*******OFFICIAL FISA SELLOUT THREAD*******

[Junkdrawer]

C-SPAN 2

http://www.cspan.org/watch/cs_cspan2_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

Short of a miracle, the Senate today will give retroactive immunity to the telecoms for breaking the law and, well before 9/11, instituting, at Bush's illegal request, a "spy on everyone in the US" program.

Kinda makes you proud to be an American, huh?

[The Stranger]

1. Ralph Nader was right.

[malaise]

37. One day people will realize that

After that speech by Chris Dodd last night, I was hoping these owned Senators would think about their children and grandchildren. Vote them out.

[earth mom]

46. Shh...You're not allowed to mention Nader around here.

:sarcasm:

[The Stranger]

48. Right, I know.

But what's weird is that I don't get flamed for admitting it any more.

[HereSince1628]

2. When in the course of human events...

our nation has seen the solution to this sort of madness before.

It may be time to see it again.

[havocmom]

14. All my life, I have been amazed at the blessing of fate that put all the founders in one place

at one time so this nation could be brought to life. Now, I weep for the payback the fates are taking by means of all manner of soulless cowards and weasels who managed positions of power to end the life of our glorious nation.

[HereSince1628]

15. As Joplin sang, we don't know what we've got till it's gone

They've paved paradise and put up a Fascist lot.

[americanstranger]

22. That was Joni Mitchell.

But your point holds.

- as

[EFerrari]

33. That was the Rolling Stones and Joni Mitchell.

I'm in the mood for some Country Joe and the Fish right now. :nuke:

[notadmblnd]

36. Wasn't that Joni Mitchel?

Janis was much more hard core. Lord won't cha buy me....

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. Here we go.... nt

[Junkdrawer]

4. DiFi offers amendment to make FISA exclusive law...Kit Bond opposes...

Kinda mute if there are no penalties ENFORCED.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Voice Vote now...n/t

[Junkdrawer]

6. Lieberman votes AGAINST...

[Junkdrawer]

12. DiFi's amendment required 60 votes, but only got 57...FISA is optional..n/t

[Orrex]

7. Maybe Bush will veto the bill...

:sarcasm:

[Junkdrawer]

8. "OK Johnny, we'll buy you a new BMW this time, but ONE MORE DUI...

and you're grounded fella!"

[radfringe]

9. no balls, no spine...no surprise n/t

[MiniMe]

10. What are they voting on now?

From the votes, it seems like the Judiciary version of the bill.

[Junkdrawer]

11. Microphone accidentally picks up two Senators joking:

"Let your conscience be your guide."

((laughter))

"You do have a conscience?"

((laughter))

"No."

((laughter))

[TahitiNut]

21. I heard that. Try as I might, I couldn't identify them, though.

No "southern" drawl ... no "Boston" accent ... no "New York" accent ... so I conclude it was Midwestern or Western. But it sure wasn't Feingold or Levin or anything resembling them.

[RuleOfNah]

23. Really?

Senators were caught on mic joking about conscience during a countrytap vote in the Senate?

[TahitiNut]

30. Yup. A mic was left open ... either on the floor or the Clerk's microphone.

It picked up their off-hand banter, clear as a bell even if low volume. They were obviously milling around within about 5' of the microphone. I'm guessing it was the Clerk's microphone, as he was calling the roll and announcing the votes.

[RuleOfNah]

38. It is getting incredibly difficult to keep laughing.

Incredibly.

[stranger81]

32. That comment deserves its own thread. Good lord.

And now, excuse me while I go puke.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

39. Please post this as its own thread...

I feel sick.

[Junkdrawer]

43. Done

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2853321&mesg_id=2853321

[Junkdrawer]

13. VOTE ON DODD AMENDMENT NOW....

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. Vote down. Screw them as they are screwing us!!!

[Junkdrawer]

17. Dodd Amendment FAILS....

That's 0-3 for mitigating this beast.

COMPLETE SELLOUT AT THIS TIME.

[Deny and Shred]

18. Yet another dark day for liberty. Be careful what you say and send

There are between 10 and 20 Dems voting these amendments down.
This program will continue unabated, with no chance of accountability. Every electronic communication, whether international or domestic, is subject. The program is shielded behind national security, so no review of the purpose for which the data is used.
Rest assured, collecting dirt on opponents, and eavesdropping on their corporate competition has just been tacitly approved. So much for any semblance of a level playing field for businesses, because a Bush crony will know their competition's every move, in real time.
If it hasn't already begun, files will be kept on dissenters, like DUers.
I actually had hope about these amendments passing, and a shameful chapter being voted down, and accountability occurring, bolstered by C. Dodd's outstanding speech last night. What a sucker I was.

[sattahipdeep]

24. Rockefeller Lets Slip the Spying Truth

Rockefeller In short, the changes legalize Room 641A the secret spying room
inside AT&T's San Francisco internet switching center that was outed by former
AT&T employee Mark Klein. That room sits at the center of a lawsuit against AT&T
for its alleged illegal participation in the government's secret, warrantless spying program.


http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/02/sen-rockefeller.html

Jello-jay-advocates-illegal-spying-on-americans

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/02/05/jello-jay-advocates-illegal-spying-on-americans/

Fuck That Looney Tune Elmer Fudd.

[warren pease]

44. This may help explain Jay's concern for these back-stabbing skanks...

From this article in Wired:

<snip>

Democratic Lawmaker Pushing Immunity Is Newly Flush With Telco Cash

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia) is reportedly steering the secretive Senate Intelligence Committee to give retroactive immunity to telecoms that helped the government secretly spy on Americans.

He has also recently benefited from some interesting political contributions.

Top Verizon executives, including CEO Ivan Seidenberg and President Dennis Strigl, wrote personal checks to Rockefeller totaling $23,500 in March, 2007. Prior to that apparently coordinated flurry of 29 donations, only one of those executives had ever donated to Rockefeller (at least while working for Verizon).

In fact, prior to 2007, contributions to Rockefeller from company executives at AT&T and Verizon were mostly non-existent.

But that changed around the same time that the companies began lobbying Congress to grant them retroactive immunity from lawsuits seeking billions for their alleged participation in secret, warrantless surveillance programs that targeted Americans.

The Spring '07 checks represent 86 percent of money donated to Rockefeller by Verizon employees since at least 2001.

AT&T executives discovered a fondness for Rockefeller just a month after Verizon execs did and over a three-month span, collectively made donations totaling $19,350.

AT&T Vice President Fred McCallum began the giving spree in May with a $500 donation. 22 other AT&T high fliers soon followed with their own checks.

Prior to that burst of generosity, the only AT&T employee donation to Rockefeller was a $300 contribution in 2001. That supporter did not identify herself as a company executive.

<snip>

And he's a pretty cheap date, too. With a personal fortune estimated to top $100 million, this round-heeled trollop lifted his skirts for Verizon for a modest $23,500. And I hope he got kissed before AT&T purchased his favors for a mere $19,350.

I obviously need my own senator. I'm going to see if I can get him to roll for a little less: maybe a used Civic and dinner at Le Maisson d' Burger Roi. He's such a cheap tart that he might just go for it.


wp

[Mojorabbit]

19. This is damn depressing

I really had hope this is one place where the line would be drawn.

[sattahipdeep]

20. "all men are equal before the law"

:eyes:

[backscatter712]

25. Ken Nighthorse Salazar betrayed us again.

He voted Nay on the Dodd amendment to strike retroactive immunity for the telcos from the bill. :mad: :mad: :mad:

I'm sick of Colorado "Democrats" turning out to be DINOs.

I will not forget this vote when it comes time for him to run for reelection...

[housewolf]

26. Was there just a cloture vote before the break?

I missed it - how'd it turn out?

[Mark Twain Girl]

27. I am so angry and depressed about this

That's all I can type right now.

[plantwomyn]

28. Filibuster?

What happened?

[bdamomma]

29. oh crap, what happened with the Dodd Amendment???

for some strange reason maybe Dodd thought it was going to turn out this way, didn't he kind of say last nite on the floor after spilling his guts about this FISA bill, god, this is disgusting, their poll numbers should hit rock bottom now. These guys are forgetting why they are there, total detachment from us, maybe this is a culture war.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. I spoke my piece on this 6 months ago

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/proud2Blib/44

[Elidor]

34. I'll be changing my registration later this week.

A yellow dog no more.

[HughMoran]

40. Changing to what?

??

[Elidor]

45. Independent

Maybe if enough people did so, they'd take heed, but I doubt it.

[HughMoran]

47. Dunno, I've been registered undeclared since I was old enough to vote

I still vote Democrat anyway :shrug:

[Elidor]

35. dupe

[Jeffersons Ghost]

41. K&R

[tabasco]

42. I'm sure this crime against our Nation will be condemned by our corporate-owned media!!

Maybe not.

WTF happened to this country? I just want to scream.

[ThomWV]

49. Today I begin working to see that J. Rockefeller is never elected in WV again.

I will do everything in my power to see that he never gets elected again. I have called and written his office and told them so too.

[leftofthedial]

50. Here's one more dead yellow dog

I'm done with them.

Adios.

[malaise]

51. What a sellout

Why am I surprised.

[leftofthedial]

52. telco $$$$

neocon-fascist coercion

personal corruption

cowardice

there is no way the least popular "president" in history can exert this much control over a majority opposition.

2000 was a coup.