Will Obama lead the way to stopping Chimp's House-approved FISA bill?

[Hawkeye-X]

I think it'll never pass in the Senate, if Obama can provide the leadership to help stop the FISA bill by introducing amendments after amendments of removing the immunity off the HR bill, and in conference, it can be declared unresolvable, and we'll get the one we'll need once Obama and the majority (and possibly filibuster-proof) of Democrats in power.

Things will fucking change, and it'll change for the better. And once the people of the U.S. realize that the Republican experiment is long over, and corporations begin to lose the right to fuck around with the people (corporate personhood). They'll demand a lot what we liberals have been begging for years - reforms and changes.

Hawkeye-X

[pscot]

1. I guess we'll find out

n/t

[Eric J in MN]

2. I'm more pessimistic about what Obama will do next week.

I predict that he'll vote for an amendment removing retroactive immunity. The amendment won't pass. Then he'll vote for the whole bill including retroactive immunity.

[Catherina]

3. That's how I read it and I find that lame beyond words.

I'm seriously disappointed and hope Obama takes notice of the netroots' anger because he has a lot to lose by caving in with the rest of those craven opportunists.

[AuntPatsy]

5. I just hope he takes the outrage to heart and does something about it.

[gateley]

7. To be blunt,

I'm not sure he NEEDS to do anything about it. He SHOULD, but if he doesn't, he's not losing my vote. I have no other choice.

[AuntPatsy]

9. Well to be blunt he has my vote as well regardless, I just hope, sincerely

hope that he is who he says he is...I mean the only other choice doesn't even deserve mention.

[gateley]

13. I'm with you. nt

[Catherina]

11. I HOPE so too.

Obama wrapped himself up so much in the hope and change bit that I'm holding him to it. The hope was during the Primaries, the change better start now otherwise I just chalk off my donations as a painful loss and enjoy my summer. You don't get a bunch of angry activists all charged up about change and then do the same old. I gave him the benefit of the doubt for all his present and absent votes but this is a bit much.

Don't let us down Barack. Please don't. Stand with Wexler, Leahy and Feingold and say HELL NO!

[gateley]

4. According to Rachel,

if he doesn't want it to pass, he's gotta filibuster. The Senate can't just say "we'll pass it EXCEPT for the retroactive immunity." If that's what they decide, then it would have to go back to the House.

So I'm not sure exactly what Obama meant when he said he would fight the immunity part in the Senate. :shrug:
Did you take that to mean he would introduce amendments, as you reference in your OP, Hawkeye?

[gateley]

6. Does anyone understand what makes this bill a "marked improvement"

as Obama referred to it? Thanks.

[Eric J in MN]

10. Here is a quote from Obama

"It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance – making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people."

The original FISA says that it's the exclusive law for intelligence eavesdropping.

Then the Bush Administration decided that the Consitution lets him eavesdrop outside of FISA.

Congress could have impeached Bush and/or allowed the FISA lawsuits to continue.

Instead, impeachment is "off the table" (Nancy Pelosi) and Congress is stopping the lawsuits.

But Congress wrote in the bill-again-that FISA is the the exclusive law for intelligence eavesdropping.

Of course, there is no reason why a future president should be deterred by the phrase "exclusive" appearing in a bill twice instead of once.

[Catherina]

12. Sadly no n/t

[Duder]

8. As President he can spy on Chimpy...

"It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses." - Barack obama

[rusty fender]

14. If Obama can't support the Constitution, then I can't

support him. How can he be the agent of change if he votes like a Republican? Does Obama now believe that some people and corporations are above the law?