Dodd’s retroactive immunity amendment fails.
Last December, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) successfully filibustered consideration of a measure that would grant immunity to telecom companies that were complicit in warrantless surveillance. But in the Senate today, an amendment by Dodd and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) to strip retroactive immunity from a Senate Intelligence Committee bill failed to reach the necessary 51 votes. The final vote tally was 31-67.
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Thank God. I was worried accountability might be an option.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:44 amVery disappointed in the Dems that voted against this. I was surprised to see Webb’s name on the list of crossovers. I wonder what his reasoning is.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:44 amVoting with the Republicans were the following eighteen Democrats (again, rough count):
Bayh, Inouye, Johnson, Landrieu, McCaskill, Ben Nelson, Bill Nelson, Stabenow, Feinstein, Kohl, Pryor, Rockefeller, Salazar, Carper, Mikulski, Conrad, Webb, and Lincoln. Joe Lieberman also voted against stripping retroactive immunity.
who ARE these people???
February 12th, 2008 at 11:45 amhow disappointing…
If they did nothing wrong…
then why do they need immunity?
If they did something wrong…
February 12th, 2008 at 11:45 amwhy is it not being investigated?
31-67? Wow. That’s a lot of votes against democratic governance and the rule of law.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:45 amYou get the feeling that Congress really doesn’t want to plumb the depths of what exactly this administration has done so that years from now, historians won’t be wondering (even more so than they probably will be) why Bush got off without being impeached.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:46 amFeinstein is hopelessly corrupt.
Thankfully, she’s RETIRING. Time to go home and count your war bucks w/ yer hubby, DiFi?
February 12th, 2008 at 11:48 amVoting with the Republicans were the following eighteen Democrats (again, rough count):
Bayh, Inouye, Johnson, Landrieu, McCaskill, Ben Nelson, Bill Nelson, Stabenow, Feinstein, Kohl, Pryor, Rockefeller, Salazar, Carper, Mikulski, Conrad, Webb, and Lincoln. Joe Lieberman also voted against stripping retroactive immunity.
who ARE these people???
how disappointing…
Comment by katy — February 12, 2008 @ 11:45 am
These are a bunch of Dems who deserve to be replaced with better Dems. Remember this day come the next set of primaries for these bozos.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:49 amI’m so done with Webb. What a disappointment.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:50 amMukasy’s son or son in law is directly involved with Verizon and Verizon is one who opened their info to bush. T-Mobil has stood firm about not letting the government in, in case anyone is interested. So, don’t expect Mukasy to stand up against bush, he has favors needed too.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:50 amI’m so done with Webb. What a disappointment.
Comment by Zooey — February 12, 2008 @ 11:50 am
I’d really like to know his reasons for this vote. I’m very disappointed in my junior Senator right now.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:53 amEveryone should vote out all the Dems who voted with the Repugs on this travesty. Vote for a Green or other third party candidate.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:55 amI agree Webb’s vote is a big disappointment, he was the only one to not line up to kiss bush hand.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:58 amThis confirms my theory that they have something on everyone, everyone but Feingold. I used to say Webb and Feingold, but they obviously got something on Jimmy boy.
Thanks for the sellout, dude. And the point of all your previous efforts was…what exactly?
ARGH!
February 12th, 2008 at 12:01 pmtexaslady - are you sure about t-mobile?
February 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pmi thought it was another, which i’m forgetting…
QUEST?
Very disappointed in the Dems that voted against this. I was surprised to see Webb’s name on the list of crossovers. I wonder what his reasoning is.
Senator Webb is looking out for his corporate constituency. The Verizon Business (previously Worldcom MCI) HQ is in Ashburn, VA. AT&T has a large government solutions group in Northern VA.
It’s like those wise men at the Constitutional Congress said…
We the Elected Representatives of the United States, in Order to protect a corporate, capitalist based Union, disregard Justice, insure domestic instability, provide for the Wealthiest at the Poor’s expense, promote middle and lower class warfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty only to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of Corporate America.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:04 pmyea, but really - how BAD could whatever “they have” on these
people BE??? … to abandon the CONSTITUTION???
i really don’t get it…
February 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pmIsn’t Webb’s son on active duty in Iraq? I think this may be a factor as to why he has seemed to quietly capitulate to Bush after showing some initial spark leading up to his election…his son could be “re-assigned” to perpetual IED patrol…I could be way off though, I’m not even sure what branch his son is in.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pmKaty, it was Qwest that lost billions in contracts because they wouldn’t play ball with this admin.
How bad? Imagine your deepest darkest secret being spread around the bought and paid for MSM. How bad indeed?
Watergate was childs play. Do you think WE are the only Americans being listened in on? I would guarantee they have something on everyone and since all our elected officials fear losing their golden goose, we’re never going to know until someone, upon near death, writes their tell all.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pmI wonder if this whole retroactive immunity thing is to simply cover up even more years of eavesdropping. It certainly doesn’t makes sense to justify this as a product of 9/11, since we “know” the program started before that. The question is, how long exactly has this been going on?
February 12th, 2008 at 12:11 pmIt’s really sad that you can’t even count on Dems doing the right thing, thank goodness my reps and senators voted the right way.
Washington 67% Obama 32% Hillary 1% Undecided
We have thinking people here, not sheeple. (well not so much with the repukes, they can’t think for themselves)
Buck Fush
February 12th, 2008 at 12:11 pm19
I’m sure that this administration, aided and abetted by the telecoms, has huge dossiers on everyone in Washington. Being blackmailed into taking impeachment off the table doesn’t seem at all far-fetched coming from Bushco.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pmT-Mobil (my fav) was listed as one who refused to cooperate in U.S. Today paper last week. Of course, upon my calling and asking, no one could comment.
Tweedster - Webb’s son was on active duty when Webb ran for election, and I thought it was army. I would like to know where McCain’s son is stationed, I know he went before Christmas.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pmhis son could be “re-assigned†to perpetual IED patrol
Comment by Tweedster
I believe you have struck upon something there Tweedster, these criminals will threaten anyone to get their way.
Buck Fush
February 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pmwell, then good on T-mobile, another one…
February 12th, 2008 at 12:15 pmThe immunity issue is a red herring - the entire bill is de facto repeal of the Fourth Amendment - Warrantless wiretaps, without Probable Cause. I just don’t understand why Congress thinks they have the authority to amend the Constitution via a bill - this requires States’ input.
To paraphrase; “Where do I go to get my rights back?”
February 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pmKaty, Agreed on TMobile.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm24
I mean, doesn’t it seem odd that after the whole “Webb snubs Bush” tiff at the elects introductions, which if I can recall had Bush asking Webb how his “boy” was doing **smirk, smirk, chuckle** that Webb seemed a lot less out-spoken?
February 12th, 2008 at 12:17 pmThanks, Gin…spoken like a true 26%er!
February 12th, 2008 at 12:17 pmDo you fools get the feeling that nobody except me is even reading this crap?
Good luck and good night.
Comment by Gin — February 12, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
I’m not sure this makes much sense. Tell us how you really feel.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:19 pmNays
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
If your senator is on this list, would you please let them know how you intend to vote when they are up for re-election? Thank you.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pmOh, BTW, Obama voted Aye, and Clinton wasn’t present. Priorities, you know…
February 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pmHas anyone heard how the Tillman episode has been resolved? Until that happened I would not have thought Webb’s son could be used, now I am a believer. Tillman had major issues he was going to discuss regarding Afganistan and everything surrounding his death was destroyed instead being kept for forensic evidence.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm.
ARE THE SHEEP THAT AFRAID OF THE WOLF?
SINCE WHEN IS WARRANTLESS CONSTITUTIONALLY LEGAL?
.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pmI can understand Carper and Bayh and some others since they are from very RED states, also comrades of the DLC.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:39 pmLately Feinstein has also been voting with the DLC crowd.
Remember, Hillary Clinton is a vice-president of the DLC.
These people talk progressive in front of the camera, but vote to the center.
I just called up Senator Salazar’s office and expressed my distaste for his vote, as well as sending an e-mail to his office. I’m not going to bother with Allard. That scumbag loves the taste of Bush’s boots.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pmHutchinson and Cornyn are long time boot lickers my letter or call would be immediately round filed. Hutchinson looked to be on valium last interview, she is writting a book you know.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pmCOWARDS.
REID & PELOSI are NOT qualified for their positions. They are leaders FOR BUSH NOT the American People
They NEED to GO ASAP!
February 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pmThe difference between the 2 parties is what again…?
February 12th, 2008 at 1:05 pmF This!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pmScrew all you chickenshits and the garbage GOP/Chimpy leg humpers in the Senate ; you are all as un-American as the Shrub administration claimed we were/are , that opposed his illegal and idiotic Iraq Adventure…………
To vote in favor of retroactive immunity for big business , while trampling on the rights of “We the People” , is an act that will never be forgotten ; remember your behavior and vote come your time to be re-elected……………
February 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pmSens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) took some time from campaigning for Tuesday’s slate of “Potomac Primaries” in Maryland, Virginia and Washington to swing by the Capitol and vote on the amendments. Obama supported the immunity measure. McCain opposed it.
Hillary Clinton did not vote on the immunity issue at all, although she was in Washington at least part of the day Tuesday, competing in the same primaries as Obama and McCain.
It is unclear whether Clinton will pay a political price for her absence, especially in light of her campaign’s decision last fall to highlight Obama’s “present” votes when he was an Illinois State Senator. “A president can’t pick and choose which challenges he or she will face,” she said in October.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:25 pmIt’s official everyone. Crime pays - forget about college funds, and start buying your kids guns and fake ID’s, and start teaching them evasion, duplicity, and opportunism instead of geometry, history, and literature.
I’m off to find someone “wealthy” to rob.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:33 pmthey have something on everyone
they don’t need something on everyone — two words:
“Remember Wellstone”
February 12th, 2008 at 1:43 pmThe democrat party is so weak they make me sick to my stomach. They might as well not have power in Congress. That weak kneed Harry Reid is a wussy and prissy Nancy is a joke. Speak of what? Neither of them have any guts! These are the two weakest democrat leaders in history. I’m as blue as a Democrat as you can get, but they make me want to quit and join the Republicans. Oh, my God, I can’t believe I said that. Let me wash my mouth out with soap. Not because of what I said about Nancy and Harry, but about joining the Nazi Republicans.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pmI hope the Clinton voters in the rest of the primaries are too busy to go vote too…
February 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pmrjf7r 1:43 - I think of Wellstone, Wilson, Clark and all that tried to warn the American people.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pm#46 justasking:
February 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pmI copied and pasted from an article in Raw Story.
All of us that were glad the Dems won are sick at heart at the lack of backbone. Don’t give me that it will always be voted down, at least try and make our voice heard, damn it !
February 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pmTime to throw the bums out and START investigating them, too!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:54 pmOne can only assume that corporate interests and other ‘forces for the status quo’ have gotten to our leaders, and have them, somehow, in their pockets. Being a Democrat is no guarantee that you’re not bought, obviously. I have no doubt that virtually ALL of the most powerful individuals in this country, especially democratic lawmakers, have their phones illegally tapped by the administration. Who knows what kind of ammunition that gives Bush over them?
Of course that doesn’t mean we should forgive them for letting us down. We NEED them to be willing to sacrifice in order to do the right thing, or this won’t for long remain the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.
As for Hillary, the only democrat not voting, I believe it’s because she couldn’t vote yes - giving Obama ammo - and she couldn’t vote no - against the wishes of her biggest backers.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:59 pmThe following Dems need to be replaced!
The Dodd/Feingold Amendment 3907 to strip retroactive immunity from the underlying SSCI bill just failed, 31-67. 51 votes were needed to pass.
Voting with the Republicans were the following eighteen Democrats (again, rough count):
Bayh, Inouye, Johnson, Landrieu, McCaskill, Ben Nelson, Bill Nelson, Stabenow, Feinstein, Kohl, Pryor, Rockefeller, Salazar, Carper, Mikulski, Conrad, Webb, and Lincoln. Joe Lieberman also voted against stripping retroactive immunity.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:03 pmUntil we do march in the streets and make our voices and opinions heard, nothing will happen. The Washington Politicians think we are all thrilled with a Stimulas Package of a couple of hundred dollars. Throw us a dollar to spend in Walmart and we will let them sell our country away.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:06 pmOur elected officials consider the American people dumb, and we are allowing that by not raising our voices to them.
Who are these people representing? I am so disgusted by the continual caving by both sides of the aisle to Bush’s crazy demands. All kinds of conspiracy theories and excused have been floated to support their actions- from these lawbreakers having been blackmailed into supporting him to “We don’t have the votes.” I can’t listen to this anymore. How about this for a conspiracy theory - BOTH sides want to see the end of rule of law, increased power of the president, no accountability. Fill in the rest. The only other conspiracy theory I can float is this one:
http://www.opednews.com/ maxwrite/ diarypage.php?did=6076
They can’t do anything because COG plans are in place. Can’t verify this, of coure, because it’s all a secret.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pmWikipedia:
Bayh is considered to be a leading candidate for the Vice Presidential spot in 2008, due to his centrist image, his deep roots in the Midwest and wide experience, especially after he endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for the presidency.
Comment by justasking — February 12, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
February 12th, 2008 at 2:22 pmBecause Ms Clinton doesn’t have enough going against her , she needs to compound it with Bayh as her running mate ?
“Oh, BTW, Obama voted Aye, and Clinton wasn’t present. Priorities, you know…”
Comment by RUCerious — February 12, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
True but isn’t Claire McKatkill part of his Campaign? What the Phuck is wrong with her?
This is the saddest day I can recall in my lifetime of political involvement. Every democrat that oppossed this needs to go. I hang my head in shame…
February 12th, 2008 at 2:27 pm“I just called up Senator Salazar’s office and expressed my distaste for his vote, as well as sending an e-mail to his office. I’m not going to bother with Allard. That scumbag loves the taste of Bush’s boots.”
Comment by Jeremy in Denver — February 12, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Good for you! I Just called Specter’s office expressing my extreme disapointment in his vote and told his aide, “I hope he’s planning on retiring this year!”
February 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pmAs for Hillary, the only democrat not voting, I believe it’s because she couldn’t vote yes - giving Obama ammo - and she couldn’t vote no - against the wishes of her biggest backers.
Comment by jeffnbecka@hotmail.com @ 1:59 pm
how would a “yes” give obama ammo? i would think it would be
a great show of unity…
her absence is a big disappointment… at the least…
…
i think rjf7r @ 1:43 pm may have gotten it as far as “first on the list” of the many reasons the dems cave:
“Remember Wellstoneâ€
February 12th, 2008 at 2:37 pmThey have just handed Bush and Cheney their “get out of jail free card”. The whole issue of illegal spying on Americans is now dead. The courts will interpret the will of Congress as granting retroactive immunity to the actions of the White House (an ironic name, under our present circumstances!) as well. We can’t even pretend we have a democracy any longer. People: note those Senators and vote their sorry little asses out of office! It’s the patriotic thing to do.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pmCould it be that the Dems want a continuation of Bush agenda so the public will be so sick of this administration, it will be a shoo in for the Dems take over ? If so, they are as bad as bush allowing the lives of our military to be wasted for the next 12 months, the Constituition sacrificed, the rule of law? What a sick bunch if this is only half true. Why else not even an Impeachment debate in the House?
February 12th, 2008 at 2:49 pmWelcome to the United States of Soviet Repression. Hope you young people enjoy your brave new world.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pmBush issued a signing statement to a law he just signed, which among other things will protect Halliburton and others from investigation into fraud against our military.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pmHow many signing statements is that now ? Covering his ass as always.
Isn’t “retroactive immunity” a fancy way to say “ex post facto law” which is expressly forbidden by the constitution?
February 12th, 2008 at 4:48 pmvia C&L:
We’re not done yet. FireDogLake has a petition to pressure the House to stand firm behind the RESTORE act.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pmThis is the Last Straw!!! We must organize and form a viable Truly Progressive Third party and start running candidates for office, not once every 4 years for President, but at the state and local levels and for Congress. Viva la resistance!!!
February 12th, 2008 at 7:14 pmLand of the secretly watched and monitored, Home of the government for sale…
February 12th, 2008 at 7:22 pmSO once again we get screwed by the very party that is supposed to represent we the people.
Barring a full scale revolution (which Americans are too lazy to do) the only other way to teach these b**tards a lesson is to vote republican in the fall.
If you think after this vote it could actually be any worse than what has been happening you’re a fool. As has already been said above “the difference between the two parties is what?”
February 12th, 2008 at 7:46 pmI had a no warrant wire tap used on me. Not only did it cause heartbreak, loss and poverty - but I cannot even take them court!!
This is so bad - if you all only just knew. The used warrantless taps under the War on Drugs - and lovely little Ms HiLIARy and Uncle Bill used them saying that the War Measures Act applied.
All the judges rolled over and let them happen - no action was taken at all.
That was 1994 - think how far America has come.
It’s truly pathetic, but this is why HiLIARy voted the way she did - she LOVES warrantless wiretaps. Then they can bribe your neightbors to lie and say they found out on your telephone.
You guys, this isn’t about paper - this is about the real picture which is DREADFUL, trust me. I am not the “only one” who knows but most of us are not in the US to tell you about it. Duh.
This was the Tipping Point. This is the Dividing Issue. Seriously.
Learn about impeachment, how to get arrest warrants or just succumb. HiLIARy is not better than the rest of them, I assure you.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:54 pmFinal bill also passes:
“Major victory” for White House
WASHINGTON — After more than a year of heated political wrangling, the Senate handed the White House a major victory Tuesday by voting to broaden the government’s spy powers after giving legal protection to phone companies that cooperated in President Bush’s warrantless eavesdropping program
The Senate rejected a series of amendments that would have restricted the government’s surveillance powers and eliminated immunity for the phone carriers, and it voted in convincing fashion — 69 to 29 — to end debate and bring the issue to a final vote. That vote on the overall billwas an almost identical 68 to 29. …
“This, I believe, is the right way to go for the security of the nation,†said Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, the West Virginia Democrat who leads the intelligence committee and who was a pivotal supporter of the White House-backed plan approved Tuesday.
Beyond the immunity provision, the Senate measure would also widen the executive branch’s surveillance powers by allowing the National Security Agency and intelligence agencies to use broad orders — without getting court orders in advance — to eavesdrop on groups of overseas targets, rather than using individualized warrants.
New York Times
February 12th, 2008 at 8:19 pmThe war(s) being fought by American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are to support/protect the freedoms we enjoy here at home.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:12 pmThe troops can all come home now, there’s no freedom left in America to defend
It just keeps getting darker. I thought with the 2006 election there was some light at the end of the tunnel, and now I know it’s just the train coming towards us. I really think this is the death of a great country. I don’t even know that I’m angry anymore.. just sad, and a little scared.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am