The first step is turning off the damn TeeVee.

You'd be amazed at how much that helps.

If Hillary (or for that matter, Obama) were to become president

I was among those guilty of suggesting that the ideal situation was when the Congress and the President were from the opposite parties.

I guess we can see how well THAT worked out, huh?

It would appear that Harry's hometown paper has the one of the least misleading stories on the subject:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/24/reid-hot-seat-over-backing-spying-bill/

The more convinced that what's motivating Reid and Rockefeller more than anything is a simple desire for this whole issue to go away. As was mentioned upthread, they were probably briefed on the NSA program early in its run and didn't object when they had the chance. Now it would seem that EFF vs ATT is in a position to uncover the whole termite nest and they'd rather that didn't happen.

The confidence they feel over the prospect of a Dem ending up in the White House is probably firming up their resolve even more. After all, if the big prize is theirs anyway, why risk any more chips?

Having conclusively demonstrated that one of the major players in the FISA debate has unquestionably lied to a national media source about the scope and intent of the law, we can of course rely on our intreped truth-seeking national media to pick up the story and run with it, assuring us that everyone who pays attention to such issues is fully informed of the dishonaesty and self seeking that the Democratic leadership in the Senate is engaged in.

After all, its not like they'd be bashing Bush or anything by doing so. I wonder what's stopping them.

The more convinced that what's motivating Reid and Rockefeller more than anything is a simple desire for this whole issue to go away. As was mentioned upthread, they were probably briefed on the NSA program early in its run and didn't object when they had the chance. Now it would seem that EFF vs ATT is in a position to uncover the whole termite nest and they'd rather that didn't happen.

The confidence they feel over the prospect of a Dem ending up in the White House is probably firming up their resolve even more. After all, if the big prize is theirs anyway, why risk any more chips?

Once again I implore you to participate on the Senate floor if Chris Dodd is forced to filibuster the telecom immunity provision of the FISA bill. All three Democratic candidates have issued statements in support of this issue, but no one including yourself has shown a willingness to back that support with concrete action.

The poll results that the ACLU recently published make clear that this is a winning issue with the public at large.

How much more of a winning issue would it be among potential primary voters?

The war on liberty *accelerated* under Mr Hillary,

http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itgic/1097/ijge/gj-7.htm

http://phd9.blogspot.com/2007/04/re-survellance-state.html

The administrations interest in all e-mail is a wholly unhealthy precedent, especially given this administrations track record on FBI files and IRS snooping. Every medium by which people communicate can be subject to exploitation by those with illegal intentions. Nevertheless, this is no reason to hand Big Brother the keys to unlock our e-mail diaries, open our ATM records, read our medical records, or translate our international communications. --John Ashcroft October 1997

They're also apparently unaware of the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

I happen to think that the Creator is rather more comfortable with honest atheism that false piety.

But what do I know?

No further comment necessary......

My first reaction to your article is simply this. One of the reasons it is Congress’ responsibility to check the executive is (as is also the case for declaring war), they are the branch of Government with the closest contact with their local constituents. So not only are they doing the country as a whole a disservice by not holding BushCo accountable but they are directly screwing their constituents out of proper representation in Washington.

I made sure to frame it not just as a privacy issue (as important as that is) but about the fundamental principle of the rule of law.

Shooters contribution reminds us of why this is important. There were law specifically written to criminalize certain activity. Those laws were written because of rampant abuse.

As I've written elsewhere:

"The administration has always had a responsibility to either uphold the law or push for a change in the law. To have them defy the law and then push for a change only after they have been in violation for years puts the entire notion of lawfulness at risk. If they can simply make it up as they go, then what can they NOT do?"

It isn't the privacy, its the lawbreaking.

If what they did weren't blatantly illegal, there would be no need for immunity.

http://phd9.blogspot.com/2008/01/full-text-from-obama-campaign-retelecom.html

This is the full text of the e-mail I got from the Obama campaign after I (rather snarkily) suggested a trip to DC for the FISA vote on the "Schedule an event" form on Obama's campaign site.

The letter indicates that he'd LIKE to provide leadership on the issue, but clearly his leadership might be confined to simply not being there for the Cloture vote.

I continue to hope that when push comes to shove, he will do better.