Reid Clears Hurdle for Bush-Cheney Spying Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cleared a key hurdle for the FISA Amendments Act on Thursday, advancing President Bush's preferred version of the spying bill, a move opposed by the majority of Reid's Democratic colleagues. The vote, 60-34, sets the Senate on a course to validate more warrantless spying by the Bush administration and provide retroactive amnesty to telephone companies accused of breaking surveillance laws -- an unpopular approach.

The ACLU, which has collaborated with a network of constitutional activists and bloggers to oppose the administration's surveillance policies, condemned the Democratic leadership in unusually tough language after the vote. "Under Democratic leadership, the Senate will now continue its debate on surveillance with a bill that resembles something from the administration's playbook. Six months after being hoodwinked into passing the Protect America Act, Americans are still waiting for Congress to grow a spine," read an official statement released Thursday afternoon.

Glenn Greenwald, an attorney who has written extensively about surveillance issues as an author and blogger, blasted the Democrats' caving on the surveillance bill as part of a broader pattern. "Democrats have failed repeatedly to end or even limit one of the most unpopular wars in American history. They have failed to restore habeas corpus. They have failed to fulfill their promise of 'fixing' the hastily-passed Protect America Act," he wrote at Salon. "They don't feel the slightest bit ashamed or remorseful about any of that," he added.

The Senate floor battle also reflected that Democrats remain divided over whether to confront the Bush administration over constitutional rights. Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy's alternative bill, which would keep telephone companies accountable for potentially illegal or unconstitutional acts, drew the majority of Democratic Senators, including strong backing from Senators Russ Feingold and Chris Dodd. But Reid arranged floor votes to favor the Bush-Cheney version, introduced by Intelligence Chairman Jay Rockefeller, and announced that he would force Democratic opponents to openly filibuster it -- a hardball demand he has rarely made against Republican filibusters.

The fight is far from over. The Senate is considering several more amendments to the underlying bill, and it must reconcile the legislation with a House version that does not include retroactive amnesty. But with opponents like these, President Bush may have forgotten that Congress ever changed hands.

From The Nation.

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Update: The vote tally is here.
Digby has more.

Comments

[flatus]

Without a WORLDWIDE labor movement we will all remain befuddled by the Dems corporate teat sucking actions.

The sad truth is that we can not force our jobs back to the US and no one can force corporations to take that losing position.

Until the labor wage playing field is leveled around the globe, corporations will rule.

[Tim59]

Speaker of the House,,,,,,

Nancy Pelosi-OUT,NOW!
John Murtha-IN,NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Senate Majority Leader,,,,

Harry Reid-OUT,NOW!
Jim Webb, Pat Leahy, Russ Feingold, or
Chris Dodd. take your pick.
-IN,NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pelosi-Reid you've had your chance to
stand up to the unabashed linguistic
simpleton, narcissistic, sociopathic,
war criminal, etcetera, etcetera,
etcetera.
Leave now while there is still time!

[flatus]

Imagine how America could be if we weren't so damned docile.

Congessional primaries that challenge our current crop of corporate teat suckers is in order.

Got the will?

[boomslang]

In Jesusland, War is peace, oppression is freedom,
spying on US citizens, is patriotic (AT&T Verizon), upholding privacy rights (Quest) is treason.

[mellene]

As far as the Congress goes, it doesn't matter which party is in charge as they're both cozying up to the corporate interests. Reid et al will make darn sure that the big telecoms get immunity or you know (they won't continue to get their donations). The Americans are the big losers.

[RogerTheShrubber]

Listening to NPR last night, I think I heard Jay Rockefeller refer to the telecom companies in question as being "patriotic." Uggh.

[hugs4u]

Reid needs to be kicked out of his leadership seat in the Democratic senate or I will refuse to vote for any democrat. Why have them in power when they are sticking up for what gw bush wants.

[ljsfolly]

I am begining to see why the mayan calendar went only to 2012. The scenarios are many but the options few. What this congress has done I have tried to defend because there is the veto problem of not enough dems to fight a veto from bush. Now I will sit down and shut up as the democracts have given bush freely what we have said as voters and citizens we do not want. How many more things will be tossed to bush before he's gone. I am not proud of this moment and the dems.

[oldfreedomdude]

Vote Green!

[AxelDC]

Why do we bother having elections? American politics have been reduced to Hobson's Choice: take or it leave. No wonder so many are voting "leave it" and don't bother to choose between Tweedle Evil and Tweedle Dumb.

[darcy]

I'm so disgusted with the Dems that I'm thinking of registering as an independent and supporting Ron Paul. Small government would have to be better than this sprawling, corrupt, constitutionally-challenged monstrosity that we have right now.

[vippy]

And by 2012 you will have forgotten all of this
and vote for the same people again and again.
They all need to be replaced NOW!

[vippy]

Knowing all of this and you still will vote for Hillary and Obama, then you deserve what you
will get. Here you buy their lies and yet when it comes to action they are silent. Are you not sick yet?

[randyw]

The more Boosh cries about spreading democracy around the world the more he tries to destroy it here at home! WTF is the matter with this country anyway ?

[gcswift2]

Why haven't the Democratic Candidates spoken out against this? This is the Stuff they are supposed to be doing. Instead of this bickering, they could be stopping the wholesale destruction of the constitution. Sunlight is the best disinfectant(sp?) right? Why havent they shined the light to this travesty?