“Too often Democrats allow themselves to be intimidated by phony arguments.”

That’s what got us into Iraq.

That’s also why I still support Kucinich, even over Dodd. Kucinich did not allow himself to be intimidated by the phony arguments that got us into this immoral and illegal war.

By the by, I don’t hear much about basket/umbrella/progressive warrants. Are we going to cave on them? Have we already done so?

It can’t be repeated enough that the Bush administration was acting in violation of the law prior to September 11, 2001, and that did not protect us. They took our liberties and gave us nothing. How would we the people benefit by us now handing over those liberties?

The delay is good news for us, however, as it allows us more time to organize and get the word out. Working with Glenn Greenwald and others, we’ll be sending out action alerts to let you know what you can do to fight the battle against retroactive immunity.

This delay is not good news for us. If it was, Reid wouldn’t be doing it.

The PAA was introduced on August 1, passed by the Senate on August 3, and by the House on August 4. It accomplishes nothing useful for the American people at all; Bush just wants cover for the criminal offenses his administration has already committed. Don’t give it. Let the damned thing die, put a stake through its heart, and bury it. If the original FISA bill needs updating, let them start over and do it right.

Typical of good looking media babes who are there more because of their looks than their ability to understand issues”

Duh and triple duh
“You came to the floor angrily.

“Why did Immunity raise anger in you.”?

Her question on where the hell the Hillster, Obama, and Biden were was considerably better.

So was the one on why Reid put the SISC bill on the floor was considerably better as well.

The “regular order” explanation is bullshit. Reid wanted to kill the SJC bill period.

“What’s the big deal with Immunity”

It wasn’t the snarky attitiude of WaPo or NYT putting the Dodd effort on page twenty-something. Rather it was just that reading and understanding what the issue was about was a little more journalism drilling than Allison is ever going to do unless it’s spoonfed to her by an intern or producer.

She just didn’t get the implications.

ACLU: A Patriot Silenced

http://www.aclu.org/scotus/200…..50926.html

http://www.justacitizen.com/

http://www.informationclearing…..le9774.htm

http://www.democracynow.org/20….._house_had

and the only reason her lawsuit was shut down in the D.C. Circuit and the Supreme Court refused to grant cert. after it was appealed by ACLU was because the Bush rubberstamps on the D.C. Circuit shut it down using the State Secrets excuse. This is one more example of the timid federal appellate courts putting their tails between their wimpy legs cowtowing to Bush because the fearmongering is very effective in getting them to suckup the State Secrets argumnents.

The same argument worked on John Bates last week in the FISC ruling against ACLU.

It’s going to continue to act to foreclose your access to information on why the Comcos (Maddog’s term to include the ISPs that are eavesdropping on you):

From Maddog on one of the Empty Wheel threads (I’m quoting it because I believe it makes an important point):

MadDog @144 (link below)

http://emptywheel.firedoglake……ment-39132

Combine the Telcos with the MSM and you’d have a potent brew. The MSM hate the blogosphere and would do anything to cut off its oxygen.

And of importance to all, we should probably stop referring to “Telcos” ‘caue it ain’t really an accurate description.

The real appellation ought to be “Commcos”.

This is because the real universe of folks who are at risk due to warrantless eavesdropping are Communications Companies and not just Telephone Companies.

Commcos like Comcast, Time/Warner, Microsoft, Yahoo! and every Mom and Pop ISP in Goatbutt USA. They’ve all been givin’ it up for Uncle Sam.

Just because their names haven’t surfaced in 4th Amendment violation lawsuits, does not mean they are not complicit.

Too many see just the “tree” (AT&T and its Baby Bell offspring) and miss the “forest”. Those criminal critters hidden in the forest have been getting a free pass.

About time we made some noise about ‘em. Are you “listening” Comcast?

As I was reading down this thread, and read the article from The Hill, that’s exactly what ran through my mind the second I read about the Intimidation Crap that prompted the rush to pass the PAA.

The Bush administration, their FAA, Condi’s NSA, the clowns at FBI, and the incurious administration were the main reasons that 911 succeeded. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Bush and many people in his camp know this everyday they get up.

Rice’s refusal to acknowledge that she was asleep at the switch in the Ice Queen’s interview or whatever the hell it was with the flawed 911 Commission is one example of this.

She intimated she had no actionable intelligence. Bullshit.

This goes to the blatant fact that Bush’s watch and the insipid Republican lap dog Congress, and now, very regrettably the insipid Democratic lap dog Congress have done little to keep us safe, but a lot to step all over our privacy and Bill of Rights.

I would prefer simple logic puzzles. This would rule out all the Republicans and still let Ted Kennedy vote.

They’d never get a quorum, even first thing in the morning!