Biden, Dodd and Obama Blasts Domestic Spying Immunity

[illinoisprogressive]

Three U.S. senators with an eye on the White House said this week that they oppose granting immunity to telecom carriers that allegedly participated in the Bush administration's domestic spying program of telephone wiretapping and e-mail surveillance.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said Oct. 18 he would block the Senate's FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) reform legislation, which contains an offer of immunity for telecommunications companies that cooperated with the administration. Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Joe Biden (D-Del.) also condemned the immunity clause in the bill.

"The president has no right to secretly eavesdrop on the conversations and activities of law-abiding American citizens, and anyone who has aided and abetted him in these illegal activities should be held accountable," Dodd said in a statement, in Washington.

"It is unconscionable that such a basic right has been violated, and that the president is the perpetrator. I will do everything in my power to stop Congress from shielding this president's agenda of secrecy, deception and blatant unlawfulness," he said.

The New York Times first broke the story of the administration's warrantless wiretapping in late 2005 and USA Today later reported that the NSA (National Security Agency) is using information provided by telephone carriers to mine tens of millions of calling records for data. President Bush has admitted to the warrantless wiretapping and e-mail eavesdropping.

As part of a renewal of the FISA Act, Bush has pushed for immunity for the telecom carriers. The House version of the bill currently includes no immunity for the carriers, but the Senate Intelligence Committee approved legislation Oct. 17 that includes immunity.


http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2203219,00.asp

[bdamomma]

1. another step closer to closing down our democracy

after watching Naomi Wolf on the political videos today, we better do something to slow this down. Please if no one saw it yet please watch it.

[IndianaGreen]

5. The "second tier" candidates have shown that they will fight for our freedoms

far more than the "top" tier.

[jillan]

12. Obama stepped up. The only one missing is Hillary.

[killbotfactory]

14. Like when they voted for the IWR?

Both knew it was a goddamn stupid idea, but both ended up voting for it anyway and ended up giving the invasion their tacit support.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Neither Biden nor Dodd want to have any US combat troops in Iraq beyond 2009

while the top tier have spoken about having troops beyond 2012.

[Terri S]

18. Troops vs combat troops.

The question at the debate was about all TROOPS. We have troops in lots of countries not in a combat role. We will have an embassy in Iraq. It will need to be guarded just like we have troops in other countries. Saying we would have NO troops in Iraq at a certain date is false pandering. Obama said he would begin withdrawal of COMBAT troops immediately. He'd already submitted a plan to begin withdrawal in May of this year with all combat troops out by March of '08. It was vetoed by the president. Edwards also said he would begin withdrawal of combat troops immediately.

[IndianaGreen]

25. The monster embassy in Baghdad rivals Vatican City in size

Clearly a building complex more fit for a colonial power to enforce its occupation, not for a democracy with no designs on Iraq's oil.

Troops = Occupation and Occupation = War.

[Inuca]

17. You don't know what they knew

and you cannot read their minds. I am not happy with the IWR votes, but relying on that vote as the sole criterion to judge somebody is just plain wrong. If you want perfection and purity of spirit, don't look for it among politicians. They are not supposed to be saints, nor never make mistakes. Look at the whole record, and how they are changed as a result of acknowledged mistakes. Both Dodd and Biden are fine in my book.

[gateley]

8. Here's a link to the Naomi Wolf video on YouTube - it's important.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

[robinlynne]

2. Right on!

[Mojorabbit]

3. Thank you senators. eom

[IndianaGreen]

4. As a Verizon user I am outraged they spied for the Bush regime without a warrant

I applaud Dodd for putting a hold on the FISA bill, and for threatening filibuster if Reid ignores his hold. I also applaud Joe Biden for being the first to throw his support to Dodd.

As to the leading candidate... (sound of crickets)

[gateley]

6. K&R! nt

[PatSeg]

7. Good for Dodd and the others who support him

Someone has to put the brakes on this administration. Enough is enough.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Biden was the first to throw his support to Dodd

Our dynamic duo are defending our freedoms and defending the Constitution, something that the Democratic leadership in Congress have failed to do.

[Colobo]

19. Give credit to Obama.

[usregimechange]

10. Is this the Bond/Rockafeller bill?

[illinoisprogressive]

11. Three cheers for them speaking out!

[bdamomma]

13. I think whoever starts speaking out on this thuggish regime

we got to support fully, they have got to know we are behind them when they do something right!!!

and Pelosi is to wrapped up in her dilemma whatever that might be.

[PatSeg]

16. This all started way before 9/11

and history shows that such powers can be used to spy on political rivals, not that Bush would stoop that low!! If you give any leader too much power, the odds are he will misuse it and in Bush's case, it is a pretty sure bet.

[ginchinchili]

20. Good for them. And they're right to do so. Where's Hillary?

[demommom]

21. Bravo!

:patriot:

[demommom]

22. Kick

[jenmito]

24. Probably calculating how to be on both sides of the issue like usual.

Triangulator that she is.

[demommom]

23. Kick

[IndianaGreen]

26. Kick for the afternoon crowd

Dodd and Biden rock! Obama too, if he comes through and votes in support of Dodd's filibuster.