House GOPers Make Bid To Derail FISA Legislation

[robinlynne]

Source: tpmmuckraker

GOP Rep. Eric Cantor has just revealed on his Web site that he's planning on introducing the following add-on measure to the bill later today:

Today, we will be offering an amendment to the legislation to clarify that nothing in the bill "shall be construed to prohibit the intelligence community from conducting surveillance needed to prevent Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, or any other foreign terrorist organization…from attacking the United States or any United States person."

Cantor is presenting this as an effort to determine whether Dems really want to protect America or not. "Let’s put all Members of Congress on the record," he writes in a post accompaning the amendment. "Which do they care more about, pleasing their MoveOn.org liberal base or making sure America is safe and secure?"

Read more: http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/10/house_gopers_make_bid_to_derail_fisa_legislation.php

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Just thought you'd like to know...

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Check.

Teetering on checkmate.

MKJ

[robinlynne]

2. Another article up now on tpm, saying it was a successful procedural trick

to yank the bill, which has been yanked.

[Robbien]

3. Adding that clause negates everything else in the bill

Wouldn't the wisest thing to do is just let this six month FISA authority lapse altogether?

[robinlynne]

4. I haven't thought it through yet, just spreading the word so we can discuss it.

[Robbien]

7. Well the GOP is playing hardball. Play hardball back

by threatening not to extend FISA spying until the GOP withdraws their amendment.

Perhaps I'm being too simpleminded here but it seems reasonable to me. What other real choice is there except to pass the bill with this open ended clause attached?

[robinlynne]

11. For starters i'm still furious the first one was passed in august.

It looks like the strategy so far is they're just going to say that what the repubs are asking for is already in the bill. But they've pulled it till next week for now.

[Zhade]

21. And, of course, THE BILL NEVER NEEDED TO MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR.

Dems could have blocked it. Didn't. Speaks volumes.

[babylonsister]

5. Here's the latest:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2071745&mesg_id=2071745

[vademocrat]

6. I hate the fact that this cretin is my representative...

:banghead:
Just sent him an email letting him know that at least 3 of his constituents are some of those "liberal Move On members" - me and several family members live in his district.

I must say that his office always responds to my emails or phonecalls - next week I'll have a very polite letter saying absolutely nothing but thanking me for expressing my opinion or some nonsense about the democratic process...he wouldn't recognize the democratic process if it came up and bit him -

[justgamma]

9. Please ask him

How many of our freedoms does he want to give up? I've heard it said that Bin Laden "hates us for our freedoms". I would like to know how much of our constitution we need to destroy, how many of our freedoms is he willing to give up to appease Bin Laden. Does he think that if we give up our freedoms, Bin Laden won't hate us anymore?

[vademocrat]

10. Here's part of what I sent him -

"I believe very strongly that the Bill of Rights is what makes our country great and ignoring the Fourth Amendment does not help us fight the terrorists, it only weakens our democracy. Freedom isn't free as the GOP likes to remind us - this doesn't just apply to soldiers; it also means that we citizens have to be willing to accept some risk in order to preserve our liberty. If we lose our democracy then what are we fighting for - a fascist state?"

The reality is that for people like him it's all about power - he was groomed by Tom Delay. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the terrorists or keeping us safe or protecting democracy. All he cares about is how much power he has. I hope that as part of Dean's 50 state strategy we can find a candidate soon that can run against him and win...

[CTuttle]

8. Am I the only one that sees this as a victory???

C'mon, the current FISA will sunset while they're trying to cobble one together... It keeps the debate open and allows us more time to force our critters to listen to We the People... No immunity for the Telcos, individual warrants, etc...!!! :applause:

[robinlynne]

12. NO, we don't have indivual warrants right now. And when it sunsets, it continues for another 12

months automatically for every phone number they are able to tap in the first six months. So what we have right now is REALLY BAD!
Thank Dianne Feinstein. I thanked her personally. (well, her people)

[Thor_MN]

13. * keeps saying "Merkins wanna know there are tools pertectin em"

This American KNOWS that he is being "protected" by Tools.

[CTuttle]

14. Here's Rush Holt on FISA today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4GIzUFPfhM


:kick:

[robinlynne]

15. spectacular! How sad to see him say my own leadership would not give me the time to talk about

this then "your time has expired", when he's saying probably the most important thing that is said all week in that building. God, how can anyone not get the need for search warrants?

[CTuttle]

17. Holt's amendment was the ACLU's top priority...

Which, of course, meant it wouldn't be in the Leadership's preferred bill, the 'Restore' act... This is why I think it's a positive outcome...!!!

[robinlynne]

18. But what we are left with is what was done in august, even worse than the restore act!

The restore act is abd, it is a 50/50 compromise with the republicans. But we can't even get that. I want to scream. Damn it, our side asks for so little. Why not ask for something real, then start compromising. I'm going to be quiet now. I am furious at our dems. just furious.

It is all so god damn obvious.

[CTuttle]

19. The Congressional Progressive Caucus is hammering the leadership...

I'm primarily pissed at the Blue Dogs and the DLC (Namely; Nancy, Steny, and Rahm!) My two House critters are Progressives...!!!:patriot:

[robinlynne]

20. Thanks for the good cheer....

[TankLV]

16. MoveOn represents me more than even the Dems in congress...

just so I'm clear on this...you fuck cantor...

[armodem08]

22. The article doesn't say...

but if this was on a motion to recommit, it's the same old GOP obstructionism rearing it's head again. We need to consider this under a suspension of the rules (i.e. a 2/3rds majority needed.) That's better than the repugs peeling off the Bush Dogs each time with these hideous amendments on motions to recommit.