Dems cut surveillance deal with White House - msnbc

[spanone]

Phone companies to get immunity while Congress would get more oversight




WASHINGTON - In the war on terror, Democrats claim President Bush has abused the power of his office, violated civil rights, and trampled on the Constitution.

But when given the chance last week to challenge the administration's use of wiretapping, Democratic leaders instead chose to cut a deal with the White House.

The result? It may now never be known if the Bush administration broke the law or sidestepped the Constitution when it launched its secret surveillance program shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.

"We're closing the door, never to know why this happened, who ordered it, why did they avoid , what was behind their thinking," said Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. "And that is a dangerous step for us.”

On Thursday, the Senate is expected to give final passage to that deal — a bill that better regulates ongoing surveillance activity.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25375118/

[Horse with no Name]

1. Well isn't that special?

To say it doesn't surprise me is an understatement...and that it doesn't surprise me is a pox on this nation.

[spanone]

3. caved, i think is the word. or never really intended to do anything else

[KansDem]

2. This, from the folks who don't have to take off their shoes to fly...(nt)

[Horse with no Name]

6. or have their laptops and cameras STOLEN by DHS at the airport

Personally...if I had stock in tinfoil I would think that they did NOT want folks to travel.
Obscene regulations at the airport, obscene gas prices at the pump, defunding Amtrak....the hits just keep on a coming.

[G_j]

4. America, put to the ultimate test.. FAILS

and we know who to thank

[spanone]

5. actually, they gave immunity to bu$h* & cheney

and the congressional oversight won't even apply to bu$h*...it will be the next president....the rethugs are some clever motherfuckers

[Xipe Totec]

7. Where the fuck was MSNBC before the vote?

Bunch of shills.

Not to excuse Pelosi and the majority wimp, but thanks a lot, MSNBC, for letting us know about it AFTER the fact.

[Junkdrawer]

8. It does NOT "better regulate ongoing surveillance activity"...

The new bill has a loophole Bush can drive a truck through.

If the new FISA court says no, they can continue to tap during the years long appeals process.


Court review? Pssh. Please. This is how it would work: The government wants to tap someone’s phone. It claims “exigent circumstances” and begins to do so. Then it goes to the FISA Court to be granted a warrant. “Hold up,” says the court. “This application is problematic and based on heresay.” Now the government starts the appeals process and that goes on for heaven knows how long. When does the surveillance stop on the problematic target? Um, never. The government is allowed to begin tapping without the courts and continue tapping when the court says no, provided it appeals. Nice, strong and meaningful judicial review, huh?


http://blog.aclu.org/2008/06/19/this-spade-is-a-spade-fisa-deal-is-bunk/

[rpannier]

9. Cut-and-run would be a better description

Since they've been abdicating their oversight responsiblities, what did we really get.

1:5 says DUHbya adds a signing statement that eliminates oversight

[Wiley50]

10. FISA: (I'm being pushed to Antisenateism). Will the Senate Succumb?

Well, we know the repukes will
(but they tend to do such acts in airport men's rooms)

then they'll puke and puke again
(guilt complex. Remember, they're Re-pukes)

(Yes, I have stated this situation crudely but it's a crude situation at this point)

But what of our folks?

The congress pushed me to anticongressionalism last week on this very issue

Well, we do have some true patriots left in the Senate

But we did in Congress too.

My guess is the majority in both houses is complicit

Major changes must be enacted

AND ONLY WE THE PEOPLE CAN PULL THAT OFF

But how?

[gateley]

11. I feel betrayed.

It makes me angry and it hurts.

[spanone]

12. i hope this 'democratic congress' supports obama when he becomes president

[Echo In Light]

13. Capitulate, not compromise. Travesty as usual

[lame54]

14. The "lame duck" won again...

the least popular president EVER in his last few months in office and he is still passing bills that give him HUGE victories
I don't get it:banghead: :banghead: