FISA bill may never come to vote
posted at 4:05 pm on March 5, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Good news for politicians, bad news for American security: the FISA bill remains stalled and perhaps dead in the House. According to Politico, both Democrats and Republicans feel they can benefit from the current status quo. Democrats can suck up to their trial-lawyer contributors, Republicans can cast Democrats as more concerned with contributions than national security — and meanwhile, the bipartisan effort to protect national security remains buried:
Hoyer said in his weekly press conference that he hoped to wrap up work on an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; “towards the end of this week or the beginning of next week.”
However, the majority leader acknowledged that there were “still disagreements” within the Democratic caucus over the issue of granting immunity to telecom companies who aided the government in the wiretapping program. …
Although Democratic leaders insist they are working feverishly to iron out their differences, one House member—speaking on the condition of anonymity—suggested it could be a long time, if ever, before the bill was brought for a vote.
“A lot of people think the politics of doing nothing on this issue are very good for both sides of the political spectrum,” they said.
The outlines of a deal to split the bipartisan Senate bill had come together over the weekend. That appears to have lost momentum now, and the bill may never come to a vote. That may come as news to its advocates in the Senate, who called for a quick vote once the House resumed business.
It will not come to the floor before next Monday. If it doesn’t come soon, the Democrats may try to stall it to death.
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paultards rejoice
jp on March 5, 2008 at 4:08 PM
I am so disgusted with partisanship trumping national interest.
This is the worst congress ever.
hunter on March 5, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Nice picture; Eddie, The Laid Back Terrorist?
Frozen Tex on March 5, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Always nice knowing our politicians are looking out for the best for them and not the country. I am voting a straight ticket this year. NO INCUMBENTS. PERIOD!
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:10 PM
He doesn’t look terribly worried, does he?
Ed Morrissey on March 5, 2008 at 4:15 PM
The sad part of that is all they need do is wait until we destroy ourselves.
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Do any of these idiots who say things like this ever consider what is best for the COUNTRY? I think Wade has it right about no incumbents.
Longhorn Six on March 5, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Terrorist: I can call my allies in the United States without worrying they’ll get killed before they become martyrs. Thanks Democratic Party!
Defector01 on March 5, 2008 at 4:16 PM
So this is what it has come to? They really don’t know who the enemy is…
d1carter on March 5, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Yeah, Congress wouldn’t want to do anything substantive during an election year now would they? Geez, I’m sick of this $#&%.
someguy on March 5, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Wade, er, you may want to do a wee bit of research. Some of those evil incumbents may have voted for lots of things you like, and the guy/gal running against them may hold the opposite view.
funky chicken on March 5, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Too bad John McCain won’t use this, or any of the other treasonist tactics that the left has been using to undermine the safety and security of this country and our troops in any of his campaign adds.
He has too much respect for the Honorable Senators from across the isle……….
Seven Percent Solution on March 5, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Disgusting. If a dirty nuke goes off in an American city, they should all be tried for treason.
joewm315 on March 5, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Now’s the time to crank call Osama’s cave everyone!
Chuck Schick on March 5, 2008 at 4:21 PM
If I wasn’t a lady, I would say what I am feeling now and it’s not nice. My gosh, I detest ‘our’ elected in DC, and that means R who ‘want to get along’ with the D’s at America’s national expense.
L
letget on March 5, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Who benefits politically if we are attacked while the bill sits?
TritonTR on March 5, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:27 PM
I’ll try again.
No, they all must go, that is the only way a message can be sent. We have used the pick and choose for all these years and look at what we have. Easier to build from scratch than try to rep
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:28 PM
What does he mean by “they said”? Who is “they”? Or did “they” speak in unison?
I don’t trust this story.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 4:29 PM
……………………$@#&% THEM ALL!
ThePrez on March 5, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Can you offer a better explaination why this is not on the floor after all this time?
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:30 PM
This picture accurately represents the level of the discussion.
freevillage on March 5, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Because the Dems are blocking it? This story would have us believe that it’s not just the Dems who are holding this up, but I’m not buying it.
Anyway, my main point was that it’s impossible to quote more than one person saying that particular sentence.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 4:34 PM
It won’t help either that FBI Director Mueller just dropped this, something the Dems will be pouncing all over.
WolkingsWorld.com on March 5, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Here is Robert Novak on the hold up in a 2/18 column. I don’t see anything about the Republicans holding this up (quite the contrary), but I do see a lot of info about trial lawyers.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 4:39 PM
So what? Does than make the story true or false? If you don’t believe the republicans are using this to gather votes, well then you don’t believe it, however the use whining about the use of plural in the quote is lame, considering the subject.
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Much like here in Massachusetts, where it’s the Dems who are doing all they can to keep the voters from deciding on whether we want gay marriage for the state.
It’s as though they don’t trust us to decide for ourselves, so they’ll decide for us
ToddonCapeCod on March 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Well, the Dems will say it’s all Bush’s fault, and the media will run with it, just like they did with Hurricane Katrina
Del Dolemonte on March 5, 2008 at 4:46 PM
None of their stupid a$$ excuses will mean diddly squat when we are attacked again. I really hate to say this, but I think the only way those dumb a$$es will wake up and do what is right, is if a dirty bomb goes off on the floor of the damn congress! I say, vote ALL of their a$$es out and replace them with people who will pledge to protect America first!
kcd on March 5, 2008 at 4:50 PM
You want to know what’s “lame”, dude? Voting out all incumbents no matter what their record is.
You want to know what else is “lame”? Saying that I am “whining”.
Let me restate my position just in case I haven’t made myself clear:
I don’t believe Politico has any evidence to back up their assertions. They have one unnamed source who suddenly became “they”, which makes it appear that there is more than one source.
I need more evidence than what they have provided to take this story at face value, but maybe you have a lower standard of proof than I do.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Robert Novak is the last person I would read considering what he put this country through. BTY 2/18 is a lifetime away when dealing with security.
The Republicans are no better than the Democrats on this bill. They need to step forward and blast the democrats for the lack of up/down vote. By not being forceful they enable this inactivity.
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:52 PM
These brain dead politicians are going to get all of us killed. Keep it up jackasses . . . we can only hope that your constituents run your worthless butts back to wherever you came from.
rplat on March 5, 2008 at 4:53 PM
The proof is the bill is not on the floor. If you have a grammar problem talk to the author.
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Fine. Find one error in his story, and get back to me.
What’s your point? Do you have any new information (other than this weak Politico piece)? We were told yesterday that a deal was probably in the works. Any other news you’re privy to?
How’s that? Specifics please. Saying that in your opinion they aren’t “forceful” enough doesn’t quite cut it.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 4:59 PM
If you are naive enough to think anything you read in a blog is or is not proof, well… makes for good threads, but proof. Hell, you can not even trust the MSM for proof.
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 4:59 PM
You get the government you deserve.
LimeyGeek on March 5, 2008 at 5:01 PM
To you, probably not, but then nothing you have stated cuts it other than a possible grammar problem. I told you once I do not read Robert, is there something there you don’t understand, other than it does not cut it. cul
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 5:02 PM
You got that right, we voted all these idiots into office.
Wade on March 5, 2008 at 5:03 PM
That is proof that the Republicans are at fault? Do you know what the word “proof” means?
As for the use of the word “they” it is not a ‘grammatical’ error, but it is an editing error.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Buy Danish, I can’t help but wonder if that “they” Politico cites comes about from the PC damage to the English language. The neuter use of the word “he” has been transmuted to the senseless use of the word “they,” which violates what my seventh grade English teacher called the rule of antecedents and precedents. This rule was that nouns and the pronouns that refer to them agree in gender (in this case neuter) and number. So “he” became “they.” It makes everything so much clearer to be PC, no?
sondiehl on March 5, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Pas moi, monsieur, pas moi ;) But your point is well made.
It has been quite bitterly enlightening to witness just how far the general American public has fallen – with respect to understanding constitutional government.
LimeyGeek on March 5, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Coulda stopped here and said all that was necessary, Ed.
doubleplusundead on March 5, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Speak for yourself, please. I am happy with my Republican representatives in the State of Georgia.
Indeed, the reason that people like Pelosi are screwing us right now has more do do with people (like you?) who sat on your hands last time around and didn’t vote.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Correction: …who sat on
yourtheir hands last time around and didn’t vote.I don’t think so. If it was political correctness the author would have said a “Congressperson” or “Congresspersons” said :)
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Caption for the pic:
“It’s 3am, and there’s a phone ringing in the White House…”
medguy on March 5, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Or perhaps it is the inevitable consequence of people (like you?) that play the dopey democracy game with a ‘lowest common denominator’ mindset.
When you’re sinking in quicksand, it doesn’t matter who’s beneath you, but what you’re prepared to do to escape.
LimeyGeek on March 5, 2008 at 5:23 PM
As I said, I am happy with my representatives, but handing Congress over to the Dems, being dismayed and shocked when our national security is toyed with, and (as icing on the cake) trying to blame that on Republicans is idiotic.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Here is Andrew McCarthy of NRO on this bill. It’s dated 2/14. I hope that isn’t too passe’ for Wade.
I see nothing about Republicans holding it up here either, but if any of you in Wade’s camp can provide something to back up this Politico piece, go for it.
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 5:35 PM
Here is Andy McCarthy yesterday on the topic. Again, nothing about Republicans holding this up.
I do see this:
Buy Danish on March 5, 2008 at 5:51 PM
So, the gist of it is the trial lawyers and democraps have unabashedly sided with our sworn enemy. Like Benedict Arnold, they sell out our country for a few dollars more.
Zorro on March 5, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Well, since the Dumbs are in charge of Congress, they are to blame for any attacks coming, even after Bush is gone.
Why?
Because if you knew your parents were out of town, so to speak, wouldn’t you plan as much mischief as possible?
madmonkphotog on March 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
What is the point of voting out all incumbents if they just get replacedwith more of the same. There would be a bunch of state legislature time servers like Obama who only got moved up to the senate because a state senate boss decided to give him the nod. Do we need 10 or 15 more Obamas in the Senate?
snaggletoothie on March 5, 2008 at 8:37 PM
Giving corporations immunity for violating the civil rights of citizens smacks of Fascism, with a capital “F.” It’s like Mussolini enlisting Agusta and Olivetti for the good of the country. To hell with the Bill of Rights, you say?. I cannot believe “conservatives” (read: partisan hacks) would support such an intrusion upon the most basic of civil liberties, the 4th amendment. All I hear is fearmongering, whining and chicken-littleisms such as “what if they attack us?” Well, grow some balls and make them do their job at protecting us, for starters.
You don’t know who is listening to your phone calls or reading your e-mail, or if the dirt they gather can be used for political purposes, like blackmail. They are running roughshod over our constitution, as evidenced by Muller’s report about the FBI not giving a sh*t before they spy on American citizens.
Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves. If you want a corporatist, fascist, Orwellian society, you will get what you want, traitors. The government let these people in so they could attack us, and now we citizens have to pay the price for their own malfeasance and dereliction of their duty to protect us. What’s next? Biometric ID cards for everyone?
The loyalty to government over citizens on these comment pages is truly frightening.
petit bourgeois on March 5, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Why doesn’t George Bush request TV time (which would immediately be granted) and take this issue directly to the American public? It was one thing to talk about it several weeks ago in the Saturday radio address, which hardly anyone pays attention to.
What is holding him back from taking a leadership position on this?
VG
Voiceguy on March 5, 2008 at 9:03 PM
The Mossad will gladly upgrade this guy’s landline to a nice new cellphone.
Hands free.
(And head.)
profitsbeard on March 5, 2008 at 9:39 PM
I have more sympathy for your viewpoint than you could possibly realise ;)
LimeyGeek on March 6, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Let’s see now – We have petit bourgeois (whom I wager is un petit ecolier) in a paranoid rant where (he?)mewls about our rights being taken away, yet demands that the government “protect us” without giving them the means to do so.
Along comes the ’sympathetic’ LimeyGeek whom I infer agrees that giving immunity to telecoms who cooperate with our efforts to track terrorists is ‘fascistic’.
Meanwhile Wade wants to kick out all incumbents, no matter what their record is, and is only too happy to assume that the Politico story is true, without a shred of reliable evidence to support it.
I think its fair to say that there are a few extremist loons here.
Sheesh.
Buy Danish on March 6, 2008 at 8:12 AM
I wonder who is in his five. I guess without FISA, we’ll never know.
Kafir on March 6, 2008 at 10:07 AM
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