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Senator Chris Dodd, Constitutional Champion

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), who along with Russ Feingold has been the fiercest defender of Constitutional rights, took to the floor last night to deliver a two-hour impassioned speech in defense of the rule of law, and offered a scathing critique of the sham FISA bill about to become law.

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"Mr President, I had hoped that I would not have to come to the floor under these circumstances again. I've fought this with everything I have in me. Today we are being asked to pass the so-called compromise that was reached by some of our colleagues and approved by the other body, the House of Representatives. I'm here this evening to say that I will not and I can not support this legislation. This legislation goes against everyhting I've stood for, everything this body ought to stand for in my view."

I'm somewhat of a CSPAN junkie, but Dodd's sincere respect and concern for this country's sacred principles and his passionate defense last night of those principles was the most uplifting yet depressing thing I have ever seen; uplifting because it proved to me that there are leaders out there who still give a damn, but depressing because, with rare exceptions, he is alone. When the history of the Bush years is written and future generations look back and wonder how we sank so low, how an abject failure like George W. Bush successfully transformed our national character, at least we can look back to times like these and know that there were some true patriots sounding the alarm.

Glenn Greenwald sums up the floor speech thusly:

Chris Dodd went to the Senate floor last night to speak against the FISA bill and delivered one of the most compelling and inspired speeches by a prominent politician that I've heard in quite some time. He tied the core corruption of the FISA bill's telecom amnesty and warranltess eavesdropping provisions into the whole litany of the Bush administration's lawless and destructive behavior over the last seven years -- from torture and rendition to the abuse of secrecy instruments and Guantanamo mock trials -- with a focus on the way in which telecom amnesty further demolishes the rule of law among our political class.

YouTube NCDem has another great clip:

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115 Comments
Rick Mack's picture

It's not just the fault of the "Bush year's", though they certainly created and forced us into the debacle we currently find ourselves in. But right beside him and the neocons are us - the American people. Who would not, en masse, rise up and put a stop to this while it was right there in front of us day after day, time after time. NO ONE seems to care.

Sven's picture

Dodd proving once again that, like Trek films, half of CT's Senators don't suck.

Ghost of Nuremburg's picture

Chris Dodd... isn't he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

Devil of a Time's picture

What does Countrywide and the subprime scandal have to do with the Constitution?

♠Bangkok Bob♥'s picture

Rick Mack @ 1:

It's not just the fault of the "Bush year's", though they certainly created and forced us into the debacle we currently find ourselves in. But right beside him and the neocons are us - the American people. Who would not, en masse, rise up and put a stop to this while it was right there in front of us day after day, time after time. NO ONE seems to care.

Rick, you are spot on. The USA is supposed to be a country run by its own people, but if those people wont even take the time to go into the streets with signs, or organize groups to go out and protest or go door to door to get people together, then that is what you have, a group of lazy citizens who don't care enough about their own rights and Laws to stand up and defend them.

NoBuddy's picture

It's an interesting concept that consequences for violating the Constitution can be legislated aside. Without consequences for violating the Constitution, the Constitution isn't worth the paper it's written on.

We have truly become a nation of men, and not of law.

♠Bangkok Bob♥'s picture

NoBuddy @ 6:

It's an interesting concept that consequences for violating the Constitution can be legislated aside. Without consequences for violating the Constitution, the Constitution isn't worth the paper it's written on.

We have truly become a nation of men, and not of law.

Girlie-men as Schwarzenegger would say.

♠Bangkok Bob♥'s picture

I just read in the San Francisco Chronicle that the City of SF is going to name a Sewage Plant after GWB ... Very Apropos !

karl's picture

♠Bangkok Bob♥ @ 8:

I just read in the San Francisco Chronicle that the City of SF is going to name a Sewage Plant after GWB ... Very Apropos !

that's what he gets they're bitter and want their constitution back

Mickxotic's picture

Okay; I dunno if he was a schnook re: loans...etc. But here's a guy who took an oath to defend the Constitution - and that's what he's doing! Hey B.B.! Some of us do get out on the street and protest right in front of McCain's office here in Phoenix. With bagpipes and drums! (not that we'll ever get any media coverage)

Impeach cheney and bush's picture

I am truly amazed that the dems are so cowardly with a prez with the lowest ratings since Nixon. When will they learn they are the majority? Can't they brow-beat the dem-lites to fall into line? Then with the northern senators they can beat this invasion of our rights against the republicans suffering from brains made of sh*t
or not.

karl's picture

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 3:

Chris Dodd... isn't he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

innocent until proven guilty..........that part of the constitution

Anonymous's picture

Is that you Sean Hannity?

Ruling Class  Rou's picture

Dodd is better than most of the scum in DC. Very, very few don't have some sort of connection to sweetheart deals with companies looking to gain influence. DC is like whore house. No one practices abstinence for long.

Ghost of Nuremburg's picture

Let's see, Dodd serves on a Senate committee with oversight of companies like Countrywide, yet accepts a sweetheart loan deal from Countrywide, which he has admitted to - though he denies he knew he was getting favorable treatment (on advice of counsel, no doubt).

My point: Pledging to uphold the Constitution is pledging to uphold the laws of the land that you legislate as part of your Constitutional duties.

Dodd may or may not have broken the law, but he certainly appears sleazy.

Snowball's picture

Just remember the good ones like Dodds and Feingold when generically trashing the Democrats, K?

If Nader and Green party supporters put as much effort into electing progressive Democrats as they do trashing the Democratic party, we'd have a real Progressive party in the Democrats.

Stop squandering your energy into roads to nowhere.

Kimberly's picture

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 3:

Chris Dodd... isn't he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

Whether Dodd got "VIP" treatment above and beyond what all the legislators get - and it doesn't seem to indicate that he granted Countrywide any special favors in return - your accusation has virtually no bearing on what Dodd is speaking about. Unlike Tom DeLay who DID break laws but is still not being held to account for them, Dodd hasn't been, nor is he "about to be" indicted.

Typical Rightwing tactic, though, to distract from the issue at hand with a nonsense comment.

ken martin's picture

if those that took the oath of office decide to forsake that oath and are they still government officials I mean they are all traitors in my book for this

enigma4ever's picture

Dodd is amazing..and I wish he was on the VP short list ( I don't know if he is....)He rocked it..I might have to watch it again in the middle of the night ( yeah, another cspan junkie)......we do still have a Constitution somewhere....I hope we find again someday....

L.A. Confidential's picture

Americans have been bought off by gizmo's and internet access. Meanwhile Power does what it wants and says, this is what we're doing to you, this is what we're going to do to you, and we're pleased to announce there is nothing you can do about it.

Snowball's picture

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 14:

Let's see, Dodd serves on a Senate committee with oversight of companies like Countrywide, yet accepts a sweetheart loan deal from Countrywide, which he has admitted to - though he denies he knew he was getting favorable treatment (on advice of counsel, no doubt).

My point: Pledging to uphold the Constitution is pledging to uphold the laws of the land that you legislate as part of your Constitutional duties.

Dodd may or may not have broken the law, but he certainly appears sleazy.

May I point out the irony of a far right wing nut dredging up Nuremberg?

Oh, and can you prove conclusively that Dodd did anything wrong or differently than any other preferred customer but accept a loan? No.

Next!

carefulwiththatAXEeugene's picture

Snowball @ 15:

Just remember the good ones like Dodds and Feingold when generically trashing the Democrats, K?

If Nader and Green party supporters put as much effort into electing progressive Democrats as they do trashing the Democratic party, we'd have a real Progressive party in the Democrats.

Stop squandering your energy into roads to nowhere.

well said.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Snowball @ 19:

May I point out the irony of a far right wing nut dredging up Nuremberg?

Oh, and can you prove conclusively that Dodd did anything wrong or differently than any other preferred customer but accept a loan? No.

Next!

How many average people are chums with the CEO and get $75 Grand whacked off their mortgages just for being a bud?

carefulwiththatAXEeugene's picture

ok you get immunity, but we strip you of your monopoly.

how's that for a deal!!!!!

♠Bangkok Bob♥'s picture

Mickxotic @ 10:

Okay; I dunno if he was a schnook re: loans...etc. But here's a guy who took an oath to defend the Constitution - and that's what he's doing! Hey B.B.! Some of us do get out on the street and protest right in front of McCain's office here in Phoenix. With bagpipes and drums! (not that we'll ever get any media coverage)

That's good, but if there were enough of you to get the media attention etc. Maybe you need to take the protest down to the front of the newspaper group and TV Stations and block their entrances, then they will know you exist Just make sure you have your signs with you so they know why your disrupting.

With that, I'm outta here.
Ciao USA, keep up the fight.
Libertà

Ruling Class  Rou's picture

Dodd has a pretty good reputation so I'd be surprised if he looked the other way while Countrywide fucked the populace. Fact is the rich do get special treatment at banks ie preferential rates that we the schlubs of the world don't get. The sleaze factor is minimal. Btw, I work in the mortgage industry...alas...

carefulwiththatAXEeugene's picture

strip the cable companies and beer distributors of their monopoly too.

♠Bangkok Bob♥'s picture

Snowball @ 19:

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 14:

Let's see, Dodd serves on a Senate committee with oversight of companies like Countrywide, yet accepts a sweetheart loan deal from Countrywide, which he has admitted to - though he denies he knew he was getting favorable treatment (on advice of counsel, no doubt).

My point: Pledging to uphold the Constitution is pledging to uphold the laws of the land that you legislate as part of your Constitutional duties.

Dodd may or may not have broken the law, but he certainly appears sleazy.

May I point out the irony of a far right wing nut dredging up Nuremberg?

Oh, and can you prove conclusively that Dodd did anything wrong or differently than any other preferred customer but accept a loan? No.

Next!

Especailly when we have people in office that (may) be tried as War Criminals and never be able to leave the US again.

solid's picture

"at least we can look back to times like these and know that there were some true patriots sounding the alarm."

Few. Very few. Very, very few.

Kudos to Dodd and Feingold. Most others, not so much.

karl's picture

until dodd is proven guilty regarding the countrywide loan
i'm going to stick with the glass is half full...this guy voiced our/his opinion regarding the constitution..i salute him for that.......i'm going to live in real time.

Ruling Class  Rou's picture

Snowball @ 15:

>Just remember the good ones like Dodds and Feingold when generically trashing >the Democrats, K?

>If Nader and Green party supporters put as much effort into electing progressive >Democrats as they do trashing the Democratic party, we’d have a real >Progressive party in the Democrats.

>Stop squandering your energy into roads to nowhere.

Well some of us have lost all faith in the dems as a party. There are some good ones but the leadership has colluded with the criminals. Fuck'em

well said.

Trittydi's picture

I really, really love these guys.
*

Ruling Class  Rou's picture

Okay Dodd recieved below market rates( about 1 to 2 %) on a townhouse worth 500K and another property worth 275K. This is peanuts.

chris [not the troll]'s picture

Has anybody been able to offer up an explanation for how we, the citizens, are safer if the 4th Amendment is repealed? Of course it would make the Federal government safer, just like the govt would be safer if this were a dictatorship. This bill protects the government, not the citizens. Not a single one of us.

what of the 94 people who changed their vote after receiving a measley $2G each?

breakspear's picture

And recall folks that the way each party voted in the House on this legislation was very telling in and of itself also: Dems were split, showing clear ideology or re-election or principle, but the Republicans ALL (with one exception) voted FOR it. in lock step. WHERE WERE THEIR PRINCIPLES? not one objected to anything, at least enough to not vote for it. amazing, yet not really, as ive come to expect this from the GOP. everything is political, including our rights and civil liberties being cast aside like trash. party first and the country second, if that. it is that simple.

tuddies's picture

I was laughing when Dodd ran for president. I'm not laughing now. He has really put an extended effort into fighting an already questionable bit of legislation - FISA.

As the first poster, Rick Mack, astutely pointed out, it is not exclusively the current regime's fault that the Constitution is being shredded and nullified. Bush has certainly compressed a lot of damage into a short time-frame, but this trend has been going on for a good bit of time. The reality of this situation is that damaging legislation will be ressurected until it is passed.

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 3:
asshat comments like that belie the fact that dodd had a rate based on a good credit rating. but non thinkers will spew the accusation as proof of presumed guilt.

Ruling Class  Rou's picture

"what of the 94 people who changed their vote after receiving a measley $2G each?"

I think it's called a handjob.

BennyP's picture

I think it has become abundantly clear that, outside of a VERY few members, the Democratic Party can no longer be seriously excluded from the criticisms against the current administration.

I will be voting for Green, Progressive and/or Socialist candidates.

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 14:
there are places like the CREW website where you can get substantiation. take your troll as elsewhere. pretty please.

No. 44's picture

One of the most important issues of our time.

We cannot lose this fight!

Thank you, Chris Dodd!

Thank you, Russ Feingold!

enough's picture

♠Bangkok Bob♥ @ 5:

Rick Mack @ 1:

It's not just the fault of the "Bush year's", though they certainly created and forced us into the debacle we currently find ourselves in. But right beside him and the neocons are us - the American people. Who would not, en masse, rise up and put a stop to this while it was right there in front of us day after day, time after time. NO ONE seems to care.

Rick, you are spot on. The USA is supposed to be a country run by its own people, but if those people wont even take the time to go into the streets with signs, or organize groups to go out and protest or go door to door to get people together, then that is what you have, a group of lazy citizens who don't care enough about their own rights and Laws to stand up and defend them.

I refuse to believe that every American Citizen needs to go into the streets to have a lawful government. I do believe that our representatives in congress should uphold their oaths to support the constitution. Today 80 senators said they don't give a crap. Only a third of them are up for reelection this year. Citizens do need to find out who they are voting for and get rid of those they can.

And a president who cares more about all of the people and not just the right wing military industrial powers would be nice. Good luck with that.

Snowball's picture

Dodd certainly is not my favorite Democrat on corporate issues (that would be Byron Dorgan) but he is good on civil liberties and foreign policy. Every politician is a mixed bag and, like any other human being, ultimately will act in their self interest. If Countrywide offered you a good deal on a mortgage, can you honestly say you would turn it down? To be corruption, you would have to demonstrate there was a quid pro quo. I don't think there's any evidence of that here.

That aside, this is a troll's game of changing the issue. Attack the messenger and evade the issue at hand.

Dodd is right about FISA, no misdirection by a troll can change that.

VegasRage's picture

Spare the few honest legislators, why are we supporting the Democrats again? Pelosi and all the jelly fish Democrats has earned my contempt almost as much as Bush has. Piss them all, flush DC into the ocean and let's start fresh.

bob's picture

"what of the 94 people who changed their vote after receiving a measley $2G each?"

In case you wanted to know who they are:
http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08
.

Don Rumsfeld hater's picture

Dodd and Kucinich are true champions, but I'm not optomistic because the following criminals wield more power ; Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi and Nancy Pelosi.

bob @ 44:

"what of the 94 people who changed their vote after receiving a measley $2G each?"

In case you wanted to know who they are:
http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08
.

I saw it yesterday. I just don't want that huge fact lost.

JLee's picture

I've given a contribution for Dodd to help retire his campaign debt. Thank you Senator Dodd, for your principled stand.

breakspear @ 35:

And recall folks that the way each party voted in the House on this legislation was very telling in and of itself also: Dems were split, showing clear ideology or re-election or principle, but the Republicans ALL (with one exception) voted FOR it. in lock step. WHERE WERE THEIR PRINCIPLES? not one objected to anything, at least enough to not vote for it. amazing, yet not really, as ive come to expect this from the GOP. everything is political, including our rights and civil liberties being cast aside like trash. party first and the country second, if that. it is that simple.

the dems were split by monied interests.

harley's picture

Chris Dodd… isn’t he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

------------
Not only that - turns out Bank of America wrote the bill. Bank of America bought Countrwide on the cheap and are trying to get their "investment" back by the U.S. taxpayer.

Kathy's picture

“what of the 94 people who changed their vote after receiving a measley $2G each?”

That's just the tip of the iceberg. They got more. A lot more.

Snowball's picture

harley @ 49:

Chris Dodd… isn’t he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

------------
Not only that - turns out Bank of America wrote the bill. Bank of America bought Countrwide on the cheap and are trying to get their "investment" back by the U.S. taxpayer.

The answer to your question would be no. But thanks for trying to distract from the issue at hand, which would be your idiot Conservative savior Bush illegally spying on American citizens.

CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Democratic Party Victory Over DIEBOLD! @ 48:

breakspear @ 35:

And recall folks that the way each party voted in the House on this legislation was very telling in and of itself also: Dems were split, showing clear ideology or re-election or principle, but the Republicans ALL (with one exception) voted FOR it. in lock step. WHERE WERE THEIR PRINCIPLES? not one objected to anything, at least enough to not vote for it. amazing, yet not really, as ive come to expect this from the GOP. everything is political, including our rights and civil liberties being cast aside like trash. party first and the country second, if that. it is that simple.

the dems were split by monied interests.

courtesy of maplight.

Johnny2Bad's picture

Dodd does have some huevos.. Good on him.

I do believe that the Constitution prohibits any law which ex-post facto legalizes any act. No law can be retroactive. Thus immunity is Unconstitutional, if it immunizes any act heretofore illegal. If it was illegal when it was committed, it remains a crime.

Snowball's picture

Nancy Pelosi needs a viable challenger in the next election. How about it Act Blue?

harley's picture

51 Snowball Says: harley @ 49:

Chris Dodd… isn’t he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

————
Not only that - turns out Bank of America wrote the bill. Bank of America bought Countrwide on the cheap and are trying to get their “investment” back by the U.S. taxpayer.

The answer to your question would be no. But thanks for trying to distract from the issue at hand, which would be your idiot Conservative savior Bush illegally spying on American citizens.

--------------

The bill to that has been derided as the "Bank of America bailout" is pushing forward on Capitol Hill. This morning the bill got the sixty votes needed to limit debate, ending any possibility for a filibuster against it.

The bill would create a multi-billion dollar mortgage refinancing fund, providing a huge financial windfall to mortgage lenders with risky loans. Countrywide, the nation's largest mortgage lender, was recently acquired by Bank of America. Banking committee chairman Chris Dodd, who sponsored the bill, has come under fire for accepting sweetheart loans from Countrywide. Bank of America executives have recently contributed tens of thousands of dollars to his campaign fund.

http://dealbroker.com/2008/06/housing_bailout_bill_moves_clo.php

Unsean's picture

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 14:

Let's see, Dodd serves on a Senate committee with oversight of companies like Countrywide, yet accepts a sweetheart loan deal from Countrywide, which he has admitted to - though he denies he knew he was getting favorable treatment (on advice of counsel, no doubt).

My point: Pledging to uphold the Constitution is pledging to uphold the laws of the land that you legislate as part of your Constitutional duties.

Dodd may or may not have broken the law, but he certainly appears sleazy.

You're like a broken record on the Countrywide thing, and are clearly trying to distract from the issue at hand. No one–please prove me wrong. I know you can't but I thought that I would put it out there–said that Senator Dodd was going to be indicted around the Countrywide matter.

Now, if you can get back to Senator Dodd being one of the only senators defending the Constitution...

JamesR's picture

If San Francisco name a sewage plant after GWB then the least they could do is include our own, do nothing but back GWB, Dianne Feinstein. Maybe Bush/Feinstein sewage, united we can deliver shit to anyone.

harley's picture

How can I get a sweet rock bottom interest refi of my mortgage?

Become a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Animal Farm is like a blue print.

WILD MAGNOLIA's picture

WILL SOMEONE CALL OUT THE SUBCHAPTER AND PARAGRAPH THAT GIVES TELCO IMMUNITY?

karl's picture

karl @ 12:

Ghost of Nuremburg @ 3:

Chris Dodd... isn't he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal? I guess he picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution to uphold.

innocent until proven guilty..........that part of the constitution

i'm going to stick with innocent until proven guilty

Don Rumsfeld hater's picture

“what of the 94 people who changed their vote after receiving a measley $2G each?”

In case you wanted to know who they are:
http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08
.........................................
"There's a new congress in town." Nancy Pelosi

Video here : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/03/28/pelosi-to-bush-calm-dow_n_44454...

Nancy Pelosi is just so kick-ass, isn't she ?

Don Rumsfeld hater's picture

Conversation in 2009 :
Oh, did you hear ? The democrats decided to help McCain win the presidency so that they would not be perceived as weak on NATIONAL SECURITY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

karl's picture

i learned as a child you don't get everything you want and not long after that i learned you have to accept compromise........then you find out nobody is perfect......
this is a strategy that nobody on my side of thinking is happy with(FISA).....bit i've got my eye on the larger issue.......

chris [not the troll]'s picture

harley @ 60:

How can I get a sweet rock bottom interest refi of my mortgage?

Become a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Animal Farm is like a blue print.

Wow, dude! You are so right, why couldn't I see it before!! Just to make sure I'm understanding this: If he did something wrong in regards to a mortgage, it means he must also be wrong when he defends my Constitution. Brilliant!!

Ex-Canuck's picture

If I were a believer, I would now be saying "god help us as a country"!

David's picture

Sorry to rain on the parade here, but isn't Dodd the same guy who got a sweetheart loan from Countrywide Financial -- soon to be owned by Bank of America -- who is promoting legislation that will not only earmark monies for banks to clean up the mess they made, but will force all credit card transactions to be recorded and submitted to the federal government.

These guys are actors that don't give a damn about the constitution. How did Dodd vote on the Patriot Act, the HomeGrown Terrorist Act, etc. Seems to me his voting record, despite his posturing today, is pretty abismal overall despite his grandstanding today.

SlowBurn's picture

obama has no huevos . . .he will NEVER get my vote because of this (a constitutional scholar? not hardly!)

gitrdone's picture

Corporations and government spying on their own people with immunity...if this isn't a form of fascism, then what is?

karl's picture

your being a black and white thinker.....take another hit and check out the grey area of thinking.........you honestly don't think obama knows what's at stake here...
.....this is a compromise....that had to be made......i want bush gone and yes i'm concerned about the constitution.

huckflynn's picture

As soon as Dodd gets thrown in jail for his kickbacks from the mortgage giants, you can continue to sing his praises. Duh.

Jared Wolfhope's picture

GO FIGHT WIN!

VegasRage's picture

Hand Pelosi her hat, she has failed us. Don't ever tell the American people again you learned the lesson of the Midterm elections, *&^*!!&^! spineless disappointment.

LibertyLover's picture

Bob Bless Chris Dodd!

CEO,citizens,eyes,open's picture

Is this the same Chris Dodd who, bla,bla,bla, I don't give a shit if he killed somebody, who else has bothered to take a stand for our rights! I suspect a troll club of three in union, almost the same line of crap from all three, who know damn well, what may come to light if the law suits go forward and discovery motions are filed! Yea go after the guy who spit on the sidewalk and let the people who murdered folks off scott free, smells like troll dung in here tonight.-CEO

chris [not the troll]'s picture

karl @ 71:

your being a black and white thinker.....take another hit and check out the grey area of thinking.........you honestly don't think obama knows what's at stake here...
.....this is a compromise....that had to be made......i want bush gone and yes i'm concerned about the constitution.

They can't compromise away the 4th Amendment, it's not theirs to use as a bargaining chip in their circlejerk. It's MINE. And you should know that it's yours too. Apparently you don't give a shit. Yes, black and white thinking is the exact method to examine this because the process for proposing and ratifying an amendment IS BLACK AND WHITE.

p.s. ............

karl's picture

Ex post facto laws have long been considered anathema in free societies under rule of law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this, including in Article I section 9 of the Constitution that “No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” How is this FISA bill not a variation of ex post facto? That alone should give pause to supporters of this measure.
well there's where you have me beat i think in the grey area sorry about that i'm not too smart...and i do give a shxt...i didn't vote for bush and i don't like his policies they(R) had a majority legislative branch for most of his term. they have handed this senate/congress a mess in the name of democracy for iraq. now this legislative branch has a paper thin majority......once obama is in the white house i hope there will be pressure to reverse this measure.

FunMe's picture

Snowball @ 56:

Nancy Pelosi needs a viable challenger in the next election. How about it Act Blue?

EXCELLENT idea!

That political skank needs to be removed from office now!

Brad's picture

Heads should roll for this assault on our established liberties.

Jerry's picture

Just watched it all.

American needs more people like this, and it needs them now.

http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/4476

chris [not the troll]'s picture

Just checked my crystal ball, and it told me the next argument from harley will be:

well if you aren't a terrist why do you need all this privacy? as long as you aren't doing anything wrong who cares if they look at yuor email and phone calls and record all your internet traffic

Blaed's picture

Thank God for Chris Dodd!

and Fiengold too of course :)

Don Rumsfeld hater @ 64:

Conversation in 2009 :
Oh, did you hear ? The democrats decided to help McCain win the presidency so that they would not be perceived as weak on NATIONAL SECURITY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah! it's called a Hairy Kerry!

we haven't really had 4th amendment rights since the fifties.
ask MLK, JFK, RFK, noxin, raygun, boosh1!

the one still breathing knows a helluva lot about why.
And he certainly won't trouble his beautiful mind worrying about it or you.

the last skunk's picture

I used to disagreed with much of what Dodd supported until he started championing the FISA fight for constitutional accountability, thank God there are a few Democrats still worth their spit.

Compromise Solution #2: retroactively publish all email, cell phone conversations, internet traffic records that were captured and analyzed in the NSA hubs of congressmen who vote for immunity. As J. Edgar Hoover always said "Justice is incidental to law and order."

Justices Bar Death Penalty for the Rape of a Child
By LINDA GREENHOUSE

The death penalty is unconstitutional as a punishment for the rape of a child, a sharply divided Supreme Court ruled.

Damages Cut Against Exxon in Valdez Case
By ADAM LIPTAK

The Supreme Court reduced what had once been a $5 billion punitive damages award against Exxon Mobil to about $500 million.

corporations uber alles!

For Iraqi Christians, Money Bought Survival
By ANDREW E. KRAMER

Protection money paid to insurgents became a secret complication of life for Iraq's Christian population.

WE CALL THEM INSURGENTS! Iraqis call them neighbors.

Afghans See Pakistan Role in Karzai Plot
By ABDUL WAHEED WAFA and GRAHAM BOWLEY

Afghan officials accused the Pakistani intelligence service of organizing a plot to assassinate President Hamid Karzai.

these war/occupation thingies are going so well.

Military Deaths By Time Period
Period US UK Other* Total Days Avg
Total 4110 176 137 4423 1924 2.3

6 1024 46 13 1083 511 2.12
5 933 32 20 985 412 2.39
4 715 13 18 746 318 2.35
3 580 25 27 632 216 2.93
2 718 27 59 804 424 1.9
1 140 33 0 173 43 4.02
*Fatalities by Nationality

case in point!

AFGHANISTAN:
Coalition Military Fatalities By Year
Year US Other Total

2008 56 57 113
2007 117 115 232
2006 98 93 191
2005 99 31 130
2004 52 6 58
2003 48 9 57
2002 49 20 69
2001 12 0 12
Total 531 331 862

Did we actually have a reason to start this one?

Strong Economy and Labor Shortages Are Luring Polish Immigrants Back Home
By CARTER DOUGHERTY

The trickle of reverse migration is likely to create opportunities and challenges for the Polish government.

nothing against poland, but weren't WE the country people would flock to to improve their economic prospects? just asking!

160 Arrested in Immigration Raid at a Houston Plant
By THAYER EVANS

Federal immigration agents arrested 160 employees in a raid
on a used clothing and rag exporting plant.
...................
Judge Rejects Bid to Let Police Check Immigration Status
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER

A Superior Court judge dismissed a California lawsuit seeking to end a police policy that prohibits officers from initiating contact with people for the sole purpose of learning their immigration status.

Fed Shifts Its Concern to Inflation
By LOUIS UCHITELLE

The decision to halt a stream of rate cuts signaled concern that rising oil prices will push up the costs of goods and services.

for a few seconds, let's pretend these fuckwads have a clue as to what they are supposed to be doing. times up.

Parties Split on How to Expand Offshore Drilling
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS

Republicans want to end the ban on offshore drilling, while Democrats want to force companies to speed up exploration in certain offshore areas that they already control.

the chinese should be taking notes on how capitalism completely corrupts government.

Anheuser to Reject InBev Offer
By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN

The board of the brewing company Anheuser-Busch is planning to reject InBev's unsolicited $46.4 billion takeover bid this week, people close to the company said.

our fascist promoting beer barons are getting lessons from the motherland on the price of getting what they wanted.

Laptop Searches in Airports Draw Fire at Senate Hearing
By AUSTIN BOGUES

Advocacy groups and legal experts told Congress that it was unreasonable for federal officials to search the laptops of United States citizens when they re-enter the country from
traveling abroad.

fuddled's picture

chris [not the troll] @ 76:

karl @ 71:

your being a black and white thinker.....take another hit and check out the grey area of thinking.........you honestly don't think obama knows what's at stake here...
.....this is a compromise....that had to be made......i want bush gone and yes i'm concerned about the constitution.

They can't compromise away the 4th Amendment, it's not theirs to use as a bargaining chip in their circlejerk. It's MINE. And you should know that it's yours too. Apparently you don't give a shit. Yes, black and white thinking is the exact method to examine this because the process for proposing and ratifying an amendment IS BLACK AND WHITE.

p.s. ............

Amen to that. Obama supporters are starting to sound like Bush supporters in that we just have trust our leaders. That's not democracy, not in the Federalist Papers, not in our Constitution.

Kay's picture

I am afraid to say that a good percentage of our members of Congress are there for their own personal prestige . . .they have forgotten that the "people" gave them their job and issue their pay check. After 7 1/2 years of this Administration concentrating on partisanship rather than country needs, the people have come to understand little will be accomplished and what is, is bad Bush policy!

Gary's picture

Oh sure, when Dodd follows the constitution he's a hero, when someone else does it, the left deems them a crazy person.

Paul's picture

This country is so fucked.

lj's picture

The worst lesson that the G. W. Bush administration has taught the Congress, and even the Supreme Court, is:

that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights can be subverted, and the People don't really care, or are too busy,

lazy, ignorant, or fatigued to do anything about it. If ever the draft was brought back we'd see thousands of

young, caring adults take to the streets! Until then just get used to life as it is.

liberalDAPofJUSTICEmoderation's picture

♠Bangkok Bob♥ @ 5:

Rick Mack @ 1:

It's not just the fault of the "Bush year's", though they certainly created and forced us into the debacle we currently find ourselves in. But right beside him and the neocons are us - the American people. Who would not, en masse, rise up and put a stop to this while it was right there in front of us day after day, time after time. NO ONE seems to care.

Rick, you are spot on. The USA is supposed to be a country run by its own people, but if those people wont even take the time to go into the streets with signs, or organize groups to go out and protest or go door to door to get people together, then that is what you have, a group of lazy citizens who don't care enough about their own rights and Laws to stand up and defend them.

The majority of Americans are so complacent, that unless something interferes with their ability to watch brain-rotting garbage on teevee, buy fast food, order pizza, and drive their gas hog suvs to the quicky mart for snacks to get their spoiled rotten little brat kids to shut the hell up... their mindset is.."is it really that bad?" Which is fucking pathetic. The corporations know this, the govt knows this, and together, they have, for all intents and purposes, put us all in the Matrix...blind to what's really goin on.

Our ancestors, who fought and died for this country would be proud. Way to go America...buncha lazy, fat, zombie fucktards!

liberalDAPofJUSTICEmoderation's picture

Gary @ 103:

Oh sure, when Dodd follows the constitution he's a hero, when someone else does it, the left deems them a crazy person.

Examples please....

ws84's picture

Chris Dodd… isn’t he about to be indicted for corruption for receiving favorable loans from Countrywide Financial, one of the major villains in the subprime mortgage scandal?

Could it be this just happened to come up about the time that FISA was coming up for a vote. Give the guy credit. He could have kept quiet and voted with the other cowards, but instead decided to stand up. How many of us would have done the same?

VegasRage's picture

Honestly it's this that should make all of us concerned, and unless presidential contenders acknowledge it, they will likely be a 1 term president.

Triple warnings this past week: the Royal Bank of Scotland fears a steep fall in the world stock market; the bank of all banks in the world, the BIS, Bank of International Settlements, in Switzerland, said that a worldwide depression is now a distinct possibility; Morgan Stanley, a leading American Investment firm, signaled similar pessimistic messages.

So what's happening out there? Frankly, all financial institutions are in deep trouble, and the reason is the American dollar. The situation is so dire that it's not going to make a hoot of difference who becomes the next president of the United States: it's beyond the power of the rulers of the American political and economic system to curtail severe damage to its entire economic enterprise. Neither Obama nor McCain can do anything to stem the disaster that will be fully employed by the end of this year.

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1087226
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/06/25/cncred...

Astro's picture

Thank you, Dodd. Thank you, Feingold. Thank you, majority of Dems who voted against this. Thanks for nothing, Obama. Go to Hell, Hoyer and Pelosi.

seth's picture

Karl says "i learned as a child you don’t get everything you want and not long after that i learned you have to accept compromise……..then you find out nobody is perfect……
this is a strategy that nobody on my side of thinking is happy with(FISA)…..bit i’ve got my eye on the larger issue……."

I'll have to think about exactly what logical fallacy you are employing here but in the meantime I'll explain it via an example. Someone breaks into your home and wants to kill your two children. Do you offer the ugly one as a compromise? No. There are certain things you do not compromise.

Cosmo's picture

Save the talk about Dodd’s sincere respect and concern for this country’s sacred principles. He also pretty much let Bank of America's lobbyists write portions of the "Homeowner Bailout" Bill. It is such a give away to mortgage laden banks that it is being mocked by Republican staffers as "the Bank of America bill on steroids."

erick's picture

Rick Mack :

please, like we can all afford to quit our jobs and drive to DC march on the capitol with pitchforks and torches...even if we did Cheney's thugs would ship your ass off to Guantanimo...the real time to stop this fucking madness was in 2000 when the Supreme Court decided to stop counting votes and gave us our fucking dictator so PLEASE don't blame my fucking ass for this god damned mess we're in.

keerist.

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