FISA on the floor; housing boondoggle on hold; DeMint puts heat on Reid; Update: FISA moves forward, 80-15
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I’m keeping an eye on the FISA debate that has been unfolding on the Senate floor. Sen. Orrin Hatch gave a spirited statement taking on the unreality-based FISA reform opponents who “sit in their basements wearing tinfoil hats and who believe 9/11 was an inside job.”
Zing.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller is now reviewing the compromise provisions and, believe it or not, he’s praising Harry Reid for putting national security first–even though Reid opposes the compromise.
The nutroots are seething about those who have flipped and will vote for the FISA compromise.
4:40pm. Standing by for the vote…
4:45pm. Chris Dodd is on the floor whinging about his mortgage boondoggle bill. Mum’s the word on his special “Friend of Mozilo” home loan.
4:55pm Eastern. Dodd finally finished whinging. He needs unanimous consent to proceed with a final vote on the housing bill, but there is one dissenting, maverick Senator holding it up. Bravo, Sen. Jim DeMint. Received this info from his office this afternoon:
In case you missed earlier news, Reid has threatened to delay votes on FISA and War funding until he conservatives agree to let him rush through the lender bailout. Senator DeMint has no intention of allowing Reid to cut debate short on a housing bill that we keep learning more disturbing news about every day (sweetheart deals for senators, bank lobbyists write the bill, fingerprint database of realtors and bank employees, IRS collection of credit card transaction info). As DeMint told reporters just a few minutes ago: “Harry Reid has been holding our national security hostage to force through his liberal agenda.”
eMint Sets Sights on Housing Bill
June 25, 2008, 3:13 p.m.
By Tim Taylor
Roll Call StaffAs the negotiators on the housing bill scramble to deal with what amendments to include in the massive legislation, another battle is brewing that may delay the housing measure altogether.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that he believes that the Senate must take its time with the housing bill, perhaps delaying a vote until after the break.
“There are too many questions out there. … I think it would beneficial that we take a fresh look at it after the break,” DeMint said.
DeMint emphasized that he is not “holding up the bill,” but since the White House has taken a hard line against it, he believes that it might as well go through all the procedural hoops before a final tally is taken.
Specifically, DeMint is threatening to force the Senate to jump all of the regular procedural hoops, including the 30 hours of debate typically allotted a bill, that lawmakers usually waive in order to more efficiently consider legislation.
The South Carolina Republican said he wants to “make sure that we have the full debate time on every aspect of this. I don’t think we need to pass it this week before the break, so I don’t intend to allow unanimous consents to shorten the debate time on this bill.”
If DeMint follows through with his threat, the housing bill would not hit the floor until later this week, forcing vote during the weekend or delaying one until after the recess.
DeMint said it would probably be “Saturday or Sunday” if Reid wants to make the Senate jump through all the procedural tangles to pass the measure, which enjoys the broad bipartisan support of more than 80 Members.
For the past week, many GOP Senators have questioned the financial benefit that mortgage house Countrywide would receive in the bill, particularly on the heels of controversy surrounding favorable mortgages received from the lender by Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), the housing bill’s chief sponsor, and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.).
DeMint has threatened to block the bill for some weeks now, arguing that Senators do not fully understand the benefits provided to such financial institutions as Countrywide.
***
Update: Here’s the roll call vote on the cloture motion for the FISA bill, which advances to a final vote tomorrow. Vote was 80-15.
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Categories: FISA, Subprime crisis
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Proof that the democratic base is far loonier than even their “heroes”
I hope it passes. If you are not doing an thing illegal then there is nothing to worry about. It is the ones doing illegal things that do not want it and make excuses to not pass it.
BTW I read that the housing bailout bill hit a snag thought Id throw that in here.
Sen. Reid putting national security first???
You’ve gotta be kidding. That old fool doesn’t even know what day of the week it is.
If we depend on the likes of Sen. Reid and Rockefeller for our national security, we’re in deep doo doo.
.
#3 WA I hope it’s a good “snag” for our side!
Thanks for the heads -up..
Sen. Dodd is on the floor?
What the hell is he doing, asking for another low interest loan?
Man’s cahones must be made of brass..
.
This is article I spotted
I know, I know, this is off-topic, but it’s so FUNNY:
http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/bushlegacy/archives/first_photos_of_the_bus/
Little Green Footballs brought this up yesterday, but I can’t post on there, so I wanted to share this beautiful work of art on Michelle’s site.
Be sure to leave comments for the admins to filter through.
Mine today was, “Terrific Idea! $300,000 worth of CO2-spewing Bush Derangement Syndrome on wheels!”
Yesterday it was,
“Feed the Children?
No.
Donate to St. Jude’s Hospital?
No.
Contribute to curing cancer?
No.
Stop global warming?
No.
Spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an enormous fuel-guzzling contraption intended to breed hatred for a man with less than seven months left in office?
Sure, why not?
Good going, you guys should be proud.”
I love being a wiseguy.
Thanks, already updated.
I’m not sure what whinging is. But if Dodd’s doing it on the floor, it must be alcohol-induced. Do we need to call the Senate janitor and have him mop up?
With this new housing bill I can get an $8000 dollar tax credit if I buy another house.
I’m thinking of writing in DeMint on the ballot in November…does he have an exploratory committee?? He should.
Countrywidegate?
He went on to praise Teddy Kennedy for putting wind power ahead of his own ocean view, to praise Robert Byrd for cutting self-aggrandizing pork projects from his own state, and to praise Chuck Schumer’s support of the Second Amendment.
Pssst…. whinge means to complain , usually just for the sake of complaining… it’s a great Old English word… glad to see it’s use again
J S Ragman #14, ROFLMAO.
Somewhat OT: I just sent the following letter to Jim Matheson regarding Mike Pence’s discharge petition on the Broadcasters’ Freedom Act (heard him on Hannity a bit ago).
I had a bit of fun by filing it under “First Amendment.” He better listen; I’m in his district.
It’s laughable that Dodd is trying to stand up to the FISA bill. He stands for privacy? Yeah right, look at his mortgage bailout bill – report all credit/debit transactions to the government? National finger-print database for mortgage lenders? Who does he think he’s kidding – why not stop acting and just support more government control and intrusion on our lives.
We are so screwed, the American people are going to get both these horrible bills jammed down our throat. We can’t afford them financially or morally as a country. I’m sick of the fraudulent bickering between two parties that have the same damn goals. Soon we will have no privacy, or freedom to choose our economic destiny. Remember national security is another term for government control to these people.
By the way, Orrin Hatch is a bastard.
Finally a true observation! Contributions to Obama are down by half because of his campaign finance flip-flop and his support for the FISA compromise. The “nutroots” just want an honest politician who will live up to his commitments and support the freedoms in the constitution (except of course the second amendment).
How about an amendment banning the extension of mortgage loans to illegal aliens? Sharing of fingerprints with ICE and the IRS, etc.
I’m sure true conservatives in the Senate (come on, there have to be a few…) can propose such commonsense amendments that the Dems will oppose to make it politically unlikely that Dem Senators will vote Yes on the bill. And the American people can be informed why the Dems opposed it as amended.
I’m keeping my eye on DeMint. I see some moxie, guts, and integrity.
lgm,
I hope there comes a day when you think you need to be armed, but can’t get a gun when the criminals can.
These lefty loons are so afraid that they are going to lose their freedoms over the fisa. But, are more than willing to give up their freedoms for a mortgage bailout. OMG, are these people stupid? when you ask the government to help keep you secure in health, food and housing you lose your freedoms. PERIOD.
I’m so proud to have Chris Dodd as my sen.
/sarc
Dude, did your computer just blow up?
whinge:
a cry; a complaint; to complain or protest, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
It helps to have a dictionary around.
FISA grants immunity to telecoms that have collected information on terror suspects. The mortgage bailout requires businesses to report all e-transactions to the government.
How is this logical?
JT, I’m with you on that one.
Good for you!!! I wish I had been that informed, that active, and that brilliant at age 17!
— Old Fart-ette
BTW, haven’t I seen you hanging around over at LGF?
Yo, Harris!
I went to the Bush legacy website and, wouldn’t you know, they wouldn’t post MY comment.
Comment was:
F I D I O T S !
Expressing personal outrage for the un-American, or illegal (things) our officials do, is no longer acceptable to me. It’s time for the patriots in this country to act! If this means naming names of those who profit off of legislation or lack of legislation that comes before them, so be it! When will the true conservatives in office start telling us what really is being said and done behind closed doors, and who the bad actors are? These are OUR elected EMPLOYEES, we are not theirs!
I personally don’t what to hear anymore indignancy from anyone who pretends to support American principles. I’ve had enough! Either do something about it, or just shut the hell up!!!
Okay, off topic but for a bit of frivolity some fool just paid $5700 on Ebay to be a bridesmaid in some wedding for someone they don’t even know. And the msm and dims tell us everyday how bad the economy is.
RED SCARE!
Thank goodness, I thought something was wrong with my laptop.
Well that sucks.
Did Lee Harvey’s bleeding heart burst an artery?
mchristian said:
Ouch!
I’m neither a “lefty loon” nor am I in favor of the government’s mortgage “bailout”. Guess that blows your hysterical stereotype.
Why the hell is everthing red? Communist holiday?
Just call me Visine.
thanks see-dubya. that hurt.
Ed McMahon issued a press release today urging Harry Reid to “get this bill passed today, right now, right this minute, whatever it takes”. “Honest, hard working Americans are waiting for mortgage relief and justice”. “Oh, and $750,000 is not near enough, I’m going to need at least two that size!”
Hindu monkey god endorses Obama
NEW DELHI: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama can now expect help from an unexpected quarter — Lord Hanuman.
All-India Congress Committee member Brij Mohan Bhama has organised a 11-day religious ceremony at Karol Bagh here for his success in the U.S. elections.
The idea of sending an idol of Hanuman dawned on him after friends in the United States mentioned a “prominent American politician who carried a miniature Hanuman idol in his pocket for luck,” Mr. Bhama said speaking on the first day of the ceremony on Tuesday.
Finally, some good news from the Senate. I see both of my Senators to include the rouge “wide stance” Craig actually voted right on this one. I would love to see the housing bailout go down in flames or at least only pass without a veto proof majority. I hope President Bush has the good sense to keep his word and stamp a great big VETO on potential increase on the backs of the overburdened taxpayers.
Just as I expected. Neither Obama nor McCain voted. Still, if the GOP senators are so against this bill, why was the total vote so lopsided? More phony posturing by the GOP?
Do you want names of fifteen people who are ruining America? You got it!
Six partisans from the East coast, three from the West coast, and four from mid-America. Of course this is only a partial list of anti-Americans on the American payroll….Security first, indeed!
I’m not a FISA reform opponent (nor a 9/11 conspiracy kook). I think it should absolutely be made clear that foreign-to-foreign calls that are switched within the United States can be intercepted without a warrant. But this FISA bill goes beyond that, legalizing mass warrantless wiretapping of Americans’ international communications. As someone who makes international phone calls, that makes me nervous. Furthermore, it offers immunity to companies who illegally assisted the government in tapping domestic communications without a warrant. As someone who makes domestic phone calls, that makes me nervous (they can keep on doing it and just count on the government to make their crimes vanish when they are found out).
Great post. I also read that article. But you’ve got to be careful. Use “monkey” and “Obama” in the same sentence and every fart-lighting troll in the TPD (Thought Police Department) will be all over you “like a monkey on a cupcake.” (Thanks, Ray Romano).
On the bright side, this may be just what’s needed to get nyk, les, TheOtherSide, Rusty, Dark Knight and mistressjustice on the first flight to Calcutta to investigate this insidious act of racism.
Not again.
Lefties opposed telecom immunity not out of any love for privacy, but because the bill denies tort bar parasites–major fundraisers for the Dems–access to the telecoms’ pockets.
Should you ever be audited by the IRS, you’ll lose more privacy in a day than the NSA could expose in your lifetime. Ever hear the left or trial lawyers complain about IRS audits–except when they’re on thereceiving end? Nah.
Re: Harris’ off-topic link to the Bush Legacy Tour Bus. That’s hilarious! I couldn’t stop myself from contributing the following:
Could have guessed that my 2 Senators were in the nay column. When will the people in my State learn??? How could 2 guys that represent a State hit close to home on 9/11 not vote for security measures??? It’s not even like they have the excuse that they are from South Jersey! Menedez is from Hudson County – ACROSS THE RIVER FROM WTC!!! They need to get a clue and start caring about NJ more than the Dem party. Well, we can get the old man out this year – Go Dick Zimmer!!!
Statement on HR 6304, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments
20 June 2008
Rep. Ron Paul, M.D.
Madam Speaker, I regret that due to the unexpected last-minute appearance of this measure on the legislative calendar this week, a prior commitment has prevented me from voting on the FISA amendments. I have strongly opposed every previous FISA overhaul attempt and I certainly would have voted against this one as well.
The main reason I oppose this latest version is that it still clearly violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution by allowing the federal government to engage in the bulk collection of American citizens’ communications without a search warrant. That US citizens can have their private communication intercepted by the government without a search warrant is anti-American, deeply disturbing, and completely unacceptable.
In addition to gutting the fourth amendment, this measure will deprive Americans who have had their rights violated by telecommunication companies involved in the Administration’s illegal wiretapping program the right to seek redress in the courts for the wrongs committed against them. Worse, this measure provides for retroactive immunity, whereby individuals or organizations that broke the law as it existed are granted immunity for prior illegal actions once the law has been changed. Ex post facto laws have long been considered anathema in free societies under rule of law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this, including in Article I section 9 of the Constitution that “No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” How is this FISA bill not a variation of ex post facto? That alone should give pause to supporters of this measure.
Mr. Speaker, we should understand that decimating the protections that our Constitution provides us against the government is far more dangerous to the future of this country than whatever external threats may exist. We can protect this country without violating the Constitution and I urge my colleagues to reconsider their support for this measure.
Thanks for the post Khan,
Although I was disappointed initially not to see Paul join the single Republican voting against FISA in the house. I’m glad he put the posted comments on record. It’s sad to see all the democrats/republicans invoke the constitution when it suits their needs. It will also be sad when Paul is proved right again, once this bill starts getting abused under the next administration.