Kerry on FISA: Congress has an obligation to protect both the American people and the Constitution.

[ProSense]

Congress has an obligation to protect both the American people and the Constitution. That’s the oath we take. Supporting the current version of the FISA bill is tantamount to asking Congress to cover up President Bush’s blatant assault on our basic freedoms. Congress shouldn’t effectively be granting immunity for abuses to the Constitution or rubber stamping the Administration’s warrantless spying program. We shouldn’t settle for anything less than a bill that gives the President the tools to protect Americans, while also safeguarding the freedoms that define us as Americans. We must effectively gather intelligence to stop those who would attack us. But, we weaken – not strengthen – our ability to do that when we undermine the Constitution.

-- John Kerry

(emphasis added)

Best statement!

Roll Call on Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

[dailykoff]

1. Supporting ANY version of the FISA bill is a blatant assault on our basic freedoms

FISA is an assault on the Constitution and doesn't need to get any worse. It needs to expire.

[gateley]

2. Please remember to THANK these people:

Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)


They did the right thing today!

[rug]

3. Clinton - Not Voting; Obama - Not Voting

:banghead:

[dailykoff]

4. McCain didn't either.

He knows this is ballot box poison. Sounds like maybe the other two figured it out too.

[rug]

5. I see Byrd didn't either. This is way beyond the ballot box.

[Mass]

6. Byrd's health is precarious. I would not expect him to vote too much these next few months.

He has been in and out of the hospital a lot.

[dailykoff]

7. It's being sold like it was more popular than Elvis

but the truth is the media will destroy Obama with this if he falls for the hype and votes yes.

[karynnj]

10. Both McCain and Obama will have to state their positions

There is no way they are allowed to stay neutral.

I have no idea why Clinton didn't vote - but she may have a good reason. Not wanting to be on record is not one - and she will need to take a position on the cloture vote and the vote itself.

[dailykoff]

12. Not voting would be better than a yes vote.

A yes vote is going to hang around his neck like a millstone when the MSM starts ragging him for it.

[karynnj]

15. On the this procedural vote - it counts the same

In terms of the vote on the issue, he will pay a cost for either side, as will McCain. This is the general election where some will see this as a needed bill and others as a travesty. Both McCain and Obama - whether they vote or not will be pushed to say where they are.

[karynnj]

9. Obama is campaigning and the vote was not remotely close

Every Senator who ever ran has had their leader work with him/her on when they are needed on a close vote. I haven't followed it, but I hope he does what Kerry did in 2004 - on at least some vote he missed (I didn't watch that much CSPAN!), when Daschle or whoever was preciding announced him as one who was "necessarily absent, he voted it with information on the vote Kerry would have cast. This effectively kept him on record. Edwards did not seem to do this and I have yet to here Clinton or Obama do it, so it might not have been common. Both Obama and McCain should be challenged to do it.

I don't get why HRC has missed every vote except the confirmation of a judge - missing votes of greater significance - even if they were not close. Does anyone know why she didn't vote on the FISA procedural vote?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Catherina]

11. Thank you Senator Kerry.

:applause:

[beachmom]

13. Kick. I think it is pretty clear that after returning to the Senate after

a grueling presidential campaign, John Kerry is one of the true liberal progressive voices in the Senate. You can count on him.

[ProSense]

14. Exactly. n/t