FISA vote

[lagilman]

Question: On the Amendment (Dodd Amdt. No. 3907 )

Vote Number: 15 Vote Date: February 12, 2008, 11:03 AM

Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Amendment Rejected

Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 3907 to S.Amdt. 3911 to S. 2248 (FISA Amendments Act of 2007)

Statement of Purpose: To strike the provisions providing immunity from civil liability to electronic communication service providers for certain assistance provided to the Government.
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Ole' Joe voted nay, like the yellow-bellied sapsucker he is. Bth Senators from my home state of NJ and Schumer in NYS voted yea, as did (Obviously) Dodd from Connecticut.

Clinton didn't vote. Obama voted yea. Guess who just took a step closer to getting my support?

Check here, if you want to see who you should kick.

Comments

[debg.livejournal.com]

Yep, Clinton wants a good kicking for this one. This vote should have been a no-brainer. Still not voting for Obama, though.

The person I want to kick is my esteemed Senior Senator, otherwise known around here as "that rancid bitch." I abominate Diane Feinstein.

Why in HELL isn't Barbara Boxer running for president, damn it?

[julibeth.livejournal.com]

Okay, I am new to caring about this whole politics thing. I tried to do research on this, but everything I've found to try to make some sense out of what they were voting for is way over this simpleton's head....

[lagilman]

It is a complicated process and I suspect a lot of the Senators didn't quite grok it either. Short and simple version -- this Amendment does not allow the telecommunication companies (AT&T, etc) to be given immunity for their part in warrent-less wiretapping performed at the White House's orders. Voting yea meant that you said they should be held accountable. Voting nay gave the companies a free pass for any laws that were broken by their complicity.

There are a lot of Amendments being proposed, but Dodd's was the one that said, flat out "you did the crime, you have to do the possible time. No amnesty."

[julibeth.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I am woefully ignorant of current events and the political climate.

But y'know. The newspaper costs money. And I live in an area with terrible news coverage, and I always seem to miss the national coverage.

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

Reccomendation: when trying to get up-to-speed on the news, especially in fast and convenient ways, I've always found it more tolerable to do so on the web. TIME, CNN, Newsweek, MSNBC, and others put the entirety of their stories on-line for free access, and the New York Times puts up a substantial selection for free.

This can be done at your leisure (or over morning coffee!), plus articles can be printed out, bookmarked, or reloaded as tupdated. This also has the added benefit of being faster - by the time the newest issue of TIME Magazine comes to press, I usually find I've read the cover story a solid week in advance. (Also, I hate dealing with and folding newspapers. Just sayin'.)

In addition to this - don't listen to what anyone else says - Wikipedia's a godsend in regards to serving as a basic primer for many political issues. Not to be used as an exclusive source, of course, but great to pull up, say, "John McCain's political positions" in forty-five seconds, and scroll down to the sources list if you feel like fact-checking if you have the time.

Also, while papers indeed cost money, if you're ever in a cafe that sells them, even like Starbucks, they're there for you to read while you sip your drink, detox, or even wait in line. No one can make you buy them, hehe.

[julibeth.livejournal.com]

I was so proud of myself when I snagged a free paper at Perkins during lunch yesterday, though I admit that my main modivation for that one was the classifieds.

Yaknow. For a better job. So I can afford the paper.

*grin*

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

I've found that far too much of life is far too cyclical for my tastes. It's like getting off a ferris wheel just to find you've stepped on to a merry-go-round. YOU CAN'T STOP THE CYCLE. even my washing machine doesn't have a "normal" option.

[julibeth.livejournal.com]

Truer words were never spoken, and it's a total reflection of my life at the moment.

[chicating.livejournal.com]

Watch "Countdown".
Yes, I say that because I have a carnal obsession with the host, but it's a good show, too.(Also funny, so it's not like taking vitamins. Promise.)
And he can write a sentence that'll make you cry.
Bush bad. Words pretty.
MSNBC
5 and 8 Eastern time.
Sorry for the commercial, suricattus.
Carry on.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

I second this. :D Also, hi suricattus! Here via kradical. :)

[bevhale.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the scum in OK are sucking toads who would rather watch the world go down in flames than the be honorable and stand up for what is logical or noble. Sometimes I think I should just go find an island and put in a generator that works on palm fronds and just sit on the beach in a tent. I don't think I can stand another 4 years of Republican "help." It's enough to make me want to gnaw my own leg off.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

When you find that island, let me know. I'd like to join you.

[bevhale.livejournal.com]

When I do, I'll let you know. I'll be under the Second Palm Tree to the Left. You can have the First if you'd like. I'll bring the lawn chairs and the suntan oil, you bring the extension cords for the computers.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

You've got a deal!

[bevhale.livejournal.com]

I see you live in France. I was there mumble mumble years ago when I was 17. We'd studied in Austria and spent about 4 days in Paris. Very very interesting place. My younger sister adores France and will take any opportunity to go back.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

See LAG for my email if you ever get to the north of France. I'll invite you for coffee.

[bevhale.livejournal.com]

That would be great, as my sis has promised that if I get in shape for a 5K marathon, she will take me to France. So, I'm starting to train. If you decide you want to visit Oklahoma - Ok, I won't hold my breath, but there are things to see and do here, honest- I'd be happy to play native guide and find you the best Tex-Mex and Barbeque (or sushi- we have a great place, or Indian for that matter - grin).

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

I'm third party, and still I say: with Democrats like these, who needs Republicans???

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Well, the last time the Democrats had a leftist in position, it was Walter Mondale. He wasn't charismatic, but he had a lot of interesting positions. Since Republican Americans think Clinton and Obama are leftists, I guess the Democrats had to take over the center to get elected.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly with Chicating about Olberman. He has interesting things to say and says them.

[chicating.livejournal.com]

my editor would never forgive me if I didn't plug our blog http://www.bloggingolbermann.com

[rwglaub.livejournal.com]

Contrary to the flat out-and-out lies I've been hearing in the media, we don't lose any capabilities. The Protect America Act (PAA) should never have been passed in the first place. The FISA is quite sufficient. Requests can go through in minutes if necessary. Plus there is a provision for retroactive approval of requests in case of an emergency. I've seen it done.

The telecommunications corporations should be held accountable for acquiescing to requests that they knew were illegal on their face.

This is just a powergrab by a criminal administration that daily shreds the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and US law. They have sought to revoke The Great Writ which protects all of us in this country, citizen or not.

Admitting to warrrantless intercepts is the second impeachable offense Bush has admitted to. Admitting he authorized torture in the form of waterboarding. However Congress, being cowardly poltroons with the spines of jellyfish, refuses to perform its constitutional duty.

FISA does need to be amended. When the law was passed most of the technologies and gadgets in use today weren't even gleams in someone's eye. However, it needs to be amended with close consultation with civil libertarians in order so that it does not violate people's rights.

I am a constitutionalist. I believe very strongly in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law. The Bush administration has done more to set back civil liberties than any other administration in American history. Bush refuses to enforce the laws with the highly questionable signing statements which may very well be unconstitutional and illegal. He has authorized acts which violate not only US law, but duly ratified international treaties and conventions as well. He and others in his administration have committed high crimes and misdemeanors which merit impeachment, removal from office, and imprisonment.

Another thing to make your blood boil. Go and read the Vanity Fair article on Sibel Edmonds. Then read the London Times articles on her. Then write Chuck Schumer and ask him why he has not held the hearings he promised.

If Laura Anne will permit, I would later like to say something about the followers of Leo Strauss, who hold inordinate influence in this administration. In order to understand what has happened, you know have know about this. His followers must never again be allowed any access to the levers of power.