Dodd Singlehandedly Stops Bush's Domestic Spying Bill

Posted by Melissa McEwan at 2:00 PM on October 18, 2007.

Melissa McEwan: This is a challenge to the Democratic leadership, but it's also a direct challenge to George Bush.

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This post, written by Melissa McEwan, originally appeared on Shakesville

KateContinued literally just said in comments that she wants to see our elected reps really and truly fight: "I don't want them to just vote for our best interests. I want these critters to throw their lives on the line. I want someone to die for us. This is not hyperbole. I want Pelosi, my rep--any of them--to risk his or her life, career, fortune, home, health or family. Put SOMETHING on the line. They won't even risk another congress critter's frown. Fuckers."

Well, it ain't exactly risking his life, but Dem presidential candidate, Senator Chris Dodd, is making a pretty admirable move here:

Dodd will send a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon informing him of his decision [to put a hold on the Senate FISA renewal bill because it reportedly grants retroactive immunity to telephone companies for any role they played in the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping program].

...By doing this, Dodd can effectively hold up the telecom immunity bill, because bills are supposed to have unanimous consent in the Senate before going forward. One Senator can make it very difficult to bring a bill to the floor by objecting to allowing it to go to a vote.

Dodd's planned action comes amid reports that the Senate Intelligence Committee has reached a deal with the White House on the legislation that would give telephone carriers legal immunity for whatever role they played in the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program, which was approved by President Bush after 9/11. The White House and the phone companies have been lobbying aggressively for immunity, and the announcement of the immunity deal today dismayed many opponents.

This is a challenge to the Democratic leadership, but it's also a direct challenge to George Bush. This is using his position as a senator to defend his country. This is leadership.

I know I can be a real jaded old crone at times, but even I don't think this is just a cynical attempt to pull some much-needed attention toward his struggling campaign. I quite genuinely believe that Chris Dodd is doing what he thinks is right.

The Military Commissions Act. Warrantless wiretapping. Shredding of Habeas Corpus. Torture. Extraordinary Rendition. Secret Prisons.

No more.

I have decided to place a "hold" on the latest FISA bill that would have included amnesty for telecommunications companies that enabled the President's assault on the Constitution by illegally providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization.

I said that I would do everything I could to stop this bill from passing, and I have.

Thank you, sir.

Tagged as: bush, civil liberties, fisa, dodd, domestic spying, warranteless wiretapping

Melissa McEwan writes and edits the blog Shakespeare's Sister.

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CHRIS DODD AND HENRY WAXMAN [Report this comment] Posted by: VZEQICVA on Oct 18, 2007 2:13 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Aren't afraid of anybody. Love them both. ANNA [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] "We don't have the votes" [Report this comment] Posted by: ianfan on Oct 18, 2007 2:15 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I'd encourage everyone to thank Dodd for his action and show support for the move. Upon entering congress, you are not asked to take an oath to uphold the Constitution only when you have the votes. The approval rating of the Dems wouldn't be so low if they acted like this on a regular basis. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] A candle has been lit... [Report this comment] Posted by: OldRedleg on Oct 18, 2007 2:20 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I wish that I could believe that Senator Dodd's action is the beginning of a new trend, but even in my wildest hopes and dreams I know better. Still..., a candle has been lit and perhaps others will develop enough of a spine to follow his faint light against the darkness that has been our government leadership and national policy for much too long. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: A candle has been lit... Posted by: JSquercia I think the phrase she is looking for is . . . [Report this comment] Posted by: DanYHKim on Oct 19, 2007 3:07 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] "I want Pelosi, my rep--any of them--to risk his or her life, career, fortune, home, health or family. " I think she is trying to say that she wants a commitment of "our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: VERY well said. Posted by: boydranchitos » RE: I think the phrase she is looking for is . . . Posted by: --dave Any Senator could do the same to stop money from going to pay for Irag! [Report this comment] Posted by: johngary66 on Oct 19, 2007 8:30 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Maybe what they all need, is for us to let them know, we know, they can do this. It's what the late great Senator Paul Wellstone used to do so often. In his honor, we could call pulling a Paul Wellstone in the senate. We should all definately write to Senator Dodd and thank him for setting an example for his cowardly colleagues. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] --dave [Report this comment] Posted by: --dave on Oct 19, 2007 9:01 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] . http://chrisdodd.com/ Tell him what you think. Maybe contribute to his campaign. I'm a constituent of his and have always voted for him, since shaking his hand thirty years ago at a mall. He gave me a plastic comb with his name on it. He gave us all so much more this week: spine! Mighty proud of you, Senator, but not too surprised. Your father would approve... [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Fat lot of good it did... [Report this comment] Posted by: ~Fiona~ on Oct 19, 2007 10:06 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ...The worthless dung eaters passed the FISA bill anyway... I guess it was getting past their bedtime or something... God forbid they actually do something useful... *"Worthless... Completely Worthless...* [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » Dodd must know how "Abraham" felt when told about Sodom and Gomorrah... Posted by: ~Fiona~ Chris Dodd Website [Report this comment] Posted by: mnascimento on Oct 19, 2007 10:16 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I wrote and thanked him for doing his job. I wrote humbly and respectfully. We are on shaky ground when we DEMAND that they represent our best interests. Does he know that he, and his colleagues, are SUPPOSED to "defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC"? That it is the Domestic enemies, who are harming everyone of us 24/7 We can survive foreign enemies, they don't seem nearly as eager to F%#k us over, [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] I posted this on Sen. Dodd's website [Report this comment] Posted by: Astroboy on Oct 19, 2007 2:10 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Senator Christopher Dodd, Thank you, thank you, thank you, for standing by your moral convictions and standing up to the Bush Cabal by putting a hold motion on the FISA bill. By your actions you have shown that you are a leader with conscience and integrity. The only reason Bush wants immunity for the telecommunications companies is to give HIMSELF immunity and stifle an investigation into his own criminal activities. BRAVO, sir, BRAVO! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: A candle has been lit... Posted by: JSquercia

» RE: VERY well said. Posted by: boydranchitos

» RE: I think the phrase she is looking for is . . . Posted by: --dave

» Dodd must know how "Abraham" felt when told about Sodom and Gomorrah... Posted by: ~Fiona~

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» RE: A candle has been lit... Posted by: JSquercia

» RE: VERY well said. Posted by: boydranchitos

» RE: I think the phrase she is looking for is . . . Posted by: --dave

» Dodd must know how "Abraham" felt when told about Sodom and Gomorrah... Posted by: ~Fiona~