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January 28, 2008
Senate Spikes FISA Bill Cloture Vote
A few Democrats defected, but it didn't give Republicans the 60 votes needed to break a Democratic filibuster and quash debate over contested amendments to the FISA overhaul. Glenn Greenwald:
"In one sense, this is an extremely mild victory, to put that generously. All this really means is that they will now proceed to debate and vote on the pending amendemnts to the bill, almost certainly defeat all of the meaningfully good ones, approve a couple of amendments which improve the bill in the most marginal ways, and then end up ultimately voting for a bill that contains both telecom immunity and warrantless eavesdropping. Moreover, it seems clear that Senate Republicans deliberately provoked this outcome and were hoping for it, by sabotaging what looked to be imminent Democratic capitulation so that Bush could accuse Democrats tonight of failing to pass a new FISA bill, thus helping their friend Osama."Still, in another sense, this is significant. Preventing a vote today means that there is more time to work on opposing immunity, including by working on ensuring that the House stays firm behind its relatively decent bill. It also means that the Senate -- for once -- has refused to capitulate to brazen White House pressure tactics, whereby the President demanded that the Senate give the administration everything it wants before the Friday expiration of the PAA. Also, the presidential candidates responded to public pressure by joining in the filibuster, which is encouraging.
"And, perhaps most significantly, this slight stirring of resolve might carry over into the next vote, to extend the PAA by 30 days and thus force Bush's hand either to veto the extension or back down (they will need 60 votes just to vote on that proposal). Again, anything that prevents quick and quiet resolution of telecom immunity and new FISA powers is a real benefit."
(Link)
Posted by mhall at 5:56 PM | Add Comment
I am a very PATRIOTIC American Citizen. I do not support retroactive immunity for telecom entities that succumb to continued pressure by the present administration in their abominable destruction of Constitutional law. Thousands of warrants have been approved and only 5 disallowed by the FISA court. Today I emailed my two senators asking them to abide by the Will of the People and stop the corruption we have suffered these past 7+ years. There is no need to by-pass the FISA Court under any circumstance.
"... thus helping their friend Osama."
Was that a deliberate slur agains Obama? Or just a slip of the tongue? Or just an honest typing mistake?
Was that a deliberate slur agains Obama? Or just a slip of the tongue? Or just an honest typing mistake?
It was meant ironically.
"... sabotaging what looked to be imminent Democratic capitulation so that Bush could accuse Democrats tonight of failing to pass a new FISA bill, thus helping their friend Osama."
In other words, Greenwald's saying Republicans would accuse Democrats of failing to pass FISA because, deep down inside, Democrats hate America and want Osama bin Laden to prevail.
It might seem like an outlandish thing to expect from Republicans, but then again their numbers include the same kind of people who throw around "dhimmicrat" with no apparent sense of irony.
My bad.
Thanks for your close reading, Michael.