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Glenn wrote:
It also should be noted that until there is a vote, one can't know for sure what the outcome is, so it certainly makes sense to continue to pressure as many Senators as possible to vote the right way.
mcjoan wrote:
We are pretty unlikely to get a majority vote on stripping telco amnesty, slightly likelier to win on Whitehouse-Specter. What's important on the amnesty issue is to get as many votes as possible. If we can get 48 or 49, it will strengthen the hand of House negotiators when the bill goes to conference. The House's RESTORE act does not contain amnesty, and they'll need all the help they can get in keeping it out of the bill. A strong showing by Senate Dems will help their argument.
Emptywheel has other votes to push on, amendments that could serve as poison pills for the administration. These include Feinstein's exclusivity amendment--the one that states that FISA is the exclusive means of foreign surveillance, Whitehouse's minimization amendment--it simply gives the FISC authority to not only approve minimization rules but to review their implementation, making sure that the government is not abusing the information it gathers.Again, anything we can pass among these amendments is a victory. But getting as many votes as possible is also critical--every vote for a good amendment is a vote for strengthening the position of the House when it comes time to negotiate. And every good amendment that passes puts us closer to Bush having to veto--having to baldly reveal that his primary purpose with this legislation has been political all along.
Every Senator should be contacted on this bill.... http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/1/133634/3710/796/447719
If Senators don't get at least as many calls, faxes & emails as they did a week ago, they just might think we caved.
