El foldo?

Pray tell, what was he supposed to do when Reid did what was within Reid’s power to do?

Yeah! What Jane said.
El Foldo….harumph.

Yeah - I just listened to him and could not help thinking: “What the f#@k is he getting so hot and bothered now, for?”

Ain’t going to do any good for me to sign since Dan Lungren is my rep. Grrrrr.

I believe Pat is sending a follow up letter… just to be clear.

The thing is, I didn’t think he sounded hot and bothered at all.
Some of his words were strong, but his body language seemed to have given up in every muscle.

Where’s the outrage????

It was really interesting when Mikulski used the anthrax attacks as justification for going along with FISA….her office was a target…so was Leahey, and so was Daschle…

Strange that only Dems were really targeted….along with a bunch of people who died as a result of handling it…

You play or you pay…

I’ll see your Dan Lungren and raise you the execrable Lamar Smith, Ranking Member of the HJC

He and Dodd and Boxer (etc) were talking to you and to the House; they all know it’s dead in the Senate. If you don’t want to listen, fine, but please don’t act as if blogging puts you on a higher road than speaking passionately on the Floor. Thanks.

Funny how Bushco always gets its opposition to dig their own graves do their dirty work for them. In the figurative sense obviously.

The whole thing makes me want to crawl into a hole and hide.

What I really want to know is what does Chimpy have on all of these people to cause them to cave so easily? Or are they just shells of themselves?

Yea. One of the people that died was a reporter who took unflattering photos of one of the Bush twins.

But, LS, what Oppostion are you talking about?
I don’t hear any of that here…/s
(hi, you.)

Not stand on the floor of the Senate, say “I think the distinguished majority leader is doing the absolute right thing” and encourage everybody to get it over with so they could all jet off to Davos?

Pat Leahy is the Democratic equivalent of Arlen Specter. All noise and fury, but in the end giving up with a whimper. They are comfortable in their incumbancy and with the status quo. So they put on some theatrics at hearings to make as though they are fighting the system, and then they retire to the golf course to relax before the curtain lifts again.

The opposition needs something to do since Nancy keeps the difficult stuff off the table.

Is there possibly a cave, or closet large enough to hold all the skeletons it would take to make them Do This to us?

Leahy is doing a Specter: make a stink and pretend to stand for something, but in the end, cave.

How do you feel about Hillary not showing up for the vote on FISA?

Nice kneepads, Pat.

Don’t forget to look ‘em in the eye and smile when you swalllow.

Helps with the repeat trade, so I’m told.

Signed it earlier this morning. Found the link over at Glenn Greenwald before I saw it here. DFA is having an action call out to its members call their senators and to:
Report your call:

lol

Hiya!!

Cute. Invent a quote. Very good.

But you still haven’t answered my question. When you said Leahy folded, I asked what he was supposed to do differently. If you have no other choice, it’s not a fold, is it?

So: what was Leahy supposed to do, in your opinion, when Reid chose the IC’s bill as the base bill?

Is there possibly a cave, or closet large enough to hold all the skeletons it would take to make them Do This to us?

it must be a very deep and dark one.

RevDEb asks ”What I really want to know is what does Chimpy have on all of these people to cause them to cave so easily? Or are they just shells of themselves?”

Quoting Atrios:

While one can’t discount legalized bribery campaign dollars entirely, I do think too often we assume they’re the reason lawmakers do the ”wrong thing” when the simpler explanation that they believe the wrong thing is in fact the right thing is the answer.

Too many Democrats simply don’t have the values we imagine they do, and it lets them off the hook too much to assume they’re simply craven people who need to get re-elected instead of bad people who don’t share our values.

I think that’s fairly accurate.

As a former Edwards supporter…. with that little scale out measuring BO & HRC…. sure makes the scales tip over to the BO column.

I am a monthly contributor to the ACLU as a “defender of Liberty”, I appreciate their work to preserve what little there is of the constitution left.

It’s really sickening when you think of all of the brave souls who have fought to uphold our rights and our Constitution, and then you have these morons throw it all away for nothing; just because the boy King dictator tells them to. That is why I think they have been somehow threatened. In any case, anyone who supported this is a flaming coward.

With slime and stuff.
Eeeuuuuwwww.
(I’m tapping my toe, whistling and trying to ignore something here.)
Oh, I know, we’ve got 35 minutes until the supposed VOTE, maybe I’ll get some housework done.)
Hi El.

JTMinIA:
learn how to read. That’s nopt a made up quote.

” Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have a number of Members who are supposed to go to the Davos economic summit tomorrow night, and I would note I have talked with Senator Bennett of Utah, who is the senior Republican on that trip, and the trip that is set to leave tomorrow night will not. We will put it on hold until Thursday, to determine whether we can leave on Thursday.

If I could have the attention of the majority leader for a moment. I appreciate the majority leader has been very clear. I happen to concur with him that this is important and we should finish it. All we want to do is to know how it will go. There is a Judiciary Committee amendment to the bill. I would not anticipate taking a great deal of time on that, but I think the distinguished majority leader is doing the absolute right thing.”

he didn’t have to give it his express support like that. He could have put a hold on it himself: any senator can do that. he could have backed Dodd’s promised filibuster. He could have inserted poison pill amendments.

Any number of things.

Spit.

What use is a petition? Congress will never listen to anyone who doesn’t have a wad of crisp hundreds in their hand. It’s useless. We have no protection from these Republican and Democratic monsters in Washington any longer. We, the people, are on our own. We have been betrayed. We have been sold to the highest bidder. We are mere fodder for the corporations to chew up and spit out. Vote McCain, at least we know with him, the world will end with a bang. Should make good TV.

Sorry to hear Lungren is your congresscritter. My rep, Sam Farr is a good guy and I can only hope and trust the emails he is receiving will be effective. Have a call into his district office to keep the nudging going.

“invent” a quote?

It’s in the post. I didn’t invent it.

Cui Bono?

Could this simply be about saving the telcoms from big lawsuits? That sounds insane.

The people must simply think that someone was and is out to get us and these telcoms were and are patriotic and the spying is saving aA.

The f*ckers believe security paranoia trumps the constitution. What else could it be?

I can read fine, thanks. Even more, I can restrict my reading to items that are relevant. That quote has zero to do with Reid’s decision to go with the IC’s bill as the base bill. By the time that quote came around, we were weeks beyond that point and Leahy knew it was a dead issue in the Senate.

Going farther, if you can think as well as read, you might wonder if speeding things up right now is in the interest of the Constitution. You see, if we come up against a time-limit, such that there isn’t time to do a conference, then the House might just pass the Senate version and it’s all over. But if we speed up now, given that it’s lost in the Senate, then the House might stand firm and send back a version without immunity.

I know that’s a little complicated, but it worth thinking through.

housework

there goes a lot of frustrations

Remember who were the other targets of Anthrax? The media. Now, who would target only Democrats and “the liberal media”. Wouldn’t terrorists go after the people who were in power? Why go after the Democrats and the media?

I apologize. You’re quite correct that taking a quote completely out of context is the exact opposite as making one up. I really apologize.

Now, tell me what Leahy was supposed to do when Reid went with the IC’s bill. Back up the “el foldo” or retract it.

Oh. Look. They’re back.
All the distractions didn’t work.
(LS, kindly direct the spit in the direction of the furniture I’m polishing. Thank you.)

Seems pretty elementary to me dear Watson. And who would prevent it from ever being thoroughly investigated…

And An indignant Pat Leahy speaking now in the Senate

Signed it, called my Senator, Barbara Mikuski–who backstabbed us–and wrote a letter to her and to my closest Democratic representative in the House.

This is unprecedented nonsense by the Senate. It condones illegality and unconstitutional police powers, and rewards those companies who did so willingly and in knowledge of the law.

I urge each of you to do likewise.

IIRC the ancient greek ultimate punishment was the expulsion of a wrongdoer from the civilization of the city to foreign barbarian lands for their misdeeds. How ironic, that punishment will not work there, most all foreign lands are now civilized, it is the barbarians that populate America.

LOL…

You made me feel guilty, so I just went in and looked at the dust in my living room and turned around…I’m going outside!! *g*

No need for Sarcasm Lessons here.
We’re pretty good at that. *g*

Signed the petition, and emailed the link to 10 others.

Not proud to be a Dem today, that’s for sure . . .

Oh, I lied. Made something up. Ha.
All I did was switch over the laundry.
But, outside works for me.

Roll Call…

Patience. We have to sit through Kit Bond one more time first.

We’ve been fighting for our rights - and the Constitution - for a couple of years now, writing to Congress, calling them, sending them rubber stamps and books, and they make nice speeches about freedom and protecting our rights, and then they fold, dang near every time.

(I don’t remember seeing you here when we were donating money to get their attention with those stamps and books. Were you using another name, or just lurking?)

I don’t buy this characterization of Leahy as the bad guy. He has clearly been opposed to retroactive immunity from the beginning. The bill that came out of the JC struck down immunity. I don’t pretend to understand all of the parliamentary manuevers that have gone on, but there is no way he hasn’t fought for the Constitution. Bare knuckle brawling? Maybe not, his gentlemanliness may work against him there - but I do not doubt his commitment, not for a minute.

I just want to thank Jane and FDL for being here in our time of great loss and sorrow.

And you think that smearing one of the few defenders of the Constitution is going to help … how?

Why not just attack Dodd, while you’re at it.

I signed the petition… not that I think it will do any good but because I wanted to let them know I disapprove of the actions they have taken :>(

The majority of the Dems in DeeCee have all been Kabuki dancers for at least 20 years. Many of the same names have been there this whole time, including Leahy.

The DLC was created in 1985 to infiltrate the DemocratIC Party from within, and prevent actual Liberals from passing anything that might hurt BigMoney too much. As they go along, they throw Dem voters just enough Liberal bones, usually social issues and not fiscal, so Dem voter will keep electing the Kabuki dancers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.....ip_Council

This has been so plainly obvious for so long, it hurts. Why do so few understand this simple truth?

This is why Blue America is so important. We’ve got to clean house, literally. more and BETTER!

RevDEb asks ”What I really want to know is what does Chimpy have on all of these people to cause them to cave so easily? Or are they just shells of themselves?”

There are multiple reasons. One of which is all the “professionals” who are working the issue. Explaining that this is “really not a immunity deal”, but instead about protecting the country from terror and making sure that the intelligence community really needs the help of the telcos and if there is another attack and the intelligence isn’t there because of THEIR vote, they will go down in history as one of the people who allowed 9/11 times 2 to happen.

Fear is used, money is used, social pressure is used. And they also will point out that mostly DFHs are going against this. Where are the REAL groups who don’t want this? Where is the opposing money. Because money means “seriousness” to these people. That gives the journalists an X vs. y narrative and without out it, the rule of law is too abstract in a world where corporations rule the day.

The lobbyists will tell the staff and senators that they are real. We don’t have big organized PACs and people who will be there next year and the year after that. They will point out all the jobs that are in their state and how if this immunity didn’t get passed PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS IN YOUR STATE. So not only would they be responsible for the terrorists attacking because the NSA couldn’t get the info they needed, JOBS would be LOST!

One thing that I wish I could do was to battle the LOBBYISTS in this deal. They are the ones bringing these arguments to the Senators and their staff. Who is bring the opposing arguments to them?

I don’t know what to make of all the pieces either. But Leahy sent out mass emails yesterday (or the day before?) saying he would filibuster..when it was clear he was not doing any such thing.

Jane -

What was Leahy supposed to do when Reid chose the IC’s bill as the base?

So Mike Applebee’s used to eat squirrels with a popcorn popper. We know he’s a nutcase. And like his fellow Repubes, he thinks Ronnie Raygun was a great Prez.

Perhaps we should call him….Squirrel Nut Gipper?

(does tommy yum still stop by here?)

funny

I can’t listen to Bond, will somebody note when he’s gone? thanks

I gave a measurable percentage of my paycheck to him.

What have you done for the country lately, besides insulting our hostesses and most of the people who’ve been here for years?

[mods: sorry for the tone, but this one sounds like troll to me.]

As if listening to Reid (now) is any better. Hanging on Jello’s nuts.

El.
Now.
But, but, it’s Harry.

He could have put a hold on it.
He could have spoken then, and since, against it.
He could have helped Dodd try to filibuster it.
He didn’t do any of those.

Jello and Reid, making out. JayBud went into “public service” to allow himself more power to GO WITH all that money! The bucks just weren’t enough for him! PPPPEEEEEEE EWWWWWWWWWWW Reid. How bout some STFU?!!?
I’m soooo over GIVE EM EVERYTHING THEY WANT Harry!

hmmm
thanks!

If FDL thinks I’m a troll for calling out a thread that I see as a smear, then they are welcome to remove me and/or all that I’ve written.

You, on the other hand, have zero rights to my history. I require no pro hominem help; I ask that you apply no ad hominem attacks. Take my words for what they are.

Is someone gonna bounce this nut or what???? and when?????

I have tried so hard to see Hillarys side. Asking here about dynasty…no answer.
This does it for me, if she cant show up for such an important vote she cant represent me.

Whenever I feel afraid,
I hold my head erect,
And whistle a happy tune,
So no one will suspect….

funny i was just humming that.

Is it time for yet another round of deep breathing exercises?

Signed!

a comment for Mistress Nancy and the Boys:

Gentlemen and Gentleladies of the House -

Are you, too, eager to be slaves?

Today America’s Senate joined the Roman Senate under Tiberius in fulsome capitualtion to the Executive.

Will you kneel with them, or stand on your own?

You swore an Oath to uphold and protect the Constitution.

Will you uphold the Republic and the co-equal power of the three branches of our Federal government, and oppose this Imperial President?

You have that power - and in deciding to use it, you can retain it.

But only if you choose to do so.

Honor your Oath - and reclaim the Honor of the Congress.

Make the conference committee a true meeting of equals; you have the power to kill warrantless spying AND retroactive immunity.

Use your power - or be forsworn and know that in your surrender, you helped destroy the Republic.

Look past your re-election and serve the People, not the telcos.

Deny Bush and Cheney a free ride on yet another set of real crimes.

Stand up and use your power.

Or in failing, forever lose it.

Unlike the Senate majority, the majority of Americans oppose warrantless spying and retroactive immunity.

The People you claim to represent are not so eager to be slaves.

Are you?

Oh I don’t know?

He could place a hold on the bill?

I’m just coming online. Give me a sec I’m sure I can find some arcane rule that would could have been used to throw Reid under the bus

Mc Cain is in a spitting war with Fidel!

Speaking of Kabuki…

Rush Limpills is doing his usual off-key song and dance about McCandyCain.

http://politicalticker.blogs.c.....ble-asset/

I still for the life of me cannot understand why people pay attention to this shit stain. You’d think being caught with viles of V*agra, on a private jet, with a bunch of men, going to a popular sex trade destination, would be enough for the self-proclaimed “family values conservatives” to say, “Ya know…this child doesn’t represent my beliefs at all.” Not to mention the years and years worth of other deviant behaviour.

But they still listen. Freaky.

RBG
Does whistling count? If I deep breathe in between exhales?
Hi Mare.

“He could have put a hold on it.
He could have spoken then, and since, against it.
He could have helped Dodd try to filibuster it.
He didn’t do any of those.”

Thanks, Jane, for your reply.

No, he couldn’t put a hold on it. And, it’s not like Dodd’s earlier hold did anything, anyway.
He did speak against it. Maybe not as early as you would have wanted, but he did.
Help Dodd filibuster? What are you talking about? Please go back and review when cloture was filed and who voted which way. No actual, never-ending-speech version of a filibuster was ever called for after Reid made his decision to use the IC’s bill as the base.

I just don’t get it. What’s so hard to understand? Reid got played (again). There’s nothing Dodd or Leahy or Feingold can do with him running the show. And it’s not the way of the Senate to go hissy fit.

Wow, losing our rights as American citizens really does fire up some passions, don’t it?

Not that it shouldn’t.

Hey, Oaxaca girl, you around?

Great letter Kirk!

John!

Any port in a storm?

Forgive my ignorance, but, I’m watching this and there are ALOT of empty chairs. Where is everyone? Standing in the back?

thanks spocko - praise from you is high praise indeed.

thought of you this AM when I saw five more advertisers showed Savage the Love - and pulled their ads.

thanks for showing the way.

What Kirk said… hope she listens Kirk… I did send her a note last evening @ her speaker bog.. not much hope it will do any good..but I just had to do something, other wise..
It is just giving up without a fight or protest…
Well worded Kirk, thanks for you effort!

???

Any chance we could stop with the kabuki and call it what it is, “bullshit”?

Seconded!

Stormy Weather

I think the moderating is doing just fine, BTW. (Thanks, RBG)

(Deep breath 1; Deep breath 2 . . .)

Thank you thank you thank you! I hate buzz words.

I think he’s just saying whatever works for you…

an american public who refuses to look at corruption no matter where it comes from deserves what it gets. for crying out loud, johnny q is in need of some tough love. i’ll see you in the gutter.

“And it’s not the way of the Senate to go hissy fit.”

It is their constitutional oath to uphold the Consitution…the telcos and Bushco have illegally violated the 4th Amendment of the constitution and that is an impeachable offense..if they give immunity, they are complicit.

I’m listening to head banging music myself

Did they or did they not have to ask for UC on the IC bill?

If Leahy’s was worked up about the IC bill, did he or did he not agree to UC?

Hmmm …. Trying to remember. If they did, couldn’t that be your answer JTM?

Johnny McCain: many of us want to hardly know ye. Mike Huckabee: Lord save us from his potential tyranny. We like Obama, but will vote for, and support Senator Clinton if she is the nominee.

People try to put us down
just because we gggg get around

I think he’s just saying whatever works for you…

Oh. Then I’ll just recork this bottle of 10-year old Ruby Port I just opened here.

On second thought . . . I need something to ease the pain of witnessing today’s execration (is that a word?).

AP - The Bush administration has instructed U.S. diplomats abroad to defend its decision to seek the death penalty for six Guantanamo Bay detainees accused in the Sept. 11 terror attacks by recalling the executions of Nazi war criminals after World War II.

Rage Against the Machine?

is Obama still there?

Did you mean excretion, because that would certainly apply.

Thank you LS.

As the Senate has shown them abjectly unworthy of showing the truth or shining the light, I find no eason to honor their ritual procession to desecrate the Constitution.

Fuck “their way” -we’ve had two years to see it for the miserable abject failure it has proven to be - with Dirty’s Harry’s willful sabotage as exhibit A.

Give us OUR Republic.

George W. Bush is one blood thirsty mother/father fucker.

Did they or did they not have to ask for UC on the IC bill?

If Leahy’s was worked up about the IC bill, did he or did he not agree to UC?

Hmmm …. Trying to remember. If they did, couldn’t that be your answer JTM?

IIRC, they did agree to Unanimous Consent. So that would make Leahy on board with 99 other Senators. Including, say, Senators Dodd and Feingold, and a couple others too. So, given that, I guess I don’t understand why Leahy is today’s villian. Why aren’t we screaming about Kennedy, Obama, or Feingold, or - fill in the blank.?

They are addicted to killing. Shudder.

yes, he prefers them dead BEFORE the war crimes trial begin against him and his boss, Cheney.

I agree that what the Senate is doing this very minute could easily be seen as a violation of their oaths of office.

But that doesn’t change one bit my point: this is not Leahy’s fault and to blame him for it is a smear. And I don’t like cheap shots against the few good guys that are left.

Only when there’s no risk to himself, his family, and his friends.

My Generation

Making a noun from execrable. But you’re right; the result nonetheless is a pile of excretion.