What the hell is Harry Reid talking about?

[jgraz]

I just don't understand this guy. First he threatens to override Dodd's hold on the bill, and now he's bitching about Rethugs filibustering AND trying for cloture in the same letter:

Dear JGraz,

Republicans seem to have forgotten that national security is one of the most important issues we address in the Senate. Yesterday, they proved the only thing they care about is politics.

They spent the day filibustering on the Senate floor, preventing Democrats from introducing any amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill. This means they are blocking an important amendment, which I support, that would make sure phone companies don't receive retroactive immunity.

At the end of the day, Senator McConnell decided he would try and stop debate entirely by filing for cloture. That means if Republicans get 60 votes on Monday, debate on this vital issue will be shut down.

Normally I wouldn't go this deep into Senate procedure, but if you care about your civil liberties and our national security, it is vital you tell your Senators to vote no on cloture Monday by visiting:

http://giveemhellharry.com/fisa

Looking at this situation makes me think the President and Republicans want to fail so they can run and cry to the media that Democrats are weak on national security. That line didn't work in 2006 and it won't work in 2008.

Closing the debate on this bill now is wrong.

Tell your Senators to vote no on cloture Monday by visiting:

http://giveemhellharry.com/fisa

Thank you,

Harry Reid

Does anyone understand what the hell he's talking about here?

[LSparkle]

1. I just got that too and was equally perplexed

"Give 'em hell Harry" indeed. Chris Dodd would make a better Senate Majority Leader (imho).

[ixion]

2. I become more disgusted with Reid's doublespeak day by day

how he can say anything about civil liberties, while simultaneously working to destroy them is beyond me.

[annabanana]

3. Here.. (In case you missed it). . turning tides

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2759902

[ToeBot]

4. It's not that tough, the Republicans spent yesterday filibustering all the amendments...

that would have made the FISA bill 'acceptable': decreasing the sunset provision, removing retroactive telecom immunity a number of others. Then at the end of the day filed for cloture. So now the cloture vote is scheduled for next Monday afternoon. In other words the Republicans were so obstructionary, they pissed Reid off and he wants the cloture vote to fail. It was quite a show, I almost feel bad about all the nasty things I said about Reid.