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Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-Telecom Industry Association) issued a statement on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's decision to hold off on the FISA vote because of Rockefeller's controversial POS gift to the illegal acts of Mr. George W. Bush and the telecoms that abetted him.
"I'm disappointed legislation to modernize and improve FISA will now have to wait until January. As I've said many times, it is one of the most important bills before Congress, and one that should not be rushed in the final hours before Protect America Act expires.
"Today's strong 76-10 vote to cut off debate is a clear sign that the majority of Congress is ready and willing to pass this critical legislation.
"When we return from recess in the New Year, I hope my colleagues will be ready to roll up their sleeves and show the American people that we are committed to putting their safety, and their privacy, first."
They're ready to discuss it, but not support your version of it, Senator Rockefeller.
From Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.):
December 17, 2007 -- "Mr. President, I am troubled by the FISA bill that has come to the Senate floor. Since I introduced the original FISA legislation over 30 years ago, I've worked to amend the FISA law many times, and I believe that this bill is not faithful to the traditional balance that FISA has struck. This bill gives the Executive Branch vast new authorities to spy on Americans, without adequate guidance or oversight. Americans deserve better.
I voted "yes" on the motion to proceed to consideration of this bill, because I believe this legislation is too important to hold up any longer. The House has already passed a new FISA bill, and the Senate needs to do the same. But let me be clear, the Senate should reject the bill that we have before us. We need to pass the Judiciary Committee version instead.
The Judiciary Committee version doesn't have Rockefeller's telecom immunity.
Kennedy also heard the same cock and bull stories from the administration officials and telecom lobbyists that Rockefeller heard. He was wise enough not to believe them.
More from Senator Kennedy:
When the Administration finally came to Congress to amend FISA after its warrantless wiretapping program was exposed, it did so not in the spirit of partnership, but to bully us into obeying its wishes. The Protect America Act was negotiated in secret at the last minute. The Administration issued dire threats that failure to enact a bill before the August recess could lead to disaster. Few, if any, knew what the language would actually do. The result of this flawed process was flawed legislation, which virtually everyone now acknowledges must be substantially revised.
Included below is Kennedy's explanation on why immunity for telecoms is so wrong.
The President has said that American lives will be sacrificed if Congress does not change FISA. But he has also said that he will veto any FISA bill that does not grant retro-active immunity. No immunity, no FISA bill. So if we take the President at his word, he's willing to let Americans die to protect the phone companies.
Sen. Chris Dodd should replace Sen. Harry Reid for Majority Leader. Also, someone should let Sen. Jay Rockefeller know that his actions are not only going to hurt his own fund raising, but I know people who are not giving to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee specifically because of him.
Is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid setting us up on telecom immunity?
The Democrats in Congress seem intent on doing everything possible to alienate their base and independents by repeated capitulations to Bush and by making dumb ass mistakes. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-AT&T) may have enough goodwill built up from the past that he thinks he can piss on our legs and tell us it's raining and we'll still come out and vote for him. Or he may be relying on West Virginia voters being low information voters due to the terrible "news"papers owned by Ogden across the state so voters won't know his role regarding torture and warrantless wiretapping.
But I'm not going to forget and I'm not going to let others forget either.
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