I was watching this debacle unfold yesterday:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080215/D8UQQLEO0.html
I was wondering if any die-hard dems could or would defend the actions of the democrats in the House.
It would be very interesting to hear your point of view.
As it stands, I chalk this up to malfeasance on the democrats’ part.
JeffR
I was expecting to read some horrible bungling by the DEms but am I missing something? They want more time to look over a comprehensive bill that ultimately means expanding the government’s capacity to spy on its citizens. It doesn’t say in this article, how long have they had to go through this piece of legislation?
Isn’t that the legislation where the Dems offered a 3 week extension of the law while the bill was reviewed?
The Reps turned it down and walked out. Who’s putting your country in danger again? I thought only the Dems played petty political games like that…
(Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that all the taps will come off when the current bill expires…)
Democrats want the terrorists to conquer us.
They needed to grandstand w/ Roger Clemens.
I could have sworn I heard somewhere that the Republican party was supposed to be for personal freedom and small government.
I suppose that era is long past…
[quote]storey420 wrote:
I was expecting to read some horrible bungling by the DEms but am I missing something? They want more time to look over a comprehensive bill that ultimately means expanding the government’s capacity to spy on its citizens. It doesn’t say in this article, how long have they had to go through this piece of legislation?[/quote]
Uh, what?
So it passed with upwards of 60 votes in the Senate, the President stands ready to sign it, and the democrats in the House decide to go on a 12 day break?!?
They’ve already been granted one extension? Are you seriously trying to tell me they spent the first extension studying the issue?
If you are, seek help immediately. That or watch what was happening on television the last several days.
Hint: It wasn’t the House debating this bill.
JeffR
[quote]Sloth wrote:
Democrats want the terrorists to conquer us.[/quote]
Does it feel good to write something so ignorant?
You’ll have to pm me something so inconsequential. I’ll post it and give you “credit.”
I can’t come up with something like that on my own.
By the way, wouldn’t you feel like fu… a… if it was shown the terrorists used loopholes like this to their advantage?
It’s been since 9/11/01 and no attacks. Trust me, it isn’t by chance they have been stopped.
JeffR
[quote]Beowolf wrote:
I could have sworn I heard somewhere that the Republican party was supposed to be for personal freedom and small government.
I suppose that era is long past…[/quote]
I know you are young. I know you are trying. But, please don’t embarrass yourself further.
If you think the Senate just voted overwhelmingly in support and the House is acting on “principle” you’d be wrong.
You do know that the dems control the Senate? Don’t you?
JeffR
[quote]pookie wrote:
Isn’t that the legislation where the Dems offered a 3 week extension of the law while the bill was reviewed?
The Reps turned it down and walked out. Who’s putting your country in danger again? I thought only the Dems played petty political games like that…
(Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that all the taps will come off when the current bill expires…)
[/quote]
Take a peek at the facts. They’ve already been granted an extension.
They pissed it away on politics and time-wasting exercises like the Roger Clemens debacle.
JeffR
[quote]JeffR wrote:
storey420 wrote:
I was expecting to read some horrible bungling by the DEms but am I missing something? They want more time to look over a comprehensive bill that ultimately means expanding the government’s capacity to spy on its citizens. It doesn’t say in this article, how long have they had to go through this piece of legislation?
Uh, what?
So it passed with upwards of 60 votes in the Senate, the President stands ready to sign it, and the democrats in the House decide to go on a 12 day break?!?
They’ve already been granted one extension? Are you seriously trying to tell me they spent the first extension studying the issue?
If you are, seek help immediately. That or watch what was happening on television the last several days.
Hint: It wasn’t the House debating this bill.
JeffR
[/quote]
Yeah I get it, but the chicken little, bomb-ticking scenario aside, if these folks want more time to study a bill that directly affects citizens privacy is it that big a deal? Don’t get me wrong I think the whole Clemens debacle is absurd but I just don’t see the big deal here.
Does anyone know where I can get some straight answers on this thing? So far as I see it, this isn’t spying on American citizens; rather it’s intercepting calls between foreigners that are routed through the U.S. What’s wrong with that? If it does mean citizens are being listened in on, then I’d be against it, but as with most things there is no honesty by either side.
mike
[quote]JeffR wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Democrats want the terrorists to conquer us.
Does it feel good to write something so ignorant?
You’ll have to pm me something so inconsequential. I’ll post it and give you “credit.”
I can’t come up with something like that on my own.
By the way, wouldn’t you feel like fu… a… if it was shown the terrorists used loopholes like this to their advantage?
It’s been since 9/11/01 and no attacks. Trust me, it isn’t by chance they have been stopped.
JeffR
[/quote]
Rofl. Cute.
[quote]JeffR wrote:
It’s been since 9/11/01 and no attacks.
[/quote]
What? Sort out your convoluted thoughts, and your writing will improve. How many attacks were carried out in the 7 years prior to 9/11?
[quote]JeffR wrote:
Take a peek at the facts. They’ve already been granted an extension.[/quote]
So?
Extensions allow the current operations to be carried on, no? So what’s the big deal? Who care if they’re operating under an extension or a renewed bill, as long as whatever it is they’re doing is getting done?
The GOP (like you) is grasping at straws and making mountains out of molehills just so they can have something to bash the Dems with during the coming campaign. It’s retardedly transparent too. Guess Karl Rove hasn’t been adequately replaced.
[quote]Gael wrote:
JeffR wrote:
It’s been since 9/11/01 and no attacks.
What? Sort out your convoluted thoughts, and your writing will improve. How many attacks were carried out in the 7 years prior to 9/11?[/quote]
On American soil or on American targets?
Sort out your own, and only THEN suggest others.
Oh, on our soil, one other in 1993.
On American targets: barracks, ships, embassies–look it up yourself.
JeffR
[quote]pookie wrote:
JeffR wrote:
Take a peek at the facts. They’ve already been granted an extension.
So?
Extensions allow the current operations to be carried on, no? So what’s the big deal? Who care if they’re operating under an extension or a renewed bill, as long as whatever it is they’re doing is getting done?
The GOP (like you) is grasping at straws and making mountains out of molehills just so they can have something to bash the Dems with during the coming campaign. It’s retardedly transparent too. Guess Karl Rove hasn’t been adequately replaced.
[/quote]
pookie,
You are missing the point. The democrats are playing politics with national defense.
Don’t try and tell me you Canadians don’t understand the concept of bad behavior among politicians.
We know better.
JeffR
[quote]storey420 wrote:
JeffR wrote:
storey420 wrote:
I was expecting to read some horrible bungling by the DEms but am I missing something? They want more time to look over a comprehensive bill that ultimately means expanding the government’s capacity to spy on its citizens. It doesn’t say in this article, how long have they had to go through this piece of legislation?
Uh, what?
So it passed with upwards of 60 votes in the Senate, the President stands ready to sign it, and the democrats in the House decide to go on a 12 day break?!?
They’ve already been granted one extension? Are you seriously trying to tell me they spent the first extension studying the issue?
If you are, seek help immediately. That or watch what was happening on television the last several days.
Hint: It wasn’t the House debating this bill.
JeffR
Yeah I get it, but the chicken little, bomb-ticking scenario aside, if these folks want more time to study a bill that directly affects citizens privacy is it that big a deal? Don’t get me wrong I think the whole Clemens debacle is absurd but I just don’t see the big deal here.[/quote]
storey,
It may surprise you to learn that I wouldn’t have trouble with it as long as they were taking the “time to study a bill that directly affects citizens’ privacy.”
However, if you look at it, they aren’t doing any such thing. They were wrapped up in nonsense like clemens and allowed the bill to expire. They knew full well that they were taking a recess.
It’s like letting a bill die in committee or filibustering.
However, this one affects national security and I have a hard time forgiving “politics as usual” from this group.
JeffR
[quote]JeffR wrote:
You are missing the point. The democrats are playing politics with national defense.[/quote]
Both parties are playing the game.
Difference is: This time the Dems didn’t blink.
The Reps know they have an uphill battle for November, and that the only card they’ve got left to play is national security. They’re just manoeuvering so that they can claim the Dems are “weak” on security and will put the country at risk if elected.
That’s hogwash of course.
I don’t know if it’s because of the writer’s strike and the lack of new TV programming this year, but Americans seems more involved and interested in this year’s political campaigns. I really doubt the average American voter will fall for the same old pack of lies a 2nd time in a row…
[quote]JeffR wrote:
It’s like letting a bill die in committee or filibustering.[/quote]
How? They offered an extension on the current bill. If the Reps hadn’t turned it down, it would be business as usual until they got around to voting on the bill.
If anyone’s playing around with national security, it’s the GOP, and just so they can have a little political ammo to attack the Democrats this coming election… petty and pathetic.