Reach me that bucket, wouldja hon? CQ:
The House Intelligence Committee's top Democrat disclosed late Tuesday that he is ready to accept a Republican-brokered deal to rewrite the nation's electronic surveillance laws, signaling that a long-running congressional impasse could soon be coming to an end.
I'm totally feeling teh Bipartisan
!
House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes told CongressDaily that he is "fine" with language offered by Senate Intelligence ranking member Christopher (Kit) Bond and other Republicans to overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Notably, the GOP language, which was offered a day before the recent congressional recess, would leave it up to the secret FISA court to grant retroactive legal immunity to telecommunications companies that have helped the Bush administration conduct electronic surveillance on the communications of U.S. citizens without warrants.
About 40 civil lawsuits already have been filed against the companies. The administration, Bond and other Republicans had backed a Senate-passed FISA bill that would have shielded the telecom firms from the lawsuits upon enactment.
"It's about finding middle ground and we have middle ground,"....
Bollocks. It's about upholding the rule of law when the President and humongous corporations break it.
Reyes said of the compromise offered by Republicans. "It's not going to please everyone but let's get on with it."
Reyes said he believes enough Democrats will support the proposal to pass it in the House.
But he said House Majority Leader Hoyer told him that House Democratic leaders want to have the liability of the telecoms reviewed in federal district court as opposed to the FISA court.
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no compromise necessary
without new legislation the law would merely revert to the old system which was fine. dday has a good post on this.
The Democratic Village Mindset
Whether it's about the primary or FISA, it's all about capitulating so the media and Republicans say nice things about you. That you can make your donors happy, even better.
As I've said, the primary was merely the last straw in my problems with the Democratic Party. It's all this shit that was piled on the camel's back that made it so weak one more straw could break it.
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. " - Eleanor Roosevelt
A Government of Laws
and not of Men.*
*Certain restrictions apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
FISA abuse not popular
It is about capitulating to the media. Fisa abuse is not popular. It isn't just political blogs, Slasdot and other techie blogs have ranted about this. Congress email system have been flooded with support for the fourth amendment. It is sheer corruption.
& this kind of thing is exactly why
not voting Obama is no crime--what good does it do to have a Dem president --or more Dems in Congress-- if they always cave in to whatever horrors the GOP wants?
fyi
Members of the House Intelligence Committee
Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Good Point, DCBlogger
How much money did telecoms donate to Jay Rockefeller? If I recall they were his biggest donors. Although I'm sure they're just doing it because they admire him, they aren't expecting anything for it.
But I will say that it doesn't always matter if the public likes something. The media distorts what the public thinks or ignores it and pleasing the media is more important than pleasing the voters. Although certainly the money is playing a huge role in this instance.
Public financing has never been more important.
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. " - Eleanor Roosevelt
iran
the reason to vote Democratic is so we don't go to war with Iran, so they don't close the border, and so that the next Democratic National Convention will not be held in Gitmo.
all those things are still possible, and
Iran is dependent on Israel, and whether either of those 2 gets aggressive--it's not something McCain would initiate on his part--he knows the military is way too overstretched.
McCain is not Mr. Handmaid's Tale--he'd be more like Bush1.
Not just Jello Jay
But they also donated millions to his wife's PBS station for the NewsHour and Washington Week. Influence peddling goes way beyound campaign cash.
Intelligence.HPSCI@mail.hous
Intelligence [dot] HPSCI [at] mail [dot] house [dot] gov
Email the committee.
What Would Barak Do?
So where is the newly anointed Democratic Presidential Nominee in all of this? Does he have any influence or is he siding with Rockefeller?
i guess this is just "uniting" &
that "bipartisanship" we hear so much about, no? (ugh)
Barack? Keeping his powder dry?
Not making waves on issues his supporters don't agree with him on? Or...what does Obama really believe on this isse? Do we know?
Agree with Amberglow
not voting Obama is no crime—what good does it do to have a Dem president —or more Dems in Congress— if they always cave in to whatever horrors the GOP wants?
Although I prefer not to us a double negative, that is voting for Obama is a crime. Just kidding.
How I don't understand what you mean by Iran is dependent on Israel.
DCBlogger's the reason to vote Democratic is so we don’t go to war with Iran, so they don’t close the border, and so that the next Democratic National Convention will not be held in Gitmo. I don't agree with. This assumes that Obama will not go to war and will allow Hispanics to come in freely. Worse of all, I will not be surprised if Hillary supporters will end up arrested by Obama's Republican Guards headed by Kos & Josh. And if you think that the Bolsheviks started meaner than the Boyz your are mistaken.
KoshemBos
on Iran-
I mean that no one is going to open up a third war in the region. The only way something will happen is if Israel starts bombing them or something like that, or if Iran does the same or starts bombing our bases in Iraq or something big like that.
It's only if there's aggressive action by either Israel or Iran that we'll end up involved in another war there. McCain won't start it, and neither will Obama.
close the border
by that I mean that we are not allowed to leave, not that they are not allowed to enter. What do you think the real reason for that fence is.
nah--
it'd be more likely that we couldn't afford to leave--not until the next horror in the Nixon/Reagan/Dubya cycle will we have that even as a possibility i don't think....McCain would be very like Daddy Bush if elected (and would have more Dem Congressional support than from the GOP there, too).
Didn't Firedoglake used to breath fire about FISA? Checked over
there and saw nothing on front page, no calls to action, no lists of number to call. Whassup?
No longer an issue? Obama seems down with the new approach so now it's OK?
What IS up? and what's down?
Firedoglake Has been Following It
I called Stoyer's office yesterday. According to a staff guy, Reyes did not speak for the Democratic caucus, they are still holding out for the Circuit Court to rule on the immunity issue, so nothing has changed, as yet. I think the article indicated as such.
My suggestion, call or email both Stoyer and the committee and politely let them know that Democrats have proud of the way the House Democrats have fought for the constitution, and will be deeply unhappy, come November, if they accept this particular Republican compromise.
sell out
they are still holding out for the Circuit Court to rule on the immunity issue,
what Hoyer wants is for the telcos to get immunity in such a way that his finger prints are not on it.
it is just plain sick
Also, should have added
DDay at Digby's place is talking about Obama showing some leadership. It's here.
So don't expect Obama supporters to give him a free ride on stuff this important.
But the problem here...
... is that the netroots went for Obama without extracting anything in return -- and he, in any case, built his own standalone organization, which dday, IIRC, was fully supportive of!
A splendid job of self-emasculation, to use a gendered metaphor. Well done all round.
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
Bet $5 Paypal donation to corrente
That Obama doesn't say boo...
1.) The media won't ask.
2.) Obama won't volunteer anything.
Bet $5 more that KO doesn't 'ask' it of Obama either.
And Don't Ever Forget
Bloggers lie.
Exactly, lambert
I laughed my ass off at that dday post. Now, NOW, he's asking Obama to lead on FISA (and he basically apologizes for doing it since it doesn't give Obama any "honeymoon" period following his
coronationselection as the presumptive nominee). That's funny.Dday, like most of the blogosphere, asked nothing for his vote (or subservience), and I'm betting that's exactly what he's going to get. Except possibly more lectures about the need to be more reasonable and understanding of Democrats who do things like vote to confirm John Roberts.
It's GE time, baby, time for Obama to move to the right. Or actually, more to the right!
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. " - Eleanor Roosevelt