Dems Nix Telecom Immunity

Dodd (4.00 / 3)

Jane Hamsher on Dodd:

It's safe to say it probably never would have happened if Chris Dodd hadn't stepped out in a leadership role - the tremendous outpouring of support he got online from a progressive coalition that included the blogs, Blue America, BlogPac, MoveOn, EFF, ACLU, Color of Change and Working Assets certainly emboldened Pat Leahy to flip the bird to the Intelligence Committee.

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by: Scarce @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 04:36:16 AM UTC

Not such a terrible world after all? (4.00 / 1)

whew. An unexpected victory.

Though why should we be so thrilled when we finally don't do the wrong thing?

"I am not a Blogger...But I play one on the internet."

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by: tessa @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 05:16:38 AM UTC

it's not over (0.00 / 0)

I am shocked that DiFi did the right thing - I cannot imagine what caused her to actually *listen* and respond, as is not her reputation, I've read, among CA dems.

However, when this gets on the floor someone can still add an amendment to provide immunity to the telecoms, but it will take 60 votes, not 40, to get that through if Dodd ever stops filibustering the amendment, which he still says he will.

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by: greenpeas @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 05:22:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Part of what moved DiFi (4.00 / 1)

was the CA Dem Party offices were flooded with calls for a censure from the party. Yesterday a call was made after the state Party and DiFi's office tried to push back against progressives moving for censure and today Torres' office was flooded by dems demanding censure.

Seems the party may have told DiFi to stop Liebermaning...

My favorite line so far

Scott Gerber, a Feinstein aide, defended the senator, saying she "has been an independent voice for California."

The question is not what you are, we already determined that, we are now negotiating price.
electrealdemocrats.com Online since 3/07 -- TimetogoJoe.com Online s

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by: Met00 @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 05:52:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Is this forshadowing the formation of (4.00 / 1)

"The California for Feinstein" party? Maybe John Orman wants to be party chair!

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by: Neal Fink @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 13:28:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm wondering if she was told she's bringing the Dem brand name down with her (4.00 / 1)

Not being in CA, I have no sense of the impact of the censure - while I thought it was great, I also read a quote I can't relocate, which I believe was from CA party official, saying "they're just a small group with a big megaphone".  We've heard that before, and I'm wondering why all of a sudden she has started listening, if that's really the attitude.

The Mukasey confirmation and the telecom immunity both really pushed me over the top in my disgust with the Democratic party (or certain "centrist" elements in it -- neither of those two moves has anything to do with centrist, they're to the right of that).

I have felt and picked up on a lot of despair, outrage, and disgust with the party as a result of a number of recent vote outcomes.  I'm wondering if her colleagues or the party told her that her "independence" was making problems for the party in 08.  That's the kind of disgust that causes votes to migrate to conveniently appearing third party candidates.  IMHO, That's the GOP's only chance - to split the vote with a third party puppet, er candidate, and win on a plurality.

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by: greenpeas @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 14:00:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

From what I was told (4.00 / 1)

The CA Dem office phones can handle a limited number of incoming calls (just like any other business) and both the LA and Sac offices were flooded to the point that almost no other business was getting done all morning.

This forced Art Torres to make a call to DiFi explaining that the momentum was such that there was a real possibility that there would be a vote, and in such a vote he wouldn't be able to stop the party from doing it.

How much effect did that have verses all the calls to the good Senator from Nevada? I don't know.

I do know that I got a call from a person in Boxers office asking me to back off if I was involved. And to me, that is very telling. That is asking for favors, and those cost, big time.

[and my answer was, "I wished I had thought of it, but it's not me this time so I can't back off, although I do want to pile on!]

The question is not what you are, we already determined that, we are now negotiating price.
electrealdemocrats.com Online since 3/07 -- TimetogoJoe.com Online s

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by: Met00 @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 17:59:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ya have to fight tooth and nail (4.00 / 1)

to get them to act like Americans and protect our freedoms, and on almost every other issue, as well.

Sad statement on the state of both parties.


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 07:31:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What to expect next (4.00 / 1)

  NY Times

After lobbying by the telecommunications industry and the White House, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence agreed to the legal protection last month. Under a complicated legislative process, the Intelligence Committee's bill had to be considered by the Judiciary Committee before it could go to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

Because the two committees could not agree, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, will determine which proposals will be considered by the full Senate, said a spokeswoman for the Judiciary Committee.

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by: greenpeas @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 14:36:04 PM UTC

And Therein Lies the Rub (0.00 / 0)

I hope to be proven wrong, but I believe that Feinstein's "change of heart" was nothing more than another Democratic Kabuki Dance orchestrated by Harry Reid, who intends to be the bad guy this time, bringing the Intel bill (the one WITH amnesty) to the floor.

Chances are he cut a deal with DiFi in order to save her and the CA Dems from the growing outrage. Now she gets to look like someone who actually listens to people and reconsiders bad decisions, while at the same time still achieving her original goal.

Until the Democratic leadership begins standing up to the Republicans with actions and not just rhetoric, I shall remain a cynic.

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by: CTPatriot @ Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 21:41:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]