Stolen from Atrios's place, where he posted a link to Open Left:
( - promoted by Matt Stoller)
I just got word from the ACLU that a new and bad FISA bill is about to be unveiled tomorrow at 1:30pm by Steny Hoyer in a press-only briefing. Telecom immunity is not in the bill, but the Senate is pressing hard for that to be included.
The dynamic in the House is really odd. Hoyer and Emanuel seem to be pushing for a FISA capitulation to 'protect the freshmen', even though the freshmen understand their constituents don't want a FISA capitulation. No one will go on the record on any of this, and Emanuel and Hoyer aren't voting for the capitulation, only orchestrating its passage.
This is not a surprise, though it is amusing that Pelosi's promises to 'fix' the temporary FISA bill passed in August are as worthless as they appeared at the time.
What's weird is that no one wants this capitulation except Hoyer and Emanuel. The Bush Dogs are going to vote for it, since that's what they would do, but they would vote for a better bill. The freshmen don't feel politically threatened by a better bill, and know that standing up to Bush is popular. It's like the House is operating on conservative autopilot.
The progressive caucus is unified against the bill. If there's a way to beat this back, it's through the freshmen. I hope they start speaking out against it.
UPDATE: I should say that I don't have the specifics of the bill, which will be unveiled tomorrow. But it's telling the ACLU and civil liberties experts were cut out of the process.
Matt Stoller :: Hoyer-led Dems to Cave Again on FISA
Atrios says to warm up your dialing fingers and let Steny Hoyer and Rahm Emanuel hear it from YOU, the people who elected Democrats to begin with -- in 2006 and 2004 and 2002 and 2000 and 1998 and 1996 and 1994 and 1992 and 1990 and 1988 and on back into the dim reaches of time.
I say, call 'em up. Call 'em out. Tell 'em off. Let 'em know this is a fracking big DO NOT WANT.
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"Do It For The Freshmen!"
Sounds kinda like "Do It For The Children!" don't you think? And it's about as dishonest.
But I still believe
And I will rise up with fists!!
But I still believe
And I will rise up with fists!!
The Dems WANT That Surveillance Power.
You probably already know this:
The Dems are NOT the "party of the people." They do NOT care about the rights of citizens anymore than the Pukes do, which is ZERO! They are the lesser, junior supplicants in the Party of Property (as Truman called 'em), in which interest it is that the power and ability to surveil secretly should grow, to protect that property and suppress the rabble (that's us, btw) who might threaten it. Or who might otherwise exert undue pressure to transform the 'status quo ante'.
Me? A Quick Study, But A Slow Learner
Me? A Quick Study, But A Slow Learner
Steny Hoyer and Rahm Emanuel Hate America
Sarah, I'm sorry to disagree with you, but when you wrote, "What’s weird is that no one wants this capitulation except Hoyer and Emanuel...It’s like the House is operating on conservative autopilot.", you don't take into account that a large percentage of the Democratic leadership (hell, and the rank and file too. Hillary wouldn't be up by 33% if that weren't the case) supports the same exact policies when it comes to surveillance and executive power. Jon Stewart said the thing that bothers me most about Democrats when he was talking to Jack Goldsmith last night on the Daily Show. He said (paraphrase), "Doesn't Cheney know that with all of his executive power shenanigans, that he's going to make Hillary Clinton the most powerful president in American history?" The crowd went apeshit, clapping and hooting. Have you seen this at Glenn Greenwald yet?
"UPDATE II: From the American Freedom Campaign, via email:
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) signed the American Freedom Pledge yesterday, expressing his commitment to protecting and defending the Constitution. With Senator Obama's pledge, all of the Democratic presidential candidates except Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) have now either signed the pledge or have provided the American Freedom Campaign Action Fund with a detailed statement addressing the issues described in the American Freedom Campaign Agenda . . ."
Unfortunately, we need the Democrats, but we sure as shit don't need Steny Hoyer or Rahm Emanuel. We should talk about how to destroy these two men. They hate America and they hate freedom. That lie was constantly spread four or five years ago about people like me who were against the war in Iraq. It's true about people like Hoyer and Emanuel.
ps-Lambert, I figured out how to do links. Sorry again about last time. Thank you.
pps-Sarah, have you read "Blinded by the Story" by Arthur Silber yet? Check it out, would love to hear your thoughts.
Matt, I was quoting Matt Stoller
for everything above "Atrios says ..." in that piece.
Seriously, I know that Emanuel and Hoyer are not on the side of Truth, Justice, and The American Way, but I felt it incumbent on me to relay to our readers what they were up to in this instance.
I understand Hoyer postponed the rollout today but has not canceled the operation.
Keep on 'em!!!!!
We can admit that we're killers ... but we're not going to kill today. That's all it takes! Knowing that we're not going to kill today! ~ Captain James T. Kirk, Stardate 3193.0
We can admit that we’re killers … but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes! ~ Captain James T. Kirk, Stardate 3193.0
1 John 4:18
Ooops, My bad.
Poor reading comprehension, my bad Sarah. Matt Stoller has a pretty bad case of Digby-itis there,(and in general) but oh well. Yeah, keeping the pressure on these turds is very important. Good looking, Sarah.
No biggie, 'mano -- I'm not attuned to the DC scene enough
to know how / if Stoller's reliability exceeds that of Hoyer et al.
I trust Atrios.
I distrust certain high-profile incumbents in the Democratic party, and I hold the GOP in contempt as a rule of thumb. I can think of maybe half a dozen exceptions, nationwide, to this rule of thumb. One is the county sheriff here where I live.
We can admit that we're killers ... but we're not going to kill today. That's all it takes! Knowing that we're not going to kill today! ~ Captain James T. Kirk, Stardate 3193.0
We can admit that we’re killers … but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes! ~ Captain James T. Kirk, Stardate 3193.0
1 John 4:18
Emanuel and Hoyer May Well "Love America."
They just love money, power, and privilege more.
And who could blame them? They'll never have to worry about anything but death...
A Quick Study, But A Slow Learner
Me? A Quick Study, But A Slow Learner