Dodd Singlehandedly Stops Bush's Domestic Spying Bill

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

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

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