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174 Comments
- markc1z, on 12/18/2007, -2/+167So to make a law in the US, both the Senate and the House need to pass similar or identical legislation. These are bills written by large corporations to benefit themselves.
If they both pass and are identical (rare), it goes to the president to sign (or veto, if it's merely something to benefit the people).
If the bills are similar, then House and Senate negotiators lock themselves in a room and figure out how to modify the two bills so the corporations end up as the real biggest winner. Then it goes to the president to sign.
If only the House, OR the Senate votes on a bill, and the other does not, well, nothing happens.
More seriously, what's cool about it is that Congress (the House of Representatives), represents "the people", so the American people are fairly represented (or in my case in CT, unfairly represented by Joe "Milk the System" Lieberman, but Dodd obviously rocks!). There are 435 seats that are assigned proportional to population (or in the case of Texas, how Tom Delay wanted it.. there I got again, being all cynical and such... ;)
The Senate has 2 members from each state, so the "states" are represented equally.
It was a compromise by the Founding Fathers when they argued over whether the legislative part of government should be representative of the people or the states. It's both!
It's ugly. It's slow to act and get anything done. There's a lot of 'horse trading' and 'quid pro quo'. And it's meant to be that way! - vassoom, on 12/18/2007, -2/+112Senator Dodd is a true American. Backdoor retroactive immunity for giant corporations that broke the law and violated our privacy? DENIED.
Dodd's principled stand (practically all alone, mind you, after being abandoned by most spineless Democrats and all of the craven Republicans) deserves historic accolades. Starting down the slippery slope of retroactive immunity for big corp lawbreakers/donors is not a path America needs to take.
I suddenly know who I'll be voting for in the Democratic primary. About the only candidate with courage, principles, and a spine: Chris Dodd. - TexMurphy, on 12/18/2007, -1/+85I'm so proud of Senator Dodd.
- Vermifax, on 12/18/2007, -2/+84Chris Dodd - Patriot.
- inactive, on 12/18/2007, -0/+771. They told us it was all about stopping terrorism. But now, we’ve learned that the NSA’s massive wiretapping and data collection program started long before 9/11 -- in fact, it started in the 90s -- and was ramped up by this administration immediately after Bush took office. The NSA is also routinely collecting phone records for run-of-the-mill drug cases that have nothing to do with terrorism.
2. They told us it’s not about gathering domestic information. But now, the New York Times reveals that part of what made Qwest balk at a request for data in early 2001 was that the program was designed to pick up significant amounts of purely domestic communications by granting the NSA access "to their most localized communications switches, which primarily carry domestic calls" and that only "limited international traffic also passes through the switches." In fact, one anonymous engineer confirmed that in creating the program to copy all the calls coming across one company's wires, "There was no discussion of limiting the monitoring to international communications."
3. They told us they were gathering just the data they absolutely needed to fight terrorism. But now we know that their assurances that the government doesn’t conduct -- and doesn’t want to conduct -- vast dragnet operations just aren't true. As the New York Times reports, "The N.S.A. met with AT&T officials to discuss replicating a network center in Bedminster, N.J., to give the agency access to all the global phone and e-mail traffic that ran through it."
[quoted from an ACLU email] - MrTito, on 12/18/2007, -0/+76That has got to be the most cynically accurate description of the representative system I've ever seen. Well done.
- funknjunk, on 12/18/2007, -0/+60From a blog on his site:
Senator Dodd issued the following statement in response to Senator Reid pulling the Intel Committee bill from consideration until the new year:
"Today we have scored a victory for American civil liberties and sent a message to President Bush that we will not tolerate his abuse of power and veil of secrecy. The President should not be above the rule of law, nor should the telecom companies who supported his quest to spy on American citizens. I want to thank the thousands of Americans throughout the country that stood with me to get this done for our country." - Ouze, on 12/18/2007, -2/+54Dodd, you are a hero. The only thing that would have made this better would be if someone started a slow clap in the senate, like the movies.
- Rikushix, on 12/18/2007, -2/+46Thank you, Mr. School House Rock.
- bender240, on 12/18/2007, -2/+40I'm a little confused though... because Dodd is a Senator, what happens now to the thingamawhatzit passed by the House in favour of Immunity?
(I'm Canadian, eh?) - inactive, on 12/18/2007, -2/+30***** YOU AT&T. TAKE THIS POST AND STICK IT UP YOUR ASS!
- rz8472, on 12/18/2007, -1/+28Please shut up.
I respect Ron Paul for his views, but this is Senator Dodd's goddamn moment, not Ron Paul's. - Marijuana, on 12/18/2007, -0/+26Acts like this give me hope for America. Thank you for demonstrating leadership when we need it the most Chris Dodd.
- PSWTyrant, on 12/18/2007, -3/+28Throw them all out, as the Senate is 95% bought and paid for.
- vassoom, on 12/18/2007, -0/+20The immunity "bill" dies unless approved by both the House and Senate. And if the Senate approves a *different* FISA bill (say, without the nefarious immunity), then the House and Senate have to negotiate a compromise bill to send to the President.
Since you're one of our parliamentary neighbors to the north, here's the primer most of us got growing up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ - darnit, on 12/18/2007, -0/+20I think its only fair we thank the man.
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130 - mCanada, on 12/18/2007, -0/+20Yes my compliments as well. I'm going to put this on wikipedia under the official US government page. And those asshats better not lock it down. This is balls accurate.
- ryllharu, on 12/18/2007, -0/+19Dear Senator Dodd,
Thanks for making up for Connecticut's largest embarrassment, our other senator. The traitor Lieberman.
Your constituent. - HughManBeing, on 12/18/2007, -2/+21http://www.ChrisDodd.com
- inactive, on 12/18/2007, -0/+16Dodd for majority leader!
- bosssmiley, on 12/18/2007, -0/+15Senator Dodd has reminded us why Congressional filibusters are allowed; not to let bought-and-paid-for corporate tools block good and necessary legislation, but to allow serious-minded men and women to protect the interests of the American people against unjust laws.
"Mr Dodd Goes to Washington" - an0nymous, on 12/18/2007, -0/+12I cry *****. If you were really bored you wouldn't have logged in and posted a comment.
Let me guess: Repub apologist? Scared of terrorists and the upcoming elections?
I want to say something comforting... but maybe you should just go back to sleep. - sturat, on 12/18/2007, -0/+11Chris Dodd (in my opinion) is a true Patriot. Those of us who value freedom (the 4the amendment) and the transparency of government, owe Senator Dodd a huge debt of gratitude. That Senator Dodd has resurrected the calcified patriot bones of 'us Americans'; is a public service that will only keep our country strong and great. The dead American patriot within me, is awake now. I'm ready to fight with voice and vote. My voice and vote, are going to be cast to the winds in honor of our founding fathers. Good Day my sister and brother patriots. Good Day, when transparent Democracy is something that we can rely on again. Good Day...
- inactive, on 12/18/2007, -0/+11Well duh. It's relatively representative. Higher population states = more reps. It's not an absolute 1 Congressman for every X people.
- CondoleezzaRice, on 12/18/2007, -14/+25Just because he did his job as a senator does not mean you have to go off supporting him for president. Take a look at some of his other positions.
He seems to like the Thought Crime concept. Rather than merely punishing people for bad actions, he supports the idea that we should try to guess if a criminal might hate his victim. Extra years in prison for Thought Crime makes sense to him.
He's OK with the government taking people's legally owned firearms during an emergency or major disaster. (as in Katrina... where the cops were followed by thugs preying on the now-unarmed residents) Got a disaster? Time to steal from the people!
He somehow thinks that firearm suppliers should be held liable for the actions of firearm users. If this seems sane to you, consider applying it to computers or vehicles. (on the plus side, that kind of liability would put Microsoft out of business and solve all our traffic problems)
He likes the PATRIOT act. Oh dear...
He's a CAN SPAM kind of guy.
He's OK with shovelling money to sugarcane growers. - martalli, on 12/18/2007, -0/+10It is about time that doing something illegal didn't lead to immunity. It is about time that doing something illegal was labeled as illegal. Maybe it is even time for responsible people in the telecom industry, and responsible people in the government, to face criminal hearings as defend themselves on the basis of the law, not a "war on terror". I am tired of this "You can'r handle the Truth" defense....This is not a movie, this is my country.
- barthook, on 12/18/2007, -0/+9I am sure Chriss Dodd will be pleased to have the support of Marijuana. ;)
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 12/18/2007, -0/+8Chris Dodd = Patriot
- ambrosious, on 12/18/2007, -0/+8Drrr "congressman" can refer to both senators and representatives... both parties belong to congress after all.
- cmkennedy, on 12/18/2007, -0/+7Thank you, Senator Dodd. You're a true American.
- sodypop77, on 12/18/2007, -0/+7Since the Senate is a part of Congress, all Senators are also Congressmen however not all Congressmen are Senators.
- sm4k, on 12/18/2007, -0/+7"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."
Sir Winston Churchill - MacSuxWindozSux, on 12/18/2007, -0/+7I can't wait for the Indictments to start rolling in.
- Acewrap, on 12/18/2007, -0/+7Is that really the best you got? You fail at trolling.
- MrTito, on 12/18/2007, -2/+9Assuming that Sen. Dodd does not get elected to a higher post in '08, I for one thing he'd make a hell of an attorney general.
- bowens44, on 12/18/2007, -0/+6When you finish Jr. High come on back and we'll talk.
- CerMakAlot, on 12/18/2007, -0/+6Wow, nice job. Those bastards need to be held accountable. This should give him something to brag about during the next debate!
- RpgActioN, on 12/18/2007, -2/+8Communistic and socialistic ideals pervade the governmental structures of several European and Asian countries, and they're doing fine. Please think before you spread ignorance.
- Acewrap, on 12/18/2007, -0/+6Bingo.
- inactive, on 12/18/2007, -0/+6What the *****?
- TLG4Freedom, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5I may not agree with Senator Dodd on some issues but he's a great American.
Thank you - elliotys, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5THIS is why America kicks ass. The power of one!
- inf0, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5Yeah those cops were mostly Blackwater militia.. who would gladly shoot them just for sport.
- spaceman84, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5But then all you have left are the Executive and Judicial branches, and they do exactly what Bush and Cheney want them to do. No, I think we need to keep Congress around for a while longer.
- muymalgal, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5thank you senator dodd
- rcardona2k, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5the executive branch is the largest threat to the national security of the United States. NO immunity for telecommunication companies violating the law!
- OHiggins, on 12/18/2007, -2/+7A politician does something right. Who wants to bet this doesn't make it to the MSM?
- QuesoPantera, on 12/18/2007, -0/+5If Patraeus is a Patriot,
Chris Dodd > Patriot - corevette, on 12/18/2007, -2/+6i'm still voting kucinich
- brufleth, on 12/18/2007, -0/+4They are the dash pot on the spring driven door of government that would otherwise hit the ass of the American people.
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