Jul 8th, 2008
Posted by Amanda Simon, ACLU at 7:47pm	National Security

FISA Debate: The Senate Has Nearly Sucked Out My Soul.

It’s been a long day so here’s a quick highlight reel from the last few hours:

• Senator Specter introduced his immunity amendment.
• Senator Whitehouse spoke against immunity and described the whole situation as the Bush Administration’s “self-inflicted wound.” Nice.
• Senator Levin spoke in favor of the Bingaman amendment, too. Makes me proud to be from Michigan.
• Senator Chambliss read his speech (for the bill, not shockingly) as quickly and as free from emotion as possible. It was like he was presenting a book report.

Seriously, if one more senator talks about the need for immunity for future cooperation, I’m going to throw my computer out the window. For the 582nd time, FISA requires that telecommunications be legally compelled to hand over information if the proper legal requirements are met. Remember Feingold’s speech this morning?

Senator Reid came on the floor. Announcement: The man who scheduled the vote will be voting against the bill…so logic and democracy are alive and well in the halls of the Senate.

Reid said they may be able to revisit some of these issues during Patriot Act reauthorization next year. (Hot tip – Patriot will be a pretty interesting fight in and of itself and the ACLU plans to be on the front lines.)

Reid also believes Title 2, immunity to you and me, is “way out of line.” I just wish he had fought a little harder against it. It’s not the will of the people, it’s the power of the purse that’s allowed this provision to get this far and that, my friend, goes against the very ideals this country was founded on. I know it’s true because I saw the HBO series John Adams last week.

Dodd came next. A tireless warrior on immunity. I tip my hat. He really encapsulated this fight well. He said he believes that the choice between liberty and security is a false choice. We at the ACLU should feel a kinship with Senator Dodd because, even as we stare down a likely and depressing defeat, we don’t for a second think about not going down swinging. No matter what happens tomorrow, we’ll keep fighting this and other constitutional battles without fatigue until, well, forever.

Permalink |	National Security

Tags: fisa

1. Larry Meegan Says:
   Jul 8th, 2008 at 7:18pm

   Amanda, thank you for taking the time to follow this debate. I hope your computer does not become a flying object. If it helps your outlook, I just send off a note to my Senator (Bob Menendez) urging him not to let the dirty dogs (I didn't really say dirty dogs) off the hook. Thanks again for your perseverance. Walking point never has been easy. Larry

2. R M Says:
   Jul 8th, 2008 at 8:48pm

   This is a very sad day in America, a day that will be remembered many years from now.

3. justamom Says:
   Jul 8th, 2008 at 9:35pm

   Golly. Thanks for the update. I just wish that this bill would die a sudden death. It is preposterous to me that we are even having this debate. It just goes to show the power of the almighty dollar! Yeah, you can buy laws in the country now--how very encouraging.

4. Roberta Beach Says:
   Jul 9th, 2008 at 9:03am

   It is a sad day for America (and, indeed, the entire scope of humanity and history) when those who hold elected office in the United States need to be reminded of the most basic protections of the U.S. Constitution. Washington, D.C. may have forgotten America, but the people of the United States have not. U.S. citizens whose ancestors fought in the American Revolution, immigrated to avoid persecution, or were slaves (and these groups include many Americans) WILL NOT TOLERATE the loss of liberty.

   --We remember Nazi Germany.
   --We remember the Soviet Union.
   --We remember the McCarthy era.
   --We know that September 11, 2001, could have been prevented by the U.S. government, but was instead allowed to happen so it could be exploited for fearmongering and warmongering.
   --We will not fight for a flag that no longer represents our interests, but we will always fight for FREEDOM.

   If members of Congress want to represent the interests of the World Trade Organization rather than the people of the United States, I suggest that they resign from public office and do so directly.

   When acting as a system of checks and balances against each other to prevent centralized, authoritarian control, government, corporations, and other private organizations best serve the public interest. When they collude against the public, they seriously threaten not only America, but the entire world.

   A government which does not trust its citizens does not deserve to be trusted by its citizens. Any holder of elected public office who uses his/her position to seriously restrict American civil rights and liberties is GUILTY OF TREASON.

5. Roberta Beach Says:
   Jul 9th, 2008 at 9:10am

   Regardless of economic system, those nations which discourage human rights and civil liberties at their foundations are doomed to eventual failure.

6. J.S.A. Says:
   Jul 9th, 2008 at 10:53am

   Don't you mean "going down not swinging"?

7. Tom Heavrin Says:
   Jul 9th, 2008 at 4:22pm

   To further their cause of crimes against the Constitution and the American public, our "supposed" representatives sold us out again. Has anybody bothered to seriously investigate how all of these wars and other criminal behavior by this administration has come about? Start with the Bush administrations involvement and setting up of the 9/11 tragedy. Bush and his cronies are in bed with Osama, it's about oil, and for you serious thinkers, do your homework and see how this country has been totally manipulated and taken over all in our best interests, so they say!! Treason is not a strong enough of a classification for the Bush administrations crimes. Their criminal behavior is unparalelled in the history of not only our nation, but it rivals the criminal behavior of the Crusades and the rest of the world!!! This house of cards built on LIES will come tumbling down, and with it will be all those that have been complicit in their behavior and crimes.

8. pdxpunk Says:
   Jul 10th, 2008 at 6:28am

   Hahahahaha
   Thank GOD for soliders and the right wing in this beaytiful country...Gives you morons the ability to be so stupid. F the aclu and all you commie jackoffs.