Top Two Senate Democrats To Oppose Wiretapping Deal

[kpete]

Top Two Senate Democrats To Oppose Wiretapping Deal

June 17, 2008: 03:40 PM EST


WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The top two Democratic leaders in the Senate said Tuesday they will oppose a wiretapping deal under discussion with lawmakers and the White House, but they acknowledged that it could pass anyway.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he wouldn't support the deal, which would break an impasse over whether U.S. telephone companies alleged to have participated in the government's warrantless wiretapping program should be given immunity from civil lawsuits.

Many Democrats are still anxious about the proposed agreement, which would place lawsuits involving telephone companies in federal courts.

"I will not support that, but a lot of people will," Reid said.

more at:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200806171540DOWJONESDJONLINE000562_FORTUNE5.htm

[Uncle Joe]

1. I hope they name those "but a lot of people will," so we have time to work against them.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Terry_M]

2. Same ones that voted for it before?

[jtrockville]

3. Where's Dodd? Didn't he promise to filibuster immunity?

[orleans]

4. we might have to give him a call. n/t

[bdamomma]

5. I would call Dodd.

He seems to be on our side, I hope.

[Autumn]

6. After today I am beginning to think

none of them are on our side.

[lonestarnot]

7. I am disappointed in his sneaky shit for banks too! Today here.

couldn't find it. I'm not good at searching here. But it was all electronic transactions to be reported to feds snuck into either the war funding bill or the FISA bill. I'm tired and confussed. :P

[alfredo]

8. Didn't he do something like this before? He counted heads, saw that it was

going to pass by a comfortable margin, so he votes against it to make it appear he was actually against the bill.

[EFerrari]

9. That was my first thought, too. n/t

[alfredo]

10. Let's see how this plays out. Let's see what President Obama will do

when he gets in office.

[warren pease]

11. What does this mean? "Many Democrats are still anxious about the proposed agreement..."

What the hell are they "anxious" about? Must be the tough choice between selling us out and pissing off their corporate employers. How is that making any of these thoroughly bribed swine anxious?

They know what to do. It's what they always do when corporate interests conflict with the common good. They'll happily screw their constituents, along with the rest of us, and depend on the notoriously short American attention span to save them next time they're up for reelection.

And about Reid's statement. Am I misunderstanding something here? If Reid doesn't support it, why in hell is he going to bring it up for a vote? I thought that's one of the most powerful perks of the majority party, along with committee chairmanships. Can't he just take the miserable POS "off the table," as they say these days?

If Pelosi had treated telecom immunity -- and Bushie's own insurance policy as well -- the way she treats the mere thought of impeachment, we'd be rid of this accursed piece of sleaze right now.

Reid I assume has the same choice. Why in hell wouldn't somebody who claims "I will not support that..." simply remove any possibility of it passing by refusing to let it go to a floor vote?

I'm afraid I already know the answer, but in case I'm wrong, please fill me in on all the back room maneuvering.


wp

[Charlie Brown]

12. well, kudos to Reid and Wyden for doing the right thing

and, if Reid, as Majority Leader, can be resolute on this issue, there's really no excuse for Obama.

[Radio_Lady]

13. How about the junior Senator from New York? You remember her?

Hillary Clinton...

[lonestarnot]

14. She better have her ass there for the vote!

[Radio_Lady]

17. How about Obama... are we going to see him there, too? When is the vote?

[sandnsea]

15. Wyden questioned the immunity portion

exactly the same as Obama - they just used different words. He didn't promise to vote against this. I live in Oregon. I have no more reason to believe Wyden will vote against it than any other Senator.

[Horse with no Name]

16. I guess they drew the long straws this time

In this predetermined game...THEY get to look good this time.

[Pastiche423]

18. It's easy, Senator Reid

Table the fucking bill! You have the power. Just do it!