Rep. Sestak(Fmr Admiral) FISA: ‘We Should Have Stood Up And Said No’

[RamboLiberal]

In an interview with ThinkProgress yesterday, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) expressed his disappointment with the recent revisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Over the weekend, Congress capitulated to White House demands, and passed a FISA bill that unnecessarily expands the power of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Sestak, who was one of 183 representatives to vote against the bill, told us:

How could we have not have stood up for rights of civil liberties while ensuring the proper ability to go and listen, and just stayed during the recess if necessary. And I understand that our leadership in the caucus has to worry about how the public will perceive it, but I also know this, that ultimately, we have to, as Benjamin Franklin said, be concerned that those who give up…liberty in the name security, deserve neither liberty or security. This is a time that I strongly believe, we should have stood up and said no. Attorney General Gonzales, we’re not going to let you decide the guidelines upon which you’ll listen in on Americans.

Sestak noted that the administration had rejected a compromise bill worked out between Congressional leaders and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell. “We made the three major changes that wanted,” said Sestak. “The issue here is they just don’t want to come to the FISA court. That’s enough to tell me we need them to.”

“We had voted for a bill the evening before that had actually brought together a proper balance of the civil liberties of our citizens,” said Sestak. “We should have brought that bill up Saturday, instead of the Senate bill…we could have gotten it the next morning under majority votes. And that would have meant probably that we had to stay in session this week, and that would have forced the Senate to come back and deal with it.” Watch it:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/sestak-on-fisa/

Glad I contributed to his campaign. I'm pissed at 3 other Dems to whom I contributed. Webb, Casey(my PA senator) and Altmire (Rep that defeated Melissa "Missy" Hart in district near me).

[Virginia Dare]

1. I just can't see Webb voting because..

of public perception, there has to be more to it...:shrug:

[atreides1]

2. Why???

What makes Webb any different then anyone else who voted for the new Enabling Act? Unless he was promised that his equal time at home bill would get another chance, or maybe his bill to fully fund veterans education would get a full up or down vote?

But if that was the reason, then Webb is an idiot, because the record of this administration in keeping it's promises lacks any credibility.

Perhaps his son's life was threatened, or maybe he was privy to information about another possible attack that would have taken place during the congressional recess?

Or maybe he just doesn't have the nerve to stand up and say no anymore, maybe all the rhetoric he spewed during the 2006 elections was just that, rhetoric!

[Virginia Dare]

3. I never expected to be in 100% full agreement with him at all times..

so I suppose nothing is lost on me. He's still 1,000 times better for Virginia on a bad day than the racist POS Bushbot Allen was.

[OHdem10]

4. We will never agree 100% with any candidate.

I have much respect for Webb.