Reid's comments on FISA

[Trueblue]

But, M. President, in my twenty years in Congress, I have not seen anything quite as cynical and counterproductive as the Republican approach to FISA.

The American people deserve to know that when President Bush talks about the foreign intelligence bill tonight, he's doing little more than shooting for cheap political points - and we should reject his efforts.

Members of Congress from both parties have legitimate policy disagreements on FISA.

Some of us believe that history proves the need for more protections against government abuse. Others support the law the way it stands.

But all of us - Democrats and Republicans - want to wage an effective fight against terrorism.

All of us - Democrats and Republicans- want to give our intelligence professionals the tools they need to win this fight.

We will be taking two votes: the first is on whether to invoke cloture on the Bond-Rockefeller substitute to the FISA bill that we have on the floor.

The second is a cloture vote on whether to extend the authorities of the Protect America Act for an additional 30 days, while Congress works to pass a new FISA bill.

I will oppose cloture on the substitute, and will support cloture on the extension....

The Republicans can't block us from voting on any amendments and expect us to follow along. Senators are entitled to a vote on their
amendments. And with Republicans blocking every amendment, we haven't gotten to the crucial issue of immunity.

Let's not forget: the question of retroactive immunity wouldn't even be before us if President Bush hadn't ignored Congress and established his own process outside the law.

But far from taking responsibility for his actions, the President bullies and threatens the Congress he is supposed to work with. He is
like the kid in the schoolyard taking his ball and going home when he doesn't get his way.

When the President talks tonight about how important this program is and how it must continue, I say to him that he must reconsider his political posture and ask his colleagues in the Senate to support an extension.

We are the deliberative body. Let us deliberate.

Senator Reid, on the FISA debate

[Trueblue]

http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/4226

[Trueblue]

Mr. President, I spoke yesterday about a crime that may have been committed against millions of innocent Americans: their phone calls, their faxes, their e-mails, every word listened in to and copied down by government bureaucrats into a massive database.



I spoke about how our largest telecommunications companies leapt at the chance to betray the privacy and the trust of their own customers.



That spying didn’t happen in a panic or short-term emergency, not for a week or a month—it went on, relentlessly, for more than five years. And if the press didn’t expose it, I imagine it would still be going on today.



We saw how President Bush responded when he was exposed. Not by apologizing. Not even by making his best case before our courts. But by asking for a Congressional cover-up: retroactive immunity.



He asked us to do it on trust. There are classified documents, he says, that prove his case beyond a shadow of a doubt. But we’re not allowed to see them! I’ve served in this body for 27 years, and I’m not allowed to see them! Neither are a majority of my colleagues.



And when we resist his urge to be a law unto himself, how does he respond? With fear. When we question him, he says, we are failing “to keep the American people safe.”



Shame on him. Shame on his scare tactics.



I’ve promised to fight those scare tactics with all the power any one senator can muster. And I’m here today to keep that promise.



For several months now, I’ve listened to the building frustration over this immunity and this administration’s campaign of lawlessness. I’ve seen it in person, in mail, online—the passion and eloquence of citizens who are just fed up. They’ve inspired me more than they know.



But almost every time telecom immunity comes up, there’s an inevitable question:

What’s the big deal? Why are so many people spending so much energy all to keep a few lawsuits going forward?



Because this is about far more than the telecoms. This is about the choice that will define America: the rule of law, or the rule of men.



It’s about this government’s practice of waterboarding, a technique invented by the Spanish Inquisition, perfected by the Khmer Rouge, and in between, banned—originally banned for excessive cruelty—by the Gestapo!



It’s about the Military Commissions Act, a bill that gave President Bush the power to designate any individual he wants an “unlawful enemy combatant,” hold him indefinitely, and take away his right to habeas corpus—the 900-year-old right to challenge your detention.



It’s about the CIA destroying evidence of harsh interrogation—or, as some would call it, torture.



It’s about Dick Cheney raising secrecy to an art form.



The members of his energy task force? None of your business.



His location? Undisclosed.



The names of his staff? Confidential.



The visitor log for his office? Shredded by the Secret Service.



The list of papers he has declassified? Classified.



It’s about the Justice Department turning our nation’s highest law enforcement offices into patronage plums, and turning the impartial work of indictments and trials into the machinations of politics.



It’s about Alberto Gonzales coming before Congress to give us testimony that was at best wrong and at worst perjury.



It’s about Michael Mukasey coming before the Senate and defending the president’s power to openly break the law.



It’s about extraordinary renditions and secret prisons.



It’s about Maher Arar—the Canadian computer programmer who was arrested by American agents, flown to Syria, held for some 300 days in a cell three feet wide—this wide [gesture]—and then cleared of all wrongdoing.



It is about all of that, Mr. President. All of that. We are deceiving ourselves when we talk about the torture issue, or the habeas issue, or the U.S. attorneys issue, or the extraordinary rendition issue, or the secrecy issue.



As if each one were an isolated case! As if each one were an accident! We’ve let outrage upon outrage upon outrage slide with nothing more than a promise to stop the next one.



There is only one issue here. Only one. The law issue. Attack the president’s contempt for the law at any point, and it will be wounded at all points.



That’s why I’m here today. I am speaking for the American people’s right to know what the president and the telecoms did to them. But more than that, I am speaking against the president’s conviction that he is the law. Strike it at any point, with courage, and it will wither.



That’s the big deal. That is why immunity matters—dangerous in itself, but even worse in all it represents. No more. No more. This far, Mr. President—but no further.



More and more, Americans are rejecting the false choice that has come to define this administration: security or liberty, but never, ever both.



It speaks volumes about the president’s estimation of the American people that he expects them to accept that choice.



The truth, though, is that shielding corporations from lawsuits does absolutely nothing for our security. I challenge the president to prove otherwise. I challenge him to show us how putting these companies above the law makes us safer by an iota.



That, I am convinced, he can’t do.

Senator Dodd

This is what I call a good American, a good citizen, and a good person. :heart

[Yellowdogtexan]

McConnell may have blinked. I saw that he agreed to a 30 day extension of the exsting law without telecom immunity.

[Ringo]

Senator Reid, on the FISA debate

I doubt any REAL American cares what this LYING GIRLY BOY Cowardly TRAITOR has to say TB, as he is a wimp taht Bush usually handles with one hand, while keeping Pelosi away from his sex organs with the other!! Didn't know Nancy had a thing for Bush, so does Hillary...but then again he is a MAN something they never see!!

[Yellowdogtexan]

I doubt any REAL American cares what this LYING GIRLY BOY Cowardly TRAITOR has to say TB, as he is a wimp taht Bush usually handles with one hand, ....ringo, this is a discussion for grownups. The issue is about whether we should allow spying on US citizens and should grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies without full disclosure of the exact crimes committed by these companies.

Here is the link to McConnell blinking. http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2852052320080129?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNewsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell relented on Monday and said he would offer a short-term extension of an anti-terror surveillance law, set to expire this week, as he seeks immunity for telephone companies.

The Kentucky Republican made the announcement as he pushed for passage of a stalled bill to replace the temporary law, which expanded the power of U.S. authorities last August to conduct electronic surveillance of enemy targets without a court order.
The real issue will be whether bush vetoes the extension since it does not contain retroactive immunity for telecoms or not.

[Segep]

Bush is first and foremost pro Big Business, and he won't do anything at all to protect the rights of Americans vs. protecting the "rights" of corporations.

[Yellowdogtexan]

The House just past a 15 day extension of the current act. http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005168.phpJust now, the House changed the bill to make it a 15-day extension instead of 30-day one, and the bill passed by voice vote. It all happened rather quickly. So it seems as if there really wasn't much disagreement on this at all. Now it's back over to the Senate....

[Trueblue]

ringo, this is a discussion for grownups. The issue is about whether we should allow spying on US citizens and should grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies without full disclosure of the exact crimes committed by these companies.

Here is the link to McConnell blinking. http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2852052320080129?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNewsThe real issue will be whether bush vetoes the extension since it does not contain retroactive immunity for telecoms or not.

The House just past a 15 day extension of the current act. http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005168.php

Thank you. I wonder if Ringo actually wants to discuss Bush's "manliness". :lol

The hypocrisy is reaching new heights. Bush is trying to have a hissy fit about a temporary extension of the law while the Congress investigates further. It's nothing but another attempt to cover up his own involvement in wrong-doing. :mad

[Yellowdogtexan]

Thank you. I wonder if Ringo actually wants to discuss Bush's "manliness". :lol
Espicially after bush got kissed on the cheek by Chris Shays last night. I am surprised that the homophobes are not worried about that kiss.

[Trueblue]

I think Bush is more of a drinker than anything else, he seems very uninterested in women.

I wouldn't bring it up, but Ringo seems to enjoy the National Enquirer side of politics, so I figured he want to know my thoughts.

I've got more to back it up than his stories about the Clintons murdering people. :shrug

[Ringo]

Espicially after bush got kissed on the cheek by Chris Shays last night. I am surprised that the homophobes are not worried about that kiss.

Have you two considered getting a room? No need for sex you can masterbate to Liberalism speech's by Harry, Billy, Rottemcrotch or ODummy!!:sheep:mw

Dog really wants that spying stopped on the Islamic terrorists and THOSE who fund them OR is he afraid Israel could get caught being up to no good??

What DOG does he have in the race? Tell us YDT as your a POOR example of an American!!:sheep

[nixon]

I doubt any REAL American cares what this LYING GIRLY BOY Cowardly TRAITOR has to say TB, as he is a wimp taht Bush usually handles with one hand, while keeping Pelosi away from his sex organs with the other!! Didn't know Nancy had a thing for Bush, so does Hillary...but then again he is a MAN something they never see!!Let me see if I have this straight, It is not o.k. for you to break the law set up by your government, but its o.k. by you if your government breaks the law? Please clarify for me, if I might be so bold to ask, Mr. Ringo, Sir. Nixon. P.S. I was under the impression we were a land of laws that were to be respected by EVERYONE. EVERYONE.

[Yellowdogtexan]

Bush backed down and signed the 15 day extension despite his stupid promise to veto such bill. Now the Senate has made a deal for up and down votes no the FISA bill with no filibusters including voting on the Dodd amendment to strip the telecom immunity provisions from the bill

[BartonX]

Bush backed down and signed the 15 day extension despite his stupid promise to veto such bill. Now the Senate has made a deal for up and down votes no the FISA bill with no filibusters including voting on the Dodd amendment to strip the telecom immunity provisions from the bill

OVER RULED...CASE VACATED...NEXT !!!

[Yellowdogtexan]

OVER RULED...CASE VACATED...NEXT !!!Silly ignorant layperson who are too stupid to understand legal concepts have no authorty here.

The facts are clear. bush backed down once and may have to back down again on the telecom immunity issue.

[BartonX]

Silly ignorant layperson who are too stupid to understand legal concepts have no authorty here.

The facts are clear. bush backed down once and may have to back down again on the telecom immunity issue.

Estoppel unto you until we meet again! Estoppel unto you keep smiling until then
Estoppel to you,'till we meeeeeeeet again!!!

OVER RULED !!!

[Yellowdogtexan]

Here is a great special comment from Keith Olbierman on the FISA silliness by bush. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTY4Fqq9UTk

[Yellowdogtexan]

Here is the statement of Senator Feingold on the upcoming votes on FISA. http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/08/02/20080201.htm“I am pleased that Republicans have finally backed down from their efforts to ram a deeply flawed FISA bill through the Senate without votes on amendments. We all agree that FISA needs to be updated so our government can go after the foreign communications of suspected terrorists. But we must not provide overly broad and unnecessary powers that infringe on the rights and privacy of law-abiding Americans, especially to an administration that has proven it cannot be trusted. Next week, we have an opportunity to fix this bill, but only if senators stand up to the administration’s attempted power grab and support my and other amendments to put in place checks and balances. If the final bill produced by the Senate doesn’t protect the privacy of law abiding Americans or if it includes immunity for telecom companies, I will strongly oppose it and will vote against cutting off debate on it.”