BREAKING: REID PULLED TELECOM BILL

[kpete]

BREAKING: REID PULLED TELECOM BILL
By: Jane Hamsher Monday December 17, 2007 4:38 pm

Harry Reid just pulled the telecom bill. The Senate will take it up again after the first of the year, but for now there will be no retroactive telecom immunity.

Karen Tumulty wrote over at Swampland earlier in the day:

from the Department of Freudian Typos:

Dodd's campaign at 5:59 p.m. sent out an e-mail update with this subject line:

DODD CONTINUES TO APPLY LEADERSHIP TO SENATE LEADERSHIP

At 6:05 p.m., it sent out a corrected e-mail with this subject line:

DODD CONTINUES TO APPLY PRESSURE TO SENATE LEADERSHIP

http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/17/breaking-reid-pulling-telecom-bill/

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

FISA Semi-victory
by mcjoan
Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 04:31:54 PM PST

Harry Reid just announced on the floor that he intends to table debate on the FISA overhaul legislation until January.

This is an important development and will hopefully allow the opposition to telco amnesty to convince enough Senators that providing blanket immunity to these companies who broke the law really doesn't do much to keep us safe.

UPDATE: Now you can see why Harry Reid does everything he can to avoid actual filibusters, even though we all think it would it would be great to make them do it from time to time. They're a huge pain in the ass, and if you're up against an adjournment deadline and there's other important business pending, they can work even if you have the votes for cloture. Because you eventually have to make a choice between

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/17/19296/489/563/423520

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

Dodd's filibuster threat scuttles immunity in Senate, for nowNick Juliano
Published: Monday December 17, 2007

Senate to return to controversial FISA update after new year

After nearly 10 hours of discussion Monday, the Senate decided to delay a final vote on a controversial domestic spying bill until the new year, under the threat of a protracted filibuster from Sen. Chris Dodd.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spent the afternoon Monday huddling with Senate leaders and fellow Democrats to try to work out a deal over an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. As the FISA update was written, it included a provision for legal immunity to telecommunications companies that facilitated a warrantless wiretapping scheme that Dodd and other Democrats said was illegal.

"We have tried to work through this process, and it appears quite clear that on this bill we are not going to be able to do that," Reid said around 7:30 p.m. Monday, after Senators had spent the day debating propositions of the FISA update.

Dodd, a dark-horse presidential candidate, canceled campaign events in Iowa and spent the day urging his colleagues to block a proposal to shield phone and Internet companies that gave the National Security Agency private call and e-mail records from an unknown number of Americans under the program President Bush authorized after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

more at:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Dodds_filibuster_threat_scuttles_immunity_in_1217.html

[Swamp Rat]

1. YAAAY!!!!!!!

:woohoo:

[Olney Blue]

2. So there IS a God!

[robinlynne]

10. whose name today is Dodd. (and Feingold and Kennedy)

[RaleighNCDUer]

95. Who is this Dodd person,

and why isn't HE running for president?

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Yabba dabba do!" - Americans who honor the Constitution & rule of law

It's about time some of these anti-American republicon legislative perversions got flushed down the crapper...

[southern_belle]

4. off to the Greatest.......YIPPEE!!!

[katty]

5. great

[riverdeep]

6. Thank goodness.

I had no idea why they felt the need to vote on it now. It doesn't expire until February and even then, if they don't pass anything new, it just reverts back to the old version which was a fine legislation.

[Yuugal]

9. exactly

let the chips fall where they may next year

[blogslut]

7. good

damned good

[DeSwiss]

8. YES!!!

Harry's rediscovered that he has a pair!!!

K&R!!!

[Greyskye]

11. nice

:kick: & R

[bonito]

12. Dodd is running for president?

Who knew?
:sarcasm: Maybe this dark horse can win!

[suziedemocrat]

76. Dodd is my pick. He sounded awesome in all of the debates.

I can't understand why he is always overlooked!

[lovuian]

13. OMG there is a God

ok Harry
Kudos on this one
:applause:
and Dodd

[MannyGoldstein]

14. The First Subject Line Needed No Correction

"DODD CONTINUES TO APPLY LEADERSHIP TO SENATE LEADERSHIP" was correct.

[Turn CO Blue]

105. I was going to comment along the same lines! n/t

[Buzz Clik]

15. Excellent!

I wonder if this was a page from the GOP playbook in which they intentionally would introduce legislation that would piss off the left and mobilize the right -- for the single purpose of reinforcing the differences and feuds between the parties.

[xxqqqzme]

97. more to the point - * now gets recess appointments.

While the cats are away the rat (bastard) will play.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

16. Hey, HARRY!!! Wanna' legacy?

Better make constitutional protections one of them or your whole family will live in infamy.

[creeksneakers2]

17. Dodd is the best!

The best presidential candidate of the bunch too. I hope this gets him noticed. Dodd won!

[jhain]

18. Nollaig Shona Duit

wooo hhooooo
What a great cmas present!!

[spanone]

19. Thank You Senator Dodd.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. WOW! I guess he got the message, eh? n/t

[pberq]

21. Yes! - now maybe they will start filibustering other bad bills

I heard Sen. Dodd say today that he wished he had filibustered the Military Commissions Act

[rndmprsn]

22. good for dodd and other dems with backbone...

[KoKo]

23. What bothers me is that Hamsher had to get this from RW "Swampland" and that TPM and Think Progress

didn't have it up as of 8:00 p.m tonight when I combed through their websites for news I read on DU at around 7:00 on a thread that Reid had pulled the Bill.

Why was "Swampland" the FIRST to report this? :shrug:

I can't trust this because I don't trust Reid not to pull a last minute stunt and bring it up as Senate goes out the door for Holidays and he rams it through. But, hopefully my dire thoughts will not be the case and that it's truly delayed until the very end of January or beginning of Feb. when they have time to think more about what it is they are about to give Bushie in MORE POWER.

[Marr]

24. Why is Reuters reporting the bill passed?

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1741430720071218

They've got a vote count and everything. Huh?

[SusanaMontana41]

25. I'm confused about that, too

and worried.

[lonestarnot]

28. Well damn, I just already got excited. hmmmmf.

WTF? :shrug:

[Inuca]

29. The article is about the cloture vote

it happened earlier today, and at this point is no longer relevant(I think).

[Marr]

31. So Reuters' editors don't understand what a cloture vote is.

Wow.

[lonestarnot]

34. Well fucking A! What is truth? which is it passed or beat with the table?

[Canuckistanian]

32. They must mean the cloture vote

Which is NOT the same as the actual vote for the bill.

[lonestarnot]

36. Headline says: "Bush's phone immunity bill wins Senate vote."

[LSK]

96. "Senate postpones consideration of spy bill"

:shrug:

[lonestarnot]

110. Fucking A still don't know. LOL

[DRoseDARs]

26. Good for him, too bad he STILL doesn't have my vote in '10 as he did in '04...

I am ashamed to call him a fellow Nevadan. After being such a goddamned spineless worm alongside Pelosi for over a year, the only why he and she can salvage their chances in my eyes is allowing the impeachment processes for both executive offices to go forward in their respective chambers.

[lonestarnot]

27. ALL FUCKING RIGHT DODD!

:applause:

[Canuckistanian]

30. Go, Dodd!

He may not have changed Reid's mind but at least he's got Reid squirming.

The bill is dead for now!

That's what matters!

[Didereaux]

33. Conspicuous by their absence - Clinton-Obama-Edwards et al n/t

[99th_Monkey]

50. Edwards is no longer a sitting Senator

my bet would be that he would have been there were he still serving in the Senate, and stood against retroactive immunity
.. he's made a career of taking on corporate interests.

[Didereaux]

88. Sorry, I was unclear in his case...was implying public support of the filibuster tnks for heads-up!

[rpannier]

74. Edwards who???

Because on last count there was no Senator Edwards any more.
He left in 04.

[Marr]

35. Reid's wimpiness is finally useful.

Now he's folded to both sides. Truly a profile in weakness.

[lonestarnot]

37. Taco man.

[Marr]

38. No kidding.

See the Amazing Reid, Master of Losing! He can retreat in two directions simultaneously!

[Kucinich4America]

63. Seems that Harry actually had TWO versions of the bill

One with telecom immunity and one without. Like the spineless coward that he is, Reid put the immunity version up, hence Dodd's filibuster.

So if anyone is tempted to give Reid credit for pulling the bill...... please don't bother.

Do they have to wait until January 2009 to yank that coward out of the Majority Leader seat and put Dodd in there?

[lonestarnot]

83. No shit.

Spank and yank!

[OzarkDem]

39. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain

Glad to see Reid is finally wising up, but I wonder why he hasn't shown brains and courage before. I dunno, I'm tired of trying to figure out the logic behind these fools actions. There isn't any.

And enough with the excuses about filibusters. Working in Congress is hard, like the jobs most of us do. Quit whining or let another Dem with energy and ideas run in your place, Harry.

[kirby]

108. Reid hasnt 'wised up' at all...

A member of his own party took a hard stand and forced him to give up... Had the party been in unison behind the Senate Leader, it would have passed. It was stopped in spite of Reid, not because of him.

[mb7588a]

40. Thank you Chris, Russ, and Ron! nt.

[defendandprotect]

41. Cheers to Sen. Chris Dodd -- !!! Still .....Shame on Harry Reid-- !!!

And, what do we do in the meantime to ensure that this doesn't ever get passed?

[Generator]

42. Dodd for president! And a question

Besides being morally the correct thing to not let the telecommunications off the hook for breaking the law-what purpose does it serve? Why is this one fight the important one? Does that mean that spying will stop? That liberties will be returned? Is the idea that if the big guys have to pay up that we will be free again? What is the idea exactly? How does this punish the main people-the ones in the Bush admin,and how besides yes, a tinsy intsy first step this do anything to hold Bush and the congressional enablers accountable?

And also doesn't the new FISA bill make it all legal but just tomorrow? Kinda like yesterday it was against the law to drink and drive-and Bush gave you the booze and the car keys-but tomorrow it's free driving.

[colbertforpresident]

44. Dodd

For President!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rpannier]

75. I'm thinking...

Dodd for majority leader.

I'd feel better with a Democratic president and Majority leader Dodd.

[Rene]

43. Now THAT was Leadership from my state's Senator Dodd.

His home is about 10 miles from mine. Fabulous man.
As I listened to him speak....I was struck by how he phrased all the arguments against immunity so perfectly and succinctly.....AND got into all the other questionable actions of this administration. He was clearly laying out everything they've done wrong....and should be investigated for.

Way to go Senator and Hopefully President Chris Dodd.
America would be very well served if Chris Dodd was in the White House......I hope this Dark Horse wins.

[TankLV]

45. OK - strike me dumb - I apologize to Harry and the Dem leadership for my negativity on the other

thread...

They actually did something they set out to do - I'm totally surprised and amazed...

[Arugula Latte]

49. It shouldn't have gotten to this point, though.

It's pathetic that we have to try to pull stuff like this back from the brink.

[Kucinich4America]

64. Don't apologize. Harry was still a spineless coward.

He had a version of this bill without the telecom immunity, but he refused to put that one up for the vote. He wussed out. Dodd deserves all the credit, not Wimpy Harry.

[orleans]

46. k&r n/t

[mod mom]

47. Great work to Senators Dodd, Feingold and others who were in there fighting

for the people!

[quiet.american]

48. Nice to be able to say "way to go!" without having to use a sarcasm smiley.

Here's to Sen. Dodd -- :toast:

[EVDebs]

51. Pull Harry and insert the Dodd as Senate majority leader.

Or did Harry only grow a pair in order to prevent Dodd from doing just that ?

Remember, the fat lady hasn't sung yet and if Harry is THIS weak...do you think they're dealing in a backroom somewhere in order to get Bush and his allies what they want ?

Harry and Nancy both gotta lotta splainin' to do. Apologies to Desi Arnaz.

A wider scandal,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2476085&mesg_id=2476085

means there is a quid pro quo for telecoms and $ and congressmen. That deal needs to be squashed.

[Occam Bandage]

52. Dodd: You. Kick. Ass.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

53. yet most of the population don't know about this!!!!

headlines = Russia feeds nukes to Iran!

[StClone]

54. YES!!!

:)
:-)
x(
:-(
:(
;-)
;)
:o
:D
}(
;(
:P
:9
:bounce:

[MilesColtrane]

55. Dodd would make a great running mate for John Edwards.

He's got all the qualities to fulfill the traditional role of a Presidential running mate.

Experienced, smart, principled, and not afraid to take the GOP bastards on.

John can be positive and talk about the hope that lies in his policies for change in an upbeat fashion, and Dodd can attack the weasels with righteous fury.

[sellitman]

60. I like that team but.....

That would leave me with LIEberman as our senior senator.


Arrrrrrrrrrrrg!

[PassingFair]

56. We. Finally. Won. One.

Now I'm going to have to send some money to Chris Dodd!

Oh well, he EARNED IT!

Let's make sure they don't slip it past us
while we're making merry over the holidays!

[Postman]

57. Does this mean the NSA has copies of the missing Rove e-Mails?

Dodd, a dark-horse presidential candidate, canceled campaign events in Iowa and spent the day urging his colleagues to block a proposal to shield phone and Internet companies that gave the National Security Agency private call and e-mail records from an unknown number of Americans under the program President Bush authorized after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

59. They've probably 'shredded' them

[MilesColtrane]

65. Hey, you can't deny that shredding electrons is "hard work". n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

67. LOL

[ClayZ]

58. Yay! K and R

[MrsBrady]

61. let's hope that this can still be stopped again...

...when the bill is brought back next month.

Hurray for Dodd!

NO free ride for telecoms!

This thing would have passed if not for Dodd. Why in the world were Dems willing to vote for this bill?
I'm very disappointed.

Way to go Dodd!

[Beelzebud]

62. Dodd actually fucking did it! See what some backbone will do!

Dodd just earned my eternal respect. Wow!

[JCMach1]

66. Dodd may have earned my vote today.

[FloridaJudy]

68. Thank you Dodd, Kennedy and Feingold

For proving that some Dems still have a spine.

[Dr Fate]

69. Okay! I'm ready to rumble. Been ready. Keep it up. Suprise me! Dont cave! Please!

Stay the course and I've got your back on this one- dont send me back to square one.

[bjobotts]

70. They are not done. One suggested Reid let repub filibuster to kill

Then bring up other version with telecom immunity saying we have to pass something before the FISA bill sunlights in Feb.
But at least for now this version with telecom immunity didn't get passes thanks to Dodd's filibuster and the push by the pres. candidates (in writings to Reid) Screw Feinstein and Rockefeller. Does this mean Rockefeller will have to return all the telecom campaign donations he's received over the last year?
I donated to Dodd's campaign as a way of showing support for his actions since he couldn't be out there raising funds because he was in the senate doing what was right. Good on him. This will not be forgotten.

Occupation Funding without conditions, telecom amnesty, FISA spying without oversight or accountability, torture, no habeas corpus yet, no children's health ins. (the NO CHILD LEFT OUT or the CHILDREN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT) wE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP,
These 'centrists' are not representative of our current democratic party. They are dinosaurs of the past glutted by the "money" party. Fat from all the pork they can no longer keep up with our progressive party. A thing of the past. We need new party leaders to go with our new progressive president soon to come.

[Warren DeMontague]

71. Dodd/Feingold has a nice ring to it. nt

[Divine Discontent]

72. yay Dodd! good for once, Harry....n/t

[Sherman A1]

73. Yippee!

Now we can pound our dear senators during the break on this issue and have more time to let the know what "We The People" would like them to do.


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Perry Logan]

77. So much for the "Congress has betrayed us" meme.

[tomp]

80. ah yes, this completely destroys that meme

NOT!

[Tarc]

84. Probably not

There's still enough Bitter Bettys around here willing to keep their angst afloat.

[IronLionZion]

85. We have more than enough Debbie Downers here to carry on the meme anyway nt

[redqueen]

89. Yeah, now it's "Congress TRIES to betray us, but thankfully there are a FEW willing to fight for us"

Love the nicknames given to people who won't wear rose colored glasses... "Bitter Betty", "Debbie Downer"...

:puke:

[IronLionZion]

93. And we should appreciate those few and give credit where it is due

go Arsenal!

[redqueen]

94. We should appreciate those few, very much...

but we shouldn't ignore that the others are indeed betraying us.

[Tyler Durden]

78. Merry Christmas from Chris Dodd!

[Echo In Light]

79. Good news!

[pleah]

81. Great day for Americans, Thank you, Sen. Dodd.

[Th1onein]

82. NOW! Next time someone tries to tell you that all politicians are crooked

Tell them about Dodd. There ARE some good people in this world. We have just witnessed character at work.

They tell you this shit because they want you to become despondent and not participate in politics so that THEY can have all the fucking marbles.

Remember this.

[PVnRT]

86. Good

[IronLionZion]

87. Dodd's first email subject was correct. nt

[Krashkopf]

90. Mostly Say Hoo-ray for our Side . . . !

Something may be happening here, folks, but don't let your guards down. This will come back up again in January, and we will need to keep the pressure on our weak-kneed Democratic "leadership." Reid and Pelosi should take a page from Sen. Dodd's playbook. THAT is how a Democratic LEADER acts!

Kudos to Chris Dodd! He was my "#5" but, now he is "#2 with a bullet!"

[aquart]

91. Oh, I think the first line was correct.

So what's his policy on healthcare?

[peacetheonlyway]

92. I wonder... how long before Dodd's home phones get cut off

unless he has Qwest or the cable co's for telephone service.


I am a 20 year telecom veteran. I'm soooo sooo ashamed of my industry.

This represents the lowest point in telco history.


I'm very very pleased with Dodd and what one man can do to stand up to corporate bullying....

[populistdriven]

102. All of us should be prepared to help Dodd, they will retailate against his seat

[krispos42]

98. Fuck immunity

The telecoms spend uncountable millions of dollars on lawyers. If after all that money you can't figure out what's legal and what's not, then you deserve to be punished. And you'd better shitcan your lawyers and get new ones. Like, say, non-syncophatic non-Republican lawyers.

And Dodd for Senate Majority Leader, immediately.

[Wilber_Stool]

99. Good show.

Jolly good show.

[Fire Walk With Me]

100. Immunity for Americans who have broken the law against Americans?

Sounds like the real terrorists are already here, and have friends in the lawmaking process.

[ChiciB1]

101. DODD Really Came Through! I Really Really Respect His Determination

and GRIT!! Too bad he didn't get MUCH MORE HELP!! I SO wish that Democrats would UNITE together to FIGHT! No matter what The Idiot, Decider RULES, it doesn't hurt Democrats to FIGHT BACK!!

Even though I support another for President, I must say Dodd showed me he's at least not afraid to get front and center and consider "we the people" in his heart!

[liberalla]

103. Thank you Senators Dodd, Feingold & Kennedy

...and now we have our work to do before it comes back in 2008.

Apply pressure to ALL the Senators.

[RiverStone]

104. Can Reid pull himself out of the leadership role...

While he's at it?

Dodd should be in that position, just the opposite of Mr. Complicit.

[rodeodance]

106. for now--

[NikolaC]

107. Not Applauding Reid For This One

The respect, applause and support should go to Dodd (who worked damn hard on this), the citizens who flooded the phone lines, Feingold, Kennedy and the other Senators who had the guts to stand up to this craven move. Reid had two versions of the bill to choose from and chose to put forth the one with the retroactive protection for the telecom companies. Flame away at me and make excuses for Reid's move all you want, but he was wrong to remove Dodd's hold and bring this version to the Senate floor begin with.

[davidwparker]

109. i like the freudian headline better. Reid is a gutless wonder. When Hillary

looses, she will claw his eyes out to become majority leader.