Leahy: Senate Is "About To Cave" On Telecom Immunity
Looks like Senator Pat Leahy, the chair of the judiciary committee, is adding his voice to the growing clamor of criticism of the deal that the intel committee has reached to include telecom immunity in the Senate FISA renewal bill.
Leahy has just come out and sharply criticized the reported deal, saying that it's a sign that the Senate is "about to cave."
Leahy, who hasn't seen the actual legislation, was reacting to reports this morning saying that the intel committee has reached a deal with the White House to provide retroactive immunity to the telecom companies for their role in warrantless wiretapping undertaken by the Bush administration after 9/11.
Leahy's criticism -- and Chris Dodd's promise today that he will put a hold on the bill -- signal that any legislation containing immunity for the telecoms is all but certain to hit major road bumps on the way to the Senate floor. That's because the bill has to clear Leahy's committee on the way to passage. It's getting interesting.
Comments (13)
Anonymous wrote on October 18, 2007 4:06 PM:Time for another terrorist scare.
Fred Dodsworth wrote on October 18, 2007 4:22 PM:Thank you, Senators Dodd and Leahy. Where's Obama? Where's Clinton? Perhaps the anti-Democratic Party concern trolls that seem to infect this website's comments sections can back off now.
Ferruge wrote on October 18, 2007 4:34 PM:"About to cave"? Does that mean that they are caving in to agreeing with it, or caving in to not agreeing with it? Usually, when you say you are caving in to something, that means you are grudgingly going along with a larger, broader sentiment. Seeing as how caving has previously meant that Dems go along with Bush and the Republicans and what they want, one can easily interpret this instance as meaning the same thing, even though the article does appear to suggest the contrary.
robin wrote on October 18, 2007 4:34 PM:You mention this is a grant of immunity for after 9/11, what about before 9/11? I seem to recall that there have been suggestions that was the case.
mikeel wrote on October 18, 2007 5:16 PM:A spine sighting! Just when the Democrats were turning into amoebas,
somethig happened. Dodd for majority Leader--it's time to dump Harry Reid.
Leahy: Senate Is "About To Cave"
And if anybody's an expert on caving...
Michael's Mom wrote on October 18, 2007 5:33 PM:Fred Dodsworth asks "Where's Obama?"
He put a hold on Hans von Spakovsky's nomination to the Federal Election Commission. Don't you think if he puts holds on every bit of legislation that he was going to vote against the Repubs and H. Clinton would accuse him of grandstanding?
lestatdelc wrote on October 18, 2007 6:55 PM:"Don't you think if he puts holds on every bit of legislation that he was going to vote against the Repubs and H. Clinton would accuse him of grandstanding?"
So what if the GOP hacks and HRC make such a stupid claim?
He would soon be leading in the nomination race if he should a spine. Of course the more telling thing is where the F is HRC on this? It is crap like this which makes me have real concerns about having her as the nominee since she is NOT a leader on principled stands form when it comes to holding the line.
Why oh why can't we get real candidates who have spines and actually, you know, DO the right thing instead of just mouthing empty platitudes about uniting the country and triangulate?
Anonymous wrote on October 18, 2007 7:45 PM:if the bill has to pass through leahy's committee then wouldn't leahy have to cave???
leahy has been full of empty promises of late. but i don't even see him making any sort of promise here.
Clay wrote on October 18, 2007 8:41 PM:Reward good behavior and punish bad behavior. Why can't you guys understand that principle?
I just sent Dodd a check for his campaign and I'm going to write Leahy and thank him. Remember, he is not the committee. All of the Republicans will side with the Prez so only one or two dems will carry it through the judiciary committee. That's essentially the Dems problem, the weak ol' blue dogs. If you throw them under the bus, you lost majority control and the right to have all of these interesting hearings (like Leahy and Schumer questioning Alberto).
Work for the good guys and withhold support from the ones who "cave" And, I know it's hard, have patience.
Concern troll Democrats have no core values to defend, that's why it is so easy for them to counsel compromise.
I'd like to see all Senators who have rec. campaign contributions from telcos recuse themselves from the vote. Who breaks a 0-0 tie ?
EagleFury wrote on October 19, 2007 3:21 AM:lestatdelc asks: "Why oh why can't we get real candidates who have spines and actually, you know, DO the right thing instead of just mouthing empty platitudes about uniting the country and triangulate?"
Um, why, oh why? Do ya think MAYBE it's because too many of "We the People" refuse to get off our lazy, overcautious butts and actively DEMAND real candidates who have spines and actually, you know....??
Don't you think pols know how far they can push the envelope.
Caveman wrote on October 19, 2007 8:01 AM:What democrat do lately insult to caves. Ugh.
