Christy, you hit my feelings exactly. Right now, I’m somewhere in the dark swirls of that painting. Don’t know how or when I’ll come out.

Why don’t we just rip up the Constitution? The Senate is about to rip up the fourth admendment… whats to stop them from ripping up the rest… I am sick and disgusted by those who want to destroy over two hundred years of the rule of law and the protection of the citizen’s yes the citizen’s rights are take away by this bill.
We now must focus on retiring all those who voted this bill!

Shorter Rockefeller on FISA: 9/11, different world, we should all be scared.

Jus Cogens!

Privacy is a human right!

Kit Bond needs to meet Article III.

Jonathan Turley summed it up beautifully on Countdown last night. This is NOT A COMPROMISE-it is a CAVE-IN!!

I am ashamed of Obama for his position on this and I fear more triangulation to come. Just don’t call me for donations.

The 4th Amendment: RIP

Sorry to get here later than I’d hoped gang — had a doctor’s appointment that ran way late this morning. Glad to be here with everyone for the vote, though.

I’m just sick to my stomach about this whole mess — and I feel totally sold down the river by the so-called leadership on this. Hello police state.

It may not be dead yet (although the lawsuits will be). I jumped the timing and posted this at Open Salon:

The Fourth Amendment was rushed to Walter Reed Medical Center this afternoon, where it has been admitted and immediately rushed to the ICU. It is rumored to be in a persistent vegetative state.

“The Fourth Amendment was the victim of a vicious, warrantless attack today. It appears to have been nearly completely eviscerated”, said Dr. R. Feingold. “I tried to warn off the attackers, but they did not heed my warnings.”

The assembled medical staff appears to be at a loss on how to proceed in the care of the Fourth Amendment. Spokesman Dr. C. Dodd said, “We think that a Dr. Scotus may be able to resuscitate this patient, but we are not sure how to get the good doctor to join in this treatment. We understand that any help to be provided is likely to be years away.”

I’m so tired of that argument…like nothing seriously bad ever happened before?

Because of the Gerrymandering in Calfornia, that’s going to be difficult if not impossible in the next decade.
I am furious. We are no longer a democracy.

Nelson of FLA voting with the pukes on the amendment.

Cave in not compromise. Absolutely. Looks like a bad day. Lets see…

Now there will be 2 minutes of debate on the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy Amendment, then there will be a vote.

Gee – Two *full* minutes?

Yeah, that oughta cover everything important. Is this one (again) Harry’s fault in his rush to fluff the prez?

wish we could all hold hands through this…

Why even bother to vote? Republicans have their kangaroo courts and now they have their kangaroo Senate.

Is Obama there to vote?

Spector voted “no” on Dodd Feingold. What a hypocrit.

Obama voted for Dodd/Feingold amendment….Where was he? Why didn’t he speak on this? If he thinks this is good enough he is wrong.

Obama voted for the amendment.

Obama just voted Aye.

Obama showed up

Re: the 9/11!!! argument. Didn’t I read somewhere that the requests for wiretapping began BEFORE 9/11?? Did I dream that or did that get lost in the fearmongering? Anyone else share my hallucination??

Obama is there. Voted Aye, of course.

Is Digg acting up again? Or at least trying to post this to Digg(like yesterday).

Clinton votes for Dodd/Feingold.

Must be..I just tried Digging it and it would not work for me at all.

looks like Feingold loss will be about 40-60.

Spector voted “no” on Dodd Feingold. What a hypocrit.

fucker oughta be sworn in every single time he rises on the Senate floor.

Clinton is present – aye vote.

I think I’ll go buy some torches this weekend, to go with the pitchfork I bought last summer.
I wish I didn’t feel that I’ll need to use them.

Did I just hear Webb vote no? Or is there another name that sounds like his?

Asshole Webb voted no. Glad he backed out on VP

Wasn’t she a co-sponsor? But still…

Has anyone kept count?

As I watch the Senators all congregate and gossip with each other I’m reminded of Johnathan Turley’s words last night talking about a crime being committed and everyone stands around and does nothing.

OT: Broken Laws, Broken Lives has a petition out.

McCaskill NO
Kerry YES

Obama is there. Voted Aye, of course.

Wow, that’s leadership.

McCaskill – no?

That’s much better than any vote on this has been so far.

I’d guess it’s closer to 35. Dems we lost include Jello Jay (of course) Carper, Salazar, Kohl, the Nelsons.

Both Nelsons no, Lincoln, Pryor, Bayh, Kohl, Salazar, Landrieu,

lots of turncoats

Well, I hope Jane’s takin’ names and getting another ad ready -

Lieberman true to his traitorous self.

DiFi, no.

Feinstein NO (big surprise)
Lautenberg YES
Lieberman NO (big surprise)
Byrd YES (I didn’t know he was back)

China you can believe in.

and Mikulski too! What’s come over her lately?

Yes 32
NO 66

32 to 66 amendment failed.

32-66.

did you hear how whitehouse voted?

Is there any real difference between the three amendments, anyone?

wonder if Arlen will vote for his own amendment?

Yes.

Yes.
Feingold—NO retroactive immunity, period.

Spectre— Make the govt. the defendant rather than the telcos

Bingaman—have the IG do a report and let us know what happened before giving them a free pass.

I think that’s about what they are but I could be wrong on the particulars.

wonder if Arlen will vote for his own amendment?

Only if he is sure it will be defeated. OTOH he may vote against it as a kneejerk reflex.

Boy, I’m so glad that we have a Democratically controlled Senate so that our rights are protected. Yeah, right.

Suggested mailer for those who support amnesty.

is that the first time he’s voted against immunity?

Who will be the stand-up Senators, who will be the sell-out Senators. I know I will never, never forget which of my Senators voted for the Iraq invasion and which voted against back in the day.

This is a defining, line in the sand moment.

Maybe the fluffery about Jesse running in Minn would be okay. If you’re gonna stage kabuki, might’s well invite the pro wrestlers….

Dodd, Feingold…profiles in courage, profiles in honor.

Aren’t we proud of our bipartisan Senate? /s
Not a single republic voted in favor of the Fourth Amendment.

We never were a demcracy but a representative Republic; even that no longer applies:
435 reps in 1941 when the U.S. population was 131+M; U.S. population is now 2 1/2 times that but still the same number of Rep’s.
AND the Supreme Court has said the President can specify the number of Rep’s for the House; see Obama or ANYONE else speaking to that inequity?

No. I believe he has ALWAYS voted against immunity. But then he votes for the bill. THere are about 15 Dems who do this.

When does the final authorization come up for a vote? Are Feingold and Dodd going to filibuster?

Rockefeller - Telcos can’t be expected to judge the legality of requests from the Government for information. EVERY telco lawyer should reflexively respond to ANY request for information with, “Where’s your warrant??” Apparently this depth of understanding of constitutional law is beyond Sen. Rockefeller.

Apparently, we have forgotten the Nurenberg trials as well.

Actually I think that Franken’s inclination is to do the right thing. Wellstone was his friend and in a way, mentor politically. He needs our support.

You are correct: Requests began February 01 IIRC. And then Bush blew off (”Ok, you’ve covered your ass”) the CIA rep who told him in Aug 01 that trouble was brewing. So what was all that surveillance FOR?

I wish somebody would stand up and filibuster. If that’s not possible, then I wish one of our senators would just stand up and start talking until dragged off the floor of the Senate by guards.

– Spectre— Make the govt. the defendant rather than the telcos –

Not this time around. That was Specter on S.2248 Directs the District Court to dismiss the cases if it finds either that the surveillance was within statutory bounds, or was constitutional

Gee – it’s downright inspiring to watch Sen. Obama down there on the floor whipping up opposition to the main bill and fighting for the amendments, huh? /s

Hi,yes. I was responding to the argument that 9/11 “changed everything”. So yes, the fact that this all started before 9/11 is a fact often forgotten.

I have a feeling that I’m going to be as depressed as I was when the House passed this POS…

Anyone have a list of No votes on Feingold & Dodd amendment?

The Borg Collective is inexorable.

So america has about another 1/2 an hour before it all goes to hell in a basket. Dodd and feingold were good but speaking to deaf ears. The fix has been in for a long time so now the dance in the senate goes on like the show trials in the Soviet Union (and Guantanimo).

I have to wonder just how many of those who vote for giving bush a walk actually believe what they said in their speeches, jelloJay being the dirtiest.

I’ve got the list of votes on the Yays and Nays on the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy Amendment. I think I got every one of them, running the TIVO back and forth a bit. Let me know if I missed one. Innouye switched his vote, btw, and that’s reflected in the listing.

All they have to do is read the names and I know how they will vote. How sad.

OK now I’m sure I’m in an alternate universe – Republican Arlen Specter offers his amendment to let the current FISA case continue in Federal court, followed by Democrat Rockefeller arguing against that because gee, the poor telco companies couldn’t have known what they were doing was illegal and anyway they had to comply with the government’s request.

Geez, really? Why doesn’t the government just issue a whole bunch of other mandates to businesses without passing any laws first. Laws, schmaws.

I’m surely glad we can count on Democrats to side with big businesses. Welcome to the Twilight Zone, again.

(For those here bashing Specter, he’s the one who offered the amendment, remember? It’s actions that count not words.)

It is starting to feel as though resistance is futile.

It is amazing how the Pukes are still in total control.

The borg. that says it all. resistance is futile…… no, wait! keep up the resistance!!!1

I thought it was different from the earlier one too, then he started talking on the floor about letting the govt. be in the hot seat rather than the telcos. Perhaps he got the new script mixed up with the old script. Not that it matters anyway.

INteresting that Inouye often votes with the Rs. Some majority, huh?

– When does the final authorization come up for a vote? –

Becuase voting started late, probably after lunch.

– Are Feingold and Dodd going to filibuster? –

They can’t – they gave away that right when they agreed with the UC request to vote today.

Anyone have a list of No votes on Feingold & Dodd amendment?

I’m waiting for the list of Democrats who pull off the (well, it’s not a trifecta, since there are three amendments and the main bill, but you get what I mean) of voting against all amendments and for the main bill.

I’m thinking Landrieu, Lieberman, Rockefeller, Nelsons, ….

The Holographic DiFi votes no.

Another No vote from good ole Diane Feinstein. I’m sure she will make it 3 for 3 on the amendments and then wrap it up with a big Yes vote on the bill.

– Anyone have a list of No votes on Feingold & Dodd amendment? –

More names to add, but this is what I got: Conrad, Nelson (FL), Bayh, Rockefeller, Mikulski, Pryor, Johnson, Inouye, Carper, Webb, Nelson (NE), Kohl, McCaskill, Salazar, Landrieu, Lieberman (I know), Feinstein

37 NO
61 Yes

the FISA crime is being committed right out in public and right now.
I am starting to believe that the only difference between the GOP and the Dems is that you know when talking to a Republican that he/she is lying to you. About half of the Democrats will tell you the truth; some of them only some of the time.

I am sorry to see that is where we are, but I think it is so.

For OB, I am concerned that he has folded on FISA and does not want to actively join other Democrats in the Casey, Bingaman, Specter Amendment that would put on hold the Telco immunity.
The amendment is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (co-sponsored by GOP Sen. Arlen Specter and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey). The Bingaman amendment would merely postpone the granting of telecom immunity until 90 days after Congress receives the Inspector General’s audits of the President’s NSA spying program which the new FISA bill mandates, and would freeze the telecom lawsuits in place until then.

as greenwald puts it:
These are just facts about … the FISA bill … which the Democratic Congress will approve today. Recall that James Comey testified last year that what he and other DOJ officials learned in 2004 about Bush’s spying activities for the several years prior was so extreme, so unconscionable, so patently illegal that they all — including even John Ashcroft — threatened to resign en masse unless it stopped immediately. We still have no idea what those spying activities were. We know, though, that even the right-wing DOJ ideologues who approved of the illegal ”Terrorist Surveillance Programs” that we know about found those activities indisputably illegal and wrong. But Barack Obama and the Democratic-led Congress will today enact a bill to immunize all of that, to protect the lawbreakers who were responsible.

And these schmuks think they deserve our votes.

37-61 on Spectre.

Strange behavior by our sweetheart Dem Senators. I am reminded of the scene in Pink Floyd’s ‘Wall’ were children followed the nice path into a meat grinder. Bill Richardson once complained about having possibly listened to in his transactions to dissuade pyongyang. Were there other DEM officials apart from Richardson whose conversations were listened to? Were there improprieties found in the recording of those DEM’s private lives? What is the meaning of this nazi-lockstep behavior among the DEM Senators and House Reps? Is this a sign of the times? Do the GOPrs have an unbroken vice grip on the nation that no election can break?

Was the real reason behind the TSP to collect information about DEM lawmakers to use in muscling them into submission? Was that why it was necessary to keep TSP out of the prying eyes of the FISC?

Is there any way to break the evil vice-grip W has over the nation?

Will our new President’s mandate of the people mean anything in light of this DEM nazi-lockstep behavior?

37 yea, who cares against.

Sigh.

This is a government that is no longer representative of the people but rather special interests and corporations. This is the context in which revolutions are born.

“Are Feingold and Dodd going to filibuster?”

They can’t – they gave away that right when they agreed with the UC request to vote today.

So they go back on the agreement. Honestly, they should just stand down there on the Senate floor and make a spectacle of themselves until dragged off.

Children, children, STFU! Geez …

Shock…Feinstein is co-sponsoring Bingamans amendment.

Nay votes on Specter: Bayh, Inouye, Johnson, Landrieu, Lincoln, Mikulski, Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Pryor, Rockefeller, Lieberman, Feinstein (more to come)

thanks for the reminder. i just checked also and confirmed – whitehouse did vote for dodd’s amendment to S.2248 (S.AMDT.3907) in feb. btw, the vote then was 31-67.

however, whitehouse voted for immunity in committee.

DiFi cosponsoring whatever is being served up right now.

add Lincoln to that too.

I still cannot believe that thee amendments are being given only two freakin’ minutes of “debate” time before voting commences.

Democracy at its finest.

really? That’s something.

Is Bond or Jello Jay the chairman of the “intelligence” committee? /s

not disagreeing, but he or his press staff need to learn there’s life and gosh-darned voters north of Brooklyn Park….

funny. so is Kit Bond

the used car salesman just loves to use that word, “bipartisan” doesn’t he? And he can because our skunks give him the ammunition.

The SKUNK caucus:

Bayh, Inouye, Johnson, Landrieu, Lincoln, Mikulski, Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Pryor, Rockefeller, Lieberman, Feinstein (more to come)

is this a 60-vote majority on bingaman?

Final vote on bill delayed until later this afternoon starting around 2 p.m.

sighhhh – not quite up on legal issues but i know this is the end of the 4th amendment…. we can look forward to more shredding of the constitution as dems fold and repugs know how to manipulate spineless dems!! and What dem control? repugs are still running the show in DC imo

OK procedural experts, what did Hapless Harry just say?

They’ve had several days of discussion on the floor on it and discussion behind the scenes as well. This is the two minute recap time right before the vote.

They’re reliable Republican votes on a important issue.

Kit: the people who don’t like the Unitary Exec want to kick my corporate donors.

No, you dolt. We want to kick anyone who breaks the law and shreds the Constitution. Anyone.

only two freakin’ minutes of “debate” time before voting commences.

Democracy at its finest.

oh, no – the speaker pelosi’s house sets the standard:

1) less than 24 hours to read the bill
2) NO amendments allowed
3) total “debate” time limited to 1 hour

open government and democracy at its finest. the senate pales in comparison.

is this a 60-vote majority on bingaman?

does it really matter?

Did anyone catch how Obama voted on the Specter amendment? I missed it and don’t want to have to run my TIVO back again…

– the FISA crime is being committed right out in public and right now. –

I remember an old book, “The People’s Almanac.” It had a section where it described every country on the planet. Under each country were sections “Form of Government” and “Who Really Rules.”

The description of the US was interesting. At any rate, the FISA crime is mostly conducted in secret. That’s the point. The people are supposed to believe, with all their hearts, that their voices matter.

SUCKERS!

people voting against Bingaman amendment are Senators voting with a bag over their heads.
the greatest deliberative body in the world.
ha ha ha…

the laughs on us.

I hope everyone notices one point in particular, it’s the DLC Moderates who keep throwing clogs into the wheels of the Senate.

Bayh, Carper, Pryor, Salazar, Mikulski – the same gang also responsible for the complete castration of the Democratic party over the last decade.

They refuse now to even support Spectors’ bill – proving how far Right those Democrats have shifted.

Thank Reid and Schumer for that.

Harold Ford Jr. and those same members of the DLC, once boasted of Obama on their membership lists. That’s about the time Clinton was trying to make nice with KOs and disassociated herself from them, only months earlier having been on the homepage of their website as it’s reigning queen.

Obama, back then, came out publicly to vehemently deny any association with the DLC, and demanded they remove him from their list.

Welcome back Senator Obama.

Bingamon => Bingaman

Thanks for the liveblog, great to have it

– Did anyone catch how Obama voted on the Specter amendment? –

I assume AYE. I would have caught it if it’d been a NAY vote.

This is a government that is no longer representative of the people but rather special interests and corporations. This is the context in which revolutions are born.

It is government of the some by the some for the some. Lincoln would weep.

I suspect part of the spying is to squash any organized movements toward revolution.

LOOKS AS THOUGH THE 1ST AMENDMENT HAS ALSO BEEN SHREDDED!

Looks like we might just have the Bingaman amendemnt. I’ve got my fingers crossed.

Hmmm. so what is the remedy when our elected officials in WDC do not uphold their oath to defend the Constitution? There doesn’t seem to be any.

The Founding Fathers may not have foreseen the most terrible 9/11, but they also didn’t foresee an entire body of government owned by corporations either.

Difi is in favor of the FISA legislation. She spoke on the Seante floor about a week ago. I’ve been trying to get her position on the Dodd Fiengold amendments for a few days. Guess I have my answer now.

38 ayes so far?

I know emotions are running high for everyone today, but please don’t shout in all caps in the comments. It makes for tough reading for folks who have been online quite a bit today. Thanks!

sorry if I missed it…I don’t get this amendment. what does it get us?

Obama calling for more sanctions on Iran. Son of a bitch is just another imperialist warmonger.

Welcome to the Police State of America.

As the old Lakota warrior yelled to the whites in the fort:

“Come out and fight! It is a good day to die.”

51 no’s? AND LANDRIEU WAS A NO? After her weeping re: Katrina?

We used to have elections years ago. I am not aware of any system in place at the moment.

He voted yes.

OK! :P

Sorry!

methinks you may be right… we’re getting fed up with DC bullshit and right now dems with a few exceptions are NOT paying attention to what we the great unwashed wants….

JoeLie shows up to get his treachery on the record – looks around, and no one will talk to him.

Oh wait – Jello shakes his hand.

Bayh voted NO on Dodd-Feingold. Obama better not select him as VP, if he does I will do the minimum.

The Republicans believe the Constitution established two branches of government and a Rubber Stamp.

Constitution, Article I

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Big Rubber Stamp of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate Rubber Stamp and House of Representatives Rubber Stamp.

Bayh, Carper, Nelson (NE) Pryor, Inouye, Jello,

voting no on Bingaman

I counted 54 nos…

– I don’t get this amendment. what does it get us? –

It stays court proceedings (and thereby also delays any grant of immunity from judicial scrutiny) until AFTER the internal report by the administration comes out, and by interposing the delay, creates an opportunity to withdraw from granting of immunity.

shit

boy was I wildly off. I guess it was just a cya vote for more Senators.

Back to Mukasey for some more lawbreaking moments.

42-56

that’s it. Final vote on blowing up the Bill of Rights is at 2:15

That would explain DiFi’s last second sponsorship of the Bingaman thingie…knowing it wouldn’t pass. Gah!

just for you

no peeking selise ! *g*

Feingold Dodd roll call vote here.

Siegleman speaks out about Karl Rove.

Thanks for helping me out, cboldt! mucho appreciated.

Just called to congratulate Sen. Bayh on being a constitutional traitor, for helping to shred the 4th amendment and due process, and (sincerely) for torpedoing his chances at a V.P. slot.

Staffer – “Well, thank you sir, I’ll be sure to pass that along.”

Right.

The last hope for any accountability is for lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of retroactive immunity in the bill. Which them means that Bush will grant a pardon for any such illegal activities before he leaves office UNLESS the HJC starts impeachment proceedings.

Check this out on Alternet

The full scale of Bush’s assault on our civil liberties may not be known until years after he’s left office.

At the moment, all we can do is get glimpses here or there of what’s going on.

And the latest one to come to my attention is the dispatching of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and utility workers as so-called “terrorism liaison officers,” according to a report by Bruce Finley in the Denver Post.

Difi supported FISA without the amendments. Lipstick on a pig.

that’s the surest way to make sure i look. *g*

My wild-ass guesses from last week (while the Senate was off) weren’t far off.

Dodd was 32-66 vote (guessed 27-67)
Specter was 37-61 vote (guessed 41-53)
Bingaman was 42-56 vote (guessed 41-53)

I have guesses on the cloture vote and final passage too: 69-22 on cloture, and 68-22 on passage (somebody will have to go to the bathroom or to a party). The votes will obviously be different – I made those guesses on a presumption they would be taken late at night, last votes of the day. Still, final passage will be on a WIDE margin.

Right, second Tuesday of next week.

All right, here’s the prophetic and timeless WB Yeats:

These are the clouds about the fallen sun
The majesty that shuts his burning eye.
The weak lay hand on what the strong have done
Till that be tumbled that was lifted high, …

– Bush’s assault on our civil liberties –

It’s a bipartisan assault. There is “them” (the government) and “us,” and “us” better remember who has the bigger guns. Shut up and get back to work. Oh, and be happy!

Just a reminder. We can definitely tell who some of the bad guys are in this because they will vote no on the amendments but yes on passage of the bill. But we can’t say who the good guys are, and indeed there may not be any, because the fix is in on all of this, these are cosmetic votes, so anyone voting for the amendments and against passage of the bill knows that in fact the amendments will fail and the bill will pass. I should point out as well that no Senator objected to the Unanimous Consent agreement, none invoked any of the procedural delays at their disposal, Harry Reid did not refuse to schedule these votes, Obama did not lead, nor did Hillary Clinton.

All right, here’s the prophetic and timeless WB Yeats:

These are the clouds about the fallen sun
The majesty that shuts his burning eye.
The weak lay hand on what the strong have done
Till that be tumbled that was lifted high, …

I first read that when a teenager, not quite grasping the ultimate truth in it. Now fifty years later, all I can do is gasp.

You forgot the reminder to go shopping… *g*

LOL.

That is the intent, I believe.

I am deep into Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine (I know a lot of you have already read it) and I simply cannot help but look at almost everything these criminals do except as a means to force the Friedman Atrocity upon the populace.

Every step they take is another step to destroying our moribund democracy so they can force economic “shock treatment” upon us regardless of our actual wishes.

That and the fact that most of them are afraid of their criminal activities becoming public as a result of these lawsuits coming to full fruition.

On to the courts on the blatant unconstitutionality of this “law”.

sorry about the double post…not sure what happened.

with the economy the way it is, that would not be advisable. We can’t shop enough to pull the country out of the deep pit it has become over the past 7 1/2 years.

not. funny.

too true to be funny.

And let’s not forget those two Senators who did not vote.

My prayers go out to Senator Kennedy as he continues his recovery.

My questions go out to Senator McCain, who apparently couldn’t be bothered to show up for work today.

Both sides claim today’s votes are central to defending the country (either that BushCo’s war requires these measures or that the Fourth Amendment requires their defeat) and yet even “defending the country” isn’t enough to get the McCain Campaign to stop off in DC for a day.

Maybe if someone held a campaign fundraiser for McCain on the floor of the Senate it would get him to drop by and make an appearance.

People’s reliance on debt, and easy access to debt, to maintain a lifestyle is one of reasons we’re in this mess.

And Chris Dodd’s ‘hold’ on the bill was over-ruled by Reid.

That is not the basis of the unconstitutionality. The basis is the interference of the legislative in an ACTIVE judicial process AND the stepping into judiciary matters by the legislative branch. Separate but equal branches of government, and all that. Hopefully, judges (like Walton) will NOT take kindly to this attempt by the legislative to take his constitutional authority away as if the judiciary is a red-headed stepchild.

a sad sad day. We are 20 democrats short of functioning opposition/oversight.

But we can’t say who the good guys are, and indeed there may not be any, because the fix is in on all of this, these are cosmetic votes,

carefully crafted kabuki.

and the fact that none of the senators are leveling with the public and calling this what it is suggests where their ultimate loyalties may lie.

Was there actually an election in 2006 that nominally ceded control of the legislative branch to the democrats?

Thought so.

Apparently it must have also come complete with a free spine-removal operation for each incumbent member who sought it.

We are ruled by a man who can only garner 25% of the populace to support his positions. Impeachment takes a spine and some actual work. I guess that it’s hard to fit that in between lobbyist trips and dinners and fundraisers.

That is STILL too much for Obama’s perfidy and hatred of the Bill of Rights. He is all in for some Nixonian dictatorship.

I think that’s all in your head. /s

:P

McCain is too busy telling us to be happy and dissing vets (see the incredible vet smackdown vid at c&l) to vote. I saw an old Feb issue of Time at my doctor’s office with the cover photo of McCain posed to show off his POW bracelet and wedding ring. Disgusting, given how little he cares about other POWs. It’s all me, me, me.

Maybe if someone held a campaign fundraiser for McCain on the floor of the Senate it would get him to drop by and make an appearance.

JohnnyMac – “Only if I can bring my own Green-Screen!!”

Unfortunate that more Congress critters don’t have a deeper understanding of history. If they did they would know that the Nazi’s rise to power was done legally through the enactment in the Reichstag of the Enabling Acts of 1933, renewed in 1937.

So, now that Congress has shown that the constitution is basically dead, I can feel free to ignore every law ever passed since this country was founded because they all were spawned by that document?

Gee thanks Bush, what a guy.

Puke.

Whether I had he basis correct or not, I’ll stand by the scenario I laid out; court challenges, Bush Pardons UNLESS the HJC starts impeachment hearings; THAT is the only way Presidential pardons can be held off.

That’s the thought I had. Didn’t Roger Clemens originally blow off a subpoena or something?

I guess we don’t have to pay taxes now, because corporations are running the country through their campaign contributions? or something?

and most of the ones who are running and just might win are not going to be at all progressive.

The reason you can now ignore the laws you dislike is simply because the Congress has officially terminated the “rule of law” and is now disposed, Pinochet-style, to “rule of men/women (of a certain class)”.

And let’s see now..while we are at it, let’s also trash the Magna Carta and a few other things…
“Historical influences
Several of the ideas in the Constitution were new, and a large number of ideas were drawn from the literature of Republicanism in the United States, from the experiences of the 13 states, and from the British experience with mixed government. The most important influence from the European continent was from Montesquieu, who emphasized the need to have balanced forces pushing against each other to prevent tyranny. (This in itself reflects the influence of Polybius’ 2nd century BC treatise on the checks and balances of the constitution of the Roman Republic.) John Locke is known to have been a major influence, and the due process clause of the United States Constitution was partly based on common law stretching back to the Magna Carta of 1215.[8] The English Bill of Rights (1689) was an inspiration for the American Bill of Rights. For example, both require jury trials, contain a right to keep and bear arms, and prohibit excessive bail as well as “cruel and unusual punishments.” Many liberties protected by state constitutions and the Virginia Declaration of Rights were incorporated into the United States Bill of Rights.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_constitution

While you may ignore laws, you risk much if you ignore the decrees of the Decider and Lord Cheney. It’s a dream-come-true for all Republics.

“I sit on the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, and I am one of the few members of this body who has been fully briefed on the warrantless wiretapping program. And, based on what I know, I can PROMISE that if more information is declassified about the program in the future, as is likely to happen either due to the Inspector General report, the election of a new President, or simply the passage of time, members of this body will regret that we passed this legislation. I am also familiar with the collection activities that have been conducted under the Protect America Act and will continue under this bill. I invite any of my colleagues who wish to know more about those activities to come speak to me in a classified setting. Publicly, all I can say is that I have serious concerns about how those activities may have impacted the civil liberties of Americans. If we grant these new powers to the government and the effects become known to the American people, we will realize what a mistake it was, of that I am sure.”

my highlighting

that is powerful stuff…POWERFUL

I love feingold but I am a little disturbed this came so late to the table and in such a setting the public will not hear or read it till too late

something THAT powerfull needed to be spoken as publicly as possible, long enough for the constituents to have it sink in and contact their reps

this is good stuff, probably too late and while I love russ, it comes at the last hour whiich is probably too late

My seven year old son has been watching this fiasco with me all morning. He’s been asking questions along the way. He just made the statement that he didn’t know the president didn’t have to follow the law.

Sen. Feingold:

I am one of the few members of this body who has been fully briefed on the warrantless wiretapping program. And, based on what I know

Why can’t he just tell everyone what he knows? Isn’t he protected from prosecution for anything he reveals while doing his job as a Senator (even if it is classified info)?

And even if he could be prosecuted for it, isn’t it worth it to stop this hideous bill? After all, President Obama could pardon him in January anyway.

I am someone who is no doubt progressive

Obama as quoted in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07…..paign.html

I guess I am not to believe my lying eyes, and ears.

This whole thing reminds me of the scenario in one of those anti-communist movies they used to show in social-studies classses.

This one had the evil commies taking over in a committee meeting by waiting until every one else got tired and went home to sleep, then voting in the changes they wanted and surprising everyone else later, much later. (The movie never brought up things like agendas and quorums and recalls and all that other messy stuff.)

What rule of law??? They have torn up all those things… I mean you break the law they change the law…. man what a fucking deal…how do I sign up for such Golden treatment??

Time to take names and start working against everyone one of those who have shredded the Constitution… just what Washington warned against:From Scott Horton @ Harpers

Washington was the first and last American president who could fairly be said to be above partisanship. But he also shows remarkable foresight in identifying the risk that partisanship presents. It is not simply the inflamed sense of rivalry and the temptation to fill positions of public trust with persons of little merit but their political fidelity–these are the obvious shortcomings of every political system. The graver and more fundamental threat is that the republic itself will be collapsed. It is of a “spirit of encroachment” which “tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism.”

If the law is ruled unconstitutional, then the civil actions resume. That is the endgame and Bush cannot pardon the telcos out of civil liability.

Why can’t he just tell everyone what he knows?

I believe he can be tried for treason, he might be walking a thin line even saying what he’s said.

I think he was trying to stay clearly within the bounds of his oath and now he sees that might not be possible

however what he has said is comming too late

Perris — He’s said this several times before on the floor of the Senate and in hearings in various ways — straight out just like that. We’ve reported on it several times here as well.

if the law is ruled unconstitutional he can’t pardon them out of responsibility since that ruling will come after he’s left office

And W. is compassionate too.

feingold did warn us in feb that mcconnell wanted a police state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaFS07SqINI

Sure, but he can proactively pardon a LOT of people as he goes out the door, thus protecting a slew of criminals from criminal liability. Even if he does this for the telcos, then they are STILL subject to civil liability if/when the new unconstitutional law is ruled unconstitutional.

does everyone remember me saying the republican party was highjacked by fascists calling themselves “neo cons”?

I also said the same thing could easily happen to the democratic party

that day not only arrived, it arrived in the dark of night soon after we took the majority in both houses

obama has corrupted himself, pelosi has corrupted herself, she not only nuetered congress by telling the president impeachment was not going to happen, she is also right no as we speak telling conyers NOT to site rove for contempt

we are now the neo cons boys and girls, our representatives have corrupted themselves

Police States of America

You are assuming he’s going to leave.

Blue Texan has a new thread.
Just a warning, I ain’t in a very good mood this morning, you might want to over look the Zed.

He will pardon so many that his little hand will begin to cramp from all the signing.

Cheney may not want to leave but I believe Bush is bored and wants to do something else.

christy, I am so desperate, so beside myself, I am running around without a head, saying things to try to justify what is about to happen.

my country set sail, she will not likey return to these shores

I wish russ was our dem candidate, man do I wish he was our candidate

Auto pen.

I’m saddened and feel used.

It’s the online community that Obama relied on to get where he is today. He represented our principles and those of governor Dean’s -for the good of the country and to rebuild the Democratic party.
He dragged us out from town to town as symbols of our unanimity and our hunger for a “new dirtection”, and drew in more supprters and more of our money then most of us ever gave.

In Obama we trusted.

To now use my hard earned dollars to cover the ass of George Bush and a handful of lying Right Wing Democratic war mongers is the finale for me.

Senator Bayh is and has been nothing if he doesn’t vote to appease the asses of other Senators.
The public noted that and soundly rejected his every run for even higher office.

For Obama, Schumer, and Reid to once again push the whimpering Bayh strategy -for the sake not of the party success but for their own asses – is the most absurd decision ever made in the Democratic party.

Another 4 years of Harry Reid and Steny Hoyer, will be far worse than four years with McCain.

And you other Democrats know it – down inside.

What else is there to do after destroy the greatest nation on the planet?

Another 4 years of Harry Reid and Steny Hoyer, will be far worse than four years with McCain.

Hoyer and Reid do NOT have the authority to effect SCOTUS like McInsane and Obama do. There is NO way I would view Obama as worse than McInsane. Until we get these fuckers out of congress we are stuck with this shit no matter who’s president. For me it’s all about the SCOTUS.

Russ has been here before – remember?

Before the Christmas break of 06, he had strong support against Patriot II. During the break Schumer and Reid publicly campaigned against Feingold and the Senators came back and dumped Feingold’s ammenmdment.

Russ called them cowards and dumped his bid for Presidency, knowing Schumer and Reid would not back him.

Feingold hasn’t given up- but knows the score.

Obama too knows the score, and did give it up – voluntarily, and without a fight.

The roundups are not too far off in the future. After all, in the interest of national security this rubber stamp Congress will be more than willing to allow the roundup of enemies of the state. That means you and me.

Isn’t it time to start calling the ‘Blue Dog Democrats’ the ‘Yellow Cur Dems’ that they are? This vote lets everyone know how yellow they are, no matter how much like a cur they snarl.

and this is the troubling part that weak-kneed dems don’t see…. i fear for my children and grands…. what america will they live in????

You got the SCOTUS you have -with the help of those same Democrats who just fu**ed us over.

We needed a huge new majority of Dems to override them. Obama’s ’swell’ of support is diminishing that chance with every step he takes to the Right.

How do you think we ended up with the useless mother fu**ers in Congress we have now?!

We elected them that’s exactly how we got them. Until corportate money is taken out of elections there isn’t shit you or I or anyone else is going to do about it. They know where we stand on this we’ve been calling them for months. In California where I am from the state has been gerrymandered to death. It will be a decade or more before we get some of them out.

Thank you Christy.

We’re dealing with travelling “kids” & sick kitty today, so in and out.

Sure appreciate all the live blogging AND the summaries.

Proud of some, disgusted with the usual suspects.

Final vote scares me witless but, since that’s my usual state, i’ll keep fighting. I owe Brown a truffle, and voinovichy a lump of coal. Reid? I got nuttin.

Kitty may need vet during the final vote. Fitting. We all feel like puking & tearing into something here.

Maybe there are some people on the business end of the MIC that don’t see quite like that.

They know where we stand on this we’ve been calling them for months.

man, seeing that and realizing how true it is really hurts, it really really hurts

I do not believe I have had a pain worse then this since bush actually began his unprovoked attack on a country he knew as a fact posed no threat, and while he knew it would mobilize our enemies and create unrest in the middle east

this is that very same feeling right now.

I retire from this thread (I am doing that alot lateley)

losing the planet itself a work in progress.

no shame. no moral compass. no compassion. no substance. no sense of self. no sense of responsibility. no sense…

only this thread.

you’ll be back. right?

we’re not done.

Kucinich – Impeachment Article to be presented on Thursday night.

I just watched Obama stroll over and cast his Aye vote for the FISA bill. He then left the floor.

Sorry meant to say on the procedural vote for FISA.

This is one more thing that has to be undone, repaired, another item on the huge Restoration List.
It’s getting or gotten too long, too deep. I don’t see us every coming back in full form at this point.
The Great Experiment just failed.
I’m heartbroken and now officially a woman without a country.
The one in which I was born is gone.

I’m in Arizona – where the DLC mentality rules. My district couldn’t get rid of Rick Renzi for 3 elections cycles because Raaahhhhhm Emanuel’s DCCC only allowed/supported Renzi-like Democrats.

And I think I see now why Webb says NO to Obama for VP. Is it this issue??

Just now on the floor Obama is standing with Feinstein and Carper,all pro-FISA. Webb is nearby talking to someone else. The two are blatantly ignoring each other.

I’m so sick I just unsubscibed from Obama’s online ‘community’.

that’s a good idea hazmaq. i’m on my over there now to do the same.
i’ll remember you.
we watched the Constitution get trashed together.
everyone here.
we watched the downfall happen in our own Congress. and they all KNEW we did not want this, and they did it anyway.

This is a tragic day. But freedom is a constant struggle, and it’s not over yet.

Evisceration of the 4th Amendment, ascendence of the Unitary Executive, and dismissal of the Walker cases and the attendant veil of secrecy on the illegal programs they concern, are all NOT FINAL at this point, and none of them will actually take effect until and unless the forthcoming Constitutional challenges to Title II are exercised and fail. Walker has ruled that program illegal, Turley has articulated that this means the President of the US has committed at least 30 felonies. Although the possession of DOJ means any actual Federal prosecution is unlikely, the Emperor’s nakedness is showing. Bush is thus at a very weak point now, and dangerously exposed to challenge, perhaps manipulation.

(By the way, what an interesting day for Iran to choose for a ballistic missile capabilities display.)

“ACT BLUE”,MAYBE A GOOD PLACE TO START A REVOLUTION?? THOUGHTS ANYONE?

Tyr Blue America rather than ActBlue – IIRC, ActBlue supports ALL Dems, including all the Blue Dogs who have helped put us into this mess.

Blue America makes a point ot limit support to ONLY progressives who recognize things like the 4th Amendment, Privacy rights, Choice, etc.