Bush, Congressional Conservatives Fearmonger On FISA: ‘The American People Should Be Frightened’
Bush, Congressional Conservatives Fearmonger On FISA: ‘The American People Should Be Frightened’
Last week, Senate Republicans refused to allow votes on any amendments to Senate Intelligence Committee legislation extending the expansion of FISA. Democratic support of the bill is contentious due to the inclusion of retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies, so Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is pushing for a temporary extension of the expiring legislation in order to reach a compromise. But President Bush is threatening to veto it.
With a Senate vote on the GOP cloture motion this afternoon, Bush is “simply posturing in advance” of his State of the Union address tonight, hoping to use his bully pulpit to scare Senate Democrats into supporting his preferred bill without restrictions. In order to do this, Bush and his congressional allies are ratcheting up the FISA fearmongering.
In his weekly radio address this weekend, Bush ominously threatened that “we cannot afford to wait until after an attack.” Speaking to NPR today, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell bellowed that “the American people should be frightened”:
It’s not about frightening the American people. The American people should be frightened and remember full well what happened on 9/11. They also remember with gratitude that this has not happened again for six years.
Listen to it:
In the Washington Times today, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) continues the fearmongering, writing that “Democrats now come perilously close to threatening every American’s safety” if they don’t give President Bush everything he wants. But Smith neglects to mention that it is Bush’s veto threat that actually threatens to let America’s intelligence capabilities lapse:
After sending Mike McConnell out last August to warn that we will all die without the PAA, Bush now says that he would rather let it expire than give Congress another 30 days. He just comes right out and announces, then, that he will leave us all vulnerable to a Terrorist Attack unless he not only gets everything he wants from Congress — all his new warrantless eavesdropping powers made permanent plus full immunity for his lawbreaking telecom partners — but also gets it exactly when he wants it (i.e., now — not 30 days from now).
Additionally, if the current law — the Protect America Act — does expire on Friday before new legislation can be signed by the President, even the Bush administration admits that “intelligence officials would still be able to continue eavesdropping on already approved targets for another year.”
As Reid said on Saturday, “if there is any problem” with intelligence collection, “the blame” should “clearly and unequivocally fall” on “President Bush and his allies in Congress.”
(HT: t-dub, a frequent contributor to our Blog Fellows program)
UPDATE: Firedoglake has a contact list for senators who should be urged to vote NO on cloture.
UPDATE II: The NPR clip above incorrectly claims that McConnell filed for cloture because Democrats were filibustering. In reality, Democrats were attempting to hold votes on relevant amendments and McConnell tried to force a vote on the underlying bill.
UPDATE III: TPM’s Paul Kiel notes that House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) has gotten in on the fearmongering fun as well.
UPDATE IV: McConnell’s cloture vote failed 48-45, “well short of the 60 votes necessary.”
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115 Responses to “Bush, Congressional Conservatives Fearmonger On FISA: ‘The American People Should Be Frightened’”
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I am frightened.
of the Republican Party.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pmWhat a priceless picture!
January 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pmDemocratic leadership rolls over in...10...9...8...7...
January 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pmWhat? We haven't been afraid enough? The neocons feel they have to ramp up the fear again?
Sorry. More and more of us are skeptical when we see Lucy walking toward us holding a football. I doubt that trick will work anymore.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pmBesides fear, death, debt, and more war--what does the Republican Party have for America? NOTHING.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pmNo the American people are not afraid, but you GOPigs that have lived off of your fear mongering should be very afraid. The worm is turning.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pmCall these Senators and tell them to vote no on Closure.
# Bayh (202) 224-5623
# Carper (202) 224-2441
# Inouye (202) 224-3934
# Johnson (202) 224-5842
# Landrieu (202)224-5824
# McCaskill (202) 224-6154
# Mikulski (202) 224-4654
# Nelson (FL) (202) 224-5274
# Nelson (NE) (202) 224-6551
# Pryor (202) 224-2353
# Salazar (202) 224-5852
Also call your own senators and tell them to vote no on cloture and to put pressure on these democrats to stand with the Majority and vote no on cloture. Also vote tell them to stand with Senator Dodd and fillibuster and FISA bill with retroactive immunity if one comes to vote. This is supposed to be our democracy, we need to stand up for it.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pmI am more afraid of the repug party than I am of any terrorist.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pmthey're so full of shit!
January 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pmTHE PEOPLE 'ARE' FRIGHTENED! Not of AQ or any terrorist, that is - but our homegrown "enemy within" - GWBush and Co.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pmthey’re so full of shit!
Comment by LividLib
Why do you think they are ratcheting up the scare tactics. They know that they are losing their audience. And it's about time the Sheeple come to realize that we have been duped by this Administration enough times, NO MORE!
January 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pmDoes anoyone know if Chris Dodd is going to fillibuster again? I have already called Russ Feingold's office and pleaded for him to please fillibuster. Russ is about the only Senator I can trust 100%.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pmFrom Dr. Lawrence Britt's Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism:
January 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
THIS ENTIRE FISA BILL IS TO COVER BUSH'S ASS.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:53 pmToasterhead: The time to stop this fascism is right now - and with the illegal spying on citizens which began well in advance of 911. In fact, it began the moment this dictator took office.
The People need to nip it in the bud right now and call congressmen to not permit themselves to be bullied. This has one purpose and one purpose only: To exonerate Bush from "crimes against the constitution".
January 28th, 2008 at 1:54 pmAnd "the perceived common threat" is some fictitious boogeyman who, within ten minutes of the "false flag operation on 911" was identified as the "enemy". Now we are sadly finding that the real "enemies" are the Republicans and their dictator.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pmBINGO.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pmFrom 1984, and very fitting:
"And at the same time the consequences of being at war, and therefore in danger, makes the handing-over of all power to a small caste seem the natural, unavoidable condition of survival".
Many people see the parallels between the novel, 1984, and the current state of affairs in the US. I take it one step further - I don't just believe the book was a remarkable prediction of things to come - I think the neocons actually study it, idolize The Party, and consciously employ it's techniques.
Perhaps that's been debated here before, but I thought I'd mention it.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pmIf Congress caves into to this flagrant violation of our constitution, then we can hold everyone who voted to do so responsible for "aiding and abetting the violation of the constitution of this country". Essentially, this is grounds to bring suit against every one who votes in favor of this and against the existing laws of this country. It is also "grounds" and "prima facie evidence" of clear derelection of duty of their oath of office.
Let's hold their feet to the fire as this may be the last vestige of any right the people have at this point. Our votes are being corrupted making a mockery and sham out of our election process so what do we have left???
It's time to hold our elected officials "culpable" and "totally responsible" for aiding and abetting this capricious, renegade president.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pmBut, if you're not frightened, how the hell are we going to get retroactive immunity for the illegal activities that the telecoms have been performing on our behalf? Better threaten a veto if the illegal activities aren't immunized. To hell with the safety of the Amurican Peeple.
Heckuva job, Bushie, heckuva job.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pmBINGO! The american people know full well what happened on 911 and it's far from the "official story", that's what the american people KNOW.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:59 pmVet: You're absolutely right. PNAC and the Federalists use Orwell's fictional piece as their "new bible". They're not that intelligent so they must plagiarize.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:00 pmJust more of the same old crap," Democrats will sell your freedom to the terrorists". "We are the party of strength". "Don't worry, we can protect you, but only if our party is in power".
"GIVE ME JUST A FEW OF YOUR BASIC RIGHTS AND I WILL PROTECT YOU".
We have become sheep if we continue to listen to these republicans who have given up.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pmJuan C: That's just it! We know all about the false flag on 911 - in particular the details about Haliburton (and Dresser, now merged), the asbestos lawsuits, and the implosion of Building 7. Anything else we need to know? ??? I DIDN'T THINK SO.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pmFear mongers!!! The only fearmongers are those on this site. Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 28, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
Well considering YOU are ON THIS SITE, there's FINALLY some TRUTH TO YOUR POST!! ROTFL!!
Hey asswipes, instead of bashing Bush, why don’t you clean up your own house. Right now, Billary is calling Obama the n-word and Obama’s buddy just got arrested.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 28, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
You mean by BANNING HATEMONGERS like YOU! GOOD PLAN - RACIST LITTLE PIGGIE! ;)
January 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pm#23 Every time one of your moronic, pathetic candidates opens their mouth, all they CAN do is fear monger. They don't have anything else they can spin....I've never seen a more idiotic, uninformed, lockstep group of zombies in my life than we have right now running as Republicans.
You can take every Republican candidate and roll them into one and they still couldn't compete intellectually with any one of the democratic candidates. Pretty sad but telling about what's left of the GOP. Nothing but wierdos, sycophants, and lockstep, brainwashed fools.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pmComment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 28, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
Your president is putting the telecoms before the security of our country, and you want to throw this discussion off-topic?
If Bush and the telecoms have done nothing wrong, and everything about this is perfectly legal, then what the hell do they have to fear?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:06 pmComment by Vet — January 28, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Our new AG Mukasey keeps Orwell's portrait in his office:
'The top law enforcement official said on Friday he keeps in his office a portrait of George Orwell, whose book "1984" envisioned a futuristic technology security state overseen by a prying "Big Brother."'
snip
'Asked what Mukasey saw in Orwell, Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said it was his clarity. "When he was a judge, he assigned new law clerks George Orwell's 1946 essay 'Politics and the English Language.' It's one of the first things our speechwriter received as well," Carr said.
Orwell wrote in his essay, "Political language ... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."'
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2536540620080125
January 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pmFear? 1984?
Consider our AG has a picture of George Orwell, not George Bush, in his office.
Listen to the doublespeak out there. This headline alone summarizes it nicely...Bush, Congressional Conservatives Fearmonger On FISA: ‘The American People Should Be Frightened’
WTF? Since when is fear a tool to be used on American citizens? Have you ever heard the word 'HOPE' or 'TRUST' used on Bush policy? No.
'Fear is the mindkiller' / Frank Herbert
'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself' / FDR
'Fear is my middle name' / GWB
January 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pmWhat are the odds that any individual American will be killed by a foreign terrorist attack? About 100,000 to 1. Now what are the odds that some fear pissed republicon will try and take away the rights of any given American? We are right to be afraid but for an entirely different reason than this regime is stating.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pmGOPigs have offered nothing but fear mongering and corporate welfare. 1.6 billion increase in deficit and lies, lies, lies. Traitors.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pmThe GOP Candidates: This little piggy went to war; this little piggy sat home; this little piggy ran a business; this little piggy had none; and this little piggie was the mafioso piggie who went wee wee wee wee on the people of NY.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pmLiberals Are Filled With Hate, this president has declared time and time again that his warrantless wiretapping program is perfectly legal, backed up by administration lawyers. Yet at every opportunity he has objected to any oversight in regards to the program, even going so far as to personally block an investigation by an arm of the DOJ.
What is he so afraid of?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pmI think the people need to be polled and asked this critical question: "Whom do you fear more?? AQ and the terrorists or the Enemy Within (Bush Cabal). I think I know what answer would be.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pm"he will leave us ALL VULNERABLE to a Terrorist Attack unless he not only gets everything he wants from Congress"
Right there is your hint of things to come.
This tells you that he knows of an attack and plans to do nothing to stop it to prove his point of view.
Watch your backs Dems, dirty tricks abound with this criminal.
Buck Fush
January 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pmBad Eye: Precisely! What IS he afraid of? Perchance could it be that he told his lawyers what to say instead of interpreting the law properly? Why is there no oversight? Ah - that would be because he's been spying on congress. That's why there can't be any oversight. That's taboo and he knows it.
Besides, as the FISA law is written, it does not stop him from spying on foreign communiques IMMEDIATELY. The little "hitch" however, is that within 72 hours he needs to go to FISA for that little warrant. If it's a legitimate concern and not another "false flag", then no problemo.
The fact that this is even in question legitimizes the fact that he knows he compromised or forced these lawyers into these opinions; he knows that there is no basis in law for what he's done, and he knows that he can be sent to jail for such high crimes.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pmBuckie Boy: What this demented fascist dictator is essentially saying here is - cover my ass or I will pull a false flag terror attack again! And they know it. I believe this is the point where Congress must "call for a psychiatric evaluation" of this man because, clearly, he's unfit to rule.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:14 pmNote to Congress: Halt all further FISA discussion unless/until this President has a full psychiatric workup. The behaviors being currently demonstrated clearly indicate that he's mentally unstable and unfit to govern.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pmThis tells you that he knows of an attack ...
Comment by Buckie Boy — January 28, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
SPY SATELLITES!!!
January 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pmThe telecon corporations have broken the law. The White house administration have trampled all over the Constitution of the USA. It is lead by War Criminals, deserters, liers, traitors. INDICT; IMPEACH; IMPRISION BUSH/CHENNEY AND THEIR CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION. ANY DEMOCRAT THAT VOTES IN FAVOR OF IMUNITY SHOULD BE OUTED, SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO THEY ARE!
January 28th, 2008 at 2:18 pmGW just doesn't get it. His lies are soooo yesterday, now that we have Bill Clinton's impressive stack of campaign lies piling up.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pmI remember full well what happened on August 6, 2001.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pmthe latest on the google news page:
Bush has big plans for final year
USA Today - 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON - President Bush's last State of the Union speech to Congress Monday night, will be "split about 50/50" on domestic policy and foreign policy, with Bush calling on Congress to pass the $150 billion stimulus package and talking about improved ...
Bush Challenges Congress on Earmarks Washington Post
Bush's Last Stab at a Legacy TIME
"big plans" ...
January 28th, 2008 at 2:22 pmuuuuuuughhh...
I know you folks are going to scream and call me names but I have to ask.
How would you prevent a terror attack on a US target?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pmCaption Contest
Bush: "So Mitch, how d'ya like it when I slide my thumb up your ass all dry like and stuff?"
McConnell: "Yes sir, I'm very afraid....sir....may I have another one...PLEASE?"
January 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pmRepublicans are COWARDS! I am not afraid of your boogey men Mr.Bush,nor am I afraid of you sir. You on the other hand should be very afraid of your countrymen and women who you have betrayed. This fight will not be one sided for much longer. The world will demand you be tried for war crimes and we will gladly give you to them.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pmstart by removing the "targets" out of the "terrists" homeland...
January 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pmHow would you prevent a terror attack on a US target?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Since you're asking that question -- why does GWB continue to use scare tactics to make us think he could prevent it?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pmSince you’re asking that question — why does GWB continue to use scare tactics to make us think he could prevent it?
Comment by Zooey — January 28, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
I asked you first.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pmIn a sense, McConnell is right. If another republican gets elected, we should be very frightened.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pmHow would you prevent a terror attack on a US target?
Comment by VA Voter
Well, first of all, when the DIRECTOR OF THE CIA told me of a plot to fly planes into the Twin Towers, and multiple countries told me the same thing, I would have done something about it instead of letting it happen on purpose like Bush did.
There feeling safer now VAV?
Buck Fush
January 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pmIn a sense, McConnell is right. If another republican gets elected, we should be very frightened.
Comment by jwrjr — January 28, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
What is it about the republicans you guys hate so much?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pmI asked you first.
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
Well, I'm out of time. But in keeping with your dodge --
SOMETHING.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pmYou are 20,000 times more likely to die of cancer than die from a terrorist attack. Basically it is a non-issues - except to fear pissed neocons.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pmComment by Buckie Boy — January 28, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Do you have some form of proof?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pmThe American people should be frightened and remember full well what happened on 9/11.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:32 pmTHEY DO REMEMBER VERY WELL... THEY WILL NEVER FORGET THAT IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB! THEY WILL REMEMBER HOW THE PENTAGON DID NOT RELEASED A FOOTAGE OF A 757 HITTING ITS BUILDING. THEY WILL REMEMBER THAT 'TERMITE' WAS USED TO DESTROY THE THREE TOWERS IN NY. THEY WILL REMEMBER NORAD'S INTENTIONALY POOR RESPONSE. THEY WILL REMEMBER WHAT CHENNEY WAS DOING ON THAT DAY. THEY WILL REMEMBER THE 5 MINUTES IN THE CLASSROOM, WHERE THE IDIOT IN CHIEF LOOKED GUILTY AS HELL! THEY WILL REMEMBER THE FALSE CLAIMS OF WMD OR 'MUSHROOM COULDS'.
Will the president have enough spine to mention this tonight? Will the ones in Congress who know this fearmongering is wrong stand up and let the president know?
I'm guessing neither. Just a big bowl of jellyfish.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:32 pmWe can handle Al Queda and the "insurgents".
It is the ENEMY WITHIN, i.e. the Bush WAR CRIMINALS and their Saudi buddies FINANCE Al Queda, who are the REAL THREAT to the USA.
By the way, I hate NO ONE.
But I see WHO has committed GENOCIDE in the NAME OF and TREASON against the USA.
The Bush/PNAC WAR CRIMINALS.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pmWhat is it about the republicans you guys hate so much?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
The last 7 years!
January 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pmCAPTION CONTEST:
"Mr. President -- I'm saying exactly what you want me to say. Can you take that gun barrel out of my ribs now?"
January 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pmDo you have some form of proof?
NOW you demand proof. STFU.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pmHow would you prevent a terror attack on a US target?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Bomb Canada. They have a green beer that could be hitting the USA in a matter of minutes.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pmDo you have some form of proof?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008
Just time the collapse of the 3 towers. It happens in similar fashion and in less than 10 seconds each! Than, if you are not convinced by PHYSICS, ask the Pentagon to show a footage of a 757 hitting its building...
January 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pmWell, I’m out of time. But in keeping with your dodge —
SOMETHING.
Comment by Zooey — January 28, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
What is "SOMETHING?" I get that you don't want the government just listning in on your phone calls. I would agree. But as of now they are only looking at terror suspects. So how would you prevent an attack? A lot of attacks have already been prevented by good police work. Would you say it's enought?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pmDo you have some form of proof?
Comment by VA Voter
Oh, I see you are an idiot, have you not been paying attention or something, he and his administration was warned many times, all documented. He simply did NOTHING about it, except tell the state department employees to not take commercial airline flights a month before 9/11.
Man, do this GOP'ers have their heads in the sand so deep that they cannot even pay attention to the news?
Buck Fush
January 28th, 2008 at 2:36 pmComment by Bad Eye — January 28, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
Make no mistake. This is not about covering for the telecom industry, it's about this rogue administration covering it's own a$$. If there are lawsuits, the truth as to what the admin has done to its people will come out. And much of it was long before their oft cited 9/11.
They could care less about the telecoms. They care about themselves and the degree to which they have done illegal (not to mention immoral) things.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pmHow would you prevent a terror attack on a US target?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
First of all, by paying attention to PDB's that say "Bin Laden determined to attack US".
Then, by going after Bin Laden, STILL FREE 6 years later, and in Pakistan, where they have NUKES.
NOT attacking Iraq, where they had NO NUKES.
And we spent 2.4 TRILLION DOLLARS.
I guess, by NOT having a "president" and "vice president" who have BUSINESS DEALINGS with the TERRORISTS like Al Queda.
i.e. MURDERER Bush the COXUCKER punk TRAITOR to the USA.
Also, I would not LIE to my public (America) and tell that that we would be in Iraq for 6 weeks to 6 MONTHS, when it was long-known that we would be there in Iraq for 25 years. (Robert Pearson, US Ambassador to Turkey, one week before Iraq invasion. Look it up)
January 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pmComment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
Dude, you have not been paying attention. AT&T is mirroring ever piece of data (voice, email, internet). One of their own employees has blown that whistle.
You can't think of the now, you have to think of the future. What if a rogue administration (a la Hitler) was to take over America. Are you going to sit there and live per their dictate? Or will you fight for your own country?
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. Benjamin Franklin
January 28th, 2008 at 2:40 pmDo you have some form of proof?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:41 pmBut as of now they are only looking at terror suspects.
Proof please. And them (Bush et al) saying so isn't proof. Ask Lawrence Wright why he was targeted by NSA surveillance. You should remove your rose colored glasses before investigating.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:41 pmBut as of now they are only looking at terror suspects.
LIE.
LIE.
LIE.
They have been spying on the American public since BEFORE 9/11, and using 9/11 as the EXCUSE to spy on Americans.
More TREASON by the BushNazis.
MURDERER Bush is a COXUCKER punk TRAITOR to the USA.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pmVA voter asks why is anyone/everyone against the republicans. Hell republicans should be asking that very question about the group that's in the white house. The very group they pushed into power. They should ask themselves where's the fiscal responsibility? Where's the less government intervention into private life? Where's less government?
The republicans made the fatal error in support Bush. The republican party will be guilty by association for years to come.
The republican party should have demanded a polictal abortion years ago but didn't because they were swept up in the Rovian view of a permanent majority.
VA Voter. Think long and hard about this before responding.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pmWhat do I hate about republicans? If it were not for the facts that a. They condone torture, b. they invade a country that had NO capacity to attack us, c. they spend trillions of dollars that we do not have, and d. for them the truth is not merely optional, but something to be avoided at all cost, then I would ha no reason to dislike republicans. But those are facts, and this country may not survive with any more of this misadministration.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:46 pmThere is no such thing as proof in the Republican brain.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:49 pmI think that BushCo "allowed" 9/11 to happen. They should just come out and say, "if you do not pass the bill as we want it, we'll allow another attack to occur".
Doesn't this sound like televangelism and the will-of-god to you?
You must be afraid or it will be worse!!! Are these idiots really in charge of any deterent, or are they just in charge of fear mongering?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:50 pmThere is no such thing as proof of the Republican brain.
There you go, lefty; fixed.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:50 pmWhy is it so hard for the Dems to frame this issue thusly -
"President Bush cares more about doing the biding of the Telcos than he does about stopping terrorism.
Maybe this is why he hasn't caught UBL yet - he has more "important" things on his mind."
The Dems have nothing to lose by doing this - phone companies have the worst consumer satisfaction ratings of any industry, with about 88% of their customers dissastisfied. They are disliked even more than Bush is.
Americans have also said that they DO NOT want immunity, with 57% opposing it, and only 33% supporting it.
This coupled with the mantra " 15 billion a month for Iraq, 15 billion a month for Iraq, 15 billion a month for Iraq" should be enough to truly scare people.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:51 pmThe republicans made the fatal error in support Bush. The republican party will be guilty by association for years to come.
The republican party should have demanded a polictal abortion years ago but didn’t because they were swept up in the Rovian view of a permanent majority.
VA Voter. Think long and hard about this before responding.
Comment by hellinabucket — January 28, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
I agree that the admistration and the GOP led congress did act like Dems and that's why they are out of power.
so let me ask another question. Why are the Dems a better choice?
January 28th, 2008 at 2:51 pmThey need us to be frightened in order to control the masses and continue on with their agenda. If people weren't frightened, they wouldn't be able to push through all the unbelievable stuff they have been pushing through.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pmI refuse. This has to stop.
"I agree that the admistration and the GOP led congress did act like Dems and that’s why they are out of power.
so let me ask another question. Why are the Dems a better choice?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:51 pm"
They actually acted like the Republican saint Ronny. The Republican party has long since lost the label of fiscally conservative. They just like spending that borrowed money on different things than Dems.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:57 pmWhy are the Dems a better choice?
Comment by VA Voter
Well, mostly because for the most part they are HONEST, and SERVE the WILL of the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Now I did put in "for the most part", there are bad apples everywhere, we progressives just want fair and honest government, which is not what the Repukes are about.
Right now if Flighing Blind Monkeys were to run as Dems I would vote for them rather than a Fascist Brownshirter Repukian Sellout.
Edwards for President, throw the Lobbyists out of DC
Buck Fush
January 28th, 2008 at 2:59 pmThat's because of my magic rock that I keep next to my computer.
/Keeps polar bears away, too.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:00 pmI agree that the admistration and the GOP led congress did act like Dems and that’s why they are out of power.
so let me ask another question. Why are the Dems a better choice?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
well using your mentality, at least you know what you're getting with the Dems, whereas the Repubs are simply liers who will say "fiscal conservatism" while they spend, spend, spend (and borrow to do it)
Bill Clinton had a budget surplus. Bush hasn't. To me that would indicate better fiscal conservatism than the supposed conservatives.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:01 pmThe democrats are framing the arguments toward the citizens of this country. They realize that a course change must take place in how we are dealing with Iraq. The republicans have yet to explain the payment on this fiasco but still think we need to expend more blood and treasure.
The pendulum swings and the republicans have effectively destroyed all of the good will they were swept in on back in the 90's. The republicans have proven to be ineffective or even damaging to this country and they don't deserve to hold power.
Will the democrats do better? I hope the learn the lessons currently in front of Bush and the republicans because the republicans have lost the confidence of the American people and have damaged their own party for years to come. They need to relearn what they stand for and then actually stand before they will deserve to lead.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pmI get that you don’t want the government just listning in on your phone calls. I would agree. But as of now they are only looking at terror suspects. So how would you prevent an attack? A lot of attacks have already been prevented by good police work. Would you say it’s enought?
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
I gather that you don't object to sacrificing your freedom and your privacy if it means you'll feel safer. I can understand your feeling this way, especially since our leaders have made every effort to keep you as afraid as possible since 9/11 in order to keep you from complaining.
Let me add a different perspective here. In 2001, approximately 3,000 Americans died here in the United States from terrorist attacks. In 2004, over 26,000 Americans died here in the United States as a result of firearms. Let's compare the two for a moment.
TERRORISTS: Killed 3,000 Americans in 2001. Other years in the past decade had few or no deaths in the U.S. due to terrorists.
FIREARMS: Killed 26,569 Americans in 2004. Other years in the past decade had similar figures.
TERRORISTS: Created a general sense of panic in the American populace in 2001. This fear has been exploited by politicians ever since.
FIREARMS: Created no special panic -- we're used to having the highest firearms fatality rate in the industrialized world.
TERRORISTS: Fear of terrorism has caused Americans to willingly sacrifice privacy, freedom, habeus corpus, and their fourth amendment search-and-seizure rights.
FIREARMS: Fear of firearms has caused Americans to willingly sacrifice their second amendment rights. Oh wait...no, Americans would never willingly sacrifice their second amendment rights. I seem to recall something about "cold dead fingers".
So, my question is this -- if it was deemed necessary to control all firearms in this country in order to catch terrorists instead of spying on telephone conversations, would you support elimination of the second amendment in order to "prevent attacks"?
January 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pm#23 - "Fear mongers!!! The only fearmongers are those on this site." Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 28, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
I agree.
Why ARE you on this site, anyway? We're tired of you "fearmongers" masquerading as neutral posters.
Then again, your monikor proves you're a fearmonger of the most pernicious type.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:07 pmLet us count the way's and also include the enabeler's.....Yes I am an equal oportunety critic.....Allowing 9/11...Wiretapping american's before 9/11, Palosi knew before 9/11....Katrina and 4 day's awaiting help by bush administration..Preemptive war against Iraq for ego and pay back because of the insult's to daddy bush.....Secret behind closed door's deal's to oil companies and Black
January 28th, 2008 at 3:10 pmwater by cheney, the real ruler of america..Hiring all the foxe's from polluter's to now control all our countries hen houses...Lie's deciet and selling off our country to Dubi and other Saudi Arabia controled businesses, Allowing all the ben lauden's and saudis to leave the country after 9/11 with out question's....Total alegence to Israel including funding their war's against all their neighbor's...Selling out our park's and BLM land's to oil companies......Silencing all truth, dismanteling our constitution and hundred's of corrupt signing statement's...I'm sure I can add a lot more, but right now I have to run the dog and finish listening to the senate debate's.....BTW we on the left have many traitor's along with all the rep's..Any one going along with this bunch is just as guilty as bush and cheney....Murderious warmonger's all...
#70 - "But as of now they are only looking at terror suspects." Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
"Do you have some form of proof?" Comment by alpuz3 — January 28, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
No, there is no "proof". We're supposed to take the word of the Federal Government as being completely honest with no valid proof af any kind, whatsoever. I'm sure they've also got a bridge for sale as well. Honestly!
Does ANYONE blindly trust the Federal Government, ESPECIALLY the Bush Administration with its track-record of lying about any/everything? If there is anyone like that, send me your bank PIN number. I'll safeguard it, honestly! ;-)
January 28th, 2008 at 3:11 pmI agree that the admistration and the GOP led congress did act like Dems and that’s why they are out of power.
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
Oh, this ought to be interesting. In what ways have the Bush administration and the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses acted like Democrats?
My guess is that they took the GOP party line to the extreme, and it's coming back to bite them in the butt. Your somewhat bizarre statement follows their general strategy of "blame everything on the Democrats." However, if you make a provocative statement like that around here, you are expected to back it up with some examples. Otherwise, we figure it's just bluster.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:11 pmGod Bless Sam Seder who is sitting in for Randi Rhodes today.
He's talking about the FISA legislation and the need to contact your Senators.
I emailed Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes and Stephanie Miller last week almost BEGGING them to please spend 5 minutes talking about this important topic and encouragin people to call their Senators.
None of them could spare even one minute from the endless, mindless chatter about who is more racist, Clinton or Obama.
Sam just announced Glenn Greenwald will be on today's show.
Like I said, God Bless Sam Seder. Someone get this man his five day a week show back.
And please call your Senator while there's still time. 1-800-828-0498.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:11 pm#65 - "A lot of attacks have already been prevented by good police work." Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
You mean like when Pres. Clinton foiled the Millennium Bombers plot by following the FISA requirement of getting a warrant 48 hours AFTER they already began wiretapping people???
People tend to forget that the original FISA law allowed Pres. Clinton to stop foreign terrorists from bombing the US. Why does Pres. Bush need "special" rules to do the exact same thing? Is Pres. Bush THAT special?!?
January 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pm"I agree that the admistration and the GOP led congress did act like Dems and that’s why they are out of power.
so let me ask another question. Why are the Dems a better choice?"
Comment by VA Voter
No, the dems were always criticized for "tax and spend" policies.
Republicans are now criticized for "borrow and spend - and spend, and spend, and spend... " policies.
They're out of power, because the intellectual scam that is conservatism has been shown to be the fraud it always was, to moderate voters.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pmPresident Bush, in his weekly radio address, warned: "We need to know who our enemies are and what they are plotting. And we cannot afford to wait until after an attack to put the pieces together."
We know who are enemy is. The enemy is Bush and all those that support him without question.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pmIs Pres. Bush THAT special?!?
Comment by Democrat Soldier
Special yes, short bus Special to say the least, or maybe the Evil Short Bus would be better suited for the criminal.
Buck Fush
January 28th, 2008 at 3:27 pmFeinegold on C-Span now...
January 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pmIn his weekly radio address this weekend, Bush ominously threatened that “we cannot afford to wait until after an attack....â€
"... that comes in the form of a mushroom cloud...."
Hope the Writer's Guild ends the strike soon; these reruns are getting boring....
Cheers,
January 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pmFire engulfs Iraqi central bank
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28465952.htm
'Iraqi lawmaker Sabah al-Saadi, head of a parliamentary integrity committee, said the blaze tore through a section containing important budget documents.
He said a large amount of money had been safely evacuated from the building but many documents were lost.'
I wonder how many more suspicious fires there will be this year.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pmNobody, NOBODY is going to tell me that I should be afraid. Yes, I remember what happened over six years ago. 9/11 might have changed some things. But it hasn't caused me to cower in fear. It hasn't caused me to want to give up any of my civil liberties or human rights. I believe in the effort to prosecute Al Qaeda and others directly involved, along with any known terrorists wanting to harm the USA.
Otherwise, I think we can accomplish this without invading a country that has nothing to do with 9/11, and without the government listening on my phone calls, reading my email, looking at bank records, or throwing me in jail without a trial.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:52 pm"Give me Liberty or give me Death"
Right on Kgprophet!
January 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pmimportant budget documents [...] many documents were lost.’
Comment by mary — January 28, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
much too convenient...
January 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pmI don't understand why they keep going on about this garbage when we all know now they were spying on american citizen's before 9/11 and let the Saudis bomb us..By intent or neglect bush/cheney are guilty...More free reighn is not going to fix anything except less right's for citizen's and more dictatorship by the worst president's in our history....Why are the rep's allowing this, even dumbass troll's and stupid rep's should know what's going to happen with a new dictator, more of the same..The imprisoned and detained my be rep's next....
January 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pmThis is a bill that needs to be permanently TABLED.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:08 pmVA Voter. Think long and hard about this before responding.
Comment by hellinabucket — January 28, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
Thinking gives him a headache. And if you point out facts or tough questions, like the 15billion in corporate welfare given to the oil companies, he flees the thread.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pmjudy, does shit canned and tabled mean the same thing.? If so I agree...Blessings
January 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pmVA Voter. Think long and hard about this before responding.
Comment by hellinabucket — January 28, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
Thinking gives him a headache. And if you point out facts or tough questions, like the 15billion in corporate welfare given to the oil companies, he flees the thread.
Comment by Wayne — January 28, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
I guess you missed my post about ending welfair of all kinds.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:21 pmOn further reflection, this comment by McConnell, "The American people should be frightened", is probably one of the most honest things he has ever uttered.
We SHOULD be afraid - of losing our rights, our future, our international standing, our well-being and our sanity thanks to Bush/Cheney/PNAC/FOX/AIPAC/Carlyle etc. etc. etc.!
January 28th, 2008 at 4:31 pmI guess you missed my post about ending welfair of all kinds.
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
And I guess you missed my post where I asked you to define "welfare" -- or at least tell us which government programs you consider to be "welfare".
January 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pmWhy don't the Democrats bring up the fact that this program started before 9/11 and failed to stop 9/11?
January 28th, 2008 at 5:07 pmWhy don’t the Democrats bring up the fact that this program started before 9/11 and failed to stop 9/11?
Comment by ucsbclassics53 — January 28, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
Because...until the telecoms testify under oath....this fact is a highly believeable conjecture. That's why Bush fears what the telecoms KNOW , and would testify to, so very much.
January 28th, 2008 at 5:18 pmWitch - Shit canned=tabled. I try to refrain from certain phrases though, because when I write my senators, I don't want them to shit can my message without reading it & responding. Habits, you know.
I wrote my governor requesting that since the three branches of the Federal government are intruding on the Constitutional pervue of the States (i.e. revoking the Bill of Rights without properly amending the Constitution, as outlined therein), maybe it's time the States took measures to re-assert their (and our) rights. Haven't heard back on this idea - but our legislature is in session awhile longer...
January 28th, 2008 at 5:39 pmThis Just in:
The Cloture motion failed!!!!
Thanks to everyone that called on the Senate today to make that happen!
January 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm112. I'll be damned. Scientific proof that being a eunuch need not be permanent.
January 28th, 2008 at 7:05 pmI agree that the admistration and the GOP led congress did act like Dems and that’s why they are out of power.
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
So, the Dems came back to power because the voters were tired of the GOP acting like those same Dems?
Okay, if you say so
January 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pmComment by Ms_Joanne — January 28, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
Agreed.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:13 pmBut as of now they are only looking at terror suspects.
Comment by VA Voter — January 28, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
If that's the case, then why ask for the phone records of tens of millions of Americans?
Yes, it is true that members of the administration have said that the program is a "targeted" program and limited to "known or suspected terrorists." So why not get a warrant and go to the phone companies?
Besides, I'm sure you are aware of the allegation that when the gov't asked Qwest for their records, the gov't basically walked away when Qwest asked for a warrant. Don't you think that if the gov't were truly concerned about protecting us, they would have offered up a warrant?
January 29th, 2008 at 12:20 pm