From voting down the three amendments intended to amelioriate some of the worst aspects of FISA Amendments Bill, it was a short trip to approving the initial legislation itself in all its horrible glory. Bush, as expected, is chortling with delight and itching to sign this little gift which the Democratic congress has given him, the least popular Republican President in history, while Cock-a-Doodle Bond was also on the radio crowing about the victory that he and his pals helped engineer:
The bill will keep us safe and protect our liberties,” said U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, a Missouri Republican and a lead sponsor of the bipartisan compromise measure.
God save me! This guy really thinks we are stupid.
The final vote was 69-28 with Barack Obama joining the Republicans to vote for the legislation–which Hillary Clinton, incidentally, voted against. Buyers remorse anyone? I read today that McBush, who abstained from voting, is already planning to use Obama’s flip-flop against him.
A full account of the ins and outs of the legislative process–and who voted how–can be found here.
Of special interest to readers here are the following votes by Claire McCaskill who, as expected, also voted for the final legislation:
The Dodd/Feingold/Leahy amendment to strip the provision immunizing the telecoms: McCaskill voted against. Obama voted for it.
The Specter amendment which required a court to determine the constitutionality of the NSA spying program and grant telecom immunity only upon a finding of constitutionality: McCaskill voted in favor of the amendment; Obama also voted for it.
The Bingaman amendment which required that the Senate waits until the IG audit of the NSA program is complete before immunizing the telecoms: McCaskill voted in favor of the amendment; Obama also voted for it
What will this legislation mean for all of us? As Andrew Tilghman put it on the TPM Muckracker:
… the nations largest telecom companies no longer have to worry about a batch of multi-million lawsuits filed by customers angered that the companies turned over their personal information to the government without a warrant.
It also means that if you are at home making an overseas phone call to a suspected terrorist, the government can monitor that call without a warrant.
And it’s not clear how intel agents define who is a suspected terrorist.
So … what do we do now? Lie down and play dead?
The first thing that I am going to do is write McCaskill and thank her for helping to lay the Constitution to rest–I will be enclosing a length of black ribbon twisted in the loop form that has been popularized by those advocating Aids funding (red), supporting the troops (yellow), Saorise (green), and so forth. I will also let her know that I won’t forget what she has done just in case she is counting on the length of time that will elapse before she has to face voters again. She should know that she can’t count on my support and that I will certainly help anyone brash enough to give her a primary race.
The second thing I am going to do is send a contribution to the ACLU which sent me a message this afternoon with this statement:
The FISA Amendments Act allows for mass, untargeted and warrantless surveillance of all communications coming into and out of the United States. And to top it off, it hands immunity to telecom companies for their role in domestic spying … .
It’s outrageous, unconstitutional and un-American. That’s why the ACLU is prepared to challenge this unconstitutional law the moment President Bush signs it — and you can rest assured they’ll be meeting our lawyers in court.
Help the ACLU protect your privacy. Donate now to the ACLU to defend your rights.
Another group of people working to hold the Democratic sell-outs responsible can be found here and would also welcome donations.
I will also let the Obama campaign know how much I have donated to these groups and make it clear that this is money that I would have otherwise given to his campaign.
Finally, I am going to look into getting rid of my AT&T home phone line–and letting them know why. There are alternatives; perhaps I will finally get a cell line from the Credo folks who barrage me with spam promising to be a progressive phone company. I will no longer send my monthly check to a company that is giving me so much more than I bargained for.
Are there any other ideas out there? please let us all know what you are going to do.
When I got the ACLU e-mail I immediately gave them something.
And I’m thinking of taking what was going to be my whole pre-convention Obama contribution and giving it to the ACLU. I already withheld it at the end of the 2nd quarter to see what he would ultimately do on FISA. I haven’t given Obama anything yet and I’m not feeling inclined right now. (Although let me make it absolutely clear that I will vote for him – I’d rather have these powers in his hands than McCain’s. Not that I trust either of them with them, but I trust McCain much less.)
I would add one thing to your list. We HAVE to get rid of Kit Bond in 2010. HAVE to.
I don’t have buyer’s remorse about Hillary but I’m really hoping that this is a sign that Hillary has decided to go back to the Senate and go down the path Ted Kennedy did when he lost in 1980. She could do it – if she really wanted to do it.
since I know it is easier for HRC to take a principled stand now that she is out of the presidential race. I am actually not that upset with Obama except that his little efforts to pander (and I think that FISA is the only biggie) don’t seem to be doing all that much for him poll-wise. Makes me worry that he will follow bad advice and squander our opportunity to take the White House.
Here’s a screen capture from her senate website. Nothing on FISA.
Way to prove that you’re just another cheap D.C. whore, selling yourself out to any corporation with a fistful of dollars.
You’re a BIG disappointment to those of us who spent time working to get you elected because you promised to bring ACCOUNTABILITY to Washington D.C.
You’ve proven that the only entities you’re accountable to are your corporate sponsors. Why don’t you just do like the NASCAR drivers do and put their logos on your clothing? How about a big AT&T patch on your back and a Sprint patch on the front of your blazer? Maybe an emblem depicting the Constitution torn in two on your shoulder?
History will not be kind to you and the other traitors from today. My biggest hope is that your treasonous acts will provide the spark that will light a fire under complacent Americans (of all political stripes), causing them to bring REAL accountability to their government.
See you in four years…
in the 12 primary.
Sorry Madame Senator, you’ve been a total disappointment. The 33% of Missouri voters who are wingnuts won’t vote for you ever. And you’ve now alienated your base.
You’ll never get a dime of my money.
You won’t get my vote in 12. I won’t vote for whichever telegenic wingnut the Repups throw at you but I sure as hell won’t vote for a Senator who things the 4th Amendment to the Constitution is disposable.
It’s a little hard to read, so let me retype the dialogue for you:
Panel 1: Dead comedian George Carlin visits Lemont’s dream. “But I’m a blogger. I do ask tough questions.”
Panel 2: Carlin: “No, you ask if voting machines are rigged. But you don’t ask if voting means anything.”
Panel 3: Carlin: “We’re a selfish, ignorant people. That’s why we always elect selfish, ignorant leaders.”
Panel 4: Lemont: “That’s kinda rough.”
Carlin: “Maybe the politicians should vote for new citizens.”
My husband is so disgusted with Obama over FISA that he’s vowing not to even vote in the presidential race this fall. Hey, it’s hard to argue with his anger because it’s justified. I did argue, though, that if we give up and cede the political arena to those who now control it, things will only get worse. Look at the unbelievable harm Bush did in a mere eight years. I’m not sure we can recover from the economic damage he’s done this country.
But Candorville’s portrayal of Carlin makes a trenchant point. I’m unbelievably disgusted with Obama for caving on this.
a link to Jack Balkin’s overview on what the FISA amendment means that he published today on his blog and encourage everyone to read it. Especially this:
I’ll still take a Democratic President over John McCain – but this is why we shouldn’t get caught up in the person who is running but stick to our principles and demand at ever opportunity that he adhere to them. We can’t just assume that he will do the right thing.