Just asking here amongst all the "OBAMA-CLINTON Primary Uproar" that seems to dominate today's blogosphere,

But "Riddle me This, Batman:"

?How in the "F" is any Democrat going to be elected President if the Republican Administration can SNEAK/PEEK on all communications without oversight?

The Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot if this passes and OBAMA and CLINTON can give us all the "HOPE for CHANGE" they want and...IT WON'T AMOUNT TO A VICTORY IN NOVEMBER!
or,
? If They(Repubs) can see all the cards(Obama's/Clinton's strategies via his/her communications), how can a Democrat EVER win in November?

I would like to respectfully request the President to take a bicycle ride on the Capitol Beltway today, around 5 PM.

Screw this imbicile, let the law expire.

If the House supports this bad bill, and Bush signs it -- can't it still be challenged in court as a violation of the 4th amendment?

Dem's will cave.

They are more interested in getting elected with a majority than tsaking a principled stand.

They know democaratic base is fired up and will vote. They want Republi-can'ts to be bored and stay home. They do not want to give the republicans anything to cause them to go to the polls.

As a result they won't: increase taxes, move toward withdrawal in Iraq, condem torture, raise contempt of congress, or appear weak on terror.

And God knows, we faithful democrats won't get discouraged or turn to other progressive organizations because our elected represenatives act like sheep and show no sense of principles - will we?

In short they are going to give the republicans whatever they want until they get elected.

I mean, aren't the republicans to stupid to vote for a republican if they are getting everthing they want by having a republican in office?

ivoted:
great thought process. the repugs will know the lies to use most effectively after "eavesdropping" on the Dims' (pun intended) info. This is just sickening.

So ok, mr prez, go thru the courts and get proper authorization. OHHHHHHHHH, you'd rather do it the illegal way? Why, imagine that.

BUSH SPYING POWERS WILL BE ABUSED

Saul B. Wilen

The “Domestic Spying Bill” passed by the Senate on 2/12/08 was very bad for everything America represents. By legalizing warrantless spying on Americans, granting retroactive immunity for the illegal actions by the telecommunications companies and removing any accountability by the Bush administration by eliminating any liability for the illegal and even criminal actions taken, the Senate is guaranteeing that the Bush illegal spying programs are never investigated. There is no doubt that the actions taken by the Senate will further embolden Bush to press for even greater spying powers and those being granted will be abused by Bush for political purposes. This very bad law opens the door wider for future political leaders to abuse power through uncontrolled spying on Americans for whatever secret reasons are determined (even those that have nothing to do with the security of America such as expression of free speech, political differences, constitutional rights) and without any accountability for those actions. The past actions of the Bush administration have already proven that Bush, the Bush administration and the Republicans in Congress MUST NOT BE TRUSTED.

The “Domestic Spying Bill” enacted by the Senate gives illegal and even criminal actions taken by the Bush administration approval, totally eliminates accountability, further limits the doctrine of the rule of law, enhances the mounting irrelevance of Congress, ties the hands of the next administration and Congress, removes the constitutional role of the courts to decide the legality of actions, continues the destruction of America's democracy and Constitution, and brings America one step closer to a DICTATORSHIP.

The “Restore Act” already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is better. It provides some more safeguards on the Bush spying powers while providing Bush with more than enough necessary surveillance powers. It continues the idea that the legality of the President's spying programs should be decided in a court of law. It continues the important required balance that has existed for decades between the rights of Americans and allowing for surveillance to provide security for America. This balance will be lost should the Senate version become the law. Bush wants to eliminate this balance, these safeguards and vital American rights.
In the face of seven years of lies, self-serving and failed policies, and actions putting the interests of the wealthy, corporations and the few in power above all other Americans, Bush wants America to believe that his interest is the security of America and that he will not abuse these spying powers. AGAIN, THE MOST RECENT BUSH ACTIONS PROVE THAT HE CANNOT BE TRUSTED. THE PROPOSED 2009 FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS BY 50% (FIFTY PERCENT) THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE THE FIRST LINE OF SECURITY PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM THE TERRORISTS. THIS BUSH ACTION OF CUTTING FUNDING FOR AMERICA’S SECURITY PROVES THAT HE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH AND THAT HE WILL ABUSE THE NEW SPYING POWERS.

FLOOD YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE WITH PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS AND ANYTHING ELSE POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO CAVE INTO ADMINISTRATION FEAR-MONGERING AND POLITICAL PRESSURE THERBY SELLING OUT AMERICA'S DEMOCRACY AND CONSTITUION. THE ABUSES COMING WILL HARM ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANCHILDREN FOR FUTURE DECADES.

so... apparently Bush still believes that terrorists are not capable of using a compass to walk "north" into the USA from Mexico.

Cannot ANYONE in Washington stand up to this clown and directly ask him how it is that, with all this concern over terrorism, not ONE move has been made to protect our borders without hemhawing and dragging of feet from the WH...

Good article by Matt Taibbi in the current issue of Rolling Stone about the 'pussification' of the dems.