Two Months After Vow To Reign In NSA, Dem Concessions On Wiretapping Expected

New York Times:

Two months after vowing to roll back broad new wiretapping powers won by the Bush administration, Congressional Democrats appear ready to make concessions that could extend some of the key powers granted to the National Security Agency.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[shag11]

If they capitulate again, they are the worst fucking cowards ever.

[toochie]

It's not a matter of if, just when.

[Fightnmad]

I've stated before that I will never support ANY candidate who is intent on increasing the powers of this junta government. I'd vote for my dumbass cocker before that day arrived.

This is why I will never vote Repuke again (I did as a youngster). And while the list of spineless Democratic enablers grows to alarming proportions, there are still a few who are faithful to their oath of office and take their job of representing We the People quite seriously.

I fear for America, that she may not weather this storm of destruction foisted upon her by the corrupt and enabled by the self-serving belly-uppers (think Germany in the '30s and '40's).

The destructive force of tyranny is coming from within, as predicted by our Founding Fathers. Using Hitler's Germany as an example, it isn't difficult to see the writing on the wall:

Secrecy, warrantless eavesdropping, domestic spying, secret rendition, loss of the writ of habeas corpus, torture, secretly nullifying international treaties, election-tampering, racism, religious intolerance, fear-mongering, unquestioning loyalty/obedience to governmental authority; taxation without representation, the rescinding of basic freedoms such as privacy, speech, thought, dissent, assembly, travel, and the right to pursue Life, Liberty, and Happiness while remaining free FROM fear and retribution; an all-powerful unitary executive, a propaganda-spewing media machine, a military-industrial corporatocracy, and phrases such as "Homeland Security" and "National Security Agency", should all be red flags.

The question we should ask of all legislators is: "In your opinion, are these red flags or red-white-­and-blue?"

[naschkatze]

Is it just my computer, or are other people hitting on page 2 and getting page 1 over again or hitting on page 3 and getting page 2?

[SaviourMachine]

Not just you naschkatze.

[williamina]

Moonbats punked, what a surprise.
hey but chin up, limpballs said something stupid, go get'm.

[joebaggadonuts]

What the Democrats in Congress don't seem to be able to get through their thick heads is that this kind of behaviour, giving in to the King, is going to keep their constituents home on election day.

If their constituents stay home, the R's won't even need Diebold to help them.

Wake the hell up, will you? Do something for us! Impeach the criminals in the Administration or at least take some of their weapons, like NSA spying on your campaigns away from them!

You choose to not fight for the Constitution so that you could have security. Now we have neither.

God damn you for letting them destroy our country. Appeasers.

[KBAR]

Poor joey, maybe you can learn a lesson here.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2007/10/08/chimps_choose_more_rationally_than_humans/8872/

Chimps choose more rationally than humans

[freespeach]

We progressives often laugh at the miserable bible thumpers, who believe the lies of Bush, as he pretends to be a Christian so these stooges vote for him.

Progressives who want peace are the stooges of the Democratic party who always talk peace then vote war....or in this case Domestic spying.

The once great Democratic party has been taken over by the DLC corporate whores. I am angry with myself for not seeing the truth earlier and wasting so much time and energy believing in losers like John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi.

If you are fed up, but unsure of how to respond, please check out this site where people are organized motivated and honest.

http://www.gp.org/

Join the Green party today and tell your Democratic reps why, and say good bye to the lies and spin of the DLC whores that killed our party.

I still support Kucinich and will until the end. If a miracle occurs and he wins, he and the Democratic party will have my full support.

But we know the DLC and their big three (who all agree we will be killing and dying in Iraq till at least 2013) will not let Dennis win.

This is not my Democratic party, nor is it yours. Stop pretending and put your energy to good use. Go Green.

Peace.

[getoffmedz]

Does anyone know what these concessions are going to be?

Somewhat difficult to locate specific info from the usual sources.

[KBAR]

A Democratic bill to be proposed Tuesday in the House would maintain for several years the type of broad, blanket authority for N.S.A. wiretapping that the administration secured in August for just six months.

Broad and Blanket? Sounds specific to me. Only moveondotorgy and Al Qaeda types want to expose more.

[Ammobob]

Dingy Harry: Shall we CAVE once again??

Dick Turban: Sure Harry, but I'm still building my bomb shelter.

Henry 'The Pig' Waxman: Just as long as I can investigate SOMETHING.

John Conman: I'm down with that, Piggy!

[infideltexan]

While you are paying attention to Rush's non story, your congress is screwing you again. 11%, libs....11%.

[puppyranch]

Great point!

[frybread]

This excuse that Dems are afraid of being labeled as "soft on terror" is just that, an excuse. The majority of American people -- not only liberals but moderates -- are in favor of rolling back the Imperator's spying powers, which is why the Dems were given the majority in Congress in the first place. We need new Democratic leadership. Pelosi, Reid, etc. are just not up to the job of reigning in a mad boy-king.

[UltraClassic]

Sorry fry, I'd like to say you don't know what you are talking about but that would be rude. Yes, dems are afraid of being labeled soft on terror and for good reason.

As far as voters wanting to roll back tools used against terror, you are all washed up. Dems came to power because of the Iraq war, period, end of story.

If you want your people to stay in power, you better stop reading all your far left nonsense and start dealing with reality.

[peacekitten]

note to democrats:

the (d) after your name doesn't mean you have job security.

do what you were hired to do.

defend the constitution as you swore to do upon taking office, and which you are obligated to do as a citizen.

this is but a small step. the entire PATRIOT act needs to be repealed. pronto.

so get to work.

[squareyellowpaper]

If a disctator took over the United States, I doubt that most Americans would be bothered. As long as they are making enough money, they have professional sports, they have their own cars, and they have access to telephones and HD cable television, life would just go on.

Americans are so into their own lives that most of them have no real idea what is happening around them and even more do not care.

The America of patriotism, national service, aiding the sick and the poor, and protesting over bad government, is dead. Americans have become little bobble heads who nod their heads in compliance and follow without question.

[peacekitten]

speak for yourself.

i know plenty of us that will never ever give in.

[naschkatze]

squareyellowpaper, there is fast becoming a point when Americans will not have all those "wonderful" things they have now. They will not have the means to obtain or sustain them. Life never just goes on in the same way. More and more Americans will become sick and poor (and old I might add). I am 65 and always thought I would never live to see a change, but we are moving at such white hot heat, I don't know that I might not be around after all to see a second revolution. At least I have hope in that.

[oogabooga]

Our best defense against our enemies, real or imagined, is our Constitution, which grants individuals unprecedented power over their own lives. But all somebody has to yell nowadays is "9-11" or "terrorism" and our leaders march toward the land of sheep, forgetting the our Constitution provides the best protection against Bin Laden. Just exactly how does the Total Information Program of the government­/corporate Establishment help catch Bin Laden or his cohorts? How does knowing every single thing about every ordinary citizen of this country, and storing it in a government computer, help our supersleuths catch Bin Laden? How does passing law after law with draconian penalties to curb individual behaviors help us catch Bin Laden? How does strip-searching cripples and senior citizens at the airport help catch Bin Laden? How does random tapping of ordinary people's phone calls and emails help catch Bin Laden? How does using fear to rule us help the government catch Bin Laden?

[squareyellowpaper]

Our elected officals have no ear for the concerns of the people.

There is something going on here between congress and the president that just doesn't add up.

Does anyone else share my concerns?

[MetalCanuck]

The Dems are in on the Corruption, you have to vote Ron Paul simply because he has the largest following between him and Kucinich. You may not agree with the issues but he WILL screw the NWO plans real good I guarantee you. There will be no more torture, corruption will eventually find no home, no more wars..etc

[naschkatze]

Oh yeah!

[scooperss]

One party as people have said.

[dommyluc]

This is what I wrote to Pelosi. I tried to be nice but it’s hard when your country is dying:

Gee, Speaker Pelosi, thanks for abandoning my constitutional rights. Why don’t you and the rest of the Democratic Party just kiss George W. Bush’s posterior on national television? It’s bad enough you took impeachment off the table for the most corrupt administration in US history, but now you sell my rights down the river because you and the rest of my once-beloved party are afraid you’ll look like pussies on national security. I’m trying to be civil but don’t get your hopes up. I voted Democratic to change this situation in our government, not to keep the status quo. I, and many other Dems, am at the point now where I can see no difference between you and the Repubs in Congress, and since I see no difference I, and many other Dems, will sit at home in November 2008. Why elect pseudo-Republicans when I can sit back and watch real Republicans get elected? I expect THEM to violate my civil rights, but I never expected my own party to stab me in the back. And please do not respond with another one of your lame excuses saying how the war on terror has made it difficult to balance my rights with national security. My rights ARE the national security of this country. Grow a spine, dammit. You’ve got the American public behind you. Stop worrying that GWB might say something bad about you. What happened to my Fighting Democratic Party, or are you all a bunch of corporate losers now?

[paixa3]

I have to agree. Geezuzz, I hope that EVERY incumbent in the DEM and RETHUG batch in congress are not re-elected.

How can the electorate be so damn stupid?

[PollM]

It seems that Democrats cave in on issues of War & Eavesdropping every time they have to vote on these matters. Poll numbers show Hillary making head way with her message and continued policies; this could be a sign of acceptance.

Does standing tough on War & Eavesdropping Buy you Votes or Lose Votes? -------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=667

[dawlishgal]

Seems to me that together the national polls that show HC leading the Democratic pack AND the ones that show increasing disapproval of the war in Iraq indicate that people aren't paying attention to the issues YET.

But the relatively small number, those who participate in a caucus or a primary, THEY are the ones who do pay attention. I talked to a lot of Democrats in the small rural area where I used to live, and NONE of them has any regard for HC, and it is all because of her support for the war.

It will be interesting to see how many people can be swayed to get up off the couch in the middle of winter and turn out to support a person who seems to be recognized now mainly because of her husband's name.

[pigsatthetrough]

Write her again. Tell her you are not going to sit home. You are going to vote for Ron Paul for Pres. Tell her you will support any candidate that has not been elected previously by the Democrats, even though you won't vote Republican. Once they fear the voter, rather than the other way around, they may grow cohones rather than warts.

[TJoad]

So in the House and Senate, Repugs continue to clap mindlessly like trained seals, and Dems cower like wounded hyenas, as the Cheney/Bush regime goose-steps the country towards establishing a proto-fascist state by unrelenting fear mongering to eviscerate fundamental civil liberties in the name of fighting the endless “war on terror.”

How much longer can the core democratic vales of the nation survive the Cheney/Bush regime’s vampirism draining the lifeblood of civil liberties from the body politic?