Dodd: Warrantless Wiretaps Are a "Victory" for Terrorists

[babylonsister]

Dodd: Warrantless Wiretaps Are a "Victory" for Terrorists

Posted by Scarecrow at 6:21 AM on October 24, 2007.

Scarecrow: Senator Dodd leads on the FISA bill, while Senators Clinton and Obama follow...sort of.

This post, written by Scarecrow, originally appeared on FireDogLake

"When you give up basic Constitutional rights, you give terrorists a far greater victory in ways," Dodd said during an online video chat.

There's a huge difference between people who are actual leaders and who happen to want to be President, and people who want to be President so they can be the leader. We're seeing that difference right now in the debate over whether the FISA bill will award retroactive immunity to the telecoms for their complicity in the Bush Administration's illegal spying programs.

Chris Dodd showed his leadership last week, announcing he would place a hold on, and if needed, personally filibuster any bill that granted the telecoms immunity. His principled stand to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law was immediately joined by Senator Feingold, who, like Dodd, has been a champion of the Constitution, insisting on the FISA (and Fourth Amendment) requirement to obtain individual warrants before conducting surveillance on US persons. And to his credit, Senator Biden gave an unqualified, unhestitating "yes" when asked if he supported Dodd's position.

These men understand that upholding the rule of law requires holding the Administration and those complicit in their lawbreaking accountable for their actions. Granting immunity for willfully violating a criminal statute and the Fourth Amendment's guarantee against warrantless searches undermines the Constitution and the rule of law, one of those "self evident truths" that should not need explaining.

These are the Democratic Party's true leaders. They understand that defending the Constitution is their first duty as citizens and elected officials. They did not wait to see which way the wind was blowing or see what their colleagues (or other candidates) might say or check to see if they might be supported. They knew what needed to be said and done and that's what they did.

Dodd, Feingold and Biden understand that the Constitution and the rule of law are under siege by a lawless Administration and that it is critical for principled officials to stand up against this assault. They know that some of their colleagues are weak and susceptible to other influences. Someone has to lead, to defend the Constitution, to take the risks that their stands might be unpopular or lonely, but to set the standard that others will follow. It is because of patriotic leaders like Senators Dodd and Feingold that we have a Constitution in the first place, and why, at critical times in our history when it was under siege, the Constitution persevered and served our nation well for over 200 years.

There are others who aspire to leadership, but do not readily demonstrate it, but whose support in following the leaders is nevertheless essential. So we should welcome the statements yesterday from Senators Obama and Clinton that indicate -- sort of -- they will support a filibuster of at least the "current bill" if it contains retroactive immunity for telecoms.

more...

http://alternet.org/blogs/peek/65998/#more

[mmonk]

1. A kick for Dodd.

[VP505]

2. Great way to

turn the Bu$h Admin rhetoric back on them, GO Dodd, we need to see much more of this!

[babylonsister]

6. Yep. A+ for the way he framed this. nt

[spanone]

3. well said senator dodd

[DesEtoiles]

4. yes

[flordehinojos]

5. that is it !

Dodd just discovered the formula to beat the bushies at their game. Turn back around to them every dang thing they say. Turn it back on them!

Bravo. Bravo. Bravo, Senator Dodd! Get 'em. Get 'em at their own game!

[Supersedeas]

7. will Reid ignore Dodd's block on the bill

[babylonsister]

8. I don't know what he plans on doing, but we'll be watching. nt

[City Lights]

9. This is exactly what we need lots more of!

Nicely done, Senator Dodd! :applause: And unlike the framing done by the "right," Dodd is exactly correct.

[tiptoe]

10. Victory for *Co == Victory for Terrorists...ergo ...*Co == ...?

[L. Coyote]

11. Time to show the Bushco junta that they don't have the only veto in town!

[Fleshdancer]

12. too. much. logic. head. exploding....

Just when I was about to completely give up, along comes Sen Dodd and his use of common sense and logic. Who the hell does he think he is giving me hope again, lol?

[Hubert Flottz]

13. Every act that weakens the Constitution is a victory for the terrorists.

The terrorists want to undermine democracy and to cause America to crumble and the political cowards who cave in to fear, are as much at fault for the demise of our country as any terrorist out there. America is a shadow of what it was 10 years ago thanks to the terrorists and their helpers in the GOP. We were the beacon of freedom ten years ago, but now we are despised around the planet.