The TRUTH about the Protect America Act

Email Print posted by MRFred 02/13/2008 06:28:21 PM EST

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Did you know that the Congress has TWO legislative bodies?


Yes , yes...hard to believe but it's true.

I know you conservatives receive a large percentage of your civics education from watching movies like National Treasure and Rambo and reading My Pet Goat.

But the other legislative body didn't pass retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. In fact they didn't pass anything. Imagine that. 

No! Your saying to yourself IT CAN'T BE TRUE. after all the Democrats CAVED right?

Relax my friends...we all know that when our right wing friends are trying to exaggerate a point about the US Senate a little known codicil for the Constitution mandates a unicameral legislature.

"All those big words!" the Republicans must be saying to themselves" what could MrFred mean?"

Fair enough...let me distill it down for you: Your full of shit. Here are just some of the tactics under consideration:

1. Give Bush what he wants. "Admit defeat and approve the immunity shield that the Senate already did on Tuesday." Admittedly a political calculation betting that No one is paying attention except certain bloggers.

2. Wait and try again." If the the White house insists that this bill is absolutely necessary , the Democrats will hold another temporary renewal vote , again without immunity on Friday at 11 p.m. and dare the GOP to block this supposedly vital legislation a second time."

3. Let the Protect America Act expire. "This is politically risky in an election year, of course, but the Bush administration's arguments for passing the law in the first place were based on partial, calculated leaks of secret court rulings."

4. Start over. "If the Republicans want the Protect America Act so badly, force them to negotiate the law separately from retroactive immunity--the issues really aren't linked."

By the way the Senate is supposedly the more deliberative body. They tend to think for themselves.(unlike the automatons that the conservatives like to think that the "(R)" members are). Of course ,we have seen how Republicans have rewarded independant thought in the case of Senator McCain, and will reward his nomination with a social conservative third party run!

 Oh oh.......you go Mike!

Thanks to Mr. Declan McCullagh for the quoted material

 

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The TRUTH about the Protect America Act | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
Isn't there another option? (none / 0)
1A) Give Bush what he wants minus retroactive immunity, and send the two versions of the bill to committee for joint resolution.

It's gonna be either that or a complete cave.

Personally, I favor letting the PAA expire.  To paraphrase the 4th Amendment: If Bush can't convince a judge, fuck him.

(Wasn't that amendment specifically intended to protect us from dictators like Bush?)

by Juarez Traveller on 02/13/2008 07:44:12 PM EST

That would be #4 (none / 0)

by MRFred on 02/13/2008 09:54:32 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Fred, anything is possible, (none / 0)
but if Democrats choose option number 1, like they've done ten million times before, would you shave your legs and wear those clear platforms?

Thanks

by KenTX on 02/13/2008 10:29:16 PM EST

How did you know about that? (none / 0)

They said they would never tell...bastards!

 

 

by MRFred on 02/14/2008 07:59:47 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Best solution: Do nothing (none / 0)

Let the "Protect America Act" expire on Friday. Situation will return to original FISA law. Ignore BushCo.

Then investigate, prosecute and sue the hell out of anyone who broke the law. After all the spying and illegal wiretaps started BEFORE 9/11/2001 anyway.

There should be no retroactive immunity for those who intentionally broke the law and won't disclose what they did and the extent of the misdeeds. The insanity continues

by zenie on 02/14/2008 02:47:33 PM EST

agree and hopefully so do the Dems (none / 0)
Thats exactly what I think is going to happen.

by Chinese Democracy on 02/14/2008 05:49:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
GOP staged a walkout today (none / 0)
They took their marbles and went home to protest the Dem agenda on FISA.  Best reaction I saw on another board was the House Dems should respond by locking the doors behind them.  ;-)

"If you're not pumped up, then get the hell out, 'cause you don't belong here." -- Cenk Uygur

by Spinny on 02/14/2008 02:49:49 PM EST

True that (none / 0)

The American people both Democrats and Republicans (well, real Republicans anyway) would have their back.

All this warrantless wiretapping and companies violating our privacy rights is just getting a little too creepy for us. 

by z1p101 on 02/14/2008 04:54:32 PM EST

[ Parent ]
The TRUTH about the Protect America Act | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
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