In addition to the fiscal debate, the farm bill, and the Violence Against Women Act in need of attention, Congress also hoped to pass the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before the end of the year. It's generated less attention, in part because of bipartisan support, but it shouldn't go by unnoticed.
FISA passed the House in September -- most Republicans supported it, most Democrats opposed it -- and this week, it reached the Senate floor. But as quickly became clear, proponents had two goals: (1) pass the already passed House version; and (2) kill every amendment, regardless of merit, because it would have sent the bill back to the House, which probably wouldn't have had time to consider the revised Senate version before the law expired on Monday.
FISA backers got their wish, and the bill passed -- sans amendment -- 73 to 23 this afternoon. Among the opponents were 21 Democrats and two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul. Adam Serwer highlighted just how misguided the Senate debate really was.
So what were these drastic changes sought by Feinstein's colleagues that would leave the United States open to annihilation by terrorists? They're mostly attempts to find out exactly how the changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act actually work in practice. The most radical proposal, Senator Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) amendment requiring a warrant for the government to access any digital communications, had no chance of passing but clarified just how moderate the Democrats' proposals were by comparison.
"It's incredibly disappointing that such modest amendments that would have done nothing more than increase transparency and accountability failed to pass in the Senate," said Michelle Richardson of the ACLU.
Remember, some of these amendments might have had a shot at passage, were it not for the fact that senators were told to oppose all changes or put the entire law in severe jeopardy.
So, nearly every Senate Republican, and most Senate Democrats, went along, once again clearing the way for a law that empowers the government to spy on Americans, defeating provisions that would have, among other things, improved oversight, documented abuses, and required relevant agencies to disclose how many Americans have been subjected to warrantless searches.
President Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law over the weekend.
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Ever notice that the same people who unambiguously support the need to won military grade firepower to defend from "Government tyranny" have little to know problem passing laws that actually make it possible?
Fun with paranoia...
Diane Feinstein-D Yea. Ever notice the same people against gun rights are the ones involved with passing and extending these bad laws?
Hypocrite.
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A one word change from the statement of the Marine General at the Battle of Hue in 1968:
"We had to destroy the freedom to save it."
And it's down on us, the progressive fringe, who sit back nervously while all the civil liberties violations started in the post-9/11 hysteria get converted into holy writ (a.k.a. supported by both parties, both houses of Congress, and POTUS).
How many of you fine people (not a snark) took to the streets in the 1960s? Where are we now?
I'm so poor they would be bored out of their minds watching me.
Oh yeah? My neighborhood is soo poor, it's not unusual to see a car driving around on two donuts..
In my neighborhood all the cars are sitting on blocks, 'cause every time the 5-0 rolls by they steal the donuts.
"You know you're a redneck when your house is mobile and your car isn't." Jeff Foxworthy.
It's not possible to express how sad a country America has become. Ignorant without the bliss, spineless, anti-intellectual, cowardly. Every day I doubt more and more if there is much hope America will survive the conservatism that began with Ronald Reagan, the most damaging President in its history.
Come on man, or woman. The dems have helped destroy this nation as well. Be honest or stay silent.
I think if you tally everything up, Conservatives have racked up exponentially more points in that regard than liberals have.
I think everyone seems to blaming the other side, but in reality Republicans and Democrats BOTH passed this nonsense. At what point is everyone going to open their eyes and understand as long as we still allow two parties to control everything, everything is going to be a mess. Neither party cares about America or its citizens. They care about retaining power and pointing fingers at the other side of the aisle.
I hope they cover this story in the show today. The war on terror is over. Can we PLEASE have our civil liberties back now?
If we have to ask, it's probably too late.
Since when were civil liberties won in polite conversation?
(Did I just actually say that?)
Very true...
And that's why I call myself a hard on crime secular socialist, but for the want of a clever acronym the kingdom was lost...
Sure would like to read Senators from KY.s emails. Of course the CIA has their own little problems...like landing planes full of drugs. Opps.
CIA: Can't Investigate Anything (according to people I know who know what they're talking about)
supposedly...not that something like a law ever stopped the CIA...
Here in Canada our Minister of Public Safety, Vic Teows (pronounced Taves) wanted to enact a law that would allow him to snoop on Canadians. Someone named Vicileak obliged by publishing all the news fit to print about his messy divorce and his out-of-wedlock child. Dear Vic didn't like that one bit. He also didn't like it when too many people (including me) started e-mailing him the minute details of our private lives. E.g., went to the bathroom just now, Vic. Here is what I did there ------. Minister Vic withdrew the Bill, but the grapevine has it that he is going to try again. Soooo back the keyboard and sharing with Minister Vic all about my exciting life
Rachel used to cover FISA and related stories.
I agree with the ACLU. (As usual.)
The current administration's invasiveness via Facebook is far more wide-reaching than FISA, yet one hears nary a peep about that. Rachel Madcow is only attacking FISA here because of her ability to lay blame on Republicans for it.
I find it hard to be horrified at this as long as Dan Brewington sits in a medium security prison in Indiana for blogging. He was sentenced to 5 years for shedding light on his blog about the family court system in Dearborn County, Indiana run by Judge James D. Humphrey. If Dan's conviction stands local prosecutors, as Aaron Negangard, in Indiana will be able to determine what constitutes freedom of speech in their own counties thereby chilling any government criticism they don't like. Oral Arguments have been heard and we are waiting for the Indiana Court of Appeals to rule. http://danbrewington.blogspot.com/2012/11/oral-arguments-in-dan-brewington-case.html
This country has no reason to exist if we don't have a boogeyman to fear. We need the boogeyman to pass these infringements on our rights and to boost a military we don't need to boost just to line the pockets of the rich.
What good does it do to have these "I SPY" laws when the people in charge ignore the results anyway?
According to the 4th Amendment of the Constitution..."The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." I wonder if our Constitutional Liar President will finally remember that over the weekend? (I'm not holding my breath)
The alternatives to Obama were beyond deplorable and probably would have signed it with a flourish.
I'm not sure if having a nicer person taking away my liberties is really going to make me feel better about it. As for alternatives, I'm sure Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party would have vetoed the bill if she had been elected. Of course true alternatives are ignored by most media, just ask Buddy Roemer (a Republican).
Well, we might need to start a little petition about this! I understand the government has to have some entitlement in this area; however, as usual they have recklessly gone to far. That's where we come in!
Well if you every get anything going please send me a notice so that I can contribute.
Also the ACLU is doing a lot of good work in this area. As soon as they pass the legislation, then they're right on it challenging it in court.
Merkley and Wyden - both nays. Good for Oregon.
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