Dodd had placed a "hold" on the Fisa immunity bill--but Reid is ignoring him. WHY??

[rodeodance]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/15/politics/main3622108.shtml


Reid Sets Stage For Telecom Immunity Fight
Competing Wiretap Bills Coming To A Vote; Dem. Leader Says It'd Be Wrong For Him To Choose Between Them

Comments Comments45

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2007

(CBS/AP)

...................

On Friday, Reid announced in the Senate that he would be moving the Senate Intelligence Committee (SIC) version of the bill to the floor.

What followed was a firestorm by Democrats and consumer activists who feared that the immunity provision would succeed in a vote, despite threats of a filibuster by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.

“Providing retroactive immunity to companies that may have violated the law will set a dangerous precedent,” said Dodd. “Companies who violated the trust of thousands of their customers will be immune to prosecution and the details of their actions will stay hidden.

"The President, and his Administration, has consistently used scare tactics in an attempt to force Congress to pass FISA legislation that provides retroactive immunity," Dodd said.

Dodd had placed a "hold" on the legislation, which ordinarily blocks a bill from coming to vote, but Reid is apparently ignoring the hold.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Why, indeed

When at the same time, he honors republican holds.

[rodeodance]

3. his action stunned me---but I see now he will but forth both bills--after and outburst from people!!

...........
Reid's office was reportedly inundated with phone calls and messages from citizens who did not want Congress to allow immunity to telecoms, before their actions have even been detailed in a court of law.

The heat seemed to have stirred Reid, who later in the day indicated that he would actually bring both versions of the FISA bill up for a vote.

Reid said that he personally opposed the concept of retroactive immunity in the Intelligence Committee bill, and favored many additional protections that were included in the Judiciary Committee's bill.

Nonetheless, Reid said that because there was overwhelming support on the Intelligence Committee for its approach, and after discussion with Committee chairmen Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., he decided that he would move forward with both bills.

[ThomWV]

4. Now how in hell does he intend to do that?

Pass them both and then just flip a fuggin coin to see which one goes to conference?

[AndyTiedye]

6. Why Ask Why?

[BuyingThyme]

2. Umm...Because he is their Alan Colmes?

[Webster Green]

5. He's a useless fucking dickhead!

Either that or the repukes have kidnapped his family or something.

[AdHocSolver]

7. Maybe some Democrats fear that unflattering personal information about them will surface...

in any lawsuit against the telecom companies for FISA violations. By giving the telecoms retroactive immunity, prosecution and lawsuits will not be possible against the telecoms so that only the telecoms will know about the congressperson's, shall we say, foibles. However, that means that Congresspersons with dirt to hide will be susceptible to, shall we say, blackmail.

The course that Democrats have to follow is clear. Any Democrats who vote against the interests of the people MUST be replaced with progressive Democrats. It is not enough to merely have Democrats in office, if they side with Republicans to vote against the interests of the people. A backstabbing "friend" is as bad as an enemy.