Comments (74)

DiFi Fan wrote on August 5, 2007 11:30 AM:

I know this FISA business is very important and all but I'm looking forward to a Geezergate update tomorrow. Just what does Barbara Flanders, 54, do to earn that $150k as a financial clerk for the Senate Commerce Committee?

Is Senator Inouye covering for his long time best friend, Senator Stevens? Or was Stevens covering for Inouye who is now chairman of the commerce committee? Flanders appears to have gotten her biggest raise on Inouye's watch.

The 8/3 press release about Inouye and Stevens co-sponsoring a bill to protect children on the intertubes was a shameless p.r. ploy designed to give Stevens an image boost.

Kate Henry wrote on August 5, 2007 12:02 PM:

I find this all too depressing. And when I get depressed, my antidote is to take action. I plan on spending the day today sending e-mails or calling every Blue Dog Democrat in the House and every Democratic Senator to tell them what I think of their caving to Bully Boy Bush.

It's very easy and doesn't take a lot of time. Go to the representative's website and find their snail mail address. Then, when you fill out their form make up a street address and use their city and zip. That will get you past their filters.

Don't get mad and depressed, fight back. If these people hear, through public outcry, that they are in jeopardy of losing their jobs, they will come around and start doing something to protect us from the madman in the White House.

Anonymous wrote on August 5, 2007 12:04 PM:

There may truly be no end to the amount of disrespect the Democrats show to their base, but if there is a saturation point, the Democratic leadership has now approached it.

It’s hard to imagine anything they could do at this point which will cause me to vote for any Democrat who is responsible for this. Both my senators and my rep voted with Bush. The Bush supporters will keep them in office, that’s what they’re counting on, because I sure as hell won’t.

Anonymous wrote on August 5, 2007 12:07 PM:

Kate-If they cared they wouldn’t have done this. They don’t give a damn.

Nancy’s “solution” is vile. She want’s us to think that she’ll be able to corral a veto proof majority for revisions? The quality of her platitudes is declining.

The Oracle wrote on August 5, 2007 12:13 PM:

Patriot Act Redux Part 7. Except this time the Administration broke the law, and CYA'd by having the Congress legalize the activities they engaged in after the fact.

Once again, where were the Dems?

How many Dem apologists from the Hill are going to explain away this one. More realpolitik, no doubt. Really, we HAVE to be wimps or we won't win the next election. Dem senators who voted for this bill should be tossed for sheer stupidity and incompetence.

Listen you numbskulls. Have you learned nothing from Bush (nevermind Reagan). People would rather you stood for SOMETHING. The more you try to pander because you "need to" do so to get elected, the less likely it is to happen. Do you need a picture? Here: do what the bloody Republicans would do if Clinton tried to ram this through.

People who have voted Republican in two-digits worth of general elections think this guy is an idiot.

The ASTONISHING thing is what a tin ear Dem politicians have ... people detest them because they won't stand up, not because they aren't "centrist" enough.

If you won't stand up now, when will you? Remember the expression first they came for the jews, then the gypsies, then the disabled, then ...?

Sad truth is, Clinton was successful in repositioning the Democratic party as Repub-lites. How sorry this country's politicians have become.

If Gore runs, and I believe he will, my hope is he is sufficiently pissed off and principled to make a difference. Short of that, I expect folks to vote for Bloomberg ... or even a Republican ... next time - the Democratic party, as it now stands, must be razed. I and many others have simply had enough. Nothing else seems capable of injecting principle into politics, or even mere sanity.

Want to know why the widespread perception of Dem politicians has been that they are craven wimps? Because, once again, they have demonstrated they are....

Sean Eric Fagan wrote on August 5, 2007 12:14 PM:

Does anyone have a list of the democrats who caved?

Kate, if you can take action after this, I'm in awe of you. I'm thoroughly demoralized. What's the point of being the majority if you're going to do exactly what the minority says to do? Caving on every bloody issue, time after time... well. Once is a coincidence, twice is a conspiracy, thrice is a pattern.

Paranoid yet? wrote on August 5, 2007 1:02 PM:

Fourth Branch - Time to Stand UP!

We the People seek redress.

Anon has pointed out what we can do.

Seek audits.

Get State Attorneys Generals involved.

Impanel Grand Juries.

To Enforce the Constitution.

.

Word is "when?" Time is "NOW!'

Uncle Don wrote on August 5, 2007 1:07 PM:

Sean:

You'll find the roll call vote on S1927 (The Protect America Act) at

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll836.xml

Bill wrote on August 5, 2007 1:10 PM:

This bill has nothing to do with stopping Al Qaida. No one has ever criticized the ability of a FISA judge to authorize a wiretap quickly enough, or said that the FISA courts ever leaked any secrets, or that they ever denied a wiretap when the law would have allowed one. This bill is just a continuation of the politically motivated domestic spying of the 1940's to 1970's. The Republicans won the day, but their disrespect for the US Constitution will help them lose in an unprecedented landslide vote in 2008.

Joshua the Teacher wrote on August 5, 2007 1:15 PM:

Here is the list of the pushovers:

House:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll836.xml

Senate:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/4/04858/29657

I am most shocked by the Senate. After all the incompetence and sheer disrespect shown by Gonzalez, the Dems vote to give him more responsibility?!

What's they worst that would've happened, the President vetos the negotiated compromise between Dems and the DNI, they stay in during August and prevent the recess appt. of a new AG, and the Constitution stays intact? Really? With momentum from the people and the law on their side, they still couldn't stop Bush. How devastating.

Bill wrote on August 5, 2007 1:15 PM:

The House vote can be found at clerk.house/eve/2oo7/roll836.xml
I can't find the Senate rolo call. Help

Sojourner wrote on August 5, 2007 1:25 PM:

Reading news accounts about the vote, one of the reasons given was that Bush was going to veto anything other than what he wanted...

So, what was the problem?

The logic here just totally confounds me...

neo1 wrote on August 5, 2007 1:39 PM:

If I had any doubt that Pelosi was in league with Bush (and I did), this settles it -- we give him a bill with everything he wants, but say it's no good, and we will fix it in September -- knowing full-well he would just veto it. Then we can complain that it's all his fault, we tried our best. What bs.

For her sake I'd rather think she was corrupt than that stupid.

DiFi Fan No More! wrote on August 5, 2007 1:40 PM:

I need a new screen name. Dianne Feinstein voted for the FISA bill so I'm not one of her big fans anymore.

No surprise that Ted Stevens' best friend, Daniel Inouye, voted for the bill, is it?

Bill wrote on August 5, 2007 1:42 PM:

While frustrated with this idiotic vote in both houses, I had a good laugh this morning when an obviously worried Nancy Pelosi fired off a letter to John Conyers Jr. stating that the American people may not be happy with the outcome of the vote and that some serious modifications must be made to the FISA bill. What is this woman smoking? She had the opportunity to kill this until September, but let it fly anyway. Maybe she really is worried about a Cindy Shehan run for her seat.
Look, there are things that can be done to slow down and eventually kill off the constitutional rot in the house of the people. First, get your hands on the list of those Democrats that voted for this outrageous legislation. Call as well as write them. A little known fact is that for each response a representative gets counts as an equal opinion from 13,000 other voters in the same district. While your at it, write those Democratic senators that abandoned the constitution as well. If these fools think the American electorate are sleeping soundly on this issue, continue to push it in their faces just as we got rid of Mr. Maccaca.
Secondly, make other Americans aware of what has happened. Talk to your friends, relatives and anyone who will listen. Third, forget the magnetic yellow ribbons, and start making a statement. Not one penny more for any politician from either party when they ask for your financial help if they continue throwing the US Constitution under the bus.
Even the smallest of efforts in giving this story increasing air time will alert others as to what has been and is going on. There is plenty of free sharware that will allow you make up everything from bumber stickers to t-shirts. Let everyone know that our Constitutional rights do matter and if you haven't seen the movie V, then I seriously suggest you do. Never forget that together We The People have strength in numbers and those in Washington work for us, not the other way around.
At least it's a start in letting the CFR, The Tri Lateral Commission and others in the NWO that this is our country and that we all stand to gain from her. But when you begin to destroy the very framework and fabric that has set us head and shoulders apart of other countries in our world, we head down a very slippery slope towards facisim. Just keep in mind that quaint saying from the movie Network. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore! Place placards or stickers on every windshield in every parking lot across America, on every tree on every car, truck and bus, but whatever you do don't give into apathy. This is our time now as a people to put an end to political tyranny in America.

KYJurisDoctor wrote on August 5, 2007 1:45 PM:

I think Congress (Mitch McConnell, really) did the right thing by allowing Protect America Act, while giving themselves add'l 6 months to think about the FISA!

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/congress-passes-temporary-fisa-act-to.html#links

acf wrote on August 5, 2007 1:58 PM:

If you think the Democratic Party is Republican lite, and decide to vote for a Republican, then the result is that you will have a Republican as President, and or majority party Congress member. Have you forgotten the past 6 years with them in control of everything? Even R-lite is far better than the monstrosity of a government we have been living under. I understand the frustration with the Democrats, and their failure to reverse the Bush rule, but the way to do that is not avoid voting for them, but to pay attention during the primary season, and work to get a candidate we can support.

Joshua the Teacher wrote on August 5, 2007 2:10 PM:

This is interesting... I've been trying to find the Senate vote from www.senate.gov and it's not posted. It was the last major vote of the session (Vote Number 309). Can someone explain why it's not there?

BTW, the text of the bill can be found here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01927:

Anonymous wrote on August 5, 2007 2:10 PM:

This is just the begining. When the people start to realize that it is not a one partyu system and the two parties that mainly run things are acting in concert, It will be We The People vs. You the Corrupt. Of all the things I have typed here, this is the message of most importance. I read the DU and other sites, The message is not getting through. Corruption on both sides of the aisle must be repressed. The great politicians will happily misdirect you all with abortion, gay marriage and the Iraq war while taking away your liberties one by one and fully consolidating the resources of this country into the hands of just a few. I can only help you see things from my6 former allies. You must be able to see your own sides actions. The actions they took on this vote are blatant and right under your noses. They may claim they are against the Bush policies, but note how the votes go down....They dissenters are often late in the vote in order to ensure it passes before they vote against it, or they basically just vote for the very things they use to get support in their campaigns. We the People will lose our rights if We The People chase phantom issues while allowing the Constitution to be disregarded.

Wake up America!

Joshua the Teacher wrote on August 5, 2007 2:12 PM:

This is interesting... I've been trying to find the Senate vote from www.senate.gov and it's not posted. It was the last major vote of the session (Vote Number 309). Can someone explain why it's not there?

BTW, the text of the bill can be found here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01927:

baddafinger@hotmail.com wrote on August 5, 2007 2:27 PM:

"Even R-lite is far better than the monstrosity of a government we have been living under."

You are arguing to simplistic a case. The R-light leaders you consider an improvement will only let you down. What you fail to understand is they will appease you on a few issues and maintain the underlying status qou. If you believe the smaller issues they will appease you with make a difference, then vote for them. If you believe the underlying corruption and greed that is taking place right out in the open and to a more severe extent behind closed doors then demand action. Change will have to come from a third source, We The People. I am certain the Democratic Party can appease a few by producing civil union or gay marriage laws and added health benifits. However they voted for this new measure knowing full well they will use it. The democratic base is being hood winked by a cheap carnival game of hide the ball. I suggest you flip all three cups and realize there is no ball.

I♥RonnieEarle! wrote on August 5, 2007 2:56 PM:

"...When Congress returns in September, we need to work together on additional reforms, including the important issue of providing meaningful liability protection to those who are alleged to have assisted our Nation following the attacks of September 11, 2001." - Bush via The Hill (link below)

"Alleged to have assisted our Nation" just sounds wrong to me. I don't like it one bit.

johnnydoughey wrote on August 5, 2007 3:00 PM:

We have ONE PARTY in Washington. It calls itself Republican and Democrat depending upon who you are talking to, but mark my words... it is ONE PARTY, and it has absolutely no concern for this democracy. It's only concern is to retain power over the rest of us... and to make sure little things such as freedoms and human rights do not get in the way of vacation time. It is completely self serving and is now in the process of devouring over two hundred years of patriotism.

And as for us... we are in complete denial of what's going on. We are like those folks who followed Hitler simply because he was an authority symbol. We, however, believe that we get to choose between two masters.

I have finally come to the conclusion that there is only one master, that that master is actually a monster with two heads and our only true choice in life is to decide which head we want to be devoured by...

I am no longer willing to support a monster, whether it calls itself Democrat or Republican...

mts. frontage wrote on August 5, 2007 3:15 PM:

I am sorry. Yes, I am disgusted, but do the commenters here really not see the difference between a party that unanimously supports this and a party where 85% oppose it? I think that Kate Henry has it right: go after that 15%. One of the things we on the left do badly is shred ourselves when we don't hit the home run. Everyone mocked the benchmarks in the May funding authorization bill--some on the left said there is no difference, blah, blah--and yet the non-binding benchmarks have changed the discourse already.

Bush's devastation is so deep, no 1 or 100 legislative actions is going to undo it. But there is nothing so unproductive as the they-are-all-the-same meme. Nader sold it. The press sold it. But Gore as president on 9/11 (if it had happened at all) would not have used it to destroy America.

Get real people, Bush loves it when you say they are all the same. Let's get that 15% to change. Let's pressure Inouye. Let's support Pelosi bringing it up again.

NitPicker2 wrote on August 5, 2007 4:36 PM:

Paranoid yet? @ 1:02

Correction: Get State Attorneys "General" involved.

The rest of your post is correct.

.

Become a nitpicker: Enforce the Constitution!

Fozzetti wrote on August 5, 2007 4:49 PM:

Why don't the politicians, such as Edwards, Hillary & Obama, and all the other Dems, SHOUT OUT their outrage and disgust at this bill! Why is everyone so quiet about it?

Where is the outrage?

Fozzetti wrote on August 5, 2007 4:55 PM:

...and *another* thing! I believe ALL the Senators- well most- even those who didn't vote for the bill, were In On It. The vote was just toooo exactly close. Webb probably agreed because he's so popular as a maverick, and thought he could weather the storm of protest. DiFi doesn't give a s**t about the constution or the USA- she was a crappy mayor, and is a crappy Senator. I always detested her and her floppy bows. I think Reid colluded with the W.H., and Pelosi as well. But WHY? that is the real question. Why, why why?

Sean Eric Fagan wrote on August 5, 2007 5:02 PM:

I'm planning on calling Feinstein, Boxer, and Lofgren (my rep). All three will learn that Feinstein has lost my vote, and that the California Democratic Party has lost any money I might have otherwise sent them. (I will send letters too, if the consensus I should send both.)

Moondancer1 wrote on August 5, 2007 5:31 PM:

Michael Isikoff has a brief, but frightening, article in the 8/13/07 Newsweek. "... a team of FBI agents, armed with a classified search warrant, raided the suburban Washington home of a former Justice Department lawyer. The lawyer, Thomas M. Tamm, previously worked in Justice's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR)—the supersecret unit that oversees surveillance of terrorist and espionage targets. The agents seized Tamm's desktop computer, two of his children's laptops and a cache of personal files."
Link to full article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20121795/site/newsweek/

tk wrote on August 5, 2007 6:01 PM:

HARRY REID = A SAD JOKE

jane wrote on August 5, 2007 6:06 PM:

From Daily Kos re Senate: No Republicans voted against the bill. The following Democrats voted for it: Evan Bayh (Indiana); Tom Carper (Delaware); Bob Casey (Pennsylvania); Kent Conrad (North Dakota); Dianne Feinstein (California); Daniel Inouye (Hawai‘i); Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota); Nancy Mary Landrieu (Louisiana); Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas); Claire McCaskill (Missouri); Barbara Mikulski (Maryland); Bill Nelson (Florida); Ben Nelson (Nebraska); Mark Pryor (Arkansas); Ken Salazar (Colorado); Jim Webb (Virginia).

Senators Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd and Barack Obama all opposed the bill, as did 23 other Democrats and Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont. Joe Lieberman voted ...well, you know how he voted.

CL- Oregon Girl wrote on August 5, 2007 6:06 PM:

Kate:

I did the very same. Emailed them all. I also emailed McConnell, Boehner, and Bond. I used the subject heading "Thanks for Bringing Us 1984"

I also noted that many of our distinguished senators do NOT have a drop down subject heading that included the words constitution.

Very telling indeed.

All hail King George! Any bets on whether or not he cedes power in 2008?

We have to make the Blue Dogs pay for doing this. No more spying without warrants. No more secrets.

johnnydoughey wrote on August 5, 2007 6:08 PM:

"see the difference between a party that unanimously supports this and a party where 85% oppose it?"

The Democratic leadership has taken impeachment off the table, has pushed to continue the earmarks, has caved in to just about all of Bush's directives.

And guess what. The other democratic members we voted in to stop this fiasco are keeping their own leadership in power!

Thie leadership gave in to Bush's requirements and took off on vacation. There was no attempt to have meaningful discussions... it was vacation time... and guess what. Those 85% are still supporting their leadership. They have apparently learned and assimilated everything they know from thr Republicans. I'm sorry, but, althought there may be one or two of our representatives who are not currupt, their voiceing their displeasure in a whisper, behind closed doors, so nobody can hear them because even THEIR jobs are more important that our democracy, and they are astute enough to know that, despite what they vote on or do or say, there is very little chance they will be voted out...

Will someone please tell me why we continue to wail on the republicans who continue to follow an administration which is destroying this country, yet we think we are supposed to support our democrat representatives who, according to most of the blogs I read, are not doing anything we put them in office to do and are in fact, mimicking the opposition... IMHO

CL- Oregon Girl wrote on August 5, 2007 6:12 PM:

Let's send them all a pair of diapers with the words

"Terrorist protection panties" and thank them for the increased surveillance.

Send the first hundred pairs to Kit Bond:
Kansas City Office:
911 Main St., Suite 2224
Kansas City, MO 64105

(816)471-7141 St. Louis Office:
7700 Bonhomme, #615
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314)725-4484

Cape Girardeau Office:
Federal Building, Rm. 140
339 Broadway
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

(573)334-7044 Springfield Office:
300 S. Jefferson, Suite 401
Springfield, MO 65806
(417)864-8258

Columbia Office:
1001 Cherry Street, Suite 204
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 442-8151

Just so "he can sleep at night."

myshadow wrote on August 5, 2007 6:43 PM:

This president is BELOW 25% and these idiots cave....then today, another terror tape is revealed threatening another cataclysm. If so,
it is their watch again.
If even gingrich can call 'the war on terror' phoney...How the hell does this crowd manage the impunity. We are totally through the looking glass.

security code...fear

kilo wrote on August 5, 2007 7:03 PM:

god dammit I hate our representatives, why are they all spineless or stupid assholes?

Richard L. Adlof wrote on August 5, 2007 7:27 PM:

My email and fax to Dianne Feinstein reads:

Please explain why you chose to vote for the jack-booted thuggery of the Administrations Surveillance Bill?

The bill contained no requirement that the surveillance conducted on sources outside the United States.

The bill contained no requirement that the person at whom it is "directed" be an agent of a foreign power or in any way connected to terrorism or other wrongdoing.

The bill contained no requirement that the surveillance does not also encompass communications of U.S. persons.

What is up here? As a registered voter in the state you represent, I need to know and understand.

John wrote on August 5, 2007 7:38 PM:

I heard the Dems are only doing this because they think that everyone will vote from them in 08, but they are so stupid to even think that Bushco will even allow that to happen. And all the Dems are doing is upsetting their base and the center. People that might have voted Dems just see that they are as bad as the Repugs. I would rather have a Repug with a spine that a spineless jellyfish. There is no way the Repug. will allow Clinton or Obama to get in office and have all of the power Bushco has. And there is no way that Bushco will go quietly into the night in 09. Why can't the Dems see that?!

Mark Richards wrote on August 5, 2007 7:39 PM:

The people of the united states will continue to be ignored and our constitution shit upon until such time as we gain direct power as lawmakers. The representative system we have is clearly not functional, particularly in the day and time we're in. We need a national initiative process the likes of which Mike Gravel is pushing for. If we had this process, you think maybe the idiots running us into the ground might have some second thoughts?

Otherwise, keep those calls, cards, letters, and petition campaigns going. What frikkin' good they do.

Steven Olson wrote on August 5, 2007 8:43 PM:

My disgust at this is enormous. The democrats do not need my vote this year. You are not supposed to not vote but I just am not. They just talked me out of it.

Steven Olson

hr wrote on August 5, 2007 8:49 PM:

What the sh*t is wrong with the Dem's, where is the outrage. Past time for all of us to make our disgust know. How can they believe going along with Bush Regime will help or buying into the fear factor & lies.

naschkatze wrote on August 5, 2007 9:21 PM:

johnnydoughey at 3 p.m., Gore Vidal said some like, There is one political party in this country, and it has two right wings.

pillowbiter wrote on August 5, 2007 9:22 PM:

I think Gonzales is a hunk of man! So is Bush! WHHHHOOOO HOOOOO!

Scott L wrote on August 5, 2007 10:00 PM:

It's just a thought but when I was a young man J Edger Hoover was belived to have a file on most anyone that mattered and could do just about anything he wanted. Now collection of information is so much better and no one seems to know what happens to this information. Just a thought after seeing this dog and pony show in Congress.

Roberta W wrote on August 5, 2007 10:10 PM:

Hey pillowbiter, I do too!!

What ya smokin?

Pillow biter wrote on August 5, 2007 10:26 PM:

I am smoking bananananana's! You know, me and my fellow feather toothed butties over at the DU are having a BLAST! But once I read your message, I am now rehabilitated and will no longer eat pillows, banananana's or anyother un natural substance!

:>)

Roberta W wrote on August 5, 2007 10:44 PM:

Glad to be of assistance.

What's the DU?

I'm from another planet you see.

oldtree wrote on August 5, 2007 11:20 PM:

good night and good luck

oldtree wrote on August 5, 2007 11:22 PM:

good night and good luck

Olde wrote on August 5, 2007 11:41 PM:

Thank you, Proxy server, change locations or a few other tricks would work, but truly not worth the effort.

Have a great night!

Anonymous wrote on August 5, 2007 11:43 PM:

Planet?

Glad to be of assistance.

What's the DU?

I'm from another planet you see.
The DU is a liberal site that fights for rights while preaching religious intolerance. Truly a drag!

Good luck with your planet!

Red Pill wrote on August 5, 2007 11:59 PM:

How can this, or any other bill passed to retroactive effect, not be construed as an ex post facto law? Article I, Section 9 of that "god damned piece of paper" explicitly forbids such legislation from Congress. I've seen no explanation for this apparent inconsistency. Any takers?

Sean Eric Fagan wrote on August 6, 2007 2:32 AM:

You can't retroactively criminalize an action; you can, however, retroactively DEcriminalize an action.

The Oracle wrote on August 6, 2007 3:44 AM:

Write them about the only thing they care about: tell them you will will vote for their opponent in any primary, their opponent in the election and most importantly, will no longer give them or the party any MONEY. And don't.

This was utterly pathetic.

I do hope Bloomberg wins. I get wet dreams thinking about the Dems actually pulling off the unfathomable, ie blowing the 2008 elections. Perhaps we might finally get a real opposition party. And if you don't want Bushco (or perish the thought worse) to happen again, that must occur. The error of the logic is not that there are differences, the error is that Democratic and MSM enabling, such as witnessed this weekend, is truly the essential ingredient that permitted the last 6 years to occur.

The fault dear Brutus is not in our president, it is in ourselves.

JD21 wrote on August 6, 2007 8:44 AM:

I am very disappointed in the Dems for doing this short term fix. But I am far more disappointed in the Republicans.

In the Republican Presidential debate,

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/us/politics/06debate.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

? They must have been reading that idiotic O'Hanlon and Pollack study that Frank Rich put the lie to. Or smoking something.

In contrast to claims of military successes, back in reality, I believe the statistics of Americans dead in Iraq last month were 81, the same number as in February and March, before the most recent escalation started. Iraqi casualties rose 33% over the prior month. And by the way on the political front a Sunni faction walked out of the government.

To cap it off the candidates knocked Obama for saying he would actually take action against bin Ladin in Pakistan if Pakistan refused to, then they said they might do it, but also said they shouldn't say they might do it because it might "offend" Pakistan to put such real pressure on it (horror of horrors to offend a country for not going after our real enemy).

These Fox-Republican officials and politicians (fops) are truly just that. Pandering idiots. Bad for America. It's time to turn the page already. If these idiot fop candidates are against Obama, that's the man I am for all the way!

dogjudge wrote on August 6, 2007 9:12 AM:

I am absolutely appalled. Although an independent, I have leaned toward the Democrats for a rather long time.

Could someone please explain to me what the heck the Democrats are thinking here?

There are getting absolutely stonewalled at just about every turn by Bush. Executive Privilege is all we here about everything.

Finally, the Democrats get an issue where they can stonewall the President, so to speak. You want your changes to FISA, fine. Now drop the Executive Privilege nonsense and have Alberto start telling us the truth about everything. If you don't we'll sit on this authorization until you do. A third grader could figure out that one.

WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATS THINKING???

Agathena wrote on August 6, 2007 9:15 AM:

Tiocfaidh Ár Lá

Gaelic for OUR DAY WILL COME. That's all I can think of. After the congressional capitulation of many Democrats there is nothing left but seething lamentation.

The last of the British troops have left Ireland and soon, the last of the criminals will leave the White House.

Official A wrote on August 6, 2007 9:47 AM:

The most interesting vote on the house side was probably the "Nay" vote of Rep. Walter Jones R-NC. This is the same Walter Jones who advocated for the term "Freedom Fries". Remember? But Rep. Jones -- whose district includes the Marine base at Camp Lejeune -- has seen the light, and that ought to tell you how disgusted the military families are with this whome mess. I have actually come to respect the man. Those Dems who enabled Bush, however, are another matter entirely.

Changing my registration from D to I today. It's one thing I can do to express my disgust. I will also be in DC on September 15 and I encourage others to join in. Let's at least try to get their attention. Please.

Crust wrote on August 6, 2007 9:48 AM:

I notice that Ron Paul didn't vote (perhaps on his way to the debate or some other campaign event?). Presumably he would have voted no if present, making it 3 Republican Congressmen opposed. Still pathetic, but there you have it.

po wrote on August 6, 2007 10:01 AM:

Forget the "oh, we don't have enough votes" argument. Here's the simple fact: the Dems have enough votes so that this matter didn't even need to be considered until someone else, perhaps someone more trustworthy, comes along to negotiate in good faith. Instead, enough folks bickered in the background, W et al took to the MSM airwaves, made a few threats and, presto, instant Dems who are afraid of being called soft. Guess what, I'm calling you soft and if you think there's no where else I can turn, well you're wrong. This might just be the last straw.

Official A wrote on August 6, 2007 10:18 AM:

Forget the "oh, we don't have enough votes" argument. Posted by: po

Amen. And I am sick and tired of being told impeachment is impossible. Saying it's impossible is a self-fulfilling prophecy, isn't it? We have to put the pressure on big time, folks. Begin impeachment and, if possible (or necessary) take a vote on conviction. Let's get on record who is willing to uphold their oath and who isn't. We know for damn sure that the occupant of the Oval Office isn't, don't we?

So what are we going to do about it? Clearly, our elected "repsresentatives" aren't planning to do anything.

Washington. September 15.

Official A wrote on August 6, 2007 10:22 AM:

This might just be the last straw. Posted by: po

Just changed the registration. It felt good. If the Dems see their numbers dropping nation-wide, maybe they'll pay a little more attention. And then there are the contribuutions they won't be ghetting from me this time around.

I am sick of picking the lesser of two evils. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent.

improper wrote on August 6, 2007 10:24 AM:

Pelosi and Reid are repub light and both are an utter and complete fucking joke of a failure. Pelosi and Reid should both resign their position or be removed. Reid and Pelosi only lead when it involves converting the executive’s inane authoritarian rants into law. Example FISA. Congress yields to the demands of an ignorant dry drunk authoritarian repub pres with approvl rating belo 30% for over 8 months because after all the dems and repubs are both worthless craven for power Shylok like money grubbing corporate whores.

Why a bunch of dandies sipping Manhattans in Chicago hold out the idea that the dems represent any meaningful difference than repubs befuddles me. I guess differing views on the issue of same sex marriage is all that is necessary to make two opposing parties. The dems are complicit in this government. This is not Ken and Barbie. Anyone who thinks any difference exists between the current dems and repubs is a blind fool.

DC needs to tumble hard. Trent Lott agrees.

Official A wrote on August 6, 2007 10:40 AM:

As Ramsey Clark correctly stated in an email message last weeek, before the FISA capitulation,

"At this late date, after all that Congress has seen of the crimes, corruption and tragic consequences of the Bush Presidency and the little to next to nothing it has done, there is scant reason to believe Congress without huge pressure from the people will find the will to act to impeach and prevent further crimes. It has possessed the power all along to pass laws to stop the criminal course on which the Bush Administration has set the nation. Congress had the constitutional duty from the first High Crime committed by the Bush Administration to proceed to impeachment in the House and trial in the Senate. It has failed to act, or show any promise that it might. This derogation of duty is its responsibility."

Impeachment may seem impossible or impractical, but that doesn't mean it's not right. It's time, folks, and we have to provide the impetus.

Please!

http://impeachbush.org

Michael wrote on August 6, 2007 10:42 AM:

What do you mean? What are the Democrats thinking? THEY ARE NOT THINKING! But we are. No more money for ANY democratic candidate from me (apart from Russ Feingold and his Progressive Patriots Fund). My money now goes to those who DO CARE about the CONSTITUTION of the UNited States - the ACLU. It's our only hope. Speaker Pelosi is mad if she thinks they can UNdo what they just did. Just like UNdoing Habeas COrpus and UNdoing Patriot Act. Yeah sure!!!

kentuck wrote on August 6, 2007 10:44 AM:

There is no way that our Founders envisioned the partisan division coupled with the dictatorial tendencies of an Executive Branch. They believed that the other branches would create a balance of power for a powerful or dictatorial Executive. They were shortsighted and wrong. We are now clinging by a thread to keep our Constitution and our democracy in tact.

No doubt, the Founding Fathers thought our Senators and Congress would protect and defend our Constitution at all costs. They assumed that the Congress would impeach Presidents or other officials that ran roughshod over our Constitution and Bill of Rights. They were wrong.

We are now in a situation where our Representatives are divided almost unanimously by Party. They ignore all warnings that were given by people such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin. They irrationally defend their President and their Leaders at all costs. There are no Patriots amongst them. Like lemmings, they march to the sea. And we shall all drown from their blind partisanship.

Zoyd Wheeler wrote on August 6, 2007 12:15 PM:

Collaboration with traitors is still treason. Impeach the terrorist!!

dixiegrl wrote on August 6, 2007 12:21 PM:

I have sent message ( e-mail) to my state Democratic headquarters, telling them why I am changing my voter registration from Dem to Independent.
Lou Dobbs has it right..he knows and says there is no difference between the Dem and Repub mafia, which is why he is urging his listeners to register as Independents.

Joshua the Teacher wrote on August 6, 2007 12:50 PM:

The Senate website has been updated with the vote for the FISA Amendment.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00309

What's very interesting to see is not just the Yeas and Nays, but those who did not vote (Boxer, Kerry, Lugar, Lott, etc.). Could they have been out of town (starting vacation early), or did they not have to vote because both sides had already manufactured the necessary vote to capitulate to Bush? Curious....

Roberta W wrote on August 6, 2007 1:16 PM:

Oh for goodness sake get real, just how naive are you people?

A politician is a politician, blue or red, makes no difference. Since when do they give a shit about what YOU think? Once they get to Washington the colors just blur and meld.
It's all abou POWER, power and MONEY.

You may as well get off that tired old IMPEACH wagon, it's never going to happen, everybody has something on everybody else. Besides the Democrats just made sure that everything that was once Illegal is now LEGAL.

Get rid of that mantra impeach, impeach, impeach....just a bunch of crybaby losers wailing to impeach all the bastards.
President Nancy Pelosi, gimme a break! Rremember there are some fates worse than death!!

Roberta W wrote on August 6, 2007 1:31 PM:

To Zoyd Wheeler..........you are so right, Ramsey Clark is a traitor and a collaborator, he should be tried for treason.

Perhaps he could get off with an insanity plea.

SW wrote on August 6, 2007 1:43 PM:

I'm paranoid, and I believe that the information they have been gathering through this warrantless wiretapping is being used to blackmail Dems and Republicans. I can just see Karl Rove compiling the dirt on the reps themselves, or worse, their family members and friends. What other explanation makes sense? Think about McCain- we've forgotten, but he hates Bush!

CKDexterHaven wrote on August 6, 2007 3:28 PM:

Key congressional democrats were secretly briefed by the WH on the 'problem' this bill sought to fix.

The real contents of each briefing: incriminating/embarrassing/humiliating evidence gleaned from domestic spying against each briefed congress person. Seems clear enough to me.

Val A Lindsay II wrote on August 6, 2007 3:32 PM:

Ok, this move by enough Democrats has made me decide to act only locally in government. The Federal government fails to act in a fashion responsible in any way to the people or planet, so I plan to act in the same fashion cities acted to follow the Kyoto Treaty; If the Federal government won't do it, then I have to do it myself.

Essentially I'm going to start thinking of the government as 'Empire', not Liberal, Conservative, Democrat or Republican. Yes, there are quite a few statesmen that have great personal and moral values and try to do good. Unfortunately they are slaves to the system, unable to act at a federal level that offers real change.

I hope I see you guys on the other side, because after the oil runs to the point it's too costly to pull it from the ground only those thinking locally will be able to live in a comfortable, secure and fruitful lifestyle.