GOP Effort To Force FISA Vote Fails

TPMmuckraker:

The fight goes on.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) cloture vote failed 48-45 just now, well short of the 60 votes necessary.

In the end, four Dems crossed over to vote with the Republicans: Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA). Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) was the lone Republican to vote with the Dems.

Read the whole story: TPMmuckraker

Comments

[milo9]

Even in victory, it is apparent that Reid must go. He is so feeble, and is unable to articulate what is wrong with the temporary fisa act and what is profoundly wrong about extending immunity to the telecoms. Reid must go!

[Average]

Harry does it all the time. Is he mad that Bush is following his lead?

[ajax2]

My apologies to kevenseven and others who are celebrating this vote. I regret the abusive language back and forth. I disagree on the basic premise of compromise with law breakers. Keep up the good work, moving on.

[fact finder]

BrighterStar; In case you missed my apology here it is again. Sorry sometimes I get bitchy. Please check out globalresearch.ca and click on US FEMA camps. Going on since 1984. You Know R. REGAN.

[NYC07]

Just in case anyone is interested Both Obama and Clinton were present for the Vote and both voted "NAY"

[ajax2]

In 2001 Pelosi voted for the Patriot Act. There's more, much more. Her involvement with Bush and waterboarding has yet to be fully disclosed.

No names for you kevenseven, your drivel will gag you.

[kevenseven]

The ugly truth is that the SIC bill will pass out of the Senate, with immunity and warrantless blanket wiretaps. It really is only a question of time.

While we must fight each stage as vigorously as we can, the next real chance to defeat this abomination is in the House. Be prepared to passionately lobby your congressman.

[freespeach]

Harry Reid is saying all of the right things. But this issue is like the onion with many layers.

The Congress has a good bill, but the Senate is where the action is on FISA, where two bills are in the mix.

1. The Judiciary Committee bill.

2. The Intelligence Committee bill.

Bill #1 offers the protections Americans need with NO immunity for Telcoms.

Bill # 2 gives Bush everything he wants.

Last week Harry Reid (traitor) lead the Senate to kill the good Judiciary bill with 12 Democrats voting to help Bush. And Obama and Hillary were no-shows..­.....leade­rship?????

So since the good (Judiciary bill) died at the hand of Reid last week......the vote today was on the sellout (Intelligence bill) that gives Bush what he wants.

It is this terrible (Intelligence bill) that some Democrats are trying to amend.....to minimize the damage or to carry on with the political theatrics?

It is when Democrats are about to sell out their base and screw the American people that you get this big shell game. They make you work very hard to see through their lies.

Three great articles that help you see through the bullshit.....

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012708Y.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012808N.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012508C.shtml

[thromulese]

“the President bullies and threatens the Congress he is supposed to work with. He is like the kid in the schoolyard taking his ball and going home when he doesn't get his way.”

Let him take; his “ball”, his fascism, his torture, his spying, his lies, his propaganda, his war crimes, his incompetence, his cronies, his VP, his catapulters of propaganda, and everything he brought into OUR white house when he stole it. Let him take it all with him as he slithers back to his dirt hole in Texas. The worst president America has ever had deserves nothing more, and nothing less.

I’d say he (and the dick) should be impeached and imprisoned for treason (outing a CIA agent in time of war), and war crimes for the Iraq fiasco. But I know the dems do not have the spine or political savvy for such a bold, constitutionally required move.

[leftLibertarian]

Tell your buddy Pelosi to put impeachment back on the table!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!

[thromulese]

Constitution 1

Fascist republiCONs/sell out (pussy) dems/king george jr/dick/telecom tools 0

Now that the dems have found their balls, lets hope they keep em’.

[BUSHsurvivor]

Great news! BUT, 4 dems voted YEA!??????

[SamEllison]

This is a filibuster, this tactic will not be used when President Obama is in office, right?
Do you think the GOPers will change their stripes?
Do you want to buy a bridge?

[scooperss]

mcconnell wanted amnesty for illegal aliens.
mcconnell wants amnesty for telecoms illegally wiretapping.

mitch mcconnell the amnesty relic. AMNESTY for all mcconnell.

[kevenseven]

Cloture Fails! Great day in the morning!

Your work has only just begun! Attend closely to Glenn Greenwald at Salon and stay tuned to Firedoglake for the next round in this fight.

There is a very real likelihood that the Senate will still pass Telecom immunity and warrantless blanket wiretaps. The threat to the Bill of Rights is all to alive and breathing.

The present feel for the House is that it will not pass immunity, but that will demand a new concerted effort to provide the congressmen with the spine to fight Bush's fearmongering.

Remain alert! This is your duty to the nation and to history, this fight is greater than you know.