FISA And The Senate

  Okay, so we finally got our representatives to do the right thing for once and to vote " nay " on cloture of this piece of legislation. So the debate, which Republicans did not want, will continue. This is a good thing, but, what comes next?

  Now that all of the progressive blogs and other organizations who rounded up hundreds of thousands of citizens who called their Representatives and voiced their opinions have all patted themselves on their backs, myself included, it is time for a reality check.

  The Democrats in the Senate managed to embarrass and humiliate Resident Bush and the rest of those communist GOPers, which is great. Even poor old Senator Mitch McConnell (KY) went cowering off into the darkness after realizing that his cloture bullshit was not going to happen. McConnell is, unfortunately, my representative and it was a great day to watch this piece of shits tactics go down in flames.

  So what will the Dems in the Senate do now. I am of the opinion that the only reason the Democrats stopped cloture on the FISA Bill was because they got pissed off that the Republicans wouldn't allow any debate or votes on the Amendments that Dems wanted added to this bill. I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it. Senator Reid is the one I am concerned about since he has supported the telecom amnesty part of this bill from the beginning. I doubt that voters changed his mind one bit.

  The FISA extension  may expire this week and we will no doubt then have maybe 30 days of debating, discussion, and then probably capitulation on part of the Democrats.   Just my thoughts.

   We can't let up on our Senators on either side of the aisle. We should continue to email, fax, call or visit them to let them know that telecom amnesty is not an option in any way, shape, or form. The Progressives/Democrats have the momentum and we should make damned sure that it stays this way. Don't slack off now because WE, THE PEOPLE  proved that we can be a force to deal with!!

Technorati Tags: FISA, Senate, telecom amnesty, Democrats, Congress

Mitch McConnell's Cloture Vote Loses:FISA Debate To Continue!!

  From  DK

Update 5: Cloture defeated by a vote of 48 ayes to 45 nays! Debate continues on the FISA bill. Take a bow, this is a tremendous victory and a big humiliation for Bush and his Republican enablers. - smintheus
Update 6: Now the Senate is proceeding to the second cloture vote, this time to vote on a bill to extend the current temporary FISA bill for 30 days beyond its expiration date on Feb. 5. Republicans are trying to block cloture on this bill. McConnell was blubbering on the floor that the bill is no good because Bush has threatened to veto it. He doesn't seem to realize that there are a lot of Dems who'd like to call Bush's bluff: If Bush vetoes the extension, then it shows he doesn't think the FISA bill is essential - or else he cares more about giving telecoms amnesty than he does about protecting America. - smintheus
Update 7: The second cloture vote fails as well (by the same margin, 48 'aye', 45 'nay'). So we're back to debating the original bill. - smintheus

  I would say the the voices of the American citizens has been heard in the United States Senate by some true " Patriots " for once! And it is about fucking time!

   We did have one Democrat who voted  " nay " but then changed her vote to " aye". That would have been Mary Landrieu. I guess that her spine needed some more vacation time.

  That crying sound that you hear is both George Bush and Dick Cheney, down in his bunker.

   CORRECTION: There were actually 4 Democrats who voted on the Republican side. They were Senators Pryor, Ben Nelson, Lincoln, and Landrieu.

Technorati Tags: Mitch McConnell, FISA, cloture vote, George Bush, Mary Landrieu