Are the Democrats voting for FISA out of touch with the people?

[kentuck]

Jane Harman said on the House floor that she had received tons of emails and phone calls about FISA bill and the large proportion were against it. However, she planned on voting for it anyway?? How many Democrats are like Jane Harman? Are they out of touch with the average Democrat and the average American?

Or do they not value the meaning of our Constitution? They will argue that the Constitution is not a "suicide pact". But that is a strawman argument. There is no evidence that the present laws of FISA cannot protect our nation. They are being disingenuous when they say that. And if they are that much out of touch with our Party and the average American, what is their argument for wanting us to vote for them in November? I think it might be time for them to hang up their spurs and head toward the hacienda.

[liberal N proud]

1. This thread might offer some explaination...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3517448


Your rights are worth $4000 +/- a few.

[NightWatcher]

2. who are the reps surrounded by on a near daily basis?

their constituents? lobbyists? fellow rich representatives?

It's the way that they do things up there. We The People are stupid masses and THEY are the chosen caregivers who know what is trully best for us.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. no...they're are being blackmailed...because bush has all the goods on everyone

bushco's criminal wiretapping/spying on them for 8 years....they are scared to death of being exposed

this is the only explanation

[helderheid]

4. DING DING DING DING! We have a winner.

[daa]

7. No, they got bought off for $8 grand to change her vote

http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08

HOUSE DEMS WHO CHANGED THEIR VOTE TO SUPPORT FISA BILL, GIVING IMMUNITY TO TELCOS, RECEIVED, ON AVERAGE, $8,359 IN PAC CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VERIZON, AT&T, AND SPRINT


BERKELEY, CA—Last week, on June 20, the House of Representatives approved a compromise bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). The bill sets new electronic surveillance rules that effectively shield telecommunications companies from lawsuits resulting from the government’s warrantless eavesdropping on phone calls and viewing of emails of private citizens in the U.S. Approximately 40 lawsuits have been filed with potential damages totaling in the billions of dollars.

On March 14 of this year the House passed an amendment that rejected retroactive immunity for phone carriers who helped the National Security Agency carry out the illegal wiretapping program without proper warrants. Ninety-four House Democrats voted in favor of this measure--rejecting immunity--on March 14, then ‘changed’ to vote in favor of the June 20 House bill--approving immunity.

“Why did these ninety-four House members have a change of heart?” asked Daniel Newman, executive director of MAPLight.org, “Their constituents deserve answers.”

MAPLight.org's research department compiled PAC campaign contributions from Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint and correlated them with the voting records of all House members who voted on last week’s FISA bill. (The analysis used data from CRP; contributions were from January 2005 through March 2008). Here are the findings:

[PFunk]

5. If what you're posted is true then look for a very rocky path to the GE.

The last thing the dems want to do at this time is to give the base a reason NOT to vote. And ignoring their wishes will seriously endanger the dems winning back both houses. After all why bother if the canadate that you support wont even listen to you after you worked hard to put them in. No one likes buyers remose. Not even the die-hard dem base.

[leftofthedial]

6. nearly all politicians in DC are out of touch with the people

they are not our friends, they are all on the same team and it isn't ours, they have been bought and paid for, we need a MAJOR housecleaning, if not a revolution

[cascadiance]

8. They're just IN touch with their corporate donors and that primary season is OVER now!

And they think that their voters will still vote them in over Republicans and forget about their corporate and other sellouts before 2010 when they MIGHT be accountable again, assuming that the DCCC still pumps money into their races instead of any progressive grass roots challengers then! In some respect incumbent blue dogs and DLC's are worse now than incumbent Republicans! They're less accountable than ANYONE out there now, including the Republicans that at least we have choices against now!