Feingold: Fools Rush In (To Amend FISA)

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003849.php

Feingold: Fools Rush In (To Amend FISA)
By Spencer Ackerman - August 2, 2007, 5:16 PM

Negotiations continue between the White House and Senate Democrats to overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and a deal might be done as early as this evening. But Sen. Russell Feingold tells Roll Call ($) that he'd rather scrap the summer congressional recess than scrap civil liberties in the name of getting a deal done by Monday, when Congress takes a holiday:

Saying Congressional Democrats and Republicans were moving “awfully quickly” on a White House proposal to make it easier to eavesdrop on suspected overseas terrorists, Feingold said he is in “no hurry” to leave town for the August recess.

“I don’t feel the need to get out of here. I would much rather stay here than have us make a terrible mistake,” said Feingold, who has made a name for himself as a champion on civil liberties in the Senate. “This is not the kind of thing that should be done on the fly, and I am prepared to stay here as long as it takes to fix it. Or, if they need force this through, I’m not going to make it easy, if they don’t make it better.”

More:

Asked whether he would attempt to filibuster any bill that comes up prior to the Senate’s adjournment for the August recess, Feingold said he would prefer to be able to give his stamp of approval to the measure.

“But at the moment I’m feeling a little worried that that isn’t going to be possible,” he said. “It’s not moving in the direction that I’m hoping, but I think it might be moving in the wrong direction, in which case the options have to be potentially utilized.”

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Congess shouldn't have a summer break

what are they thinking of?

[librechik]

2. I agree--they need to stay and do their jobs

and make the Iraqis look like shirkers!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. This is a matter of life and death for this country

but what will they do? Yes probably go golfing, BBQ at the beach!

Perhaps we should do a roll call of what each member of Congress is doing while the US 'burns' this summer?

[babylonsister]

5. And NOT give this admin any more 'rights'. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

13. IMO, they deserve a week off but no more

It's not an election year and they can certainly do without their month long recess.

[me b zola]

4. This seems to settle yesterday's despute

The despute yesterday was between those of us who read and were concerned about the Time's article on the Dem leadership willing to compromise (hence expanding) on the FISA laws. The other side was saying that we were being knee-jerk, amongst other things, and that the article did not suggest that the compromise would sanction *'s illegal spy program.

Thank you, Senator Feingold for your willingness to put the breaks on the mule train rushing into bad decisions.

[Exiled in America]

11. **YUP**

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. Thank you Russ and of course, babylonsister! Recommended! nt

[aquart]

7. Appalled.

[babylonsister]

8. Kick! What are the Dems doing? And while I'm at it...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1499051&mesg_id=1499051

What are the Dems doing? :cry:

[me b zola]

9. kicking for Feingold!

:kick:

[AzDar]

10. I'll see your kick for Feingold, and raise you... a kick for Feingold.

(Jeebus, I need some sleep..)
:kick:

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Frank Church is rolling over in his grave

I certainly hope that Feingold can save FISA.

[Mind_your_head]

14. Good thing Feingold is wise (and not falling for) that old trick

of presenting something 5 minutes before you have to catch your commuter train (or vacation) back home.....most people will say "yah, yah, whatever, okay......"

I'm very happy (impressed?) that Feingold isn't falling for that lame/old game/technique.

[19jet54]

15. Patriot Act was rushed too...

... and the White-house put in language that bypassed congress on confirmation of attorney general issues - look carefully, I simply do not trust them anymore!

Nothing is simple or free - anything the WH pushes quickly is a trap! Learn from the past, Bush lied about WMD, Al-Qaeda, Patriot Act, FISA Spy program, AG firings, and so on - he & GOPers are pathological liars with CIA family roots - What was the Bush flubbed line about "Fool me once... the point is you can't fool me again"? Yea, DUH!

[DeSwiss]

16. K&R!!! n/t

[Selatius]

17. The Democratic leadership should be ashamed of itself.

Ramrodding through such sensitive legislation for the sake of meeting the summer recess on time. Disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful. If third parties were politically viable, the party to the left of the Democrats would win, and many left leaning Democrats would abandon the Democratic Party in favor of this new party.

[orleans]

18. sigh. n/t

[bonito]

19. Kick & R