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December 17, 2007
Filibuster Is On to Block Telco Immunity
Glenn Greenwald on the filibuster:
"Chris Dodd left Iowa in order to lead a real filibuster on the floor of the Senate today in an attempt to stop Dick Cheney and Jay Rockefeller's telecom amnesty gift -- a move necessitated by Harry Reid's refusal to honor Dodd's hold (even while he reverently honors pro-torture holds from Lindsay Graham and countless similar holds from Tom Coburn). Reid's procedural conniving was supported by numerous Democratic Senators, including Pat Leahy, Dick Durbin and others (though against the wishes of 14 Democrats, including all presidential candidates in the Senate). In sum, Senate Democrats -- yet again -- are taking affirmative steps to ensure that Bush's demands are met in full, that he is vested with vast new surveillance powers, and that the rule of law in the United States is further eviscerated."
Update: Make that "filibuster was on," since all but 10 Democrats voted to advance the bill. On the other hand:
"But not all of the 76 senators who voted to advance the bill necessarily agree entirely with the administration. Some do, but others voted to advance the bill so they can criticize it or offer amendments."
Update 2: It looks like Dodd won after all, to the extent the Senate's now doing nothing until next year.
Posted by mhall at 4:43 PM | Add Comment
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