), Tom Carper (DE), Daniel Inouye (HI), Tim Johnson (SD), Mary Landrieu (LA), Clare McCaskill (M0), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Bill Nelson (FL), Ben Nelson (NE), Mark Pryor (AR), Jay Rockefeller (WV)*, and Ken Salazar (CO).
* Rockefeller chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and probably is a lost cause.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:23 pmany ideas on why those 12 voted that way?
January 26th, 2008 at 9:36 pmespecially mccaskill, and tim johnson?!
anyone?
Bush could care less about terrorists (remember Osama bin Laden?). He could care less about the Telcos. What he does care about is getting himself retroactive immunity for breaking the law. Bush was using the NSA to wiretap the media and Democrats before 9/11. He used this power as his personal weapon to find dirt and blackmail his enemies.
Threaten to veto FISA? Fratto must be freaking out because that means the terrorists will attack us!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:11 pmkaty, both are from relatively conservative constituencies, S. Dak and Mo…
January 26th, 2008 at 10:36 pmi understand that, RU, but are their people so dumb as to not understand the ramifications and truth about this deal?
i can’t help but wonder just what kind of blackmail is going on…
January 26th, 2008 at 10:45 pmIs it blackmail, or are our legislators simply that corrupt and spineless?
January 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pmi think it’s blackmail… of some kind…
January 26th, 2008 at 11:00 pmwhick makes them spineless…
they’re not all corrupt…
Comment by Veritas — January 26, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Your post is right on veritas!
The People may appear to be distracted now by the elections but hell hath no fury like an american who’s been shafted, robbed, lied to and made a fool of…..their days are coming.
I believe that they are no longer distracted. Every election result thus far has shown Dems and Indies coming out in huge numbers. Not so on the rethug side. There is no real enthusiam for the sick slate of candidates on their side.
“Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small
Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all.”
BushCo and its sock puppet front man Bush. Their day of reconning cometh!
Read it and weep, trolls.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:27 pmI’m missing something here. I agree with the above remarks that Bush and his threat are those of a petulant brat.
What I don’t get: Let’s say Congress passes a 30 day extension while they do further study (a quite reasonable move).
What does Shrub gain and what does he lose by vetoing it ? After all, this extends FISA (and does what Shrub wants - albeit temporarily). So the extension doesn’t loose anything for Bush except delaying the final answer. At the same time, Bush vetoes a measure that he says is an urgent need for safety. He runs the threat of even more people seeing him as ranging from a petulant brat to a frankly insane person who can’t see reason.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:29 amAt the same time, Bush vetoes a measure that he says is an urgent need for safety. He runs the threat of even more people seeing him as ranging from a petulant brat to a frankly insane person who can’t see reason.
Comment by MapleStreet — January 27, 2008 @ 12:29 am
and the koolaid drinkers and Bush-blowers will continue their blind loyalty to a sick, deluded idiot of a president.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:07 amurning it into something it never was simply is not an option.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 27, 2008 @ 7:31 am
Your knowledge of history is on the same level as your patriotism: non-existent.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:29 amThe FISA/Protect America Act must be made permanent.
Congress needs to quite playing political games with America’s safety.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 27, 2008 @ 7:41 am
Impeachment is the only way to quit playing political games with America’s safety. Bushco is, and has been for 7 years, the biggest threat to America’s safety, and bigfoot’s embrace of Nazi Germany’s and Stalin’s USSR tactics will only hasten the death of this country as a free nation.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:31 amthis bully’s day is over.
Comment by Veritas
HOW TRUE.
BYE, BYE IRRELEVANT GREORGIE PORGIE PUDDING AND PIE
FU(KED THE WORLD AND MADE THEM CRY
BYE BYE YOU FU(KING MUTHER FU(KING TRAITOR
SWING, SWING FROM THE GALLOWS SCUMBAG
January 27th, 2008 at 10:16 amO. Bigfoot in mouth…
“The FISA/Protect America Act must be made permanent. ”
FISA IS PERMANENT. Your crazy-assed sick muther F(ker wants the UNconsitutional CHANGES to become permanent.
Fu(king TRAITOR, Yes, you O. BIgfoot.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:17 amshorter u.yeti ~ 4th Amendment? We don’ need no stinkin 4th Amendment!
January 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am—-
Bush threatens veto of 30-day FISA extension.
—-
Good. And Bush can take his threats for the remainder of his term and shove them up his backside.
- Tom
January 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pmBush is a traitor. His recent trip to Saudi Arabia, and fawning kiss-kiss, his failure to lead on anything but support for the oil companies, his total neglect of of the law, must be front and center in the congress. But will they say a word? Of course not.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pmThe FISA law should be allowed to expire, with NO FURTHER considerstion of it. And the Republicans get credit for stopping further corruption of the Fourth Amendment, so be it. The Democrats should be the ones refusing to extend it in any form.
January 27th, 2008 at 8:06 pm