Reid: Specter NSA Bill Dead

[cal04]

mcjoan(Daily Kos)
Senator Reid held a conference call with a number of bloggers today to catch us up to speed on Senate action in the waning days of the session. The first question out of the gates was Glenn Greenwald on Specter's warrantless wiretapping legislation:

I asked him about the Specter bill -- specifically, what the Democrats' strategy was for preventing its enactment (I wanted to wait until the second question but I couldn't contain myself).

Sen. Reid stated flatly and unequivocally -- and I'm paraphrasing -- that the Specter bill was not going anywhere, that it would not be enacted. When I asked him how he could be so certain about that -- I asked where the 51 votes against the Specter bill would come from in light of the support it enjoys the support of both the White House and at least some of the ostensibly "independent" Republicans, along with the fact that all 10 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee voted for it (at least voted to send it to the Senate floor) -- Sen. Reid explained that our system does not allow every bill to be enacted simply because a majority supports it, that Senate rules allow minority rights to be protected, clearly alluding to a filibuster.

I will confirm Reid's assurance that the Specter bill was not going to be passed. He said "we're not going to let that happen." When Glenn pressed him further about the possibility of a filibuster, he said that he didn't think it would be necessary, but again, they would not let the bill become law.

Given the already expressed bipartisan opposition to the Specter legisation in the Senate, it seems that a filibuster will be unnecessary. Today's Armed Services Committee rebuke of Bush on the detainee bill is further indication that some GOP Senators are finally ready to break ranks. On the House side, some Judiciary Committee GOP members have rebelled agains the White House position:

more
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/14/184331/715

Sen. Reid: The Specter bill will NOT be enacted. Period.
Glenn Greenwald
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/09/sen-reid-specter-bill-will-not-be.html

[babylonsister]

1. Great news! Thank you! nt

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Would Be Fantastic - If True

I doubt that the Congressional Democrats would take a stand on something like fundamental civil rights, what with Ms. Clinton trying to outlaw flag burning and whatnot. But let's hope for the best.

[magellan]

4. I share your skepticism

It's well-founded. We can only wait and see what happens.

[mom cat]

3. Reid knows that if that bill doesn't die, then the Dems will.

Hell hath no fury like a base that has been shafted.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Ahh - Who Else Are You Gonna Vote For?

They figger that, if need be, they can always pull a Lieberman and grab some disaffected Rethugs.

[mom cat]

12. Gulp! After the miniseries, I can't even vote for Mickey Mouse!

[me b zola]

5. At least it gives me hope

:D

[spanone]

6. Will Congress finally quit harboring these criminals?

[AX10]

7. We'll see what happens.

[bobbolink]

8. Filibuster??? Don't forget our lovely CO Senator.... Salazar

He's not quite sure which side of the aisle to show up on, so I hope Reid is right, but he has a lot to wrestle with in Salazar.

:mad: :argh: :grr: :nuke:

[Nutmegger]

9. Unite Dems. Damnit, Unite!

Filibuster this damn thing. You let me down when you failed to support the A-LIE-TO-buster - stop this now!

[Pachamama]

19. With this vote (and hopeful filibuster) we will all learn who are Democrat

and who are traitors to the Nation and Constitution....

[fooj]

10. Great news!

Thanks!:bounce:

[w4rma]

13. Good. (nt)

[Justice Is Comin]

14. That forces the Feinstein bill front and center then.

Hers is a good one.

[bonito]

15. This is good news, thanks!

[Canuckistanian]

16. Is this really a sure thing?

Or is it just another exercise in herding cats? The Democrats have never been reliable in organizing a filibuster when it counts (see Alito confirmtion).

But if Reid is right, than that means there's a lot of Republican resistance to this bill. Behind closed doors and all that.

But where is that pressure coming from?

And don't tell me "a sense of right and wrong".

In the shadowy world of Senate politics, something BIG must be happening.

[ldf]

17. well, i won't be holding my breath

blue is SO not my color.

:shrug:

[jazzjunkysue]

18. Democrat Cajones? Could it be? Do we stand for something? Or is it a

reluctance to commit an act of treason, attempting to overthrow the US. constitution and piss off the entire world by tapping all our phones and breaking the genieva conventions?

Prolly the not-going-to-jail-for-a-bad-idea part. Let the chimp, Darth Vader and the butler (karl) go, instead.

Still, it would be fun to force a vote and see which moron republicans dive into the hornets nest, eyes wide shut. I'd pay real money to see that.

[texpatriot2004]

20. Thank you Senator Reid nm

[OnionPatch]

21. That is very good to hear, indeed.

That was the most putrid bill to hit congress in awhile and that's saying a lot considering the fascist, constitution-shredding crap they keep coming up with. All I can say is Thank God!

[Toots]

22. Do Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman, Mary Landrieu, know that?

:shrug: As long as there are Senators like these the GOP will win out every time...