Cross-posted at Brendan calling
CQ: Surveillance Bill Will Go to Senate Floor Next Month
Tim Starks of Congressional Quarterly reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to bring the Senate’s surveillance bill up for floor debate in mid-November. That’s despite the hold that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) plans to place on the measure — something first reported by Election Central’s Greg Sargent.
The Senate intelligence committee is still marking up the bill behind closed doors, according to staffers. A joint statement from committee leaders Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Kit Bond (R-MO) will follow when the mark-up concludes, but that may not occur today.
“Hello, Senator Harry Reid’s office,” said the young woman on the other end. [more…]
It was strange she was working there so late: it was at least 6:15 PM. I identified myself and told the young woman in no uncertain terms that Harry Reid needs to back off.
“I am one of thousands of Americans who called Senator Dodd to urge him to do this,” I said. “This bill is an egregious violation of Americans’ civil and Fourth Amendment rights, and Harry Reid is on the wrong side of history right now.
“Why is he trying to undermine a fellow Democrat anyway? I mean, it’s no secret that the bill’s author Jay Rockefeller is a huge beneficiary of AT&T’s largesse, but why should Americans have their rights taken from them because the Senator’s friends are in hot water?”
“I’ll pass your message along sir.” -CLICK-
And look how friendly Senator Reid is with AT&T. $22,000? They may rank donor number 17, but their contribution to the Majority Leader is far greater than what they give to their lackey Mr. Rockefeller! Are things beginning to come together now?
Is it beginning to make sense why the Senate can’t seem to stop this President’s insanity? Why we can’t seem to get past this problem of warrantless surveilance?
The Majority Leader, it seems, loves his contributors more than he loves the Constitution.
Maybe you should drop Specter and take up Reid.
Oh, that scroteless s.o.b has been on my list for a long time. Ever since habeas at least.
I don’t know why anyone buys his schtick. He’s a fair weather friend at best.
my letter to my senator, sent this afternoon:
Dear Senator Reid,
I couldn’t have been more encouraged to learn that Senator Chris Dodd had placed a hold on the heinous compromise FISA bill crafted yesterday by the Senate, a bill that grants retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies for their work illegally assisting an already criminal government to spy on its citizens.
I am deeply troubled by the many attacks on our United States Constitution that have been the hallmark of the Bush dministration. There are many serious issues facing our country, but none of them, I am convinced, are as critical as the on-going constitutional crisis, a crisis so severe it threatens the very existence of our democratic republic.
I have been equally concerned that none of the 2008 presidential candidates, with the occasional exception of Senator Dodd, have had the wisdom or the courage to speak out forcefully about our dire straits as a nation. That Senator Dodd is drawing a line in the sand by putting a hold on the shameful Senate FISA bill is a small ray of light in a very dark landscape.
I expect, Senator Reid, that you will take a cue about your own leadership from Senator Dodd, and use every means at your disposal to halt the shredding of our constitution and the abrogation of every premise upon which our nation was built. It’s time for you and every Senate Democrat to take your oath of office seriously and make the protection and preservation of the United States Constitution your first priority.
Sincerely,
AT&T is the new Enron. Hopefully they’ll end up about as well regarded.