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The Illusion of Stripping (Immunity)
Sorry folks, but "I will work in the Senate to remove this provision .." is a dodge, plain and simple.
1. Immunity was already passed in a previous Senate bill. It was the House that took a stand. What shred of evidence is there to suggest that it will be stripped out this time?
2. Sen. Obama failed to say "I will not support this compromise bill if it contains immunity". Contrast that unequivocal stance against what he did say.
3. The complete absence of any hyperbolic arguments (or any at all for that matter) as to why having this bill go down in defeat is a sure indicator that nobody is worried about that outcome - especially the Repubs and the Blue Dogs.
It's a done deal folks.
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Comments (6)
Cogent analysis. And... guys... Obama switched on us on this issue. I don't know yet what that means to me. It's likely a disappointment that I'll get over. But it's nothing I'm going to ever forgive. I guess the key is... we have to support Obama but we have to be on the look out for other reversals.
June 20, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about a massive email campaign to Clinton to state her position on it?
If she thinks opposing it might actually change Democratic support before Denver, she'll come out and oppose the bill and then Obama will as well!
(Machiavelli ain't got nothin' on me... )
June 20, 2008 8:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about a 'massive e-mail' (and fax) 'campaign' to Obama too? Along with your own state Senators.
June 20, 2008 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
1. Harry Reid has said he will look for a separate vote on the immunity. It will likely still pass, but the pressure of having to vote on it separately might sway a few who weren't swayed before. (I realize that's a long shot. But, you only asked for a "shred" of evidence.)
2. I agree. He did not unequivocally say he wouldn't vote it, and I am disappointed by that stance. He did say he would work to remove the immunity, and it is unclear to me just how far he will go with that.
3. Maybe. But, the noise level from Republican talking heads is not what I base anything on.
I'm not particularly optimistic that immunity can be stripped. But I'm not giving up hope yet either.
June 20, 2008 9:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since the Senate will be addressing the bill passed by the House, I believe the only way there's a separate vote on immunity is in the form of an amendment to strip out (or modify) the provision.
I'm sure some critics (Feingold, Dodd, maybe Obama himself) will introduce such a motion.
After some debate, it will be defeated.
Then the main "compromise" bill will easily pass.
June 20, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here are the Senators who voted to pass the previous FISA bill, which included amnesty. These are the ones who will have to change their votes to kill this new FISA bill, or to uphold a filibuster. The vote was 68-29 in favor of passage, these are the Yes votes
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wicker (R-MS)
June 20, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
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