MyDD :: Only 15 Senators refuse to give in to Bush/Cheney on FISA

Only 15 Senators refuse to give in to Bush/Cheney on FISA

by btchakir, Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:14:19 AM EST

On Thursday, the United State Senate voted overwhelmingly to advance a legislative compromise on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, marking the beginning of the end of a fierce battle over civil liberties and national security that has been waged in the halls of Congress for more than three years.

In the end, only 15 U.S. Senators were willing to resort to procedural tactics as a last ditch effort to hold up the legislation. The list of those who voted against cloture included:

Joseph Biden, DE
Barbara Boxer, CA
Sherrod Brown, OH
Maria Cantwell, WA
Chris Dodd, CT
Dick Durbin, IL
Russ Feingold, WI
Tom Harkin, IA
John Kerry, MA
Frank Lautenberg, NJ
Patrick Leahy, VT
Robert Menendez, NJ
Bernie Sanders, VT
Chuck Schumer, NY
Ron Wyden, OR
"It's the most embarrassing failure of the Democrats I've seen since 2006, other than the failure to vote to end the Iraq war," said Russ Feingold. And as a Democrat I find this unbelievable as well. I've seen the list of Representatives who got big payouts from the telecom industry. The list of Senators will likely be forthcoming.

What this really proves is that no matter who is elected, liberal or conservative, it is up to the people to hold their feet to the fire and not forget what they have burdened us with when elections roll around. Unfortunately we have to bite our tongues and hold on to get the Republicans out... but we must still remember this vote and be aware of what we are going to do in the future.

Under The LobsterScope

Tags: FISA, telecoms, national security (all tags)

Permalink :: 20 Comments :: Post a Comment

Dammit, Amy. (2.00 / 1)

I've been writing Amy Klobuchar on this for a long time. I expected more from her; she's a law enforcement type.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:45:15 AM EST

Present? (2.00 / 1)

Did Obama vote present?

by gaf on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:54:15 AM EST

Re: Present? (none / 0)

No, he wasn't there, as were Clinton and McCain were not either. nice try at trollfoolery, though

by Dog Chains on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 11:07:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Present? (2.00 / 1)

Does Sen. Obama do this alot? Vote present or not at all? A no vote or a yes vote with explanation would be good. But not to show up. No excuse for any of them.

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 11:19:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Present? (2.00 / 1)

I should think that it would show the new change in leadership to have taken the lead on this issue. To bite your tongue or hide now? What will they do if elected?

That's the thing in the executive branch. You can't hide behind your "grandmother's skirts" or in the throng.

To be a leader means to be out there leading.

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 11:23:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Present? (none / 0)

Or to not take the bait for something your going to lose on anyways. kind of like throwing out your star pitcher in game 3 of the playoffs of a 19-1 blowout loss instead of waiting to use him in what could be a more competitive game 4. because that vote making it 80-16 would have made all the difference in the world, right?

by Dog Chains on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 11:38:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Present? (2.00 / 1)

Take the bait?

Oh Lawdy, You're kidding.

No.

It's just one of many issues that a Senator is required to vote on day in and day out in their job as Senator. The citizens of Illinois, Arizona, and New York have "selected" these three Senators to act as their voice. Make the vote. I thought this was about NOT playing a game but instead acting like a grown up. He casts the vote for them. Kind of like he has their proxy. If he wants to participate in the game that's done before the vote. But then they still vote. If they don't they've denied their citizens their voice. That is the job NOW. They don't have the presidency now they are Senators.

All this compromise looks an whole lot like old politics as usual not change.

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:17:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Present? (none / 0)

Also I posted this "down stream" but I wanted to mention this here too.

"Considering the bruhaha that has just gone on when you mention the 'yes' vote for the Iraq war that Sen. Clinton cast? I think that this conversation is more than a bit self serving.

Remember. How dare Sen. Clinton vote for the Iraq invasion. Where were her morals? Sen Obama was against it from the beginning, he wouldn't bow to pressure of an inevitable vote. He would take the high road to Sen. Clinton's pragmatic, "well it's going to pass with or without me, if I vote yes here I won't look soft on terrorism and it will help me get elected as the First female president, After all winning is the important thing." She was called calculating and coniving. When Sen. Clinton supporters mentioned she was highly qualified to be president or VP, Sen.Obama's folks always waved the "...but she voted to invade Iraq flag. That's against our Dem. beliefs." Wow Sen. Obama supports were quick to show Sen. Clinton's supporters the moral high ground. Over and over this vote for the invasion was offered as evidence that she lacked morals and couldn't even be good enough to be cheerleader for Team Obama.

Now he's doing the same thing and its all about being pragmatic. LOL "

It's game playing you're supporting. I'm wondering who the biggest 'game player' is.

Now about the Dem Party ticket. Tell me again how Sen. Clinton doesn't belong on it because of her "cynical, manipulative vote for the Iraq invasion".

LOL

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:35:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This vote was to protect Rockefeller, Reid, etc... (2.00 / 1)

I STILL think Democrats are terrified of being portrayed as "soft" on terrorism?

But, I also think, a lot of pressure was brought to bear by the party hiearchy to help "bury the bodies"....

Look at my state: Maria C. is to the right of Patty Murray, but Patty voted to support the bill?

Patty is much higher up in the system, I think she voted to protect Reid, Rockefeller, etc....

"Either you're the butcher Or the lamb but even so, Everybody pays as they go-Jakob Dylan"

by WashStateBlue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 11:48:17 AM EST

Re: This vote? LOL Tell me a story???? (none / 0)

Funny. I should think their bigger fear would be to appear "soft" on civil liberties.

You know they used to be worried about civil liberties. I'd bet it's those civil liberty issues that have been making folks Libertarians and Independents. They're looking at both the Republican and Democrats and saying, "Wha the heck? More like politicians playing games with my life and my tax dollars. Where's the folks who's supposed to represent me in the US Legislature?"

So what happened to leadership here. Now in General Election the Dem Party is asked to do the same thing they crusified Sen. Clinton for doing?

Hang on. I'm going to make up some pop corn and ice tea. Going to get in my comfey chair. Forget paying 4 buck for gas, 5 bucks for the pop corn and another 2 bucks for soda. Oh and 8 bucks for a movie ticket. This is the real summer block buster. For free. LOL whose that guy, Chris Angel, the one who levetates? LOL See. Sen Obama and the rest of the US Senators perform a miracle by ..." LOL LOL LOL

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:47:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Only 15 Senators (none / 0)

Yay! My senator voted no (Cantwell). Good for her for sticking up for us. I am going to have to write and thank her.

Sucks that is passed though - no big surprise.

by JustJennifer on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 12:30:58 PM EST

She is my (none / 0)

Senator also... but what about Patty Murray?!

I am really pissed about this!

When will we all decide that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?! When will we rise up in the streets and say "I AM MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!"?

What will it take?!

Washington Woman
theocracywatch.org
EENR Blog

by kevin22262 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:29:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: She is my (none / 0)

My take is, Patty is WAY UP in the heirarchy, she probably knows that Reid, Rockefeller, a BUNCH of the high-mucky-mucks signed off on ALL of Cheney's dark side agenda right after 9/11.

They all were in on the torture, the rendition, the wire-tapping...Probably even worse, stuff we may never know about?

Remember the blind hysteria right post 9/11?

They have to make this go away, if someone drags the telcos into court, it will come out, all the DEMS signed off on this stuff early on.

Patty is too liberal to go this way, unless she she is helping the bodies stay buried.

"Either you're the butcher Or the lamb but even so, Everybody pays as they go-Jakob Dylan"

by WashStateBlue on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:54:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: She is my (none / 0)

Uhmm How's Rep. Pelosi's on going battle for impeachment? I hear she's up for reelection this Nov. along with every other Representative in the US House. Every. Single. One. and 1/3 of the Senate too.

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:20:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If Hilllary HADN'T dropped out - - (2.00 / 1)

and was still in it - -
don't you honestly think they BOTH would have been in DC to vote against FISA?
Sometimes, there's a definite benefit to a long campaign . . .

John McCain says he would stay in Iraq for 100 years? That's crazy talk!

by kosnomore on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 01:12:42 PM EST

Re: If Hilllary HADN'T dropped out - - (none / 0)

Considering the bruhaha that has just gone on when you mention the 'yes' vote for the Iraq war that Sen. Clinton cast? I think that this conversation is more than a bit self serving.

Now he's doing the same thing and its all about being pragmatic. LOL

by 12 dogs and a blog on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:30:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Again, the longer the campaign went on - - (none / 0)

the longer they BOTH had to play to their base and do what we wanted.
To those like kos, josh, et al who wished it was over - - - don't wish too hard . . .

John McCain says he would stay in Iraq for 100 years? That's crazy talk!

by kosnomore on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:08:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Only 15 Senators refuse to give in to Bush/Che (none / 0)

BO didn't show?

How do I justify supporting him?

Obama, thy name is waffle:
On DC handgun ban.
On FISA.
On campaign finance.

Or is turn-coat a better description.

Change you can believe in? HA!!!

by M1513 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 01:21:37 PM EST

15 Senators (none / 0)

Joe Biden was on the right side!

I hope that people will be a little kinder to him in future.

"There are two kinds of statistics: the kind you look up and the kind you make up" --Rex Stout

by LIsoundview on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:40:27 PM EST

Re: Only 15 Senators refuse to give in on FISA (none / 0)

Glad to see one of my Senators (Boxer) still has some integrity.

Thanks for posting this info. It's important that we all know what cowards we've elected, and it's sad that diaries like this that are actually about something important get so little attention around here these days.

by LakersFan on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:50:07 PM EST

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