Senate Dems won’t block FISA compromise

[babylonsister]

Senate Dems won’t block FISA compromise
By Manu Raju
Posted: 06/17/08 03:54 PM


Senate Democratic leaders said Tuesday that they would not stand in the way of a compromise overhaul of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), despite their concerns with the impacts of the sprawling measure.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who also sits on the Judiciary Committee, said some Democrats are “not happy with that, but there may be enough to get a majority vote.”

When asked if he would whip his conference to vote against it, Durbin said: “I doubt if it’s going to be a caucus position.”

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) predicted Tuesday that there is enough support within the Democratic Conference to approve a contentious overhaul of the FISA legislation.

“If the bill comes out as I think it will, it will pass,” Rockefeller said before heading to a conference lunch.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-dems-wont-block-fisa-compromise-2008-06-17.html

[sazemisery]

1. My neutered lab has more balls than these pricks. n/t K&R

[Vincardog]

2. Why do we (The Democratic legislators) allow the Repubs to filibuster every thing they don't like

but allow a simple majority to pass the crap they (The Repubs) do like? Where is the leadership?

[babylonsister]

3. Because there are some Dems who will also vote for this.

They like to complain, but watch this vote, specifically Rockefeller.

[tbyg52]

23. And they're not even really filibustering!

Enough with this "courtesy filibuster" bull. Make 'em stand up and read the phone book!

[VP505]

4. Damn that pisses me off.

Telecoms must be handing out money all over the place because there is absolutely NO other reason for them to be doing this.

[gratuitous]

5. Why are they letting themselves get bullied?

How many Democrats are in the pockets of the big telecoms? The phone companies broke the law by enabling this corrupt administration to spy illegally on citizens, they knew they were breaking the law, and now the Democrats are willing to provide them with legal cover for their crimes. Why, why, why?

This prospective compromise is every bit as sickening as the Florida 2000 debacle.

[chill_wind]

17. AT &T and Verizon are in Rockefeller's Top Five Contributers

for 2008. AT&T has given almost $50,000 since 2006.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001685&cycle=2008

Rahm Emanuel took almost $50,000 for 2008.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00024813&cycle=2008

Hoyer has taken money from ManTech since 2004:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3472891&mesg_id=3474575

[gratuitous]

20. I suppose it's not surprising

I suppose it's not surprising that a Senator could be bought. But who knew you could put a Rockefeller in your pocket for a measly 50 grand? Cuh-razy Eddie has nothing on the World's Greatest Deliberative Body.

[spanone]

6. -despite their concerns-

WELL FUCK THEM

it's a goddamn shame we won congress 2 years ago....otherwise, their behavior would be a lot easier to tolerate

[bonito]

13. I wonder what concerns they really have with da mob.

makes no sense otherwise, and in doing so lets them spy on everything they do.

[wryter2000]

7. We'll have to rely in the House again

Getting ready to write letters again...

[alarimer]

8. I hate the Democrats almost as much as I hate Republicans

They have the majority. Why can't they do anything but cave to the corporate/right-wing interests? We need to dump ALL of them. Primary challengers for anyone not voting against this shit.

[Gabi Hayes]

18. A frickin MEN....truer words were never spoken. makes me physically ill to read stuff like this.

[slipslidingaway]

9. K&R not surprised, the original FISA vote, including telcom

immunity only had 29 NO votes.

[JDPriestly]

10. I wrote my senators and congressmen.

I pointed out that it is more likely they will eavesdrop on their communications than mine, but that the eavesdropping must be limited by the FISA court. It is essential to protect our First and Fourth amendment rights and our right to a fair trial and the assistance of counsel when accused of a crime.

I seriously doubt that anyone is interested in my e-mails or telephone calls. It's the e-mails and telephone calls of leaders of the Democratic Party that I am worried about. And I am very worried about this.

[slipslidingaway]

12. I've been doing the same, not sure if you noticed, but this was

not a popular topic here on DU around the time of the initial Senate vote. There were several threads spanning a couple of weeks and only a handful of replies and recommends, mostly from the same posters. I always felt that if the Democratic Party really wanted to challenge this the candidates should have been "educating" the people in their speeches and /or fight for it on the Senate floor, Clinton and Obama could have made a big difference if they made it an issue. I know Obama came back to vote on the amendments, but the media might have picked up a speech on the floor from either of these candidates. Dodd was already out of the race and did not receive very much coverage anyway.

Personally one of these companies provides our health care coverage, so I guess I should be happy.

:shrug:

[Truth2Tell]

11. K&R, and please help pressure

Hoyer on this issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3472891

[Triana]

14. RIGHT for the next (s)election - they vote to have THEIR phones tapped.

MORONS! HA.

[chill_wind]

15. K & R n/t

[chill_wind]

16. AT&T-- very Heavy Hitters-- #2 on the TOP TEN of political donars

Influence and lobbying...

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/index.php

Breakdown graphics (party):

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000076

House and Senate

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000076

Other telecoms:

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?lname=B09&year=a

[Zhade]

19. WHY IS THIS BILL EVEN COMING TO THE FLOOR? DEMS CONTROL THE AGENDA!

NT!

[ColbertWatcher]

21. THIS!^^^^ n/t

[NewJeffCT]

22. Can we have Dodd do one of those parliamentary maneuvers again?

to prevent a vote or something like that?

Or, maybe have Dodd, Feingold & Boxer lead a filibuster, then we could at least get 41 votes?