There is heated debate today in the US Senate regarding what's being referred to as the FISA bill, i.e. legislation affecting government's ability to snoop on people's phone calls. One of the more contentious issues involved is a proposal to grant retroactive immunity to the telecommunications companies which have cooperated in the past with the Bush administration's illegal wiretapping program. Courtesy of BarbinMD at Daily Kos, here's Ted Kennedy:
The President has said that American lives will be sacrificed if Congress does not change FISA. But he has also said that he will veto any FISA bill that does not grant retro-active immunity. No immunity, no FISA bill. So if we take the President at his word, he's willing to let Americans die to protect the phone companies.
Normally that would leave a mark. But this is the Bush administration we're talking about along with a Democratic congress that's making a career out of wimping out. Kudos to Kennedy, Dodd and Feingold for trying, at least.
Update:
According to Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake, the Senate Majority leader has pulled the FISA bill until after the new year. Dodd's filibuster worked, at least for now.
Thanks to skdadl in comments.
Kennedy's speech was very powerful. I have not seen him speak that way for a long time. I hope someone will find a video of it -- I'd love to watch it again.
Hey! pogge! I'm not entirely sure how this works or what it means, but Dodd's filibuster seems to have worked temporarily.
Reid has pulled the telecom bill until after the New Year. See Jane at FDL.
Digby
Y'know, this could be more than just Reid's frustration with getting other things through before the break. That was no doubt a factor, and maybe he still thinks he can come back after the break and proceed as he planned. But Dodd's filibuster was inspiring, and Kennedy and Feingold and several others really hit their targets today. This could have legs.