I promised on Monday that I wouldn't subject you to a tirade regarding the horrible compromise that the current version of the FISA bill, passed by the House and now under Senate consideration, represents, and I won't.
I will, however, urge anyone interested in this critical piece of legislation, and the genuine threat to civil liberties that it represents, to read the text of the speech that Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd delivered yesterday. The stakes have seldom been spelled out so clearly, or so eloquently.
One brief excerpt:
Because of this legislation, none of the questions will be answered, Mr. President. Because of this so-called “compromise,” the judge’s hands will be tied, and the outcome of these cases will be predetermined. Because of this compromise, retroactive immunity will be granted and that, as they say, will be that. Case closed.
No court will rule on the legality of the telecommunications companies activities in participating in the president’s warrantless wiretapping program. None of our fellow Americans will have their day in court. What they will have is a government that has sanctioned lawlessness.
Well, I refuse to accept that, Mr. President. I refuse to accept the argument that because this situation is just too delicate, too complicated, that this body is simply going to go ahead and sanction lawlessness.
We are better than that.
(Per Daily Kos)
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