House passes CIA contractor ban over veto vow

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

U.S. lawmakers defied a White House veto threat on Wednesday and voted to bar CIA contractors from interrogating suspected terrorists, in the latest clash over detainee treatment in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved the provision in adopting a broad measure to authorize funding of U.S. intelligence agencies for the 2009 fiscal year. A related bill awaits action in the Senate.

Passage of the multibillion dollar bill came on a voice vote, indicating broad assent, despite the White House veto threat issued earlier in the day.

In addition to the contractor ban, the White House said it also objected to provisions to force the president to give Congress more sensitive national security information, and to establish an inspector general with authority over all federal intelligence agencies.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080717/pl_nm/security_usa_congress_dc_5

[eleny]

1. K&R!

[existentialist]

2. How dare Congress

insist on having a voice in what our government does?

[indepat]

21. Who the hell do they think they are when they have already given junior license to do what he

wants, bomb who he wants, and lock up anybody who he wants? A Congressional approval rating of of 9 is generous considering how many times they have bent over as junior put the screws on everything and everybody who would oppose anything he wants. :grr: :D

[lonestarnot]

3. Wow. What gives?

hmmmmf. How long did that take?

[redqueen]

20. Election year - lame duck pres with high negatives. (nt)

[defendandprotect]

4. ....good moves . . . thanks Congress . . . How about getting rid of the CIA . . ???

[Monk06]

8. That would be great since Eric Prince is the CIA but unfortunately

80% of US intelligence is controlled by the
Pentagon. The CIA is only in charge of wet
work and black ops.

However, disbanding the Blackwater/CIA Corp
torture for hire franchise would be an improvement.

[cliffordu]

5. WTF??? What did they start smoking up there??

[readmoreoften]

6. Seems to me the question is more like "what did they stop smoking?" And the answer would be "crack"

[pinto]

7. and an Inspector General...good moves.

It has been mentioned that this is how we take it back, *one piece at a time*. I tend to agree.

:kick:

[trthnd4jstc]

9. The Government needs to be in charge of all Militaristic Activities.

End Tyranny. End Fascism. Restore the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 9th Amendments. Make using public office for political gain a Felony!

[Frisbee]

10. Did congress recently decide that...

...having a pair feels kinda nice?

[onenote]

11. no, i think that chimpy and gang figured out that vetoing popular legislation and having it override

was a good strategy to help repub congresscritters.

chimpy probably gives a rats ass about the outcome of the legislation that he's vetoing. And he knows the veto will be overriden. But it allows repubs to go out on the campaign trail and point to their override votes as evidence that they weren't chimpy lackeys.

Its actually a pretty smart strategy if you think about it.

[jeff30997]

12. Chimpy and Gang

Sounds like a good name for a cartoon show.:)

[woodsprite]

18. They already did a show about them - Pinky and the Brain.

They're Pinky and The Brain
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
One is a genius
The other's insane.
They're laboratory mice
Their genes have been spliced
They're dinky
They're Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain.

Before each night is done
Their plan will be unfurled
By the dawning of the sun
They'll take over the world.

They're Pinky and The Brain
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
Their twilight campaign
Is easy to explain.
To prove their mousey worth

They'll overthrow the Earth
They're dinky
They're Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain

[jeff30997]

19. Lol! So true!

They really look like Dick and Chimpy:



:rofl:

[man4allcats]

13. I'm inclined to agree. With a few rare exceptions,

Mr. Kucinich being the most obvious, I don't think this congress has it in it to grow a pair. Dennis of course doesn't need to grow some since he's clearly always had them. Most of the rest are just a lost cause. Wexler, too, is the notable exception. As for the vast majority of the remainder, at this point any pretext to courage is all just strategy. November is getting close.

[yodermon]

16. is chimpy even that magnanimous to his own party?

I don't see him falling on his sword for the good of the party.

[happygoluckytoyou]

14. looks like the other testicle has finally dropped

[stlsaxman]

15. HAHAHAHAH!

THAT is one funny line! good one, thanks!

:rofl: :applause: :rofl: :applause:

[rocktivity]

17. Honestly, I don't know whether to

:woohoo: or
rocknation

[rox63]

22. Do they have enough votes to override *'s veto? n/t

[MilesColtrane]

24. Doubtful

[pleah]

23. K&R

[BrightVictor]

25. What was the vote margin?

[spag68]

26. This is not good enough

They should pass a contractor ban for Iraq, that would really put bushco's pants in a wad.