Chris Dodd Does It. Reid pulls Telecom Immunity bill off the table
By John Amato Sunday Dec 16, 2007 7:25pm
Yahooooo----Congratulations to Senator Dodd for showing what a little backbone can do. Harry Reid tabled the FISA bill just a few minutes ago. Thanks to the many C&Lers and the entire Progressive blogosphere for all the emails, comments and phone calls that helped put the pressure on when it was needed most.
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Matt Browner-Hamlin writes:
Without Senator Dodd's leadership today, it is safe to assume that retroactive immunity would have passed. This is a great victory for the American people. His outspoken opposition to retroactive immunity and the Intelligence Committee's FISA bill made it impossible to move forward now...read on
Logan Murphy made the vids and says:
In his closing speech Dodd vowed to filibuster again in January if telecom amnesty is still part of the FISA legislation. This speech should be watched by every student, every member of Congress as well as all Americans who value their civil liberties. No matter which presidential candidate you support, you can’t get around the fact that this is what REAL, American leadership looks like. Bravo Senator Dodd, BRAVO!
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Thank you Senator Dodd. Senator Kennedy you ripped up the carpet. We are right behind you.
giving us hope
Great!!! this is the best news this week! I love it!
I guess it's one for the American Citizens!
also I saw the headline question on yahoo news: Should news media withhold identity of mass killers?
does this mean they are not going to mention George Bush or Dick Cheney in the news anymore?
the power of one... out of, what, 228 or so?? all the more important demonstration why we need such democratic numbers against corruption.
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Thank you.
Frist!
I am relieved. Thanks to Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Harry Ried and Arlen Spector for not allowing this inane bill to pass. Looks like our civil rights are still intact..... for now.
THANK YOU DODD! I cannot say this any more sincerely - you have saved my belief in this country. You still have an uphill battle next month, but thank you!
No sh*t???? A Democrat with spine? Show this guy some love and send his campaign a few dollars. If Ron Paul can raise $5 mil in a day for doing nothing, Chris Dodd is certainly worthy of a grass roots groundswell of financial support for this.
I don't get it...I really don't. Reid sold out his credibility as a liberal...and for what? Tabling the bill as is only shows that he's spineless in all capacities, not just when he thinks nobody is watching. Well guess what Harry, we're watching and we'll be watching all the more closely and ever closer every time you stab Americans in the back. I hope your integrity and the respect of your constituency was worth the thousands or possibly hundreds of thousands that you sold it for. I spit on you.
Great to know there are people like Dodd around.
But, won't the twerp-in-chief just veto it if it's passed? What happens then?
Bravo Sen. Dodd.
Quotes
"Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote.
Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty.
Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act.
Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act.
What did Conservatives do? They opposed them on every one of those things ? every one.
So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, 'Liberal,' as if it were something to be ashamed of,
something dirty, something to run away from, it won't work, Senator, because I will pick up
that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor."
-- Matt Santos
Imagine that. The Republicans have been using the threat of a filibuster to table sensible legislation for years. It took someone on the other side of the aisle this long to figure out that it could work for them as well. I don't know if I should be excited or dumbfounded, but in either case I am glad Dodd showed some backbone here.
I'm confused...http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1741430720071218
Reid's spinelessness works in OUR favor for once- hooray!
Actually this story...http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1741430720071218 ...makes it look like there is a lot of weasel room.
I wouldn't start celebrating yet. But it's a start.
msnbc says their going to bring it back after the holidays..???what is going on?
I'm reminded of that moment at the end of the first Star Wars when the Tie Fighter gets clipped, Vader spins away and Han yells, "Wahoooo!"
Rock on Chris Dodd. Rock %$@#ing on!!!
This is good news. I'm cautiously optimistic. Thank you Senator Dodd, for standing for the Constitution and not Big Business!
He might win my vote yet, but only if he impeaches next.
mudshark @ 17:
Insanity
mudshark @ 17:
You tell me.
Bush's phone immunity bill wins Senate vote
Reuters - 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's demand for immunity for telephone companies that participated in his warrantless domestic spying program won an initial victory on Monday in the U.S. Senate.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1741430720071218 WTF!!!!!Would someone explain what the F is going on....
Reid is weak.
Dodd reveals it.
OOOPS..."Bush's phone immunity bill wins Senate vote" Washington Post
Yessssssss!
I just gave his campaign $25 (all I can afford for now). Please go and give him what you can as a thank you for standing up for us.
Senator Dodd and Senator Kennedy demonstrate what real leadership is about.
mudshark @ 23:
Spin, lies, manipulation, corruption. Welcome to the New World Disorder.
He's one of the real leaders in the Senate and not one of the suits with the official title.
L.A. Confidential @ 22:
gulp!....help.............................................
This is the candidate that should be the Democratic front runner. He's showing integrity while the others cautiously voice support, poll on the issue and vote "present".
At least someone has some balls in this government. I have never heard of granting immunity to a)corporations and b)corporations who claim to have done nothing wrong.
I am so proud of Senator Dodd! Kennedy's speech was fantastic too. Feingold has always impressed me. Obama? Clinton? Where in the hell WERE you? I won't forget that you weren't there.
Awesome!
They called us "leftist" and "irrational" but they can't beat the passionate commitment of Americans to the Rule of Law.
On to the fight in January!
Congrats to Chris Dodd, and congrats to America!
L.A. Confidential @ 28:
if this is what's happening......those fuckers are psychotic nutcases................yeah I know,I know.
The earlier 76-10 vote was to move the act forward and end debate on the measure. It wasn't a vote to approve bill 2248.
Thank You Senator Chris Dodd! YOU ROCK!!!!
on another note:
wonder why the network$ aren't reporting this?
Thank you Sen. Dodd
This is why I Am A Liberal And A Progressive And A Democrat
I am a liberal because it is the political philosophy of freedom and equality.(of Opportunity,of Justice, of Genders,of Races,etc.etc. see Jefferson and Lincoln’s words) And I am a progressive because it is the political path to a better future. And I am a Democrat because it is the political party that believes in freedom, equality and progress. Oh yeah, and because our liberal revolutionary Founders like Paine & Jefferson were liberals who fought against conservative Loyalists like the godfather of conservatism Edmund Burke. ( see the debate between Liberal Thomas Paine’s RIGHTS OF MAN and conservative Edmund Burke’s drivel supporting autocracy)
Till this day, conservatives revile Paine as a commie/pinko. Typical con ingrates and hypocrites
Congratulations America for waking up in 2006 and throwing the corrupt conservatives out of congress for another 40+ years in the wilderness!
"Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear."
William Gladstone, 4-time Prime Minister of Great Britain.
"Long ago, there was a noble word, liberal, which derives from the word free. Now a strange thing happened to that word. A man named Hitler made it a term of abuse, a matter of suspicion, because those who were not with him were against him, and liberals had no use for Hitler. And then another man named McCarthy cast the same opprobrium on the word...We must cherish and honor the word free or it will cease to apply to us."
Eleanor Roosevelt
“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (father of modern American liberalism and greatest president of 20th century)—according to 99% of historians!
"No question that Authoritarianism in modern Conservatism is Proto-Fascism."
John Dean---former Nixon aide and also a personal friend and confidant of Barry Goldwater and author of
CONSERVATIVES WITHOUT CONSCIENCE.
Liberalism is our salvation, we must commit ourselves to the principle of Liberty and distributed power or conservatism will destroy civilization.---Me
“If Liberals Hated America, We'd Vote Republican !”--anonymous
Slabo @ 11:
Thing Fish @ 37:
ok,ok I get it now.......Whewwww!
Watched it all day.
Great job Senator Dodd.
mudshark @ 36:
Actually it is not entirely wrong. Earlier there was a vote on cloture (sp?) and it did pass that to make it to the floor. Somebody appears to not understand the difference between the cloture vote and the actual vote for the bill. Sad, but apparently true.
What was that picture I am reminded of....Truman smiling and holding up the newspaper: "Dewey Wins!"
Seems like the media has already written the news on this one.
Now if they will show some spine on impeachment.
mudshark @ 36:
Former Bush insider in 2001
The first thing the Bush Administration said was we're going to go out and make new friends in this world. No, we're not. That was a lie. We're going to make new enemies as a precursor to increase global tension, which in turn is a precursor to turn back the clock to a world that they understand, a world where the old cabal works, a world where it is the waste, fraud, abuse, graft, corruption, and malfeasance of yesterday that the Bushonian faction of the military-industrial complex understands. It is a world where things can remain hidden under "National Security."
Chris Dodd is the man!
The Reuters headline bites. Are they actively trying to convince people this fight is over so no one will be bothering the politicians with emails and phone calls on this issue. Dodd and those who stood with him deserve the glory. Glad C&L can provide it for them anyway.
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Bravo, indeed!
Big Big Kudos To Dodd... (note to self... write check to Dodd if he runs for the Senate again!).
2nd note to self... write every damn Dem in the Senate to demand Reid's resignation and then get Dodd to be Majority Leader!
3rd not to self... keep watching because you know that these mother F***s will wait until the national distraction is on something else and will try to push this through again, probably a closed door session or something. Harumph... the price of liberty is constant vigilance.
Hurray and congratulations Senator Dodd. Today you restored some of my faith in America-- that you are a law-abiding nation-- and garnered a great deal of my respect for your foresight and perseverance! Well done. Now, I hope some other politicians and presidential candidates take note.
(Now, remind me again, why were the Dems --Harry Reid-- so afraid of a filibuster. That's democracy at work.)
I was watching... I thought they said Reid just put it over till January? That's not exactly a victory... just a postponement of defeat. I hope I'm wrong...?
Isn't the Reuters article what they wrote about Reid bringing up the bill, which in turn got Sen. Dodd busy?
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some actual clarity, and on the floor of the Senate, no less!
Did I just witness leadership, finally, in the Democratic Party? AND experience? AND new ideas? AND change? AND cajones? All wrapped up into one person, who just happens to be running for President??
I'm revisiting Senator Dodd..
This is great news. Thank you Senator Dodd.
I just gave money to the Dodd campaign. I don't think he has a chance in hell, but he made a stand of conscience today, and so far, he's the only guy in the field who's done so.
It takes a big set to do that in this day and age. Dodd is the very first Dem in the past seven years to stand up to Bush and say "NO! Come to think of it, FUCK NO!"
This kind of action is needed on the part of people from all walks of life - those who will stand up to republicans and say "NO! Come to think of it, FUCK NO!" Those who will stand up to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Lieberman and the other Blue Dogs (they ARE Blue dogs) and say "GROW A SPINE! STOP CAVING! STOP BACKING DOWN!
I am proud of Senator Dodd. I wish I could vote for him in CT but it's too friggin cold there.
Well done, Senator Dodd. Salud!
Reid has to go......I'v been very patient and quiet on Reid and Pelosi...REID HAS TO GO.....and Nancy.....get a clue...................if it's not too late already
ronhohn @ 52:
Um, no. It was written today and released at 7:50 EST.
Wow, my faith in the process has returned every so slightly.
You see how it's done Democrats? You stand up for principles: now stop caving and follow Dodds lead for goodness sake!
Thank you Senator Dodd, for doing what Reid should have done in the begining. Sen Reid take a good look at how a real patriot stands up for his people, you can learn a lot.
Chalk one up for the good guys! Way to go, Sen. Dodd!
I notice there's nary a peep of this on CNN... so much for the 'liberal' media...
w00t!
Crooks and Liars I could kiss you! Way to champion a man with principles.
The blogosphere actualy works. You bet this victory is 100% blogs...and 0% Mainstream bootlicking media.
Hold your heads up high proudly tonight, Dodd and Crooks and Liars, you deserve it.
Dodd, you da man.
99 @ 51:
It will probably become buried and forgotten in the Dems heap of unfinished business and broken promises.
GREAT JOB!
My first thought was that this is just more theatre and that retroactive immunity will eventually be passed.
Congrats Sen. Dodd
I have a newfound respect for this man!
carefulwiththatAXEeugene @ 38:
Where have you been? We lost our 4th estate long ago...
Thank you Mr. Dodd. You're a damn good man. Now will you please start proceedings to remove Harry Reid?
Hopefully, this will give Dodd, Kennedy, Wyden, et al, time to digest yesterday's NY Times story on how this spying started within three weeks of Dumbya taking office and involves WAY more than terrorists. Once digested, I hope they stuff it up the rest of Congress's noses and make it perfectly clear that by election day in November, every damn one of us is going to know exactly what's been going on and they won't be able to mischaracterize this the way some of the rethugs' speeches today did.
Now that's what I call Democracy in action. This gives me a little more hope. Thanks you Senator Dodd. Let's see if this sparks a fire under the rest of the Democratic MAJORITY.
Thank you Senator Dodd, for standing up for America.
Dodd is the only Democratic candidate showing true leadership in the Senate.
Dennis Kucinich is the only Democratic candidate showing true leadership in the house.
We need the courage and leadership that they both have shown.
Dodd/Kucinich Kucinich/Dodd
Either combo works for me
Mr. Dodd - you sir are a bonafide BADASS.
Good job man!
A couple months ago, when I finally decided on a candidate, I chose Christopher Dodd. Looks like my political instincts are correct. :)
Remember that Dodd said he would support the Democratic candidate in Connecticut, and when all the other Dems abandoned Lamont to kiss Lieberman's a**, Dodd was right out there supporting Lamont.
Christopher Dodd is showing America what it means to be a Democrat, even if he did have to sacrifice time in Iowa. Some people may say, well, so what, he's trailing all the other candidates, but in my book, that means his sacrifice was greater, because he was taking precious time to promote We The People instead of his own campaign.
Substance matters.
99 @ 51:
I think next comes debate on any amendments to the bill. Read that Dodd plans to team up with Feingold to offer an amendment that would strip the entire immunity provision, which means pending suits would not be immediately tossed. C/Net
Feinstein is also supposed to have an amendment that grants immunity if executives were acting legally or in "good faith", or weren't involved at all. The "good faith" clause sounds more like a loop hole to make it sound like something was done while nothing exists in reality (which sounds like typical Feinstein).
carefulwiththatAXEeugene @ 38:
Countdown covered it tonight, we'll have that segment soon.
OliverDreams @ 72:
Hell yes.
That's what we call a sweet sweet dream ticket right there.
Many thanks to Senator Dodd and those that stood with him all day long today.
I watched CSPAN all day and found it immensely refreshing to see those with a backbone make themselves heard.
May I ask those who have their backbone please try and find some leftover backbones around Washington D.C. (you know, from all the skeletons in those proverbial closets) and give one to another member who may have already lost theirs.
Thank you Senator Dodd! On a day when Lieberman makes me disgusted, you restore my pride in being a Connecticut Yankee!
Ring, ring... telecom calling. Ring, ring... America calling... Thank you for picking up the right phone!
If need be, you were willing to lose your voice to make our voice heard! Thank you, Mr Dodd...Thank you for standing up; thank you for your principled stand; thank you for using your platform for good in this Country. Sadly, rapacious self-serving greed is a disease infecting the majority of our 'leaders' ... thank you for reminding Americans what leadership can be! Know that millions stand behind you and that you are not alone... Americans are hoarse - screaming for leadership... Thank you!
Too bad Reid and Pelosi aren't Dodds.
And another one bites the dust:
REPUBLICAN SecState of Colorado bans all ES&S machines:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5451
plebius @ 66:
Associated Press 55 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Senate late Monday delayed its consideration of a vote on a new government eavesdropping bill until January.
The news networks are useless! Thank God for the internet, or I wouldn't have know about this great news!
JJohnson @ 77:
That is the only Dem combo I would ever consider, although Edwards is not too too bad. It's a shame Ron Paul is just a bit too loco, because at the very least, he is totally honest.
Thank you Senator Chris Dodd. It is sad that you have to talk for 8 hours or so just to make sure this Administration can't spy on us. I loved Sen. Kennedy's speech; however I find it curious that he spoke of Bush breaking the law, "If Congress immunizes the telecoms for past violations of the law, it will send the message that Congress approves what the Administration did. We would be aiding and abetting the President in his illegal actions his contempt for the rule of law, and his attempt to hide his lawbreaking from the American people". If he feels so strongly about this then why has he not called for Impeachment? I know impeachment starts in the House but he could at least speak out about it if he believes Bush broke the law.
plebius @ 66:
Mine to. Both sides are playing some serious mind games with the public.
This is amazing! What a roller coaster of a day. Dodd deserves our applause and respect for being so courageous.
Meanwhile, Dodd was being more than generous in complimenting Harry Reid. Don't forget that Reid did at least two things to let things get this far: (1) he chose to bring the Senate Intelligence Committee version of the bill (which contains telecom immunity) to bring up for a vote, rather than the Judiciary Committee version (which does not contain immunity); and (2) he denied Dodd the courtesy of putting a "hold" on the bill, a courtesy that Reid routinely grants to Republicans, so that a filibuster would not have been necessary. Reid has caved into Bush and the telecoms at every turn. I think that makes him look weak, compared to people like Dodd who stand on their priniciples. What principle is Reid standing on?
Did you see the look on Dick Cheney's face? Priceless!
Probably won't vote for him but I just gave him $25 dollars and note telling him why he deserves it. Go Dodd, Kennedy and Feingold!
Whats that.. someone in the senate... Grew a pair?!
Great news! thanks!
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2319811
It's a step in the right direction.
I know some of you here think the article in the link below is a mistake, but deep down I think they're trying to rewrite history!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071218/pl_nm/usa_security_phones_dc
I feel something terrible will happen either before this year is up, or on New Years. God help us all!
Bravo Senator Dodd. We the American people now have a louder voice because of your efforts, and one can only hope that others running for elected office both now and in the future will come to understand that it is WE THE PEOPLE, all of us, right, center and left that can never let the flames of justice, liberty and freedom which our country was founded on, ever be extinguished. For should that day ever come, we will cease to be a nation of laws while falling under the rule of a dictatorship. It is also gratifying to know, that through e-mails, phone calls, faxe's and any other form of communication that was required, we the people were able to make a difference.
WTG Senator Dodd.
You're now number 1 on my list for President. I'm spreading the word.
Thank you, sir.
Now THAT's leadership!
Thank-you Senator Dodd for defending the rule of law and our Constitution. It's kind of interesting how we keep hearing from a number of congressman that the Bush administration broke the law, yet nothing is done about it. Someone please explain.
Paul in LA @ 82:
excellant find Paul in LA.....you keep up the good work too......maybe hit Hermosa Pier ...or the strand this fri night.
Dodd vowed to do it again in January.
Wow, while not a outright victory, it is a step in the right direction.
Oh trust me, after the Christmas & the holidays, we in the blogsphere will be more than recharged to fight the real bill. We will be free from shopping and parties and focus on actually gain a VICTORY for our democracy.
2008 is the year for ALL candidates and representatives. Either you are for the US Constitution i.e. WE THE PEOPLE, or you are against it. We will remember in November 2008.
And thank you Senator Dodd for standing up for us!
Onward to victory!
Newbie @ 84:
No one who holds views like he does can afford to be 'totally honest.'
Did he TELL you he was in favor of further coal and nuclear power? What? Didn't come up?
Did he TELL you he authored an amendment to ATTACK HOLLAND if the International Criminal Court tried to arrest our warcriminals? Did he tell you that he opposes the Geneva Conventions JUST LIKE BUSH?
No, he's as honest as a Ron Paul dollar is currency. He lies, covers over his radical ideas in things he knows the public wants, and harbors white supremacists with his 'states' rights' MALARKY.
Thank you Sen Dodd.
"One man with courage makes a majority."
Andrew Jackson
Lindy @ 88:
Where'd you see Cheney? I thought maybe he was in his bunker decorating for Christmas.
Senators Dodd, Kennedy and Feirngold now stand as beacons of bright and glorious light shinning into the abysmal darkness of the fell place into which the BUSH/CHENEY/LIEBERMAN FASCIST CABAL, aided by their "BLUEDOG enablers calling themselves "DEMOCRATS" have coerced, cheated and lied us into from the beginning.
Let us now see if we. the people, can unseat Ball-less Harry Reid and Faithless Nancy Pelosi and their BLUE DOG fellow travelers from their possitions of power and then out of government entirely right along with the BUSHIST BASTARDS!
It is great to see a Demcrat with a set of balls and the spine to stand up for Defending the Constitution.
You know how many minutes NBC Evening News gave this story tonight? Zero. It was crowded out by Ann Curry bungee-jumping, keeping pets safe, and introducing some actor as their new announcer.
Fine with me. If they want to make their show some kind of irrelevant alternate-universe version of the news, there's plenty of other places to find out what's going on.
Ron England @ 106:
It's great to see an American stand up to this administration.
We all owe a great deal of thanks to Senator Dodd for his leadership on this issue. I just donated $100 to his campaign. But, despite Dodd's leadership and fight on this issue, this still does not absolve Senator Reid and the people who supported him of their malfeasance. We have a real problem with the Democratic leadership. It needs to be dealt with. If we don't wake up and deal with it, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the continued giving away of our rights and civil liberties, and the further selling out of the American people. If someone would tell this story, without identifying the country, of all the corrupt policies, violations of Americans rights and civil liberties, and other democracy threatening activities promoted by our government, you would think we were talking about the USSR. But no it is the United States of America. What the hell has happened to our nation!
A democrat actually did something.
Dodd has my vote.
Reid Statement On FISA Bill
“Under regular order, and the rules of the Senate governing sequential referral, I will move to proceed to S. 2248 – the bill reported by each committee. When that motion to proceed is adopted, the work of both committees will be before the Senate. Because of the order in which they considered the bill, the Intelligence Committee version will be the base text, and the Judiciary Committee version will be automatically pending as a substitute amendment.
...
“In my view, that will make the final product stronger. There is one issue that cannot be resolved through informal negotiation. As some are aware, the Intelligence Committee’s bill provides the telephone companies with retroactive immunity from lawsuits filed by their customers for privacy violations. Many members, myself included, believe that such a grant of immunity is unwise. I expect there will be a full debate on this subject next week.
“Senators Specter, Feinstein, Whitehouse and others are working to craft a compromise that might give the phone companies some relief – but allow the lawsuits to go forward in a manner that would preserve accountability. In one way or another, we must ensure that President Bush is held accountable for his actions.
It sounds like this drama was fairly well planned out. Don't agree with the Feinstein compromise. It just allows telecoms off the hook as long as Bush is held accountable.
THat was great to watch on cspan, the only repub that got up was orin hatch, what a dinosaur that guy is. I am so glad they finally put something up there. His closing comments suggested that they were still going to use this as a political tool instead of actually going against the administrations illegal activities though. I would not be suprised.
still, if you are in the bush admin and/or leading a telecom company you gotta be pretty pissed off.
Congratulations to us and to Senator Dodd. Nice to finally see some leadership.
It was pretty disgusting watching that emaciated stick of a man Reid state on the Senate floor this morning that he agreed with Dodd's objection, yet had to push the immunity version of the bill forward so that other important legislation wouldn't be held up. Give 'em Hell? No, Harry, this time it was handed to you.
Reid and Pelosi need a new job.
Hey, in the spirit of Mike Gravel, stick them both on the "Buildings and Grounds" committee.
If Dodd can make it to California, he's got my vote.
Fuck yeah! Small blessings.
My last email to Pelosi expressed regret she 'hadn't yet grown a pair of cohones and a swinging pene'.
No reply yet.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I give you an American Hero. I know you probably didn't recognize it at first as it has been way too long and they are too few and far between. But along with Kucinich, Feingold and a few others, there is leadership and courage still left in this country.
THANK YOU SENATOR DODD!!!!!!!
Backbone Dodd!
VietVet8666 @ 24:
And that's why Reid pulled this bill from the floor.
I'm just wondering if Bush has pictures of Reid, Pelosi, et al, of them having carnal knowledge of barnyard animals. It's the only explanation of their cowardly capitulation - they can always get money elsewhere...
Dodd's stock rises. America gasps another breath.
Now how does the Repug FCC screw the dying victim tomorrow? (drumroll....)
What can I say...Chris Dodd is my hero!!
Tell 'em what you think...
www.ChrisDodd.com
www.WexlerWantsHearings.com
while Senator Dodd is near ,if not on top of my list now......lets not forget.....he has some questions to answer....web search his voting record...........He needs to be asked a few questions...and answered with honest answers.....but again.......he is near ,if not the top of my list
nsr @ 107:
Agreed. I don't watch the insipid farce that is called "news" by NBC, ABC, or CBS. All of these are little more than propaganda outlets for their corporate masters at GE, etc. Their form of "journalism" is an insult to people like Edward Murrow and Walter Cronkite who valued integrity before being a corporate panderer. And to think that once, these conservative hacks hated Pravda---they have become what they despised.
Reid: "the Intelligence Committee’s bill provides the telephone companies with retroactive immunity from lawsuits filed by their customers for privacy violations. Many members, myself included, believe that such a grant of immunity is unwise."
Sorry, Harry. Your little game is up.
The News Hour's not talking about this story either. AT&T is one of their sponsors.
mmm... Democrats weilding political power! I like it.
Ron Paul has been breaking fundraising records on the internet. Perhaps it's time we showed Dodd a little love
Hasn't anyone thought about why this nutjob, Lieberman, was the vice-presidential candidate with Gore in 2000? Was he the back-up plan, should Bush-Cheney not have been able to steal the election?
Al & Joe win, "something" happens to Al, Joe brings on Cheney to shows he's "fair & balanced" and we still get the '01 Energy meeting, 9/11, and war in Iraq. Lieberman was a very odd, last-minute choice for VP; Not Al's choice.
Maybe Gore was lucky enough to have "lost" the 2000 election afterall? Hey, let's all go shopping, no worries.
Dodd just got my vote. I was leaning more towards Gravel since he reminds me of what I'll be when i'm seventy something. But he doesn't stand a chance in hell.
I refuse to vote for Hillary because I don't trust her, she won't end the Iraq war and we need new blood in the White House. ( and note that I voted for Bill twice and would vote for him again )
I won't vote for Obama just because I think if we're going to have a youngin like him you need someone with some passion. I don't see Obama threatening a filibuster to protect the rights of Americans. He's done shit as far as I can tell.
Edwards still needs to explain why he voted AYE to invade Iraq despite the fact that he was on the Senate Intelligence Committee along with my Senator Mikulski. Mikulski voted no because the Yellowcake memo was known to be false. Why didn't Edwards?
Dodd however has been out there moving to protect the little guy even at potential cost to himself. I don't see Giuliani or Ron Paul or any of those other Republican tools doing that. They all see the election as a power grab. So Dodd will be getting my vote in the Primary. If it comes down to someone other than Dodd vs a Republican I will vote against the Republican.
Chris Dodd is not telegenic or articulate. He is no JFK, RFK or WJC but I can't help thinking that I would sleep a lot better at night if he were President.
Reid should step down. Durbin should become Majority Leader, and Dodd should become Majority Whip.
At last - someone with courage who is willing to stand up for principle. Maybe Dodd can give Reid and the other blockheads lessons on how to grow a spine.
A skeptic.
While I applaud Chris Dodd, I can't help feeling this was a contrived filibuster by the democrats in part because CD actually thanks Harry Reid in this video for not impeding him?
He wouldn't have needed to filibuster were it not for Harry Reid!
So many things should have been filibustered but were not. I have to ask myself if this was purely for show.
Thank you Chris Dodd - fuck you, Harry Reid.
thank you at C&L or covering this and allowing us to help fight back...and help Dodd...thank you and thank you Senator Dodd....and also Senator Kennedy and to all that helped keep this battle alive.
Dodd (as quoted) said: "And hopefully between then and January a suggestion can be made to compromise without granting full immunity..".
Not "full" immunity, not partial, not any goddamn immunity whatsoever should be the rallying cry.
If those people want a Truth Commission convened, make them beg for it.
I don't know if Dodd has my vote, but I just gave him some money. I feel that he deserves my donation for missing out in Iowa right now, while all of the other candidates are still campaigning.
I'm proud of Sen. Dodd!
unflippingbelievable!! make that man president
Paul in LA @ 102:
yeah and the nuts are sending him big bucks go figure!
“Chris Dodd Does It. Reid pulls Telecom Immunity bill off the table”
A genuine hero of the people...
nsr @ 125:
I think PBS is great, but hate it when they have to suck up to toxic waste like AT&T. I canceled my services with them last year.
rmf @ 10:
You mean if the FISA bill is eventually passed without retroactive immunity for the telecoms companies? Sure, it's highly possible that he'll veto it.
But then, he doesn't get any kind of FISA, which would put him in a worse position than he wants to be in. It's possible that he could sign it, and then push for retroactive immunity in a separate bill.
Frankly, though, it doesn't matter what authority Bush has or doesn't have de jure. He does what he feels like doing, the law be damned.
woo-hoo! this is great news. I'm sure it's not over, but I'm surprised that Reid capitulated so fast. Oh, wait... it's Harry Reid. I guess a quick capitulation should be expected.
Note to other Democrats: Try leading. It's easy if you have principles.
why does harry reid force a democrat to filibuster, but won't force the repugs to filibuster?
why does harry reid permit a republican to put a 'hold' on a bill but won't honor a 'hold' by a democrat?
reid is like having LIEberman as the majority leader. speaking of which, why is LIEberman supporting a repug and not feeling any consequences?
nevermind!
Bobby @ 128:
It's strange that you would write this today. After I heard that Lieberman endorsed McCain this morning, mostly for his foreign policy stance, I had that exact same thought.
Meanwhile, it's too bad that we don't have a virtual locker room to pour champagne on the heads of all the participants in today's impressive win over Telecom amnesty. Congratulations to Chris Dodd, Crooks and Liars, Glenn Greenwald, FireDogLake, Russ Feingold, Ted Kennedy, just to name a few, and of course, the progressive activists that made all this possible.
It seems that Harry Reid isn't deaf after all! I would have loved to see Chris Dodd's expression when Harry Reid announced this.
Please don't forget to contribute something to Senator Dodd's Campaign if you can.
The whole scandal of retroactive immunity is far from over, but this is a major battle won.
I have to admit, when I read the news headline elsewhere, it's the first time I can EVER remember pumping my fist and saying a quiet "Yes." in response to a news report, much less one about politics.
There was a really nice attaboy on the Dodd website for C&L, FDL, and Huffpo acknowledging our efforts in helping to promote Sen. Dodd's filibuster.
The efforts of a small group of determined people to change the world cannot be underestimated. To paraphrase Winston Churchill---"We shall never surrender."
warning about the fisa in either form:
it gives boosh unlimited surveillance powers wither way!
senator dodd did his job. it's not like he deserves a pay raise.
and if he authorized iraq he certainly doesn't earn my vote in the democratic primary.
Wow. Dodd is really sharp. I don't know how long he head to talk, but he sounded more coherent than any of the bush administration on their best days ever. This filibuster speech, just a little something he whipped up, sounded way better than most of the speeches we hear on the floor by anyone. This guy is brilliant. I wish he was doing better in the polls. He didn't do this in order to get a bump in the polls (he's nowhere near enough to the top for it to be an issue for him). he didn't do it for press coverage. He did this because he's doing his job. Because maybe he's part of a dying breed, the last Americans to ever really stand up and take a risk for this America of ours. Hat's off, Senator Dodd. Hat's off to you.
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