The Senate (Dems) failed to 'fix' the Medicare Bill, yet, they think they can

[rodeodance]

come back in 6 months and 'fix' a terror related bill? Give me a break!!

They could not muster the votes (Medicare part D-giving away negotiation rights).
Now, they give us a promise to fix the FISA bill in 6 months. Its gone. Sorry to
be a pessimist, but that is how I feel right now!



Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Don't panic. Congress just passed a bill that "concedes unprecedented authority" to the AG
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1509830#1509830
1509830, Don't panic. Congress just passed a bill that "concedes unprecedented authority" to the AG
Posted by ProSense on Sat Aug-04-07 01:16 AM


Statement from Senate Intelligence committee chairman Jay Rockefeller:

We all agreed Congress needed to take immediate action in order to help keep the country safe, and the Senate did that tonight.

My opposition to the final bill was based on the fact that it did not include the privacy protections and safeguards American citizens deserve and expect.

We had the opportunity to pass a more careful bill that would have given the DNI the authority he requested, while also protecting the rights of U.S. citizens.

Instead, this bill undermines the FISA Court and concedes unprecedented authority to the Attorney General.

It does contain the six-month sunset that we insisted upon, and that gives us an immediate opportunity and responsibility to come back and strike the right balance.

http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/006473.html






Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject Thank these 16 Democrats for giving Bush expanded authority to eavesdrop without a warrant.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3425605#3425605
3425605, Thank these 16 Democrats for giving Bush expanded authority to eavesdrop without a warrant.
Posted by ProSense on Fri Aug-03-07 11:34 PM


Lincoln (D) Yes
Pryor (D) Yes
Feinstein (D) Yes
Salazar (D) Yes
Carper (D) Yes
Nelson (D) Yes
Inouye (D) Yes
Bayh (D) Yes
Landrieu (D) Yes
Mikulski (D) Yes
Klobuchar (D) Yes
McCaskill (D) Yes
Nelson (D) Yes
Conrad (D) Yes
Casey (D) Yes
Webb (D) Yes

link

How high should we jump, King George?

Unbelievable!

"My Republican colleagues chose to rubberstamp a flawed administration proposal," said Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, accusing the White House of misusing anti-terror powers in the past.

Republican colleagues? Without the 16 Dems, you have 44 votes!

Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject Dems in the House and Senate failed to pass tougher judicial checks and oversights:
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3425971#3425971
3425971, Dems in the House and Senate failed to pass tougher judicial checks and oversights:
Posted by rodeodance on Sat Aug-04-07 05:08 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/04/washington/04nsa.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1186221755-6ylqX5w8PKvuxIJrh8iN2Q

......Broader Spying Authority Advances in Congress

By ERIC LICHTBLAU and MARK MAZZETTI
Published: August 4, 2007

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 —A furious push by the White House to broaden its wiretapping authority appeared on the verge of victory on Friday night after the Senate approved a measure that would temporarily give the administration more latitude to eavesdrop without court warrants on foreign communications that it suspects may be tied to terrorism.

The House is expected to take up the White House-backed measure on Saturday morning before going into its summer recess.

Democratic leaders acknowledged that the bill would probably pass.

Democrats in both the House and the Senate failed to pass competing measures on Friday that would have included tougher judicial checks and oversight on the eavesdropping powers.


.......
edit to add Harry Reid statement:

August 03, 2007

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Senate action on FISA legislation:

A few weeks ago, I made a personal commitment to the Director of National Intelligence that I would lead the Senate to passage of a bill that would help protect America from terrorist attack by enhancing our intelligence community’s foreign intelligence collection capability.

Senate Democrats worked in good faith with the Director of National Intelligence to produce the Rockefeller-Levin bill that was tough on terrorists, provided much-need oversight of the Attorney General, and did not infringe on the constitutional rights of American citizens. Rather than pass this bill, my Republican colleagues chose to rubberstamp a flawed Administration proposal that fails to provide the accountability needed in light of the Administration’s repeated past mismanagement of key tools in the war on terror.

This bill will sunset in six months. Over the course of the fall, I expect the Senate to work diligently on more permanent legislation that will better serve American national security interests and the American people.

http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/006473.html