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scottopichttp://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/index.html
Chris Dodd just announced that he will place a Senate "hold" on any FISA bill that contains telecom amnesty:
It's about delivering results -- and as I've said before, the FIRST thing I will do after being sworn into office is restore the Constitution. But we shouldn't have to wait until then to prevent the further erosion of our country's most treasured document. That's why I am stopping this bill today.
A "hold" is not insurmountable, but it creates significant procedural difficulties for a Senate trying to quietly bestow amnesty onto lawbreaking telecoms. As Greg Sargent explained in his exclusive report on this:
By doing this, Dodd can effectively hold up the telecom immunity bill, because bills are supposed to have unanimous consent in the Senate before going forward. One Senator can make it very difficult to bring a bill to the floor by objecting to allowing it to go to a vote.
More importantly, the "hold" will force the issue into the public spotlight where it belongs, enabling Dodd to make the case to Americans about why these corporations, working in concert with George Bush, should not be allowed to buy their way out of lawbreaking.
The idea for a "hold" was literally created out of nothing just this morning by blogs and others, and Dodd was chosen as the most likely target because -- as Kos wrote just moments ago -- he is the only one who has been demonstrating this sort of leadership, and "the only thing that speaks is action." Having Dodd step forward like this is a huge victory for those who believe in our basic Constitutional liberties and the rule of law. Those of you who called Dodd's campaign today -- and you did so in enormous numbers -- caused this to happen.
Dodd stepped up and took a risk and did exactly what we asked. You can express your support here, and reward his superb actions with a contribution here.
I know little about Senator Dodd, but now I'm willing to at least listen to what he has to say.
Chris Dodd just announced that he will place a Senate "hold" on any FISA bill that contains telecom amnesty:
The Military Commissions Act. Warrantless wiretapping. Shredding of Habeas Corpus. Torture. Extraordinary Rendition. Secret Prisons.
No more.
I have decided to place a "hold" on the latest FISA bill that would have included amnesty for telecommunications companies that enabled the President's assault on the Constitution by illegally providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization.
I said that I would do everything I could to stop this bill from passing, and I have.
No more.
I have decided to place a "hold" on the latest FISA bill that would have included amnesty for telecommunications companies that enabled the President's assault on the Constitution by illegally providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization.
I said that I would do everything I could to stop this bill from passing, and I have.
It's about delivering results -- and as I've said before, the FIRST thing I will do after being sworn into office is restore the Constitution. But we shouldn't have to wait until then to prevent the further erosion of our country's most treasured document. That's why I am stopping this bill today.
A "hold" is not insurmountable, but it creates significant procedural difficulties for a Senate trying to quietly bestow amnesty onto lawbreaking telecoms. As Greg Sargent explained in his exclusive report on this:
By doing this, Dodd can effectively hold up the telecom immunity bill, because bills are supposed to have unanimous consent in the Senate before going forward. One Senator can make it very difficult to bring a bill to the floor by objecting to allowing it to go to a vote.
More importantly, the "hold" will force the issue into the public spotlight where it belongs, enabling Dodd to make the case to Americans about why these corporations, working in concert with George Bush, should not be allowed to buy their way out of lawbreaking.
The idea for a "hold" was literally created out of nothing just this morning by blogs and others, and Dodd was chosen as the most likely target because -- as Kos wrote just moments ago -- he is the only one who has been demonstrating this sort of leadership, and "the only thing that speaks is action." Having Dodd step forward like this is a huge victory for those who believe in our basic Constitutional liberties and the rule of law. Those of you who called Dodd's campaign today -- and you did so in enormous numbers -- caused this to happen.
Dodd stepped up and took a risk and did exactly what we asked. You can express your support here, and reward his superb actions with a contribution here.
I know little about Senator Dodd, but now I'm willing to at least listen to what he has to say.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-18 07:55 pm (UTC)He's already gotten some donations from me.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-20 07:14 pm (UTC)I think this country needs more balance between States, Congress and Presidential powers rather than putting all power into the President and then undergoing the 4 year crap shoot of "what will we end up with this time."
Tim C.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-20 07:28 pm (UTC)