Senate Passes Bush Eavesdropping Bill

(AP)  The Senate, in a high-stakes showdown over national security, has voted to temporarily give President George W. Bush expanded authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists without court warrants.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, rejected a Democratic version of the bill Friday.

Democratic leaders there were working on a plan to bring up the Senate-passed measure and vote on it Saturday in response to Mr. Bush's demand that Congress give him expanded powers before leaving for vacation this weekend.

The White House applauded the Senate vote and urged the House to quickly follow suit.

The bill "will give our intelligence professionals the essential tools they need to protect our nation," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. "It is urgent that this legislation become law as quickly as possible."

Senate Democrats reluctantly voted for a plan largely crafted by the White House after Mr. Bush promised to veto a stricter proposal that would have required a court review to begin within 10 days.

The Senate bill gives Mr. Bush the expanded eavesdropping authority for six months. The temporary powers give Congress time to hammer out a more comprehensive plan instead of rushing approval for a permanent bill in the waning hours before lawmakers begin their monthlong break.

The Senate vote late Friday was 60-28. Both parties had agreed to require 60 votes for passage.

Senate Republicans, aided by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, said the update to the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, would at least temporarily close gaps in the nation's security system.

"Al Qaeda is not going on vacation this month," said Sen. Republican leader Mitch McConnell. "And we can't either until we know we've done our duty to the American people."

In the House, Democrats lost an effort to push a proposal that called for stricter court oversight of the way the government would ensure its spying would not target Americans.

"The rule of law is still critical in this country," Rep. John Tierney, a Democrat, said before the losing the mostly party-line 218-207 vote that fell short of two-thirds majority needed for passage. "It is exactly when the government thinks that it can be the sole, fair arbiter that we most need a judicial system to stand in and strike the balance."

"We can have security and our civil liberties," Tierney said.

Current law requires court review of government surveillance of suspected terrorists in the United States. It does not specifically address the government's ability to intercept messages believed to come from foreigners overseas.

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[athlon64-2009]

This is all part of a bigger plan. A plan that includes controlling every aspect of society not just in the US but the entire world. Don't be so naive and believe that Bush is behind this. This is not his plan. This isn't the plan of the presidents. It goes far beyond that. Far beyond any political figure that you see out there right now. There are people behind each of these politicians that want the passing of these bills and any who want to stand against them are eliminated. Using the threat of terror, these "men behind the curtains" are slowly gaining control of every aspect of our society, making us believe that we need to be protected against an evil that does not even exist. Take a look at this movie and it will clarify a lot more to you. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

[athlon64-2009]

This is all part of a bigger plan. A plan that includes controlling every aspect of society not just in the US but the entire world. Don't be so naive and believe that Bush is behind this. This is not his plan. This isn't the plan of the presidents. It goes far beyond that. Far beyond any political figure that you see out there right now. There are people behind each of these politicians that want the passing of these bills and any who want to stand against them are eliminated. Using the threat of terror, these "men behind the curtains" are slowly gaining control of every aspect of our society, making us believe that we need to be protected against an evil that does not even exist. Take a look at this movie and it will clarify a lot more to you. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

[toldyouso21]

just don't understand why the Democrats caved to Bushit's "demand" and didn't just tell him to F-off. At the very least they should have nailed an Iraq withdrawal timetable to the bottom of this POS bill and just kept sending the same bill back to him each time he vetoed.
Posted by omega39 at 12:02 PM : Aug 04, 2007


Odds are, the eaves dropping permission was just a formality to cover what Bush has already been doing. Maybe he has sooo much stuff on everyone in the Senate, that they all have to do what he wants or he will go public. Would explain why the Democratic Congress acts the way it does and why the Republicans seem to not fear the reprisal of the voters.

Don't be surprised if the Republicans release a whole bunch of data before the fall elections that make the Democrats look horrible--the Dems know they are sunk, but they hope to play along so they can get their checks for as long as possible and try to think of a plan to forestall events.

Yep, I think Bush has the goods on the Dems and the Republicans so they have to do what he wants. That is what a good spy program can do for ya.

[toldyouso21]

"Senate Democrats reluctantly voted for a plan largely crafted by the White House after Mr. Bush promised to veto a stricter proposal that would have required a court review to begin within 10 days. "

so all Bush has to do is just threaten to veto now, and the Democratic controlled Senate rolls over and gives him whatever the fvck he wants.

I heard the Congress is at 3% approval rating now. I believe it.

[PollM]

Through out history we've seen times were government plays on the fear of people. But the truth lies within our founders - Ben Franklin, said "Those who would give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=281 Take nothing for granted, these are the liberties that our forefathers have fought for. Power is Corrupt.

[omega39-2009]

I just don't understand why the Democrats caved to Bushit's "demand" and didn't just tell him to F-off. At the very least they should have nailed an Iraq withdrawal timetable to the bottom of this POS bill and just kept sending the same bill back to him each time he vetoed.

[homespunlady]

Why is it every time I hear George and the NEOCONS sing their FEAR TUNE I keep hearing music from "Peter and the Wolf"?

[homespunlady]

Well, George DID SAY "A Dictatorship would be easier".

Guess he's got his wish.

[forthepeopl1]

have sent a 10,000 word statement to the heads of both partys. and also sent a copy to the vp, and whitehouse. let it be said here first..
stating that if they in anyway back down on this bill,and fold like ******* to this traitorest president/vp/rove/rumsfeld/ that
they will see a REVOLUTION IN THIS COUNTRY TO THE LIKES THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN..

I told them the only bill that should be sign by the president is a bill he owes to all americans i thinks its around 3.000,000,000,000,0000,000,00,000,00,00,


00,00,00,.
so go and arrest all of them. and america will stand behide you. you all will go down as hero.

we need not to be in iraq,iran,or any were in the middleeast.

to the president of the united states of america. you are not a dictator, no ones is listen to all the lies anymore. any true american in this country is gearing up to have you and your crime buddies taken out by force.

you have to be stoped!!!! as i am a vet. i only wish was i was still in so i could make sure no more of my brothers and sisters get murdered by you and cheney,rumsfeld,rove,and so on.


so keep it up you chimp

nobodys listen to you asap. like i ask yesterday were have you served?? go ahead bigboy go and sign up? whimp,coward,pussie,chimp,like your fathers bush,cheney,rove,rumsfeld,and your mother connie

WHAT NOW AMERICA??? NOW BUSH/CHENEY/GONZO CAN LISTEN TO ALL OF US...............WHAT NEXT

Seems to me that we are at greater risk from failing infrastructure that by Bin Laden's group.
Why else would George state that he "wasn't worried" about this Sunni Arab son of a BILLIONAIRE CONTRACTOR with ties of "friendship" to W's family?

Bin Laden's STILL FREE and putting out videos while on DIALYSIS.
Yeah, right we're REALLY serious about correcting those 9/11 "structure failures".
Posted by homespunlady at 10:58 AM : Aug 04, 2007

Don't forget that Ole Georgie boy ignored all those warnings about Bin Laden and went golfing in the months leading up to 9/11. Then not more than 6 months after that stated that Bin Laden isn't that important and he isn't worried about him. I guess the only time he worries about Bin Laden is when he needs to drum up the old fear to get the sheep who follow him blindly to forget his transgressions. Listen to any speech by our commander and thief, and count how many times he mentions the words.. 9/11 9/11 9/11.

Stop falling for it people. If this man was really worried about catching terrorist, mainly bin laden, he wouldn't have turned the responsibilites over to the Northern guard at Tora Bora, and he wouldn't have cancelled the special ops forces that were tracking Bin Laden.

This man doesn't care about this country, he only cares about his cronies, and how much power he can usurp.