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Tell Me Again ...Why Do We Need a New FISA Bill?
Lost in the uproar over the Democratic surrender on the FISA bill is any discussion of why there is one at all. Can someone please point me to a reasoned discussion of exactly what ‘improvements’ this new bill makes to the existing FISA law … and more importantly, why those changes are necessary at all?
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Comments (7)
Left off the rest of my post ...
What existing problems does the new, improved FISA solve that are not addressed by existing law? What is so critical about this bill that it ‘must’ be passed? Why isn’t anyone making those arguments? Because there are none? Because it will bring to light the civil liberties encroachments of the bill?
There’s more here than whether Obama is right or wrong about immunity and whether he’ll be able to get it out of the bill, but that’s all anyone is talking about.
June 21, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
We don't need a new FISA bill. If this bill were to stall in the Senate, the original FISA legislation would be the law of the land and that's frankly good enough. Any tweaks to clarify the law about new technologies can wait until after the election.
They rammed this through for one reason: immunity.
June 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
We don't need a new FISA bill. If this bill were to stall in the Senate, the original FISA legislation would be the law of the land and that's frankly good enough.
This.
It's been the same story for what? Two, maybe three years?
The GOP talks up the FISA bill as if we don't pass it, then the intelligence agencies won't have any tools to protect us with, while totally ignoring that the intelligence tools provided by the original FISA system worked just fine, and are still in effect.
If the FISA bill dies or stalls (like so many of it's predecessors), then we get the old FISA system, the legislature can work on something more important and the intelligence agencies can get back to doing what they do best.
June 21, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is good to know.
I just wrote a few comments wanting others to explain a little more about what happens if it passes, doesnt pass, etc etc.
Thanks for the information.
June 21, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Senate version was being threatened. Remember the BlueDogs 21?
Do y'all want the standing senate version that Pelosi has fought to hold back pushed through?
This version could force a debate, possibly go to committee or hearing.
This is just more trouble making posts by McCain astroturfers.
June 21, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The more I think about it, the more I'm just not sure that the timing of the FISA vote is really about wiretapping protocol, Telecomms and immunity at all.
Arlen Specter pointed out that, embedded within the bill, is an affirmation to give the President, legally, what he took, illegally, before the invasion of Iraq, when he announced, as if by fiat, that he had the power to initiate war.
There is now a blockade afoot off Iran. Is FISA, then, just Step One, in waging what Bush will then call a military action, "authorized" by Congress?
June 21, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
quasar - I assure you, I am as far from a McCain 'astroturfer' as you can imagine. This issue being my initial foray into the blogging world, I am amazed at the level of paranoia created by a post suggesting dissatisfaction with Obama. Your evaluative faculties seem prisoner to your need for the Dem candidate's words and deeds to be unblemished, lest you find yourself adrift without a candidate at all.
That aside, what is your opinion of Obama's activities and position in regards to the FISA bill? Shrewd tactical feint, necessary short-term compromise, entirely consistent with his values, etc ???
June 21, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
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