Democrats Try to Delay Eavesdropping Vote

Source: NYT

Senate Democrats concede that they probably lack the votes needed to stop a White House-backed plan to give immunity to phone utilities that helped the National Security Agency’s eavesdropping, and they are seeking to put off the vote for another month.

. . .

Putting off the vote for a second time riled White House officials and Republicans on Tuesday, because they insist that national security will be put at risk if Congress does not meet a Feb. 1 deadline to amend the eavesdropping law.

. . .

“In the end, I think something like the Intelligence Committee bill would pass — with the immunity,” said a senior Democratic official who opposes the immunity plan and insisted on anonymity. “I don’t know that it’s possible to get anything through the Senate that doesn’t grant the telecom companies immunity.”

Advocates for civil liberties fault the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, for what they see as a weak effort to block the White House immunity plan. Mr. Reid opposes immunity, but his decision to allow an initial vote on the Intelligence Committee plan, with immunity, has angered opponents.

“If Senator Reid wanted to win, he would have put the judiciary vote on the floor first,” Caroline Frederickson, director of the Washington legislative office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said. “It seems as if he wants to lose.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/washington/23nsa.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

This is a great opportunity for John Edwards to step up and make a major speech about stopping any FISA Bill that allows immunity for the Telecoms and George W. Bush. Most people don't hear that the Bill gives immunity to Bush in addition to the Telecoms. They only hear about the Telecoms.

SPEAK OUT, JOHN. NOW IS THE TIME!!!

constitution back what a leader looks like.

It really comes down to this, doesn't it. If you vote like a Dem, you'll get rewarded. If you vote like a Repug, then we'll find challengers and back them to the hilt. Almost worked with Lamont, we'll keep working on it until we get it right. Then maybe once you'll actually listen to us.

Neither are doing their jobs, and they appear to be dead set on covering up the crimes of the Bush Administration. That would seem to be an illegal act in itself.

understand how it is they cannot do whatever it takes to get votes for things like this. That is part of their job and it is something the republicans seemed to be able to do when they were in the minority. It is in the hands of the leadership to get these things done and Reid and Pelosi do not seem to be trying to do it or they are totally inept.

rampant in America

the idea that "compromise" is necessary, no matter how right you are and how wrong the other person is

I sold a house once - put it on the market and got an offer that afternoon for 90% of what I was asking. The real estate agent insisted I "had to" come back with a counter splitting the difference.

I said hell no, and they came back and offerred full price.

Pelosi and Reid don't get this, just as Obama andd Clinton don't. As Edwards says, you don't negotiate or compromise with these people - you FIGHT them.

Neville Chamberlain lives on.

with this administration there is no compromise. I bet when you said "hell no" to the 90% offer, the market was different than it is today. Today, you might have taken that offer. The same as there are different administrations and different people. You could actually compromise with some but not these people.

Like you say, Pelosi and Reid don't get it. Edwards does................

"Pelosi and Reid don't get this, just as Obama andd Clinton don't. As Edwards says, you don't negotiate or compromise with these people - you FIGHT them."

Come on people in Washington...Do the right thing.

with the White House and the Republicans, but they don't seem to understand that compromise is a two way street. Both sides have to give a little, and meet somewhere in the middle.

This doesn't happen with a Pelosi/Reid compromise. What happens is they walk across the street and meet Bush. He stays put. This is not compromising, this is giving in. And they do it well, time and time again.

Really, Pelosi and Reid should just start their next career: as a door mat at the White House. It's what they do best. :eyes:

No way they're working for our side!

Table the fucking bill. Use procedural tactics and stop it from moving forward. Grow some balls for once Harry.

Rp

"National security will be put at risk if Congress does not meet a Feb. 1 deadline." How is that? Why is our national security at risk? Any details other than a little boy crying wolf for the brazillionth time?

Stand up, Democrats. Stand up at last.

"cut them off at the knees".

I have never in my life see two people do more to stop or halt the process then these two complete failures.

fucking lilly livered cowards. I think congress should adopt yellow as their official color.

You don't spy on people....... You don't cover it up either!!!!!

I guess we have to arrest not just the White House Gang but the Congressional leaders also.

our distracted fellow Americans and get them up to speed on all the abuses that have taken place.

for crimes we are not even given details about. If we pass laws to forgive trampling our Constitution, why not forgive other crimes we don't have details about? Give everyone immunity. Let's just start over and forget that nay crimes ever happened.

That way, there won't be any more crime, right? Or trampling the Constitution in the future, right? :sarcasm:

You bet he does.

they don't have 40 votes against immunity? I wish I was stupid enough to believe that.

They are protecting this administration.

DLC

and the government from the innocent US citizens they are illegally spying on! :sarcasm:

I'm sick of this WIMP pro-corporate bullsh*t. It's high time for a POPULIST REVOLUTION and throw all the bums out.

J

Didn't you get the memo?
Reid and Pelosi have a secret master plan!
They are saving their powder for something really important, and then POW!
THEN the republicans are gonna feel some pain.
Just wait a little longer.

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they don't have 60 votes....YEAH. Thats it!

Doesn't matter that the Republicans NEVER had 60 votes and they managed to drive a horrible agenda for 7 years without so much as a bump in the road from the minority party.
but the Democrats NEED 60 votes!
Go on believing that.

Just wait a little longer until we have a DLC president!
THEN you will se some action.....but if you Work for a Living, it won't be pretty.
The top 2% will keep doing well.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

at least fifty votes in the Senate, they're telling us they can't stop the most unliked President in the history of the country from pushing illegal legislation on the populace.

Fuck Pelosi and fuck Reid.