Sen. Chris Dodd spoke out against immunity for the telecoms on the Senate floor Monday night as they prepare to vote on the new FISA bill today and quoted our pal, Glenn Greenwald. (rough transcript)
Dodd: And the idea that this body would grant retroactive immunity in the face of these challenges and deny the courts an opportunity to determine at the mere request of a president….the major companies for years on end can sweep up—vacuum up to use the Church committees language, every telephone conversation, every fax , every email of millions and millions of Americans is a precedent I don’t think we would want to have left as part of our heritage in coming generations. And believe me they will look back to us…Constitutional lawyer and author Glenn Greenwald expressed the high stakes this way, Mr. President and I quote:
‘The Bush administration will be gone in eleven months, but in the absence of some meaning accountability all of this will remain. If these theories remain undisturbed and unchallenged. And all of these crimes go un-investigated and unpunished, that will have a profound impact on changing our national character and further transforming the type of country we are.’
Filed Under: Chris Dodd, NSA Wiretapping
Tags: Chris Dodd, FISA
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“…further transforming the type of country we are.”
Maybe it will just further change the perception of the type of country we are. Many used to believe this country stood for justice and democracy even though then (as now) that was a big lie.
Considering Dodd’s relevance in the presidential primaries, it’s not surprising at all to see him turning to the blogosphere for his material.
Watched Dodd speak on FISA amnesty for 2 and half hrs last night. Our Senate is using unity and will vote today to allow w to break the law again and give everyone involved amnesty.
So far, he has admitted torture, spying on Americans without a warrant and punked on WMD’s in Iraq.
The Dems have decided to not hold them accountable to win elections instead. Hope for the Dems to do the right thing, will be ended today.
If this is not broken government, what is?
Can ONE Senator make aa difference?
Way to go Glenn!
Senator Dodd: Just Do It.
Say it with me folks… “Fascist Dictatorship”.
Ruling by ‘whatever the hell the presidunce feels like’ is NOT acceptable. Bring back the rule of law and arrest the war criminals NOW.
Yup, yup…two words…DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. If the Bush Administration is left unchallenged and unaccountable for their eight year nightmare, how much farther will the next Administration go? We have already lost our right to privacy, the protections of Habeas Corpus, corporations are operating practically tax-free and are allowed to have major role in dictating Federal Law and Policy.
This man is the ONLY congress-critter who is really working hard to preserve our constitution and save our country from corporatism.
And if you remember your history, corporatism IS fascism, according to Il Duce himself.
I think that since Dodd was able to get out of the bubble while campaigning for President he was able to actually talk to real people. Only a few know that this government is broken and that this administration has sent this country back years, both morally and physically. The GOP IS BANKRUPT and they don’t care who they take with them as long as it isn’t a BUSH. Loyalty of party over country has ruined the GOP. We can’t count on Reid he is empty and Nancy is one of them.
Thank you Senator Dodd for keeping your word one of the few people whom you can still trust what they say.
I want to see the senate ditch Harry Reid and put Dodd in his place.
Otay @ 12:
They’d never do it. I get the feeling real leadership scares the hell out of them. They’re afraid the bullies might threaten to send them a nasty note again.
Dangerous precedent set by a dangerous president.
You have to admire Chris Dodd. He’s got the courage to not only talk about preserving our democracy and Constitution but to actually attempt to do it.
I really like the things Barrack Obama has to say and I want desperately to believe that change for the better will happen. At the same time, though, I don’t believe he can or will effect that change. Does anybody know if Obama and Clinton are there to support Dodd or are they on the campaign trail? If they’re not, what change do they really represent?
I love Chris Dodd. I’m sorry he dropped out of the race. He does a good job in the Senate though and is better able to serve there.
Our government is broken, plain and simple. That will be proved out today. It is hard to stay hopeful of real, positive change. Nothing will ever be uncovered and nobody will ever be held to account. Sad and devastating for our country.
This immunity deal strikes at the very heart of our democracy.
It eviscerates the Rule of Law.
It undermines the checks and balances that are the very lifeblood of our government.
It sends the unambiguous message:
Congress will serve corporations, not the people.
Shame on you, Congress. For shame!
Congress today is plunging a knife into the very heart of Democracy.
Yes, sir, Mr. President, whatever you say, sir. Protection for you and your lawbreaking allies is more important than the oath I took to defend the Constitution.
I just did a cursory look through both Clinton and Obama’s websites. Niether appears to mention FISA or Americans’ Constitutional rights. Maybe I need to take more time with each site to find their stand on this topic.
Right the freaking Dems will save us. Just like they ended this war when the voters put them back in the game in Congress.
Right, sure, uh huh.
xpj1000 @ 15:
Unlike Edwards, Hillary and Obama can’t even be bothered to speak out forcefully against telecom immunity. It’s too frightening to take on leadership skills, I imagine.
Have no doubt… the next Democratic president that has a GOP-controlled congress WILL BE IMPEACHED. They will do it, they are already planning to do it. It doesn’t matter what it will be about - maybe the price of a haircut.
If it was a republican leadership, they would find a way to get their way, even if they had to bribe everyone. I have to wonder how many of the Dems were wiretapped and are being blackmailed.
Ron @ 22:
Probably all of them. And none of them want to have their cozy jobs-free rides yanked out from underneath them.
Hi folks….
They’re voting for the Feinstein amendment right now…Cspan2…let’s see how it goes…
“further transforming the type of country we are.” is putting it pretty damn mildly! If they pass this we won’t have phones anymore and there will be all those nasty former telecom CEOs on the street corners begging. The ones that survive that is.
The anti-war sentiment seems to be pretty strong from my perspective in both the street and right here on C&L. It’s also pretty clear, that most if not all the ills this country currently faces, stem directly from the Iraq War.
So why did the 4 strongest antiwar candidates (Dodd, Kucinich, Gravel and Ron Paul) suffer thru such anemic support in the primaries ?
I suppose the answer lies in the very same criticism we place on Congress for talking a good game, but not showing up where the rubber meets the road.
xpj1000 @ 15:
They won’t be there.
xpj1000 @ 15:
I leave that to you.
ticktock @ 24:
Bush usually just signs a statement on any legislation that passes that doesn’t benefit the agenda.
“Null and Void due to National Security” . . . . GWB
L.A. Confidential @ 28:
And the Dems know it. Their just raking in our money and accomplishing NOTHING.
L.A. Confidential @ 23:
This is how EVERYONE in Washington is manipulated. They threaten them with their livelihood and all their worldly possessions. It’s also why the entire establishment hated Ross Perot, it would have been impossible to make him conform by threatening to take away his goodies, he already had plenty of toys and the resources to buy a hundred times as many.
L.A. Confidential @ 28:
Was just hoping the Senate wasn’t going to assist with his agenda…all we can hope for right now is that there is not enough votes for cloture…knew that this amendment wasn’t going to pass…
Chico @ 30:
Yes Indeed. They hold the wealth, we hold the debt.
They don’t want to join the ranks of us lowly debt holders either.
It would be very surprising if cloture doesn’t sail through, given that the debate is already under the control of a UC agreement.
Your hope (and letters & phone-calls) should be aimed at the House.
It’s a sad commentary on our country when we judge our leaders by the most incompetent, as opposed to the best and brightest.
“Not as bad as Bush.”
And judge the standards for impeachment in a similar way - multiple instances of lying to Congress, breaking the law … but no action. Of course, when a Democratic president steps wrong, the Republicans will be there in force.
(Egads. The CBS Early Show just ran a tease for a story about super siblings, and whether it’s a case of nature or nurture … and showed Peyton & Eli Manning, Venus & Serena Williams, and Jeb & George Bush.)
Chico @ 26:
If I had a nickel for every bedbug letter I got from Feinstein and Pelosi …
Yes call your Senators… but remember this day and when it comes time to donate to his senate race… Contribute!
Screw giving to the DCCC… give to candidates who vote responsibly like Senator Dodd, a true American hero!
Shadowgm @ 34:
Jeb and Geo. Bush, super siblings? GIVE ME A F**KING BREAK.
Rasputin @ 36:
Frankly I’m tired of donating money and getting shafted in the end.
I am wondering when GW will grant a complete pardon to the communications companies of this country. After charges are filed? After a conviction?
Ford granted Nixon a complete and unconditional pardon to Nixon the minute he got in the oval office - after stating to the confirmation committe “the public wouldn’t stand for it.” Well, the public didn’t. He served out his term and even though he was a sitting president - ran for re-election - he did not win.
I don’t think the public will stand for immunity from prosecution with the communications company.
Remember when we were kids and we made a telephone out of string and tin cans? We can do it again.
OT, but boosh and FOX are at it again
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330415,00.html
FEAR! FEAR! FEAR! FEAR!
With today’s FISA vote, the Rule Of Lawlessness reigns, thanks to our Senate Dems. Don’t worry everybody. When a Dem is elected Prez later this year the “Rule Of Law” will come back with a vengeance. If he/she so much as sneezes the Repubs will begin impeachment hearings. The sad part is, many Senate/House Dems would probably support it, you know, so as to appear fair and bipartisan. It’s called “self-destruction”.
Otay @ 20:
Not true, Edwards did speak out against Telcom Immunity. Nobody is our corporate media was listening though (or you either obviously). He asked both sitting Senators campaigning against him to do the right thing and stand with Dodd.
Pelosi seemed especially broken up about having to surrender on Iraq, sounding like an NFL coach in a postgame presser, trying with a straight face to explain why he punted on first-and-goal. “We just didn’t have any plays we liked down there,” said the coach of the 0-15 Dems. “Sometimes you just have to play the field-position game….” ©Copyright 2008 Rolling Stone
the feingold/webb amendment is up on vote right now…cspan2…this is it kids….
Are Clinton and Obama there to vote today? If not, why not? If this fails by only two votes, we have some calling and writing to do..
pissed off patricia @ 45:
With the Potomac Primary today, doubtful.
rain @ 39:
You don’t seem to get this.
The telecoms are being sued, not prosecuted. A pardon is irrelevant. A pardon would not stop the suits, so it would not prevent disclosure of the acts. Only immunity would do this.
pissed off patricia @ 45:
Why bother when Bush will just null and void it.
The next one is the Dodd amendment, that’s the big one.
I understand Hillary will not be in any of the states voting today, so she could be there, but I see neither she nor Obama are there.
Shadowgm @ 46:
Also, not really relevant, since one is in Texas and the other is in Wisconsin.