Conyers, RE: spying: Repubs bail out Bush-absolutely disgraceful

[babylonsister]

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000397.htm

Senate Republicans Sacrifice our Liberties to Bail Out Bush

The Senate Republicans completely capitulated today to the Bush Administration, sacrificing our privacy and scores of personal rights and liberties to provide approval, after the fact, to the Bush warrantless wiretapping program. A group of "moderate" Republicans have joined Senator Dewine of Ohio in support of a bill to allow warrantless wiretapping, but at the same time reinforce the jurisdiction of the FISA court. (huh?) I don't get it either. Can you imagine what the bill language must read? "Now we're serious this time. No more pretending that the FISA court doesn't exist. That's not playing fair." Senator Snowe claimed that this legislation would strengthen the FISA court. Give me a break. Actually the language says that a warrant must be sought whenever possible (read convenient). Frankly, if you don't get penalized for ignoring the court in the first place, where's the incentive to now begin obeying the law? This is absolutely disgraceful.

In other news, not one Republican seems to remember who Jack Abramoff is.

[Canuckistanian]

1. Now, if we can only get this on the 6:00 news

It would... ah, who am I kidding?

[bluerum]

2. The repubs will benefit from any intelligence gathering that just

happens to have a partisan component. They know they can use intelligence to their benefit and as long as they are the majority they will lock out the dems.

Why is that hard to understand?

It's wrong on many levels and probably illegal but when you are the majority party you can write the rules. That constitution thing is just a piece of paper - thats not what is holding the country together - the rulers are holding down the fort.

:sarcasm: :grr: :dem:

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. What was the vote break down? Was it straight party line?

[babylonsister]

4. Yes. Here's an article...

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usnsa084654381mar08,0,5128027.story

snip//

After some Republicans met with White House aides, the 15-member Senate Intelligence Committee met for a nearly two-hour closed session and voted along partisan lines to adopt the GOP plan.

snip//

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Is there any way to override a sub-committee decision?

[sutz12]

6. It's tough.....

without the committee, it doesn't even get to the floor.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Is there any history of it being done?