It’s B-AA-ACCCKKK! FISA Telecomm Immunity, Round two. Will Obama and/or Clinton Do The Right Thing?
Congress is back from it’s (semi) recess and the FISA bill which includes a telecom immunity clause is soon to be back up for debate. Senator Chris Dodd, my hero for standing up for the Constitution and the Rule of Law right before Christmas, is once again planning to lead the debate and filibuster if necessary. The fact that it looks like it will be necessary is a sad commentary on the lack of respect our current Congresspeople have for the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the oaths they all swore when they took office. And the biggest Bitchslap goes to Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader who, in an amazing sleight of hand, put up two versions of the bill– one that doesn’t trash our 4th amendment rights but gives the telecoms immunity, OR one that strips us of our rights against wiretap but doesn’t give the telecoms immunity. I hope Nevadans vote a real Dem into Senate Office next time, and retire this most likely bought and paid for Senate Majority so-called Leader. Talk about framing the debate. Reid, with that ONE act, showed just how Dysfunctional our Democratic Leadership is.
Why do I think that Obama and Clinton will both drop the ball on this? Forget McCain, he’s too Repuglycan, and will kiss telecomm butt. Why do I have so little faith in the current crop of Presidential Wannabees that I doubt any one of them will pause the campaign soundbites long enough for them to hightail it back to Washington and Do The Right Thing? Could it be that they want the same Executive Powers and Immunity from Prosecution that Bush has thoroughly enjoyed while in office? Could it be that the Candidates LIKE the current status quo and the Imbalance of Power that currently exists, much as they yell against it? Actions speak louder than words, and only my ears are getting a workout here, folks. I don’t see any single Top Candidate doing anything that can be construed Morally Correct. Matt Stoller said it pretty clearly on Open Left re the different Dem Candidates, “. . . if you want to persuade me to drink your kool-aid, get your candidate to help Dodd protect the damn constitution already. And then I’ll drink a big cup of whatever it is you’re offering, and so will lots of us.”
I do find it interesting though, that Credo Mobile is reporting that their Text Message and Email Campaign to Obama, Clinton and McCain re Telecom Immunity was so successful that Obama’s email server damn near melted down from the flood of emails demanding Obama stand up against Telecom Immunity.
Which tells me there are a bunch of PO’d American Citizens who want their CongressCritters to actually DO the job they were elected to do. And if the Candidates don’t, they may find themselves, as someone commenting about this said, at a tea party and we’re not talking about Earl Gray here.
A three party system is starting to look better and better. But that will never happen since the Media doesn’t want it to. They make too damn much dough off the two current top parties . . .
And we all know what this is all about. If the Telecoms are granted immunity, they won’t Rat Out Bush and Company.
