FISA travesty passes the house

[solarbird]

Watching the vote in the House right now; it got the majority needed about five minutes ago, but the vote is ongoing. It's neat how the Democratic leadership engineers these things to insure passage, and it unfolds according to plan, then once enough votes are on record to ensure passage, the (D) "no" count climbs all at once as everybody sees that okay, it's safe to go vote against it now for political cover, we've got it passed. "Yes" votes from Democrats outnumbered "No" votes from Democrats until passage was assured; now they trail significantly. Cute, huh?

Incidentally, there is apparently one (1) GOP member of the house who gives a rat's ass about the 4th Amendment.

Rep. Inslee got one (1) minute to deliver a statement about how there are some lines you don't cross and this bill crosses them, as did a couple of other opponents (Kucinich, somebody else I forget), before it went back to supporters masturbating to glorious fantasies about the TROOPS!!1! and PROTECT AMERICA!1!! and and and.

Final tally: 293-129. Bill moves to the Senate.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Who was the Ellofink? Ron Paul?

[emrecom.livejournal.com]

I keep calling Pelosi (202) 225-0100 .

Words like 'Judas' and 'craven betrayal' were used.

Really, let's just keep calling--then write off the calls.

[emrecom.livejournal.com]

In another call, I made it clear that I would, aside from Obama for triage reasons, never vote for a Democrat again.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

That gets you the *total* write-off.

Talk sense, don't vent. Use small words so they don't have to think too hard. And don't spend money on the phones, you're not only helping the telecoms that are aiding and abetting this treason, you're incurring federal tax that funds the effort.

THINK. We're not going to get out of this by just jumping up and down.

[emrecom.livejournal.com]

I talked sense on one call.

Sending dead tree now. Thanks.

[solarbird]

I think that, but I don't say it - not saying it being key for reasons mentioned below. In that, I am implying a false hope, but, you know, fuck 'em.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Dead-tree letters are far more effective. Calls get counted; there's no other record. Dead-tree letters have to get filed as part of the record, and often tend to actually get some modicum of attention. Besides, not only can I save the forty-odd cents by being my own courier, the walk is good for me.)

(Hmmm. Gripping hand, given the security now in place on the federal bldg, I might just walk to the PO instead and blow the stamp... at least I don't have to go through a gorram metal detector just to mail a freakin' letter.)

[solarbird]

"Dead-tree" letters - at least, to DC - are quarantined for weeks. I don't know about local offices. Faxes are the best of what's left.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I've heard from at least one Congressional source that local offices have no such quarantine. No, I've known about the DC idiocy for years. No idea how effective faxes are; probably depends on the individual office.

[solarbird]

As a rule, people with fax machines are assumed to be older (because it's an old crap technology) and have more money (because they were used for so long in business). Both appeal to the current ruling political class.

[emrecom.livejournal.com]

Wow--writing tree letters takes almost no time--or at least, barely five minutes.

I wrote to both of Pelosi's offices:

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Washington, D.C. Office
235 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Ms Pelosi,

I write to urge you to not cave in and pull any bill from the floor that will ultimately grant immunity to telecommunications companies who illegally spied on Americans.

If you don’t, seriously, what’s the point of even being a Democrat? How can I contain my absolute disgust and despair at your disinterest in your constituents’ desires?

Yours in absolute disillusionment,

Ian Grey

[solarbird]

Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IN). Rep. Paul wasn't there for the vote.