Rockefeller: Senate Gives Gonzales "Unprecedented Authority"

[Rose Siding]

and takes rights away from Americans.

From Laura Rozen at War and Piece:

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.

I don't see how the Senator considers an entire Friedman Unit to be an "immediate opportunity". In fact, with all of Gonzales' deficiencies being so prominent right now, how will they EVER strip new power from that office?

[Hubert Flottz]

1. I'm glad my two senators never caved in with the sheepish fools

who were stampeded again by the boy who cries WOLF!

WTG senators Rockefeller and Byrd! The senators who stood up for the Constitution last night have my respect today! The ones who didn't I look upon as cowards and fools.

[dkofos]

2. Cowards fools and ENABLERS!!

[lazer47]

5. My 2 Senators Lincoln and Pryor need to stay in Washington

and find a job there, because coming back to Arkansas and running again is futile, they will not,I repeat NOT be re-elected, they are turn coat Repubs as far as I and a lot of other people are concerned,, live it up while you can Mrs. Lincoln and Mr. Pryor, as elected members of the Senate, you are done.

[Changenow]

9. Where do you live?

Arkansas is supposedly all Democratic now, but they sure don't act like it. Is there any liberal alternative near Little Rock?

[lazer47]

14. There is a group in Conway that is a off-shoot of the Sierria Club

that is a "Green Machine" but I haven't been into it that much

[lazer47]

16. To answer your question I live near Russellville

[theHandpuppet]

10. Well, Flottz, we'll just remember this the next time...

... some folks around here star trashing ignorant WV hillbillies. Sure beats being STUPID and INSANE! :grr:

Gee, I'm so, so looking forward to seeing what our democratic majority has in store for us next. Really makes me want to rush out and volunteer for '08 -- NOT.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. The Dummycrats are(Lieberman Democrats) are as guilty as...

Bush...I'm freakin' sick over this.

[SutaUvaca]

3. Six months sunset?

Something tells me our elected weaklings will never get the chance to "strike the right balance."
Chimpgonzo will have already struck with something worse by then.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. These fucking IDIOTS still trust Bush and Gonzo?

Are they on crack or what?

[SutaUvaca]

6. Maybe a form of bipartisanship heroin.

They keep using it.
But it's rotted their brain.

[Beelzebud]

8. Remember how well the sunset claus worked for the patriot act.

Welcome to your new police state.

[Hubert Flottz]

13. I wouldn't vote for anyone over 12 years old that sill believes in a

sunset claus or a Santa Claus...one is about as realistic as the other in this case.

We need some serious drug testing in Washington ASAP!

[Beelzebud]

7. Gonzo should have been impeached, not handed more power...

It's really hard to call myself a Democrat these days.

What a joke this party has turned out to be.

Republican-Lite

[Changenow]

11. It's certain now that there will not be impeachment

if they're this happy with his job.

[Beelzebud]

12. It's clear to me now that we have no opposition party.

It's clear that when it comes right down to it, the Democrats aren't much different from the Republicans.

[RufusTFirefly]

17. I mean, it's not like Gonzo has done anything lately to make us distrust him

This is just so utterly insane that it almost makes me wonder whether the people who voted to give Torture Boy these powers had guns held to their heads.

[mzmolly]

18. "It does contain the six-month sunset that we insisted upon,"

THANKFULLY.

[Disturbed]

19. Dems who voted for this shit were CYAing against being

blamed for the next Terrorist Attack. They are stupid. The next Terrorist Attack will still be blamed on the Dems.