One more instance showing that you can't trust politicians - elect them to make a change, and the y will just keep doing the same old shit.

This is why I stopped voting Democrat. It's identical to voting Republican. I'd like to see Mother Jones take a stand on this. The Democrats are neither liberal nor progressive. They will not protect our rights. Nor stops wars. Nor stop torture. Nor protect the environment.

One more proof that honesty does not pay in American society. Qwest did the right thing and was punished for it. These other telecoms broke the law and are rewarded with contracts and a free pass for their crimes.

It is clearly a myth that honesty and integrity are values in America. Pelosi and her crew must go...

I can hardly WAIT for Thomas LOC to post the vote specifics so I can find out if my Democratic, former Sheriff Congressman did what I expected him to do, and vote to let telecom criminals off the hook, while voting for yet-more spy powers in the hands of the executive branch.

Obviously, Congress doesn't care what the American people think about all this. They're still making deals with the enemy and now I'm wondering why anyone would vote them in office from this point forward. America, get a backbone!

Hey People,

I can't imagine and American citizen objecting to this law, during WAR TIME..!!!
What a bunch of paranoid fanatics you people are..:-) Thinking that the "Man" cares what you have to say, talknig about your next protest with the commune down the road...!!
This law is for listening to NON_citizen communications..!! Maybe you should read what it covers, before you get yoru burkenstocks in a twitter..!!!

Bill

Sorry to be a bubble-burster for you here Bill Nigh, but the US Congress hasn't declared war since June 5, 1942 when the declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.

Oh..., I guess you can argue that we're at WAR with Poverty, since Lyndon Johnson told the country we were, and Poverty has yet to sue for peace (though it's hard to figure who would represent Poverty in surrender talks). And you can argue we're at WAR with Drugs, since Nixon declared that to be the case, and Drugs have not yet sued for cessation of hostilities, but again, who would we accept as a representative of Drugs in surrender negotiation?

Is THAT what you're arguing? What the Constitution says about declaring war is meaningless, and WAR exists just because someone in DC decides to use the term?

Or do you REALLY buy into the idea that a sovereign nation can be at WAR with an emotional state (Terror)?

BTW: Since you imply that YOU've read and understand the FISA act, can you quote for us the section and clause that LIMITS surveillance to Foreigners, and doesn't leave it open for spying on CITIZENS?

Rational folks do not fear the Government listening to our phone calls.

What we are concerned with is the removal of checks and balances. By allowing wiretapping to be performed without even a perfunctory nod from someone outside of the administration, this law gives the President carte blanche to listen to, not only terror suspects, but politcal opponents and dissenters.

I don't worry that the government is going to come and get me just yet. That won't happen until a rogue president in the Bush/Cheney/McCain mold spends a decade or so blackmailing and extorting endless executive power from a corrupt and cowering congress.

This bill is not an abomination because of what it is, but because of what it is a step towards.

"First they came for the Communists, and I didn't say anything because I wasn't a Communist..."

Well troll boy Bill the fact remains that FISA worked just fine Bush got into office and had been updated as necessary. There were even provisions allowing investigators to obtain warrants after obtaining information, and the warrants were almost never denied. I know you have to relieve yourself of your hard headed BS somewhere to keep yourself from exploding but few here like your crap. The others are right about this being a major let down, and it may well be time for some primary challenges.

All I can hope for is that Pelosi's and Reid's constituents remember this and their claims of reigning in Bush's power right after the Dems took control of the House.

Oh yeah, don't forget they keep FUNDING THE GOD DAMN WAR!!!! WE NEED TO VOTE THESE DOUCHEBAGS OUT!!!!

These supposed democrats aren't real Democrats that are NOT representing the people of the Districts they are suppose to represent. ALL those that voted for continuing the war are corporate DLC REPUBLICAN/democrats who absolutely MUST be voted out in the primary coming up.

What I am mostly concerned about is when it is time for the peaceful transfer of power to Obama, is Bush going to attack Iran and declare Marshal Law? He has set up for Marshal Law and based on the actions of Congress at this late date continuing the war even though it is against what their constituencies want, I expect there is no plan to surrender power to the chosen leader through the election process, unless the RIGHT WING can fraudulently get McCain into office, like the RIGHT WING did Bush, and that is probably why these RIGHT WING fascists have so many mercenaries -- to control the people when they declare Marshall Law.

We don't have long to wait -- only months now. It will be sad, but if they do try to take the government away from Obama, then WE THE PEOPLE, will be forced to give our lives to protect domestic democracy.

["What I am mostly concerned about is when it is time for the peaceful transfer of power to Obama, is Bush going to attack Iran.."]

It seems that right at this moment a goodly number of those Democrats, including Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, are joining with many Republicans to give Bush just the cover he needs to do exactly that.

Details of the "Rattle the Saber at Iran" resolution, sponsors, etc. can be found here:
thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:1:./temp/~c110mmbyMT::

And a campaign to oppose it has been set up here:
action.downsizedc.org/wyc.php?cid=54

NOTE: MoJo won't allow me to post the entire web address! You'll need to manually add the h t t p : / / at the front of them.

"This resolution has 169 co-sponsors, including 77 Democrats and 92 Republicans. The resolution calls on President Bush to . . .

Create an international blockade of Iran to prevent it from importing the refined gasoline it needs to run its economy

Subject all cargo entering or leaving Iran to stringent inspections

Tighten economic sanctions against Iran

Violate international treaties by prohibiting Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program from travelling abroad.

If another country took such actions against us, we would consider it an act of war."

With all their focus on the political horse-race, MoJo seems to completely overlooked this disturbing development in Congress.

I KNEW it!

Democratic CongressCrook and former county sheriff Brad Ellsworth voted with Bush and the lawbreaking telecoms... AGAIN!!
Along with Pelosi, Hoyer, Emanuel and close to half of the Democrats in the House.

What a SAD excuse for an "opposition" party!

Check up on your own CongressCrook here (remove the underscores):
h_t_t_p_:_/_/clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll437.xml

Andy:

What kind of chicken are you?

So - If you didn't do anything, you have nothing to worry about? Come on. Total BS.

Democracy and Liberty are not worth fighting for if they can only be protected by subversion.

What the hell is up with Keith Olbermann?

The Bush administration backs this FISA renewal and Olbermann tears Bush apart (justifiably so).

Obama backs the bill, and Olbermann comes on with one of his "special comments" to tell us that the FISA bill is now 'A-OK'?!?!

Why do I get the sickening feeling that Keith is tossing consistency and credibility out the window in anticipation of becoming "Chief Limbaugh" in a President Obama administration?

And just exactly WHY is Obama backing 'legalized' expansion of executive branch spying powers anyway..??? And shielding the telcos from civil suits for having broken the law, to the detrement of citizens??

You wonder how the Democrats could have possibly caved in to Bush on his domestic spying & telecom immunity bill?
It's called "beltway business as usual".
You scratch our back, we'll scratch yours.

The breakthrough on the legislation came hours after the White House agreed to Democratic demands for domestic spending additions to an emergency war funding bill. Taken together, the bills -- two of the last major pieces of legislation to be approved by Congress this year -- suggest that Bush still wields considerable clout on national security issues but now must acquiesce to Democratic demands on favored domestic priorities to secure victory.

The war spending bill, for example, includes $162 billion for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and an additional $95 billion worth of domestic spending on programs such as unemployment insurance and higher-education benefits for veterans. Bush, who had threatened for months to veto the legislation, said he will sign it.
...
But overall, the deal appears to give Bush and his aides, including Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, much of what they sought in a new surveillance law.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto called the measure "a bipartisan bill" that "will give the intelligence professionals the long-term tools they need to protect the nation, and liability protection for those who may have assisted the government after the 9/11 attacks."
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061901545.html

And just TODAY, I get a DCCC mailing from Nancy Pelosi spouting about how the Democrats are "united for change" in the way business gets done in Washington.

Yeah, well..., Nancy, your actions tell us far more than your words, and your actions say: "Business As Usual".

You bastards sold off the 4th Amendment to get a deal on how a measley $95 billion of OUR MONEY gets spent? A deal that allows you to go back to the people who's money it was to begin with and say: "Look what We've done for You!!" at election time.
And you expect me to trust you F'ing Bozos?!?!

Boy..., Who'd 'a thunk it?!?!

Yesterday, the Senate gives us One More Reason to conclude that the Democrats are Just as "good" as the Republicans!!

They PASSED this trashing of the 4th Amendment & the Rule of Law, and wouldn't you know it..., MY P.O.S. "Democrat" Senator (..don't want to mention any names, but his initials are Evan Bayh...) joined Barack Obama in showing that They are just as "good" as the Republicans.

Check up on your own Beltway Bandits:
www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00168