Reid: I ‘will try to have a separate vote on immunity.’
By on Jun 21st, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Reid: I ‘will try to have a separate vote on immunity.’
Yesterday, the House passed a “compromise” wiretapping bill that “condones the actions of telecommunications companies that cooperated with illegal warrantless surveillance after 9/11 by virtually assuring the dismissal of the dozens of lawsuits pending against them.” While indicating his “support” for the bill, Sen. Barack Obama said he will “work in the Senate to remove” the provision granting retroactive immunity to the telecoms. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said he will “try to have a separate vote on immunity.” “Probably we can’t take that out of the bill, but I’m going to try,” he said. Watch it:
In the interview, Reid did not say whether he will vote for the bill. “We’ll have to see,” he said.
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You don’t need to have a separate vote. Any Democrat, including Reid, could kill it with a filibuster. Apparently, Senate Republicans have a monopoly on the filibuster.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pmScrew you reid, palosi and the big ugly elephant you rode in on…Blessings to everyone else.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pmFunny, you just don’t inspire me much these days, Harry. 9-11 didn’t happen because the NSA couldn’t eavesdrop on American citizens, it happened because this dumbfrock moron of a chimp refused to listen to zillions of warnings and because NSA, CIA, FBI were to goddamn stupid to talk to each other. This whole thing is a farce. Go jump in the bay, Nancy.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pmI swear to god – if they pass immunity, I’ll vote for McCain and a straight GOP ticket, and I’m no where close to being “conservative”. So help me god, I’ll do it.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:39 pmHarry Reid is lying and he knows it. He doesn’t even have to let the bill be considered, not to mention in it’s current form. All he has to do is split it or have not bill at all. What he and chicken Nancy have done is put Sen. Obama’s back against the wall at a time when he’s leading the race. They shouldnt’ have even brought this bill up, because the republicans will claim that Obama is weak on terrorism even if the votes for the bill. Apparently Harry and Nancy aren’t smart enough to figure that part out. This is the worst thing they could have done during an election year, particularly this late in the process. What were they thinking?
June 21st, 2008 at 1:42 pmMarcus Aurelius Says:
I swear to god – if they pass immunity, I’ll vote for McCain and a straight GOP ticket,
– - Yeah, that’ll show ‘em. Do you frequently cut off your nose to spite your face?
John Dean said this was a very poorly written bill and he feels Obama’s thinking is that because of this sloppiness, there’s still room in it to hold the telecoms up for criminal prosecutions.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pm#5 – Marcus
June 21st, 2008 at 1:44 pmI won’t vote for McCain, but if Obama votes for immunity, I’m writing in “none of the above” when I vote. If the bill passes, I will change my registered party to Independent.
The democrats have caved in on this one. Our only hope is to pressure Sen. Obama and ask him to support Sen. Feingold on stopping this vote. Sen. Feingold is the only Democrat in the Senate with any real guts. He could stop the bill, but he needs help from Obama. I contacted Sen. Obama’s office yesterday and expressed my displeasure at his supporting this bill. We all need to flood his office’s with calls and e’mails on Monday morning before the vote to get the message through that we want this bill stop. Believe me if we put enough pressure on him, he will back off and help Sen. Feingold. WE NEED TO ALSO CONTACT HIS CAMPAIGN TO EXPRESS OUR OPINION ABOUT THIS BILL. I URGE EVERYONE OF YOU TO GO TO; http://www.Barackobama.com to e-mail and phone them. PLEASE URGE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIEND TO DO THE SAME. THIS IS IMPORTANT WE CAN’T FAIL!
June 21st, 2008 at 1:48 pmHow in the Fcuk did Harry ever get elected to Senate Majority Leader, anyway? This guy doesn’t have a sack or anything to carry in it anyway.
What a totally worthless WUSS!
June 21st, 2008 at 1:49 pmYou’ve raised one hell of a lot of money, Barack, but if you want any from me, or even my vote, you’d better do the right thing here. There is no more basic duty for any elected official than to guard and defend the constitution against enemies foreign and DOMESTIC.
June 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pm“We’ll have to see,” he said.= Yes
June 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pmrogerse Says:
Even pelosi voted for immunity
Even progressives want Pelosi out of office. Learn the obvious, IDIOT.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pmReid wants this bill. Most of the dems hierarchy does. They think only in caucus size, vulnerability of the blue dogs, and campaign strategy. He could care less about the articles of the bill of rights.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pmYes this immunizes bush, but I think it gives coverage to a passel of dems that were briefed on this and ran with it. So yes bushco were the prime criminals and conspirators, but a mess of congress is entangled in this disgrace too.
There’s a children’s book I’d like to send to those wimpy Dems — The Little Engine That Could – Scratch out “Engine” and write in “Dems.”
Hey Harry, stop saying “I don’t think I can.” Repeat after me: “I think I can, I know I can.”
Sheesh. And stop watching FOX.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:06 pmObama, the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee, either caved on an important privacy issue or has given us a glance into his governance as President, i.e. triangulation. My feeling is the latter. He had the time and political power to defeat the bill in the House. He instead backed THE POWERS THAT BE, including Cheney/Bush. If he shows up for the Senate vote, he may vote no on FISA, knowing full well the bill will pass. Just what the Nation needs, another hypocrite.
Call the Obama campaign
866-675-2008 To get through: 1. Wait until the message asks you to press 4 for your contribution. 2. Press 6 instead. A volunteer will answer. 3. Vent
June 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pmWhy do Democrats insist on goosestepping along with the worthless lying traitor-boy Bush? Are they all totally gutless?
June 21st, 2008 at 2:14 pm“There is no ‘try,’ you either vote against this travesty, or prepare your resume you must.” (with apologies to Lucas.)
This Tom Tomorrow cartoon could just substitute ” No Telecom Immunity” for “Timetable for withdrawal.”
Chicken Reid (R-pussy) is a disgrace.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:14 pmCut the bullsh*t Reid and quit insulting our intelligence.
He must think we’re all FAUX News viewers and El Drugbo Limbaugh listneers.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:17 pmBadmoonman #7 says: John Dean said this was a very poorly written bill and he feels Obama’s thinking is that because of this sloppiness, there’s still room in it to hold the telecoms up for criminal prosecutions.
Was that from his interview on KO the other night? Do you happen to have a link for that comment somewhere?
Also, Jonathan Turley commented on his blog @ http://www.jonathanturley.org
And Obama said, a few months back, that we citizens will have to help him – to hold his feet to the fire.
I do believe Obama is sincere and he does have to play along with a totally gamed system to get into office.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:20 pmIt will be a sad day for the rule of law if this bill becomes law. I have nothing against the Telco’s, but giving them immunity before trial is ridiculous. Immunity will keep the question I have from ever being asked and answered. I want to hear the question to the Telco’s, “When you knew that there would be no warrant for the wiretap, under whose authority did the surveillance continue?”
The answer to that question would lead investigators to those in the highest levels of our government who are trampling our liberties and laws with their illegal acts no matter what the motavation.
In the shrubs statement yeaterday there was one turn of the phrase that caught me. The shrub said “It ensures that those companies whose assistance is necessary to protect the country will themselves be protected from liability for past or future cooperation with the government.” What the hell was “future” cooperation with the government mean? That a president can just order surveillance on some one on his/her say so?
Are we a nation of laws, or a petty little dictatorship run a petty little dictator?
“If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier – just so long I’m the dictator.” December 18, 2000 George Bush
“Our government… teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” – Justice Louis Brandeis
June 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pmOh how courageous. *puke* At least the republicans are honest about telling me they are going to stick it in my ass. The Dems do this “we really tried” BS. Bunch of damned cowards (save a few). Reid and Pelosi . . . the absolute WORSE.
And here’s a chance for Obama to prove he’s the leader of the Dems. I mean the rest of the Bill is horrid but telecom immunity is horrific. This bill, all by itself, is the final nail in the coffin of the U.S. Faux News goes on and on about “we won’t let the terrorists win.” With this bill . . . the terrorists win.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pmI got an email request for money from Nancy Pelosi yesterday.
I let her know that due to her capitulation on FISA, I would not be honoring any of her requests and will send a like amount of money to the campaign of Cindy Sheehan.
So far, no reply.
I’m not holding my breath.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pmGood old “Fightin’ Harry Reid” prepares to give up without a whimper again.
Damn Reid, Pelosi and all the other Dem leaders who are caving into another abomination created by BushCo to curtail and limit human rights in the US…
Their craven and cowardly behavior will go down in the annals of History as one of the biggest sell-outs of Human Rights in the US.
And DO MORE THEN FRIGGIN” TRY HARRY! DO YOUR DAMN JOB AND PROTECT US!
June 21st, 2008 at 2:27 pmDear Shadow and all, Just maybe you are missing the whole picture here….Just my thought’s….The dem’s that helped push this night mare through are part of the big party (reich winger’s) they have been supporting, sheltering and providing everything bull shit has wanted since 2006…We have been lied to, they are not dem’s they are traiter’s to our country and constitution…They have not held to their oath of office and lie all the time and play a little game then cave on purpose…PALOSI KNEW BEFORE 9/11 WE WERE BEING SPIED ON, BY HER OWN ADMISSION….Hello madam you should be held as a contributor to these crime’s..All of this was presented at the perfect time for the reich to win the next election and benefit mcnutty and eliminate Obama…..Hello there..
One more very big issue…Obama…..What’s the point of dragging someone kicking and screaming through another presedency…It seem’s to me he has shown his alegance by backing this bill..Game set match…Why try and make him do what’s right now when by his action’s he is showing you how he feel’s….If you put him in office and get him to stand up now and do what he should of done moment’s after the vote he along with the other’s will just continue with dragging our country down….Please don’t think you can make people change and then vote them into an office when they are showing you right here and now who they really are…..Think before you vote folk’s….Right now they are all the same…Maybe what we need is people power and massive write in’s for another better suited candidate ..Someone who is anti war, for the constitution, our people and the enviroment …..Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 2:32 pmReid and Pelosi are the worst “leaders” the Dems could have chosen. Reid, with his “I’ll try” is weak. Is he the leader of the Senate or not? I think he should be removed. Hell, Yoda in Star Wars had it right when he said “Do or do not… there is no try.” Reid, either lead, follow the people, or just get the hell out of the way!
Pelosi, with her “Impeachment is off the table” statement gave up any leverage she might have had to move or influence this shrub. She could have held impeachment like a Sword of Damocles over the shrub’s head and used it to force the shrub to remove troops from Iraq, back off on his tax breaks for his buddies and move the country back to the middle ground and away from the oligarcy we have become under the Repugs.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pmWhile Israel did a huge test run on formaldehyde in F-16 cockpits, Senator Barack Obama declared Israel’s right to self defense, which like George W.’s involves pre-emptive wars.
Meanwhile on the domestic front, Bush finally lived up to his uniter label, doing so on telecom immunity. Down the rabbit hole, we go!
June 21st, 2008 at 2:37 pmPelosi and Reid are now the Imperial Court Jesters.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pmtoo many weasel words, dammit…
poor harry… he so hates to disappoint… all at once…
nope, there are too many compromised reps who can’t afford to let the incriminating evidence get out… immunity will prevail…
as keith said, it’s not F-I-S-A it’s C-Y-A…
June 21st, 2008 at 2:43 pmand yet, in an interesting twist:
Court limits employer access to worker messages
The Associated Press – Jun 19, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court has made it more difficult for employers to snoop legally on e-mails and text messages their workers send from company accounts.
Under Wednesday’s ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, employers that contract an outside business to transmit text messages can’t read them unless the worker agrees.
Users of text-messaging services “have a reasonable expectation of privacy” regarding messages stored on the service provider’s network, Judge Kim Wardlaw wrote in the three-judge panel’s unanimous opinion.
The ruling limits employers’ access to employee e-mail on internal servers.
[...]
June 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pmThis could be a deal breaker Harry
Maybe the Democrats need to see 4 more years of McCain/Bush before they finally start to f—–g get it. I completely agree with lokidog. Quit insulting our intelligence! God, I hate being forced to be a Democrat. I used to just naturally be one.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pmI just found this petition to Obama. Please sign.
To: Senator Barack Obama
Senator Obama:
On Friday, June 20th, an unconstitutional FISA update bill passed the House of Representatives, which will legitimize the Bush Administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. It will give extensive powers of surveillance to the executive branch and provide an avenue for retroactive immunity for the telecoms companies that illegally spied on American citizens.
As the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party–and most likely the next President of the United States–your words and actions in the Senate carry a lot of weight. Therefore, we ask two things of you:
1) That you speak out against the bill in its entirety and encourage other Senators to vote against it when it comes up for a vote in the Senate next week.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:04 pm2) That when called to vote on the FISA Bill, that you vote against it in its entirety.
[snip]
To sign the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/…..ition.html
bushie – that link got me this message:
The petition ID does not appear to be valid.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Bushie, that link to the petition doesn’t work. :(
June 21st, 2008 at 3:07 pmSen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said he will “try to have a separate vote on immunity.” “Probably we can’t take that out of the bill, but I’m going to try,” he said.
He’ll “try” but it “probably” won’t work. Nothing like giving up before you’ve started.
The fact is, Reid could have killed telecom immunity months ago if he had really wanted to, proving yet again that the only thing more useless and dishonest than a Republican is a Democrat.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 21st, 2008 at 3:07 pmhanshiro – Tom Tomorrow does it again! That cartoon sums it up perfectly.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pmTrying to take retroactive immunity out of the bill isn’t enough. Anyway, the bill stinks with or without immunity.
“Do, or do not. There is no ‘try.’” –Jedi Master Yoda
June 21st, 2008 at 3:12 pm15 Saudi nationals armed with boxcutters and four other Middle Eastern men armed with boxcutters attacked us on 11 September 2001. And our national response: we get totally hysterical and turn our democracy into a fascist police state? What a bunch of gutless pussies we are. We’ve become bowls of jello, quivering at any strange sound and ready to go hide in the closet or the cellar. Land of the free and home of the brave? Pathetic.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:25 pmKaty, here’s the link to that petition to Obama – hope this one works :)
Petition
June 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pmReid: I ‘will try to have a separate vote on immunity.’
Try?
Just DO IT!
And if you can not, then we need to expose every crook that is against it. That would take too much time? BS Time should be used in exposing ALL the corruption.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pmPressure Obama??? Are You kidding me. Obama never thing diffrently, He is trying to exuse him self from not voting in February, telling US that He didnt vote then, because He was busy with Primaries.What a liar He is. He knew that He will support FISA, and it will be the and for HIM, so He waited till now, He give Reid and Pelosi green light to go for it, and He voted “YES”. Stop lying to Your self, He was well prepare to do just as He did!. Stop defending this man, and hope You will learn, that speaches are not important, but actions are, end His actions are trully bad. Wake up, He is laughin out loud, knowing how damm we are… Can You imagine, how much money He is getting from AT&T,Sprint,VeriZon… millions, that is why He will not accept anymore PUBLIC FINANCING!!! He dont need anymore.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pmNothing will change unless we make it so..No matter who, in the race today, they are all the same and if you think diffrently then you are only fooling your selve’s…Obama said (we) must hold his feet to the fire…Yah right..Were’s my bucket of water.? I’m putting that fire out if possible by my vote….I will not vote for some one who is going to keep the war’s going, back Israel and their bombing’s of Iran to drag us in and someone who doesn’t give a flying F*** for the constitution….As soon as any of these people get in it will be more and worse of the same cluster f*** we have been getting…Do as you choose, I’ve had enough, 46 year’s of being a dem. for me is over……Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pmNancy PollLoser (DEMO-RAT)
AND
Harry Rude (DEMO-RAT)
ARE
COMPLETELY
USELESS
AMERICANS!!
USELESS!!!! TO THE CORE!!!!
PHUCK YOU BOTH!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 3:34 pmKira, you can also go to the previous link and google search fisa.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pmIt comes right up.
Only 59 petition signers so far. I am proud to be #59.
Not that it’s going to work necessarily, but my vote is on record.
Thanks, RUCerious. I’ve already signed, too and proud of it!
And, just for others who are interested, my link to the petition works in comment #43.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pmMust be brain-frying hot in the South today.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pmTo people of Nevada,California, Illinois elections are on their way. Rethink You decision, dont vote for those, who batray US. How long we are going give those people any credit for anything, they all are like”empty promises” Obama just started, Pelosi and Reid they are in the middle of mess, and it is growing it is time to tell all Democrats, that We will remember when will vote again. It will be NO NO NO to all of them
June 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pmActually, it’s a very pleasant day here in the South, robbez! At least in my neck of the woods.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pmKira Says:
Clearly about 80 degrees hot wherever DIXIE BLOOD is, then.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pmReid: “Probably we can’t take that out of the bill, but I’m going to try,”
Yeah, you go ahead and give it your best shot there Reid. We’re rooting for ya. Don’t worry, if you don’t succeed at least you tried. lol. Yeah right. Unfortunately for you not all of the electorate is stupid enough to believe that crap.
We all have to wake up and realize that the majority of dem pols are basically the same as the repugnicans.
The only difference in my mind between Clinton and Obama was my preception that Obama was a lesser chickenhawk then Clinton. Yet, Obama would have voted for the Iraq war if he was in the Senate at the time. And it is clear from this impending vote he is no different from Clinton. He is full of it. Clinton deserves the Presidency. Obama is a fraud.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pmIt’s time to go independent and vote for the candidate NOT THE PARTY!!
June 21st, 2008 at 4:08 pm“bushie – that link got me this message:
The petition ID does not appear to be valid.”
By clicking the link your IP has been registered and classified as an indicator of anti-government (read terrorist) sympathizer. Shortly, the attorney general will issue a blanket authorization identifying you and the others as a suspect. Consequently, your communications will be monitored for 30 days. If no suspicious material is identified the monitoring will stop. Otherwise a FISA court will authorize further surveillance. (I read somewhere that the older FISA court had only rejected a warrant request a few times in decades). Good luck and I’ll see you in the internment camp. I want the top bunk.
Cheers
June 21st, 2008 at 4:18 pmI stand corrected, PARTLY. Positive news from the Obama camp.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/21/politics/horserace/entry4200105.shtml
“June 21, 2008, 12:20 PM
Obama: I’ll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA
Posted by David S Morgan| Comments35
(CBS/AP) – Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., issued a statement in support of the House’s update of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but said he would try to strip a provision granting immunity to telecommunication companies when the bill comes to a vote in the Senate next week.
The House approved a compromise bill Friday that would set new electronic surveillance rules that would also shield telecoms from lawsuits arising from their participation in the government’s warrantless eavesdropping on telephone and computer lines in the United States.
The government eavesdropped on American phone and computer lines for almost six years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without permission from the FISA Court, the special panel established for that purpose under the original 1978 law.
Some 40 lawsuits have been filed against the telecommunications companies by groups and individuals who say the Bush administration illegally monitored their phone calls or e-mails.
Obama said there is “little doubt” that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, “has abused [its] authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.”
“Given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as president, I will carefully monitor the program.
“[The bill] does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.”
The House approved the legislation 293-129.
The White House had threatened to veto any surveillance bill that did not also shield the companies.
Critics say granting immunity to telecoms would scrap the pending lawsuits and prevent any public airing of details about the government’s surveillance activities.
Last February, when an earlier version of the FISA bill came to a vote, Obama voted for an amendment to strip the telecom immunity provision from the bill. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voted in favor of keeping immunity for the telecoms.
Speaking in an interview to be aired on Bloomberg television this weekend, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that he may schedule a separate vote on stripping immunity from the bill, although he expressed pessimism about its success.
“Probably we can’t take that out of the bill, but I’m going to try,” Reid told “Political Capital with Al Hunt.”"
June 21st, 2008 at 4:29 pmI’d rather cut my own nose off than have these cowards do it for me.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:30 pmrobbez_92107 Says:
——————————————————————————–
Clearly about 80 degrees hot wherever DIXIE BLOOD is, then.
You must be new ’round here youngblood…80 degrees is coool here….Move a little closer boy….hug me…
June 21st, 2008 at 4:39 pmHow about just refuse to schedule a vote until…oh maybe March of 09.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:39 pm#61 rogerSpecialEd,
McLameA$$ still loses in November!!!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 4:47 pmMy post on a petition to Obama was incorrect. To get to the correct url drive down through:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/nationalsecurity/gG5SRJ/commentary
June 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pmSomeone at &L says this “flipflop” by BHO is some how good. Voting for ANYTHING in this FISA bill is bad, what does it matter if they strip the immunity out, it is still an ANTI-AMERICAN bill at its heart.
Precedent bush should be shot on sight.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pmMarcus Aurelius Says:
Badmoodman Says:
- – Yeah, that’ll show ‘em. Do you frequently cut off your nose to spite your face?
I’d rather cut my own nose off than have these cowards do it for me.
Also, sometimes you have to cut off your nose to SAVE your face, like when the cancer that is bush, is rampant.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pmbush will say he won’t sign a bill without immunity and Reid and Obama and the rest of the democrats will wet their pants and cave.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:01 pm.
Still not buying it…Don’t care what Dean or Obama are trying to sell it’s no good and any one that will not stand up to this doe’s not get my vote….Obama is a civil right’s attorney for christ sake, he should and doe’s know what’s what and the constitution….I refuse to try and mold someone not suited for the office by signing patition’s to try and get him to do what he should of done with out my pressure….I am the employer looking at him as the employee…I will not hire some one who is going to go along with selling out my constitution just to get into office…If the employee doesn’t want to do the job as stated “defend the constitution” I’m not hiring them..Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 5:17 pm#61 RogerStarvingEgo ~ See #57 jondor.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:19 pmTrump card played, your outdated article is superceded by the more recent information.
You may leave now.
WitchyOne, did you read jondor#57 post?
June 21st, 2008 at 5:19 pmwhat I don’t think roger and the other conservatives don’t realize is that we Progressives and liberals hold our representatives accountable…We are not like Conservative evangelicals who hold their nose and vote Republican no matter what…no matter that they get laughed at in secret…
June 21st, 2008 at 5:31 pmwell, i hope all that means you’re staying home, sharon…
i hate thinking you would throw your vote away, or worse, give
June 21st, 2008 at 5:40 pmit to mcCRAZY…
RUCerious, yep I read it..I have to go rest awhile….Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 5:41 pmNo Katy, I’m not staying home or voting for mcinsane…..I will vote but not for the continuation of the war, backing Israel or someone who is trampeling on the constitution….Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 5:43 pmthank you, kira!
June 21st, 2008 at 5:44 pmyou’re welcome, katy!
June 21st, 2008 at 5:49 pm.
What Reed meant was, “I will try to uphold my Oath of Office…”
TRY?
Why try when you can do!
Dear Senator Reed,
Uphold your Oath of Office or resign with what little character you have left.
Sincerely,
America.
.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:00 pmThe difference between the Democrats and the Republicans will be seen next week when Obama’s amendment to strip the FISA bill of immunity happens…They’ll filibuster it and most likely successfully with a few Dems crossing over to not appear “weak on terror.” The Democrats couldn’t filibuster anything because they fear that the big bad ELITIST MEDIA will suddenly wake up and realize that a FILIBUSTER is being used…instead of spouting off bullshit like blocking debate or such quaint language like procedural measures…
June 21st, 2008 at 6:07 pm“Reid: I ‘will try to have a separate vote on immunity.’”
Try!???? Hello??? You either have a separate vote or not. There is no gray area! Time for Reid to go. In fact, all the dinosaur mentalities in Congress should retire. What a ridiculous comment by Reid.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:14 pm77. ucsbclassics53 Says:
:The difference between the Democrats and the Republicans will be seen next week when Obama’s amendment to strip the FISA bill of immunity happens…”
Obama may put in a pro forma performance, waxing eloquently about our rights and then let the deal go down.
Obama ‘08 Change We Can Believe In, but wont get.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:18 pmYou really can’t say we WON’T get change. We might just be pleasantly surprised.
OTOH, with McBush we know it will be exactly the same or, most likely, worse.
There is not a hope in hell any third party candidate will win – not until we do get someone in office who will work to make our system include third party candidates.
So — keep writing Senator Obama with your objections & ideas.
I say – give him a chance.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pmThere is no try. There is only do.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:36 pm79. I fear you’re right. I tempered my enthusiasm for the November elections…and I feel bad, but I won’t be excited as if Kucinich were the nominee…I hope Obama doesn’t disappoint me in this FISA issue, but I’m not holding my breath…
June 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pmAll Harry Reid needs to do is to refuse to allow the bill to come to the floor for a vote. That’s how the Republicans controlled the Democrats for 6 years. They simply didn’t allow any bill supported by the Democrats to come to the floor for a vote. So his BS about how he will “try” to take immunity out of the bill is just that, BS.
Write Harry Reid and tell him to do the right thing:
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/
This is his Senate web page since he doesn’t have the courage to have a Speaker of the House web page. But it’s easy to leave him a message here. Just use his office address listed at the bottom of the form as the address. This will fool the filter that will reject your message if you aren’t a “constituent”.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pmTry? TRY?!! You’re the fu(king majority leader, Reid! You control that chamber–if you choose!
June 21st, 2008 at 7:03 pmReid is voting for that bill as-is.
He’s not going to “try” to do anything.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:17 pmThe REAL ENEMIES have always been Pelosi and Reid. I’ve been calling for the Impeachment of Pelosi for a long time. Reid is another freakazoid.
Glen Greenwald has several articles devoted to Reid as the enemy of the Fisa Immunity plan – google – Reid and company target the true enemy: “Dodd and his allies”
What power does this Imperial Bush family have on all politicians? And, yes, I’ve studied up on them.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:19 pmMy enemy’s friend is my enemy.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:37 pmThe real reich winger’s are the 105 that voted with the bush bot’s yesterday..Stay tuned for a name and vote count on the senate floor then the true picture will be known…You are who you are by what you do and how you vote…Expect less and that’s what you will get every time….Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
What is the purpose of this “compromised” FISA legislation?
Why is Congress amending FISA?
I’m being serious, not rhetorical this time.
Isn’t the CONgress discussing amending FISA because the president FAILED to follow the law in the first place?
If the president says FISA doesn’t work, where’s his proof?
OR IS AMERICA BEING HAD…?
.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:00 pm.
If Obama supports the “COMPROMISE”, and this “COMPROMISE” was about immunity, how can Obama support something he sees as being flawed?
If this is truly a “COMPROMISE” then who, in the GOP, voted against the legislation in demonstration to the language?
… OR IS AMERICA BEING SOLD OUT… ?
.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:03 pm.
If someone was about to sell you a car that was “COMPROMISED”… say, no brakes, would you accept the used car salesman’s word that it stops on a dime…?
Would you buy it at full asking price and turn to your wife and suggest that maybe you can pitch in for break fluid…?
… or would you say to that salesman, “I’ll go somewhere else, NO THANK YOU!”
.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:08 pm#90 Is America being had?…Yep! over and over and over again by most of the polatician’s on both side’s of the isle……Palosi and Reid are not just enabeler’s they are as guilty as the bank robber’s and warmonger’s in this administration because they have helped bush accomplish his cover up with wire tapping along with anything else he has wanted to rob for his eternal war machine…They have been driving the get away car for 2 year’s and in Palosi’s case she’s been a bush water carrier and supporter since before 9/11….Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 8:11 pmWhen one set their sight’s on nothing they will hit their mark every time…Blessings
June 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pmReid = Coward.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:48 pmIt’s a brand new day. If reid and pelosi want to join the repugs they should do so and leave the honest work for real totally new dems.
They are complicit in breaking the 4th amendment and seem proud of it. Next on the dem’s docket — immunity for contract workers.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:26 pmPolitical SKANK Pelosi and WIMPY Reid might as well change their “D” to an “R”.
There are a DISGRACE to the Democratic Party.
They are part of the problem.
NO ONE believes what Reid is saying. He is not a leader – he is an ENABLER to the republiCONs and DINOs who have destroyed our democracy.
San Francisco and Nevada have better “snap out of it” and get rid of these LOSERS once and for all for DEMOCRACY’s sake.
Reid can STFU.
The gig’s up!
June 21st, 2008 at 9:49 pmIf these so-called elected officials were sworn to uphold the constitution. If they don’t want to uphold the constitution they should be allowed in the political process.
Impeach chimpy like a good country should.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:57 pm>Even progressives want Pelosi out of office.
I’d really like to see this lady out of congress. Her allowing this travesty to pass the house after being voted on neary HALF A DOZEN times is completely inexcusable.
Does Sheehan have any chance of getting rid of Pelosi? I really would like to try and get some of these Judas democrats out of office, and if theres any possibility Cindy might be a spoiler id be happy to give Nancys seat to a republican..
June 21st, 2008 at 11:16 pmReid: “try to have a separate vote on immunity.”
Try???!!!!!! TRY????!!!!!!!! With that statement alone, you should take you and Pelosi ‘off the table’!!!!!!! Do us a fovor and resign!
June 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pmMax-1
Yes, we’ve been had, but it’s been going on forever. There’s a different playing field for those who have inherited power than for the rest of us. It’s the rare individual who is able to break into that group – through the luck of the draw.
As to Fisa Immunity:
Why would certain people need immunity – total immunity?
Why did certain people need illegal wiretapping 7 months prior to 9/11? Did they need to get the goods on congress in advance of (or during or after) … some event? And why has Sibel Edmonds, who wants to testify, been gagged for nearly 7 years?
I can recommend this article written by Coleen Rowley, Co-authored by Tom Maertens, former Deputy Coordinator for Counter-terrorism, Department of State and National Security Council Director for Non-Proliferation, & posted at Huffington Post Jan. 23, 2008 Telecom Immunity: Covering Up Illegality by Secrecy and FearSubject
If the Immunity clause goes through, barring sloppy drafting of the bill which allows for legal loopholes to prosecute, we will never be able to find out the who, what, when or where of the illegalities.
It looks like this administration has been working since day one to immunize itself from criminal prosecution.
June 21st, 2008 at 11:29 pm>If the Immunity clause goes through,
> barring sloppy drafting of the bill
> which allows for legal loopholes
theres a possibility that the entire concept of retroactively taking away peoples right to sue for past wrongs may be unconstitutional, read here:
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/sebok/20080129.html
i predict, even if this passes, it will set the lawsuits back a few years but wont totally derail them. lets hope the statute of limitations hasnt passed by that time, we can put some people in jail also
June 21st, 2008 at 11:41 pm103# provision’s were written in the patriot act that prevent any prosacution of this entire administration once they are out of office…..Game, set, match. over….Blessings
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 amfound this at C&L… self explanatory:
88 Joe Max Says:
Noam Chomsky has pointed out that, while there may be very little difference between the two parties, a lot of lives hang in the balance in that difference. Voting for what you perceive as the lesser of two evils is not very satisfying, but to abandon that responsibility to vote for the lesser of two evils is to turn your back on all those lives who hang in the balance.
Will Obama end the Iraq War sooner than McCain? Almost certainly. And every day means more lives saved. Therefore, helping McCain get elected, by not voting for Obama, means more people die.
Will Obama bring about more health coverage for Americans than McCain? Almost certainly. Which means people who might have died for lack of health care (especially early detection of treatable disease) might not die. Therefore, helping McCain get elected, by not voting for Obama, means more people die.
So before you make a stand and vote on your “principles”, be sure you understand what that choice means in real, human terms.
…
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 amInteresting article, Chocolate Jesus, thanks for the link. That could indeed leave the door open to a thorough investigation.
The 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Fund explains how the gov’t effectively shut down any further investigation by buying the silence of the survivors.
This is an interesting document: The National Air Disaster Alliance – Letter to all Senators dated August 28, 2002 Provision Slipped Into Homeland Security Bill July, 2002
The way Congress does “business” is deplorable. Who knows what other “stealth provisions” have slipped under the radar.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 amExcellent post, Katy #105. I’m in complete agreement.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 amI’d have slightly more confidence in “Give ‘em Hell Harry” if he didn’t have the perpetual, “I could burst into tears at any minute” look on his face.
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 amSupport Cindy Sheehan for Congress.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pmToo bad Harry’s not up for election until 2010.
This is CYA for Obama, that’s all it is. This is shameful and we now have a Congress that supports spying on Americans and values the war machine more than it values our rights. If Obama votes for this that’s a dealbreaker for me, I will not support him after that. He should filibuster this and take a strong stand or his candidacy among liberals should be rejected.
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:49 pmNoam Chomsky is occasionally wrong. Obama is wrong a lot. Doesn’t anyone stand up for anything anymore?
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pmIf the Bush administration and telecom companies did nothing wrong in spying on U.S. citizens over the past seven years, then WHY the retroactive immunity?
Just the fact that retroactive immunity is even being mentioned indicates to me that the Bush administration and certain telecom companies are guilty as sin, that they committed criminal acts and are now trying to cover up what they did by getting some fools/lapdogs in Congress to give all of them a belated get-out-of-free card.
The last resort of criminally-insane right-wing rogues is stripping “rule of law” judicial oversight from consideration, which I’m certain Al Capone and Mafia heads would have loved for Congress to do for them.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pmEr, “get-out-of-jail-free” card. Sorry.
I can’t believe I left out “jail,” since every time I think of the Bush administration, I think of jail as being the only fitting place for these criminally-insane right-wingers who’ve done so much damage to our democracy, and gotten so many people here in the U.S. and overseas in Iraq killed and injured unnecessarily.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm