Senate rejects amendments blocking telecomm immunity.
Senate rejects amendments blocking telecomm immunity.
The Senate today rejected three amendments that would have withheld immunity from telecomms that participated in the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. AP sums up the votes:
Just under a third of the Senate, including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, supported an amendment proposed by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., that would have stripped immunity from the bill. It was defeated on a 32-66 vote. Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain did not vote.
Specter proposed an amendment to require a district court judge to assess the legality of warrantless wiretapping before granting immunity. It failed on a 37-61 vote.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., proposed that immunity be delayed until after a yearlong government investigation into warrantless wiretapping is completed. His amendment failed on a vote of 42-56.
When the chamber votes on the overall surveillance bill later today, they are expected to pass it.
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I can’t think of words obscene enough to express my reaction…
Damn.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:49 pmA big “fcuk you” to the rule of law.
Way to go incompetent, complicit, criminal-losers.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:50 pmTime for some primary opponents for some overfed Democratic incumbents in 2010.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:51 pmI’m glad that Obama at least tried to strip the immunity provision from the bill. Now, if only he does the right thing and vote against the measure…but I’m not holding my breath.
And we wave bye-bye to any chance of the telecoms coming clean and going on record with what went on.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:51 pmThey’ve shredded the Constitution. We’re now officially a fascist state.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:51 pmThe case against ex post facto laws.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:52 pmAmerica by & for the Corporations…you have won!!! Thanks to the corporate cronies Republican & Democrats alike.
So long 4th amendment it’s been good to know you.
Makes me feel like crying or vomiting…maybe both.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:57 pmObama might as well vote against it, it’s going to pass anyway.
And the repuglycans are going to smear/paint/dump him as soft on national security either way he votes.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:01 pmAbsolutely disgusting!! If Obama votes for this, I will not support him in the slightest. I was planning on writing a check to his campaign. Maybe we should all write him and say there’s a check waiting to be sent but I can’t send it in good conscious until I see his vote on this issue.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:03 pmObama voted against immunity but knew his vote wouldn’t matter… so shame on Obama????
Jabber will ‘vote’ for Nader but knows that his vote won’t matter… so…
Jabber, shame on you.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:04 pmThese are the Democrat Senators that need to be gone — they are traitors:
Bayh
Carper
Conrad
Feinstein
Inouye
Johnson
Kohl
Landrieu
Lincoln
McCaskill
Mikulski
Nelson
Nelson
Pryor
Rockefeller
Salazar
Webb
F_ck each and every one of you.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pmFISA vote looms: hopes, hate focused on Bingaman amendment
Instead of immediately granting retroactive immunity to telecoms being sued for their role in the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping program—or, what amounts to the same thing, instructing a federal court to grant such immunity—Bingaman would stay the suits until 90 days after the delivery of a report by the Inspector General’s on the president’s secret surveillance programs. Immunity would still follow automatically at this point, but the provision might provide an incentive for the administration not to drag its feet in complying with the investigation, and it would give Congress the opportunity to reconsider once it actually knows what behavior it is immunizing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and prominent immunity opponent Glenn Greenwald have both endorsed the amendment.
LINK
July 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pmThis. THIS is why Congress’ approval rating is lower than Bush’s. Democratic voters are turned off by our side’s continuing acquiescence to the criminal acts of BUSHCO. The Dems are aiding and abetting the crimes of the Bush regime for the sake of some telecom lobbying cash. Friggin’ sickening….
July 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pmThere must be some kind of funding attached to this bill. Follow the money.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pmClinton and Obama: Yea
Don’t stop here, please. I won’t buy this as a “I’ve done all I can” vote as an excuse to vote for the final measure. You’re representing the democratic party here, Mr. Obama.
Would Kerry vote for the final measure? Would Biden? Would Boxer? Would Dodd? Of course they wouldn’t. So why should we buy it if/when the presumptive nominee of the democratic party does it?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pmTelcoms spent over $37 million lining D.C. pockets for this vote.
How many millions went to Democrats?
Check Zooey’s list above.
And Zooey, thanks for stating your message so eloquently…I couldn’t have said it better myself.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pmJabber sez:I didn’t say “Obama voted against immunity BUT knew his vote wouldn’t matter… so shame on Obama.”
I said that Obama voted against immunity BECAUSE he knew his vote wouldn’t matter.
You’re right Jabber… and I should have said, ‘Jabber schills for Nader BECAUSE he knows that Nader won’t matter (except to siphon votes from Obama, he hopes) so shame on Jabber!”
Better?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pmNot really off-topic, but not really on, either:
I notice that the vote totals for all three of these votes are 98.
Two Senators didn’t vote.
One of them was Ted Kennedy, who is recovering from a stroke and brain surgery.
Anyone wanna guess who the other non-voting Senator is?
That’s right! It’s John McCain, who is on the campaign trail, where on Monday he had this to say about Social Security:
Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that’s a disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace, and it’s got to be fixed.
What more do you need to know about this man and his fitness to lead this nation?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pmThe new oath for office in the Senate:
July 9th, 2008 at 2:16 pm“I pledge allegiance to the lobbyists of the United States of America, and to the corporations for which they stand, one Senate, up for sale, with liberty and justice for the highest bidder.”
I wrote my response in the think fast thread, sorry, a lot slow today…I do not do well with betrayel or grief, today I have both….I would fle to Canada if I were younger and in better health…..It is my opinion two third’s of the house, senate and all of this administration should be jailed forever for the crime’s they have comitted here and around the world..Blessings
July 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pmIt’s not just Republicans who need to go this fall. Every incumbent Democrat who enabled this administration needs to go as well. Follow those links and see how your Senator voted.
In the meantime, since our elected officials have failed miserably to uphold their oath to the Constitution, you should take control of your privacy yourselves: http://www.truecrypt.org/
July 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHmmm, Ralph, isn’t that exactly what SS has always done?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHas it always been a disgrace?
Or,
Is McIIIrd completely batshit crazy?
#16 DNFP says:
They couldn’t (wouldn’t) even pass that.
Pathetic.
Yes, the Democratic Party deserves to be pounded over this – it will be a looooooooong time (if ever) before any of their members receives a dime from me.
But let’s not lose sight of the fact 30+ of them are on the right side of this issue – while NONE of the Republicans are (with the exception of Spector on one of the amendments).
The Dems are bad, the Republiscums worse.
And good, patriotic Americans are left with nowhere to go (3rd party sounds good, but is not realistic)….
but Canada. I’ll be speaking with my relatives there soon to check out the employment opportunities. This ship is listing and going down.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pmA nation of laws that could be changed to protect those who break the law.
Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. It’s sad that so many people that died for our freedoms have now died in vain.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pmWell, at least MY senators voted the right way on this, thank you Cantwell and Murray for knowing what is right.
As for the ones who voted against taking out immunity, MAY YOU BURN IN HELL.
Too bad there’s no such thing as hell, but it’s the thought that counts.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
I’m glad that Obama at least tried to strip the immunity provision from the bill. Now, if only he does the right thing and vote against the measure…but I’m not holding my breath.
Really? I’d be shocked if he voted for this measure. Voting against it will be politically very easy for him since most Americans have no clue what it is even about. If the R’s try to pillory him for voting against it, he can just say “I voted for the Constitution against George Bush’s spy bill” and everyone will go, “well, that sounds good!”
July 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pmThey’re voting now…
July 9th, 2008 at 2:26 pmExactly the point, RUC. Does McCain not know how Social Security works? Is it a surprise to him that current workers fund the benfits for retired workers, and will in turn have their benefits when they retire funded by the next generation?
How is that a “disgrace”?
The man is losing it quickly.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:27 pmThere goes the 4th Amendment.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pmObama voted “aye.”
July 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pmI got three responses back from Feinstein over the weekend. She is claiming that it reinstates FISA as an excuse but nobody can excuse weakening the fourth amendment to the constitution. Dubya must have dirt on everyone who is giving him what he wants. It is another sad day in America.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pmBelac,
“I said that Obama voted against immunity BECAUSE he knew his vote wouldn’t matter.
You’re right Jabber… and I should have said, ‘Jabber schills for Nader BECAUSE he knows that Nader won’t matter (except to siphon votes from Obama, he hopes) so shame on Jabber!”
Better?”
Before we go patting Barry on the back for his worthless vote, let’s keep a few things in mind. When he won the primary, he became the de facto leader of the Democratic Party. His leadership has been non-existent on this issue.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pmFurthermore, Obama said he would filibuster this bill. Voting no on a bill he knows will pass anyway is not leadership. Voting for the Dodd amendment everyone knows wouldn’t pass is not leadership. He’ll use his votes for political cover. He is making fools out of the people who thought he was such a breath of fresh air.
These senators voted yes for the Amendment:
YEAs —42
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
Both my senators got it right.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pmBye Bye 4th amendment. It was nice knowing you.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:31 pmmisshusseinmolly said:
I’m glad that Obama at least tried to strip the immunity provision from the bill. Now, if only he does the right thing and vote against the measure…but I’m not holding my breath.
Sorry to burst your bubble but it’s fairly certain Obama supported the amendment because he knew it would fail. And it’s just as certain he will vote in favor of the bill in the end which will prove how hollow his no vote on the amendment really is.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 9th, 2008 at 2:31 pmThe proof will be in whether or not he leads a fillibuster on the final bill as he promised he would during the primaries, or rather, if he will just roll over and vote for the bill that includes immunity.
Sorry to jump in, but isn’t that the true reason the McCain trolls infest the boards? If they can sour enough people on Obama, and convince them to quit (or never to begin )contributing to his campaign, Obama will have to rely more heavily on big, individual contributors, and corporations, thereby killing his change message. If anything, now is the time for smaller contributors to dig deep, and show Obama that he doesn’t need to rely on sources of contributions that would dilute his message.
If you want Obama’s attention, money talks, folks. And it’s a good way to defeat the jabberjaw trolls – at the polls.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pmAccording to the Senate.gov site, they have NOT yet voted on the FISA bill. So far, it has been only on the proposed amendments to strip out the telecom immunity.
The list of yes votes (to take away telecom immunity) is above.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pmThank you, Annie.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pmHmmmm,
Clinton, Obama, Reid, Shcumer, Leahy, Levin, Kerry…
How much money does it take now to BUY your votes?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pmI’m gonna remember Bill Nelson (D-FL) in his next election.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:35 pmAnd before the trolls start crowing, I see Chuck Schumer, most ardent republican foe of telco amnesty, also voted for it.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pmBill Nelson?
Isn’t he the only congress critter OLDER than McIIIrd?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:37 pmI don’t think so k. Most people, even republicans now understand that Obama is the anti bush/mccain and that is good enough……sorry but your clairvoiance machine is malfunctioning again.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:38 pmWho knows? But I’m gonna do my damnest to ensure that this is his last time to sit in DC
July 9th, 2008 at 2:38 pmOops, make thar Arlen Spector.
Sorry, still hung-over from last night.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:39 pmFu(k you Obama.
Fu(k you McCain.
Fu(k you to EVERY Senator, Democrat and Republican alike, who voted against these amendments.
Fu(k every Senator who votes FOR this bill with Immunity in it.
Welcome to Fascism.
Welcome to 1984.
War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
Up is Down.
Black is White.
Immunity is Safety.
Senate, House, Executive, Judiciary…ALL OF YOU…go FU(K yourselves. You’ve all but guaranteed now that there WILL be a popular uprising in this country, a violent, bloody one, much like the French Revolution, within 10 years time.
Congratulations. I hope you can live with yourselves.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pmWhere is that lone Senator who still believes in the US Constitution that will put a hold on this unconstitutional bill that allows the law to be broken? Invoke one of those obscure rules. Hell, someone pull the gd fire alarm. Anything!
Capitol Hill needs to be fumigated.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pmAnnie… going by the link Feinstein voted NAY to the amendment to strip immunity.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pmOne of us is wrong or confused or something.
Annie… Feinstein also voted NAY to an assessment of legality, which makes the Delay of immunity irrelevant.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:42 pm5th,
July 9th, 2008 at 2:42 pmthere are three amendments, are you sure you guys are looking at the same one?
The place to go to deal with legislative treachery like this is Downsize DC.
Downsize DC today pointed out that this was a “deal for money” that the Democrats consciously and willingly and deliberately entered into. See this Washington Post link.
Downsize DC is a very hip group that has an amazingly innovative approach to getting what we want from government. It is completely non-partisan.
One of their basic concepts is that there are FAR MORE of US then there are of THEM (congress and senate) and that if enough of us apply RELENTLESS PRESSURE on them to do the right thing, we can change government. Check ‘em out. Sign up. Make those SOBs in government do the right thing.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:42 pmActually, I think this is the cloture vote…
July 9th, 2008 at 2:44 pmBarfly,
“Sorry to jump in, but isn’t that the true reason the McCain trolls infest the boards? If they can sour enough people on Obama, and convince them to quit (or never to begin )contributing to his campaign, Obama will have to rely more heavily on big, individual contributors, and corporations, thereby killing his change message. If anything, now is the time for smaller contributors to dig deep, and show Obama that he doesn’t need to rely on sources of contributions that would dilute his message.”
Obama shouldn’t assume every Democrat will support him know matter what he says or does. It’s a two way street. He cannot run as one thing and act like another and expect to get away with it. He promised to filibuster this bill. He’s not going to do it and it not doing so, allow this abhorent legislation to become law. As the newly minted leader of the Democratic Party, we have every right to be upset. Why should I vote for a guy who doesn’t have the courage to stand up to the worst president in our nations history? Obama is at a high point and Bush is at a low point, if not now, when?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:46 pmYeah, but that Elliot Spitzer hooker gal may get her own reality teevee show! Unfortunatly, that’s actually “news” today…
July 9th, 2008 at 2:47 pmnynick Says:
Jabber, is that you?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:47 pmThis is more proof that Freedom isn’t free. I wonder how much the 4th Amendment goes for these days.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:51 pm#55 lib traitor…
July 9th, 2008 at 2:51 pmapparently Annie and I are seeing different results.
I hate these double-negative votes!
Jabberjaw also fails to realize that a filibuster is no longer possible as the Senate voted on cloture (thereby limiting debate to 30 hours) over a week ago.
The rule of law is now officially gone and this nation will suffer for it (we already have)! How are we different from some tin pot Banana republic again?
I’m so mad I could spit nails at these sycophantic money-grubbing fools we have setting policy for us. It took a Democratic controlled Congress for Cheney to finally get “If the President does it, it’s not illegal” codified into law. That fact sickens me and makes me a great deal less enthusiastic about the direction this nation is moving in. I’m going to start looking into New Zealand and Australia’s immigration policies (I know it’s fairly hard to get into NZ).
As far as Sen. Obama’s stance on this issue I am extremely disheartened. His entire message of change and hope has lost a great deal of credibility in my mind because of this issue and his noncommittal stance on it. I wish these damn moronic campaign advisors and the politicians who listen to them would be able to learn a simple salient point:
It doesn’t matter what you do or how you vote! The Republicans ARE going to call you weak on defense and terror and the economy, etc. It’s the only play they have in their book (and, sadly, it has been effective). You may as well vote for what you believe in because they’re going to play dirty pool regardless! The American people want leadership! That means fighting for what you believe in. It’s about goddamned time that one of this idiots learns this simple lesson and actually puts up a fight. The Republicans call our politicians weak because they are and, today I am saddened to say, that includes Sen. Barack Obama.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pmWhy should I vote for a guy who doesn’t have the courage to stand up to the worst president in our nations history? Obama is at a high point and Bush is at a low point, if not now, when?
Bromides aside, Obama’s “high point” hasn’t yet been reached. I’ve been reading “Nixonland” lately, and Kennedy was no cubscout, either. Yet he pushed us to achieve greatness (sorry for the bromide), which is the yardstick we now use when measuring the effectiveness and vision of later presidents. He pushed through a capital-gains tax cut, that wasn’t very popular with his party – yet stood toe-to-toe with Khruschef, when the chips were down. Give the guy a chance. Let’s not throw Obama out with the bathwater, just yet.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:55 pmhttp://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_110_2.htm
The last 3 votes are to strip immunity and Obama votes Yea every time. They haven’t voted on the actual bill yet.
Two senators are absent, Ted Kennedy who has a very good reason and McCain who is has no excuse.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:55 pmlokidog Says:
“The Dems are bad, the Republiscums worse.
And good, patriotic Americans are left with nowhere to go (3rd party sounds good, but is not realistic)….
but Canada. I’ll be speaking with my relatives there soon to check out the employment opportunities. This ship is listing and going down.”
couldn’t agree more, lokidog!
getting more and more disgusted and disillusioned with the democratic party. nothing more than a kinder, gentler version of the repugnican party. progressive it’s not!
yeah, canada has been on my mind too! perhaps when i retire…
July 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pmAs I told Sen. Obama’s staffer when I called yesterday, I will still be supporting Sen. Obama in the general election (I’ve voted for every Democrat I’ve been able to vote for) but I’m a LOT less inclined to want to actively support his campaign either financially or with my time.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pmralph the wonder llama Says
July 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
It’s John McCain, who is on the campaign trail, where on Monday he had this to say about Social Security:
“Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that’s a disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace, and it’s got to be fixed.”
______________________________________________________________
OMG — he really said that? I was in airports and airplanes all day Monday and I completely missed that. Does he have any idea that the SS system has worked this way since FDR?
This is easily as dumb as any Bushism that crossed Dubya’s lips. Where was Lieberman to whisper in his ear?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pmI’m watching the Senate voting to pass HR 6304 right now on CSPAN2. Knives are out as the Senators laughingly converse on the Senate Floor, while they finish gutting our 4th Amendment rights.
This is vomit-worthy.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:57 pmLeftside Annie Says
July 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Both my senators got it right.
_____________________________________________________________
Both my senators got it wrong, but they’re both Republicans so that’s to be expected.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
——————————————————————————–
liberal traitor Says:
Fu(k you Obama.
Fu(k you McCain.
Fu(k you to EVERY Senator, Democrat and Republican alike, who voted against these amendments.
McGrampa didn’t vote at all and Obama voted properly.
McGrampa didn’t vote, as is his responsibility, on something this important, so FU(K HIM.
Obama may have voted for stripping Immunity, however when that failed he just voted for the bill with Immunity in it. So FU(K HIM TOO.
I’m so tired of this BS. I hope Obama gets elected, but now that is only because, AS USUAL, the Democratic nominee is the lesser of two evils.
My focus will now be on changing Congress. FU(K OBAMA. I voted for him in the primaries, even donated. That is now over. If I could get my money back I would.
FU(K YOU OBAMA. CHANGE MY A$$.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pmjabberjaw Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pmThere you are! See #22… Better?
Jabber,
They’re all loving it. No matter what they do no one really does anything to stop it. They’re all rich fatcats screwing us all over.
Kucinich may be the very last human being with a conscience in Congress.
As much as I respect Dodd’s fight against immunity, the SOB passed a bill mandating the horrid DNA database. And he’s under investigation for preferential real estate treatment, the same crap we rip on Republicans for all the time.
FU(K them ALL.
It looks like America might be due for a new People’s Revolution.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:08 pmSay Kaddish for the Senate Democrats!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pmSorry, should have mentioned Russ Feingold as well. He and Kucinich are among the only members of Congress other than maybe Kennedy and few others that deserve ANY sort of support.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pmWill we remember this day as the day Democracy died?
July 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pmI heard John Dean say that all may not be lost. He said that a court may find the granting of immunity to the telecoms to be inappropriate. Someone is going to challenge it and it is going to go to court. Perhaps the justice system can right this wrong being perpetuated.
I have never been as disgusted with the Democratic party as I am at this minute. I wish there was some way that we could throw out each and every Democrat that votes for this bill, including Barack Obama.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pmAnyone notice that Jim Webb voted No on all the amendments to take Telecom immunity out of the bill. Jim Webb is not the progressive some people think he is. That’s one reason why I have never wanted him as VP.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pmOh look…Macaca jr. Webb voted against Dodd’s amendment to strip immunity from the bill. Anyone still stupid enough to believe Webb isn’t a bush-suck republican? Anyone still stupid enough to listen to his empty “tough-guy” horsesh*t and ignore his republican voting record?
Webb, along with his republican buddies, voted against redeployment.
Webb, along with his republican buddies, voted for every Iraq funding bill.
Webb, along with his republican buddies, voted for the earlier FISA screwing.
Webb, along with his republican buddies, voted for telecom immunity in the earlier ‘07 version of this bill (along with voting, along with his republican buddies, for cloture!)
Webb, along with his bestest buddy Lieberman, voted for the idiotic MoveOn resolution that Harry Reid was too weak to block.
Webb voted for offshore drilling on Virginia’s coast..(Thankfully it was defeated.)
Webb is a dirtbag turncoat who lied his way into the Senate to be bush’s poodle.
FU Webb~!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:22 pmJust under a third of the Senate, including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, supported an amendment proposed by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., that would have stripped immunity from the bill. It was defeated on a 32-66 vote. Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain did not vote.
All These (D)Senators Voted Against Stripping Out Immunity:
These 18 need to be voted out of congress!!
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Carper (D-DE), Nay
Conrad (D-ND), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Johnson (D-SD), Nay
Kohl (D-WI), Nay
Landrieu (D-LA), Nay
Lieberman (ID-CT), Nay
Lincoln (D-AR), Nay
McCaskill (D-MO), Nay
Mikulski (D-MD), Nay
Nelson (D-FL), Nay
Nelson (D-NE), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay
Salazar (D-CO), Nay
Webb (D-VA), Nay
They are a disgrace to their party.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:22 pmDemocracy died a long time ago.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:22 pm“With Liberty and Justice” for corporate whores!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:23 pm“We hold these truths to be self-evident” that money talks, bullshit walks, and the little people can suck a fat one.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pmFor our single-digit-approval-rating congress, I salute them with a single-digit of my own.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:32 pmThe list I posted was for the Bingaman Amendment:
Question: On the Amendment (Bingaman Amdt. No. 5066 )
I see now that they have passed the g*ddamned FISA bill itself. Crap.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pmCongress caving in to Bush’s demands reminds me of reading about how the Reichstag passed the “Enabling Act” in Germany allowing Hitler to rule by decree.
Welcome to Neo-Nazi Amerika.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:40 pmSeig Heil!
The roll call is up… depressing…
July 9th, 2008 at 3:53 pmhttp://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00168
I can’t even type… the outrage I feel towards all that voted for immunity sickens me beyond words…
I’m off to call everyone of the corksuckers now (just the dems, I’ve long since given up on calling the repugnicunts as I know it’s a waste of time)
I’m not even sure that I can vote for Barrack now. I am positive that I can not and will not put one second of effort forth to support him. I will concentrate all of my dollars and time to getting rid of Murphy, Specter and Casey (R)’s Pa.
Steve O’Donnell is running against Murphy, Contribute if you can.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:56 pmbelac Says:
——————————————————————————–
The roll call is up… depressing…
Textbook beltway “bipartisanship”
repubs 100%
July 9th, 2008 at 4:07 pmdems split 50/50
Look over the roll call…congratulate your Senator if they voted ‘Nay’.
If your Senator voted ‘yea’, tell them you will do your best to organize, remind others & shout from the rooftops that you voted for fascism & felons today.
WE WILL NOT FORGET!
July 9th, 2008 = Fascists & Felons Now Rule America
July 9th, 2008 at 4:13 pmOn the final passage of the new FISA BILL, interesting that Clinton voted No, and Obama voted, Yea. And of course, as usual, another No Show for McBush.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pmSince when did conservatives favor big gov’t spying on them?
Did I miss something here? I mean, I’m confused…aren’t conservatives the ones who hate big gov’t intruding on their private land and lives???????????
July 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pmBarfly,
You say give Obama a chance, let’s not toss him out with the bathwater just yet. I’m sorry but here was a perfect opportunity for Obama to show leadership and instead he’s basically hiding in a corner. I’ve been waiting for him to show real leadership for quite some time now. I wanted him to defend his relationship with Rev. Wright but he caved. I waited for him to defend his position on gun control but he waffled. I waited for him to defend his statements on the Kyl/Lieberman amendment but he skipped the vote. I’ve been waiting for a long time for this so called “transcendent” fellow to show leadership on anything and I’m still waiting.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:30 pmLeopards don’t change their spots and leaders don’t suddenly get courage if they’ve spent their entire careers looking for cover. Obama will probably win but he’ll be a disaster in office. He will do so without my vote.
Obama voted yea for the final bill?
That decided my vote. Mine will be green vote this year, because Obama voted against the Constitution I cannot in good conscience vote for him. I called his campaign office requesting a refund of previous donations and vowing no more money for anyone who dishonors the Constitution. Democrats are in it with the Republicans and Corporations.
America died today.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pmAre you sure Wayne?
That puts you in bad company……Nader come to mind?
July 9th, 2008 at 4:40 pmAnyone who bails on Obama over this is short sighted. He has one vote right now….politics are involved.
If you bite on this then I have to assume that you were looking to bail on getting rid of the democrats anyway and were just looking for an excuse. 2000 redux
One of two people will get elected in November and neither of them will be an independant. You support Obama or you are voting for a republican….
I don’t like everything that comes down the pike either but the alternative is unacceptable.
Do you honestly think that we won’t have a better country if Obama is elected than Mccain?
July 9th, 2008 at 4:46 pmYou mean the guy who said he was willing to take America to the bottom to prove his point by being a spoiler and helping bush get elected…..that guy?
You mean the guy who takes money from the GOP…that lieberman lookalike?
Look we are currently left with choices. Obama is still the best chance we have to regain some of what we have lost.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:50 pmShorter Fred:
“vote Obama! His name isn’t McCain”
That may be enough reason for you but it’s not for me. I won’t vote or I will write in another candidate. I know it won’t matter but I’m voting for someone simply because he pretends to be a progressive. I’d rather see a real wingnut win than a fake progressive. I wonder exactly how long you can maintain this defense of Obama? Two years into his presidency, will you still be making excuses for him? How about three years?
July 9th, 2008 at 4:50 pmWe are now a Fascist country. It started with the right wing Supreme court placing Bush in power in 2000.
The Senate completed the process today.
I agre with Zooey- time to get the Dem. Senators- traitors out of the Senate.
Webb and Bayh should not be picked as VP for my party
Any one that is not pissed off has never read the Constitution.I am outraged !!
July 9th, 2008 at 4:52 pmWell it is for me. I cannot fathom another 8 years that reflect what we have just been through.
I think you already had your mind made up and were just looking for an excuse to bail.
Do you think this is all straight black and white? This is power brokering at the top of the food chain.
You really would take us back to the stone ages over one wedge issue? Sounds like christains voting republican over abortion or gay rights to me.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:57 pmFred Says:
Are you sure Wayne?
Unlike you Fred, I put Country and Constitution above Party.
I will vote Constitution first. That has always been my position and my choice.
Obama made the deliberate choice to vote against the Constitution in the final vote today, showing his true colors.
And f_ck you Fred, you sanctimonious twit.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:59 pmAlexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
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)
Graham (R-SC)
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)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wicker (R-MS)
Burn in hell. All of you.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:00 pmWell, as disappointed as I am about the outcome of this, at least I can be proud that my NJ Senators Lautenberg and Menendez voted yeah on all three amendments and No on the final bill.
It’s time to change the messages on my land line and cell phones: Warning this call may be illegally monitored by your government.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pmFred writes:
“You really would take us back to the stone ages over one wedge issue? Sounds like christains voting republican over abortion or gay rights to me.”
Sir, may I submit your loyalty to Obama has blinded you to who he really is. Obama is a politician who has one and only one interest. That interest in the political advancement of Barack Obama. Everything and everyone is secondary to that goal. He will never be the bold leader so many were hoping he would be. If it was only this issue, it may well have been enough to turn me against him, this issue is that important but it’s not only telecom immunity. People, we need to wake the hell up to who this man is. Look at his record, look at his past statements and how they change depending on the political winds. He’s not a guy we can trust to lead our country. He fancies his rock star image a little too much. Speeches are great but they are not a replacement for real leadership.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pmFred Says:
You really would take us back to the stone ages over one wedge issue?
Would you like to explain how a violation of the Constitution is a “wedge issue”?
July 9th, 2008 at 5:15 pmAre you f_cking kidding me?
Then try to act like it. Make intelligent decisions instead of acting on your emotions.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:16 pmFred Says:
Then try to act like it. Make intelligent decisions instead of acting on your emotions.
Standing for the Constitution is first a “wedge issue” and now an emotional issue with you?
That says it all right there.
You are as stupid as the Bush/McCain apologists trolls, Fred, and you are no better.
You are supporting someone who just gave a green light to the felonious violations of all of our rights by the Bush malAdministration.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pmI’m not blinded by any such thing. The realities are before you and you want to get mad, throw a fit in public and take your ball and go home…..fine.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:24 pmGood luck guys sorting this out. Our future is in your hands. I’m done with it for now. We have plenty to think about.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:28 pmFred Says:
Good luck guys sorting this out. Our future is in your hands. I’m done with it for now. We have plenty to think about.
When you return I will ask you to clarify why the Constitution is an “emotional” “wedge issue” again, but I expect you to avoid answering again like a troll…..
July 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pmSo, how’s that majority working out for you?
July 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pmI’m OK with this bill as soon as every felon in the country is granted retroactive immunity and the prisons are emptied.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:32 pmFred,
I simply do not abide by the notion that candidates deserve our support independent of how they behave. You’ve already stated that you’ll vote for whoever isn’t named John McCain.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:34 pmThat’s blind loyalty. Blind loyalty inspite of performance should be reserved for your favorite Baseball team, not politicians.
You just want a fight….I specifically meant your reaction was emotional……that’s all you get. Bye bye.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pmIt’s not an issue of blind loyalty to Obama… it’s an issue of returning some sanity to Government.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:39 pmI’m angry with Obama for his vote… I’ve written his office to let them know… I don’t support this vote.
I also will vote for him in November.
Never will I agree 100% with any candidate… Edwards was my choice in the primaries… but I can take a look at all the information available and discern which will move this country in the right direction…
If you look at that information and still think the answer is McCain or Nader (which I believe is essentially a vote for McCain) then we disagree…
I still think the answer is Obama.
You can’t turn it into blind loyalty just by saying it. I have evaluated my choices and Obama is the man most likely to lead us in the direction we want to go. Not mccaain and not nader. Simple really. If you fly off the handle over all the fringe bullshit then you are making yourself the victim….again.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:41 pmFred Says:
Lame, Fred, really lame.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:42 pmYou cannot even defend your own words.
Hopefully freedom of speech won’t be the next “wedge issue” along with the 4th.
Here’s some food for thought:
http://www.kickthemallout.com/
July 9th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
The only reason I won’t leave the country now is I don’t want to be a victim of U.S. foreign policy , but I’m open to suggestions . As prof. Turley put it , the 4th Amendment is eviscerated and we can thank both parties for selling us out , but to New World order investigators, we knew it was coming .
Both parties are corrupted by power ,U.S. Corporations aND THE PENTAGON . McCain goes to London to gets support from the Rothschild Banking Cabal and Obama said on 60 mins. ” we need to troops in Iraq to protect out interests ” and that one quote says it all . “Ours” translated means JP MORGAN , Haliburton , Chevron and the war mongering Full Spectrum dominance policy to dominate and control every region of the world .
Welcome to the ” Security State of America ” . Blimps , drones , cameras , warrant less wire tapping and like one of the Rockefeller’s told Movie producer Russo , ” the ultimate goal is an RFID CHIP in EVERYBODY “.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pmbelac Says:
I still think the answer is Obama.
Obama voted as a Bushbot killing the 4th, so my answer is anyone but McCain or Obama/McBushbot.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:49 pmI just may write in Kucinich if I don’t like the 3rd party choices, especially Nader.
And I am voting anti-incumbent, no matter the party, for everything.
Its time to get all the asshats out.
Wayne Says:
We went down that road in 2000 and got Bush… I can’t go down it again with you, sorry.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:54 pmApproval ratings-
President: 22% (come on, it’s not that high)
Congress: 9%
Supreme Court: 32%
The entire government is illegitimate.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pmIt’s long past the time when people need to start waking up.
Stop voting in the same losers over and over again.
I am so sick and tired of Democrats rolling over for Bush. Did they swear an oath to protect the Constitution or not?
They should just drop on their knees and blow Bush right on the floor of the Senate. He wins again. The country loses.
As for Obama’s change of heart? If it weren’t for the Supreme Court picks I’d tell him to go to hell. Another Scalia would pretty much kill the Constitution completely. What a pathetic choice, vote for one idiot who wants us in Iraq forever or the other idiot who changes his mind on something as fundamental as FISA.
I live in Illinois and even had his campaign sign in my yard.
Megacorps own this country and will do everything they can to institute Big Brother. Democrats are almost as willing to allow this as Republicans.
My thanks to those who fought it. The rest can kiss my ass.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:00 pmOk. One more way to put it so you can think about it. Who do you want to be the next person to have that kind of power? Mccain or Obama? It will be one or the other. It will not be Kucinich or nader.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:00 pmbelac Says:
We went down that road in 2000 and got Bush… I can’t go down it again with you, sorry.
And in 2008 we have a Democrat who votes to protect Bush and Telcos from Felonies they committed or a Republican who cannot even show up to do his job, if he can remember what his job is.
Great choices, McFascist or McSenile.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:01 pmSorry, I’m writing in Kucinich, the only person worthy of my vote.
Sorry, I’m writing in Kucinich, the only person worthy of my vote.
Sorry, he ain’t gonna win… you’re free to do whatever you want but the fact remains… it ain’t Kucinich who will be taking the oath of office…
July 9th, 2008 at 6:03 pmI would vote for Kucinich, too. But that ship has sailed and I’m tired of drowning… even if it is ’simulated’
July 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pm#127 Wayne, welcome to the other view, seem’s you and I may be of the same mind set…I put my panties on and left the party awhile ago…
Interesting thing to me is all these poster’s could turn this around a get some one better…We have the net now and if they really wanted to make change they could pick one person to back, spread the word and vote for that person in masses come election day..The one thing we didn’t have during the peace marche’s, civil right’s, women’s right’s…It was real sweat equity in our country then now all they have to do is write point and click…Wow~ guess it’s better to call us contatutionalist, bleeding heart libral’s name’s,,,Oh well,,,We all have to do what we have to do…Me I’m gonna keep my gun clean, stock my food and water and vote for what was a great country…Blessings
July 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pmbelac Says:
Sorry, I’m writing in Kucinich, the only person worthy of my vote.
Sorry, he ain’t gonna win… you’re free to do whatever you want but the fact remains… it ain’t Kucinich who will be taking the oath of office…
My concience will be clear, because I didn’t vote for either pro-Bush/Pro-corporate fascist POS.
Neither McCain or Obama at this point deserve my vote and neither one will get it.
I would rather see peasants with pitchforks storming the Bastille and sending the ruling elite to the guillotine at this point. I am reminded of Thomas Jefferson’s words on Tyranny and Tyrants right now
July 9th, 2008 at 6:14 pmThe Constitution is dead, its promise to the People, a broken contract in breech. The Government is Rogue.
Well it’s too late this cycle for that to happen witch. I honestly respect the attitude and cannot argue with Wayne on the specifics….he is of course right. I hate it too.
I respect a protest vote too. It’s just that the last time we faced an almost identical situation and the protest votes resulted in bush getting elected. Not what I want to see happen again…….that’s my perspective on this specific election.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:15 pmThe Democrats under Reid and Pelosi just handed the Bush criminal Administration more power to spy on ordinary Americans in spite of the Fourth Amendment. Does any right-thinking person who’s followed this issue really believe that come January 20th, 2009, this criminal enterprise is just going to turn over all this power to a Democratic President? Do you really believe it? These criminals are planning something…watch for it…it will be devastating, catastrophic, lead to martial law and a suspension of all American liberties. Think it can’t happen here? Yeah, that’s what the Germans said in 1933…We are really in the sh*t now…
July 9th, 2008 at 6:17 pmThis topic is spreading fear like wildfire. There is nothing the repubs can pass into law that can’t be undone if we can regain control of our government.
Democrats can be brought around to our point of view. It has happend in the past and it can happen again.
American citizens pushed our Democrats to the right under raygun. They can be pushed back but we have to make them understand.
There will be no revolution and I don’t think even the republicans at large would stand for a takeover of our country by the fringe right.
It’s a nasty, dirty, money driven machine. They can’t maintain it without a funtioning economy. Most republicans are ready for someone else to straighten out our financial nightmare.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:27 pmDear Fred and all, please take this with the respect it is ment….We didn’t loose to the vote’s of a third party in 2000 , 2004 or 2006 ,my opinion is it was stolen by corporation’s, bushco/cheney and many that sold us out today…..Many here have been screaming revolution for a long time..The thing is all of you with the know how can achieve it with less effort than we had to activate during our time’s..You can win it on the net if you would just try, before they take that away also..
At present many of you are spending hour’s a day posting when we had to spend entire day’s in car’s and on street’s screaming to stop the war and get equal right’s.
Is every poster so afraid they won’t even try or to lazy to type out a message and send it to all their friend’s.?…..Sad if that’s the case…You have 4 month’s and if it work’s we will all win our country back with out a shot being fired..If it fail’s you can still at the last minute vote for one of the 2 misery index guy’s depending on how much misery one can handle…Just my thinking…I send you all Blessings…Time for another nap.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:28 pmExactly Fred…
July 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pmthink of the courts… do all of you advocating a protest vote really want McCain picking more wacky judges to be confirmed by a wackier Congress?
July 9th, 2008 at 6:33 pmWitch1 Says:
Thanks Witch1, I appreciate that and I agree but I still give great weight to the protest votes for help making it close enough for them to get away with it.
I respect you and Wayne immensly and that is why I was not willing to get into a serious argument with Wayne over this. It is good, as you pointed out that we are still able to have this discussion on line. I hope that doesn’t change.
peace
July 9th, 2008 at 6:36 pmI’m not thinking protest vote’s, I’m thinking a massive people take back the country vote…Pick one, I’m for Kucinich any other pick’s.?…Come together on the net quickly and decide….4 month’s is all we have…Come on, you can do it..Blessings
July 9th, 2008 at 6:38 pmFred Says:
There is nothing the repubs can pass into law that can’t be undone if we can regain control of our government.
We have to regain control of the Democratic Party from the Corporate Fascists before anything gets fixed, Fred. Or replace it with a viable 3rd party ( which we currently do not have ).
I no longer have illusions that anything will change with Democrats who have consistently voted the Bushbot fascist line in power rather than Republicans on Jan 2009.
Neither party, other than a few true patriots, have our interests at heart. That was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt today.
Everyone should read “Don’t Start the Revolution Without Me!” by Jesse Ventura. His words ring very true to me today for some reason.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pmWayne Says:
Hi Wayne, glad your not still furious with me. That is not my objective.
I truly understand your disillusionment with what is happening.
Hopefully we will get a break one day soon. I hope it doesn’t come to a revolution but that may eventually be the only way out.
peace.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:57 pmThere will be no revolution…The public and poster’s will not take the time to make the change’s happen….For most it’s just a matter of complaining and moving on….Blessings we really need them.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pmHere is the real reason Obama crapped on the country:
Obama, Barack (D) $361,024
Yep, Obama sold us out for the lucrative telecom payoffs…$360 THOUSAND little dope-slaps to all his supporters. D’OH! Yes, what Obama meant by “change” was merely the “change” that the corporations would drop into his pocket.
Surprise, Obama’s a bottom-feeding politician.
Betcha Kucinich is lookin’ better now, huh? Suckers!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:07 pmJohn McCain didn’t vote and the Bush Administration pulls another fast one. Nothing new here.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:14 pmFred Says:
——————————————————————————–
Anyone who bails on Obama over this is short sighted. He has one vote right now….politics are involved
No Fred, I’ll be writting in Dodd-Feingold and throwing my support to any and all challengers to the traitors on Zooey’s list!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pmObama: Sell-out fraud who wants to spy on us
McCain: Crazy right-wing warmonger who wants to spy on us
It’s time to remind Obama that the “unfortunate” Ralph Nader is still running, as is Cynthia McKinney. Also, anyone who can write can pick up a pen on election day and write in the name of a real progressive like Feingold, Dodd, or Kucinich Obama proved today he doesn’t deserve the votes he’s trying to buy. Super delegates, are you paying attention? Hillary voted “No” on this. She’s another choice. We are not “stuck” with Obama. There is still time to pick someone else.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:28 pmI wasn’t yet born when JFK was shot. That would happen 2 months later. But I remember seeing film footage and pictures of people crying and lining up along railroad tracks to watch the train carrying his body.
Today makes me feel the same sadness that those images evoke. I mourn for the the constitution. Senator Obama along with 17 other Democrats was a willing assassin and together they pulled the trigger and shot dead the 4th amendment and this Nations Constitutional right against illegal search and seizure, all in the name of political expediency.
All were willing conspirators in helping to cover up this administrations Felonious assault, aided and abetted by the Telecoms, on our right to privacy.
Make no mistake about it, what this administration has done and may now continue to do with the help of telecoms was a felony. Senator Obama and a majority in the House and Senate have just shot dead any chance that we the people had to hold the lawbreakers accountable.
Today, July 9th 2008 will be forgotten by all of the complacent, Idol watching masses; the majority of the citizens of this once great country, who not only don’t vote, (unless it’s for the Idol of their dreams), but most likely don’t know what the Constitution looks like. But for many of us, it will remembered as one of the saddest of days.
The day our Constitution got shot.
I worked hard for Senator Obama here in Western Pa. “Worked” as in Past Tense.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:30 pmNow I’m not even sure that I can hold my nose and vote for him. I think I’m gonna have to write in Dodd-Feingold. At least they knew the right thing to do on this issue.
Wayne, I’d vote for Jesse Ventura at this point, if he would run. Haven’t read his book yet though.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pmI was here the day JFK died..I had voted for him and watched in B&W with grief of my own and for my country…Same when we lost Bobby and Martin Luther king all through the new’s reel’s of the Nam war and in on the little protest’s localy that turned into big one’s nationaly..I was here watching in horror about Kent state….Was preparing to move my family to Canada if they came after my kid’s to serve in their dreadful war’s…I was here and for a brief time I still am….Blessings
July 9th, 2008 at 8:06 pmWitch1 Says:
——————————————————————————–
I was here the day JFK died..I had voted for him and watched in B&W with grief of my own and for my country…Same when we lost Bobby and Martin Luther king all through the new’s reel’s of the Nam war and in on the little protest’s localy that turned into big one’s nationaly..I was here watching in horror about Kent state….Was preparing to move my family to Canada if they came after my kid’s to serve in their dreadful war’s…I was here and for a brief time I still am….Blessings
And after all of the efforts of all those you speak of… today I feel we all have lost something we can never get back…
July 9th, 2008 at 9:07 pmObama figures that he can obliterate the Constitution, but people will vote for him just by saying “Change” and “Bush Third Term”. I heard on Butt Wipe Ron Kuby’s Air America Show today mocking people who would even think of not voting for Obama for a “silly single issue”. So, Kuby thinks that Obama did the correct thing by not appearing to the Right Wing as “Soft on Terror”. Ed Schultz same thing. He is defending this move as a brilliant political action, but many of his listeners don’t agree.
Wait a minute!!!!! What about defending the Constitution? This guy’s mask is coming off, and I see the same Neocon underneath, except now we can call it a “Neolib”. Image and Right Wing Brown-nosing seems to be more important than upholding the Oath they all took to defend the USA.
I was in my teens when JFK was assassinated, and frankly the USA never recovered. The military-industrial complex wanted their way back then, JFK was opposed to it, and thus the “Single-Bullet Theory” was born, with he as the unfortunate recipient. The military-Industrial-Likud-Oil-Pharmaceutical industry is in full swing, and Obama is just another prostitute for who gives him the most money.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:09 pmhanshiro Says:
Betcha Kucinich is lookin’ better now, huh? Suckers!
Agreed! He was not one of the paid off Globalists. Corporations, Military, and Israel come first with the current crop. Frankly, anyone who voted against this bill in both houses is a True Patriot, and the rest traitors.
Just don’t forget this in November, and listen to the stealth Globalists insisting this was a minor problem.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:14 pmI sincerely feel all we had gained is lost….When I heard the mantra “Change” month’s ago I thought to my self yes they want us to change to the center or right winged way of thinking…I briefly thought of voting for Obama and then all this junk started coming down the pike and I saw the real picture…My black and latino friend’s gave me an earful last week end as well…People are not fooled and any thinking voter is saying once again we are faced with the lesser of two evil’s…Much more will come out before Nov. I fear and after today it ain’t pretty.. Of course many of us know there is many good people to vote for, the question is how to make it count, join together in mass and pick one and it could work…Blessings
July 9th, 2008 at 9:28 pmI recently sent and e-mail to Sen. Obama asking him to vote against immunity for the telecom companies.
In my letter I reminded him that Pres. Bush and others in the government have told us that the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping program is “limited” and targets only “known or suspected terrorists.”
I reminded him that the information given by the telecoms involved tens of millions of Americans’ phone calls, which sure as hell isn’t “limited.”
I reminded him that Bush lied and started wiretapping before 9/11, not after, as Bush as insisted.
Finally, I reminded him that the president personally blocked an investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility, which sought to find out whether or not DOJ lawyers acted improperly in their role in the eavesdropping program.
In the Obama campaign’s response, here are two key excerpts I’d like to highlight:
There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:37 pm…
I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.
…
Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President’s illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over.
Witch1 Says: Of course many of us know there is many good people to vote for, the question is how to make it count, join together in mass and pick one and it could work…Blessings
Left Leaning and Progressive – Dennis Kucinich
Right Leaning and Libertarian – Ron Paul
July 9th, 2008 at 9:39 pmBad Eye Says:
Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President’s illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over.
A few corrections – The “War On Terror” is a phony concoction, as is the “War On Drugs”, or “Communism” was. Also, There is no compromise when it comes to defending the Constitution in a blatant violation of the 4th Amendment.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:43 pm(Sorry if a partial post appeared; I accidentally hit the Submit button.)
I recently sent and e-mail to Sen. Obama asking him to vote against immunity for the telecom companies.
In my letter I reminded him that Pres. Bush and others in the government have told us that the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping program is “limited” and targets only “known or suspected terrorists.”
I reminded him that the information given to the telecoms involved tens of millions of Americans’ phone calls, which sure as hell isn’t “limited.”
I reminded him that Bush refuses to go to the FISA court for a warrant for domestic-international calls because “there isn’t enough time,” yet has no problem getting a warrant for domestic-domestic calls, further reminding him that no one in the administration can, nor has bothered, to explain this discrepancy, also noting that our ignorant media isn’t interested either.
I reminded him that Bush lied and started wiretapping before 9/11, not after, as Bush as insisted.
Finally, I reminded him that the president personally blocked an investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility, which sought to find out whether or not DOJ lawyers acted improperly in their role in the eavesdropping program.
In the Obama campaign’s response, here are two key excerpts I’d like to highlight:
There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.
…
I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.
…
Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President’s illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over.
The bold highlights are mine. Based on this response, Obama admits that the program is illegal. I know this is a rhetorical question, but why the hell, then, is he not doing everything in his power to block this damned piece of legislation, to say nothing of throwing 100% support to impeachment proceedings?
Damn!
July 9th, 2008 at 9:45 pmOK, so there are three excerpts from Obama’s response, not two.
Anyway…..
July 9th, 2008 at 9:47 pmAs terrible as it is, they would be signing their own tombstones if they did not grant immunity. That would open the telecoms up to civil suits and likely lose. However, the telecoms would then resort to appeal on a federal level and claim they had no choice because congress passed the patriot act which enabled these wiretaps which the ftm says is in violation of another law (FISA). If they did not comply with the Patriot Act, higher ups would be personally prosecuted on trumped up charges by the gov’t for sedition and their companies lose any and all federal money. See QWEST’s latest headlines. Since the patriot act was voted in by all of these congressmen, they would have to defend the repercursions of their actions when the spotlight gets turned on to them. This is c.y.a. for congress.
G
July 9th, 2008 at 10:19 pmMy letter to Senator Barrack H. Obama:
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July 10th, 2008 at 12:09 am______
TheRadicalRightisRadicallyWrong Says:
The day our Constitution got shot.
I worked hard for Senator Obama here in Western Pa. “Worked” as in Past Tense.
Now I’m not even sure that I can hold my nose and vote for him. I think I’m gonna have to write in Dodd-Feingold. At least they knew the right thing to do on this issue.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
______
If you people don’t get this melodramatic foolishness out of your systems by November, we’re going to get stuck with McCain.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:40 amrepublicans hate facts Says:
July 10th, 2008 at 12:28 am
That comment was about the votes on the three amendments f_ckwit.
Try to keep up, ass master.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:43 amBy Glenn Greenwald (salon.com):
With their vote today, the Democratic-led Congress has covered-up years of deliberate surveillance crimes by the Bush administration and the telecom industry, and has dramatically advanced a full-scale attack on the rule of law in this country. As I noted earlier today, Law Professor and Fourth Amendment expert Jonathan Turley was on MSNBC’s Countdown with Rachel Maddow last night and gave as succinct an explanation for what Democrats — not the Bush administration, but Democrats — have done today
July 10th, 2008 at 8:18 am