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"It's Very Strange"
The Politico gets the temperature of the current negotiations on the surveillance bill and stresses the "unknowns." So while the signs tend towards the final bill somehow containing retroactive immunity for the telecoms against those vicious lawsuits, it's still not a sure thing.
But there was this choice section, where Senate intelligence committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) expresses befuddlement that Republicans have boycotted talks on a compromise bill. The president and leading GOPers have said that it's the Senate bill or nothing so there's no use negotiating. From The Politico:
Rockefeller supports the immunity provision the administration wants, but he said he was perplexed by the fact that the White House has skipped the meetings the Democrats have tried to hold. “I don’t understand why the White House hasn’t been more active in pushing the solution they want,” he said.“It’s very strange.”
Of course, the Republicans and the administration have been pushing with all their might (I guess Rockefeller missed this ad... and Bush's every public appearance for the past month). They just see no reason to go to the table, figuring that if they push enough, they'll get what they want.
Comments (12)
Like so many others, all of Gelatinous Jay's years in the senate have left him totally deluded by decorum. Leahy doesn't get it either -- they refuse to believe their colleagues are out to destroy them.
March 5, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the real story on Rockefeller? Why is he such a patsy? I would have thought with a safe seat, a family fortune, etc. he would be able to write his own ticket. Does anyone know?
March 5, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that Rockefeller's "safe seat" IS the problem. He faces no threat from the right so he doesn't recognize the viciousness of the attack. There's no political opposition within his own party that will hold him to account.
He's floating along in the Senate, comfy and stupid. He certainly wouldn't want to piss off his fellow club members across the aisle.
March 5, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
"It's very strange" indeed, that the Democrats are so adamant about destroying the Fourth Amendment, to give Georgejr cover for illegally spying on American citizens - for ANY reason.
March 5, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
He should be referred to by his real name: John Davison Rockefeller IV. Calling him 'Jay' only serves to disconnect him from the bankster dynasty that "John Davison Rockefeller" helped to create back in the late 1800's.
March 5, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could coal and immunity be connected?
March 5, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Rockefeller has sold his soul to the telecoms. His campaign coffers have been filled quite full by their newest BFF, Jay.
He's a Judas.
He's sold his soul for a lousy 30 pieces of silver.
He sold out the constitution and the American people for campaign cash.
March 5, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
PHASE II! PHASE II! PHASE II!
March 5, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not strange. Over and over, the WH and the R's in both Houses of Congress have seen that all they have to do is call Dems "Weak Terruh-Lovers Who Want Amurkins to Die" in the media, and the Dems do whatever the Repubs want.
They (WH) aren't coming to negotiate because they know they don't have to.
Duh.
March 5, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
"They just see no reason to go to the table, figuring that if they push enough, they'll get what they want."
Close. This sentence should read, "They just see no reason to go to the table, KNOWING they'll get what they want because Democrats are geldings in suits."
March 5, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with the rocker fella, for an obvious reason: normally, both parties collude to step on the people's constitution.
March 5, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
“I don’t understand why the White House hasn’t been more active in pushing the solution they want,” he said.
“It’s very strange.”
In Senate-speak a remark like this is known as "signaling." So, what's he signaling? That he's considering withdrawing his support for telcom immunity?
March 6, 2008 12:16 AM | Reply | Permalink