digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

See the original image at rawstory.com

Dodd's filibuster threat scuttles telco immunity, for now

rawstory.com — Sen. Chris Dodd succeeded in preventing the Senate from granting broad legal immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the NSA warrantlessly wiretap Americans. After nearly 10 hours of debate Monday, the Senate decided to forgo a vote on a FISA update until next year, under the threat of Dodd's filibuster.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • ettin, on 12/18/2007, -11/+1The answer to all our problems:

    Rectointerogestion
  • Frostman3D, on 12/18/2007, -1/+17I'm glad something worked. It really seems to me that it's Government and Corporations against us. They wield all the power, but the truth is, WE have the power. We just won't organize and use it.
    • venom8599, on 12/18/2007, -0/+2That's why in about two months or so the issue will be back on the floor all of a sudden and pass before anyone notices.
    • Misaiato, on 12/18/2007, -0/+2Hey - we're all here on Digg right? Just make it easy to voice our concerns via a Digg API AND people have to actually follow-through with threats about not voting for incumbents. We're organized. There's hundreds of thousands of us _right here_
      • MrXfromPlanetX, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1Please help watch the vote. They need volunteers and donations to run ads. The goal is to keep the primary in New Hampshire and caucus in Iowa honest this year. Anyone anywhere can help chip in.

        watchthevote2008.com
        http://watchthevote2008.com/

        electionreform.meetup.com/168
        electionreform.meetup.com/167
    • MrXfromPlanetX, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1Please help watch the vote. They need volunteers and donations to run ads. The goal is to keep the primary in New Hampshire and caucus in Iowa honest this year. Anyone anywhere can help chip in.

      watchthevote2008.com
      http://watchthevote2008.com/

      electionreform.meetup.com/168
      electionreform.meetup.com/167
  • johnnyfatstacks, on 12/18/2007, -9/+1how many times is this story going to get submitted? there are currently two other stories about the same thing on the front page.
  • Lolerdong, on 12/18/2007, -15/+1The telcoms should be able to share customer info with ANYONE as they please. This government oversight is sad and it's destroying our FREE MARKET. Vote Ron Paul 2008 and lets create a system where compaines can do as they please but the people will keep them in check with their wallets.
    • uberchaoslord, on 12/18/2007, -0/+11Are you insane?
      • Lolerdong, on 12/18/2007, -8/+0Oh a neo con who hates freedom. Nice to see you here RON PAUL 2008
    • hayzeus, on 12/18/2007, -1/+3Dugg up for sheer, audacious nutjobbery.
      • Lolerdong, on 12/18/2007, -3/+0Shouldn't you be at a Bush fanclub meeting discussing the next false flag?
        • hayzeus, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1Actually, yes. Ooooh -- and I'm late too. I'm supposed to be bringing a side dish!
    • citizen782, on 12/18/2007, -1/+6People who think like you like you are THE source of our problems. Believing that consumer demand actually has a damn thing to do with corporate action, governance or "free" market prices is the pinnacle of ignorance and denial.
      • scabbers, on 12/18/2007, -0/+2Yeah seriously. What kind of cloud-cuckoo land are these people in if they think you can vote with your wallet to control a MONOPOLY/cartel/etc.
        • Lolerdong, on 12/18/2007, -3/+1MONOPOLIES DON'T HAPPEN IN A TRUE FREE MARKET - ONE THAT DR RONALD PAUL WILL BRING ABOUT IN 2008.
      • Lolerdong, on 12/18/2007, -4/+1That's how the founding fathers wanted it and it worked well for hundreds of years. Now the NWO and their federal reserve are stealing your money and are in the process of killing the US dollar to create the NAU. Just google it, WAKE UP AMERICA.
    • skellener, on 12/18/2007, -1/+3Lolerdong lives in fantasyland. Corporations are running the country into the ground. They don't care about ANYTHING but making a buck. Vote Nader!
    • greenm1981, on 12/18/2007, -0/+4There has never been a case, in the history of the world, that unfettered "free-markets" and political freedom have coexisted. Never.
    • TrevorPace, on 12/19/2007, -0/+1Do you have any idea how stupid you look ending every message with "RON PAUL 2008"?

      I bet you don't.
    • Pherdnut, on 12/19/2007, -0/+1loler, it's impossible to hold someone accountable if you have no way of proving they're doing something wrong. A 100% free market economy with no checks on the economically powerful is both poorly thought out and ignores history. Ron Paul's been saying a lot of things I like to hear too but please don't make the mistake of flipping from not holding our politicians accountable to the business extreme of not holding corporations accountable. A corporation can do just as many nasty things with information it shouldn't be entitled to as a government can. If anything the corporations should take that threat very seriously since they have more legitimate secrets to protect than most other institutions.
  • amightywind, on 12/18/2007, -14/+2Democrats love lawsuits. Working hard for money is too much to ask. The "rich" should pay you for being a victim. That is the democrat ideal.
    • venom8599, on 12/18/2007, -1/+6Actually, I think the idea is that no one is above the rule of law, and the fact is that those companies most likely violated the law by doing what they did. The law also gives the punishment for violating the law, which is what the lawsuit(s) seek to obtain.
    • greenm1981, on 12/18/2007, -1/+4Why should I be satisfied when my hard earned tax dollars are used to subsidize large corporations? Why should I pay more in taxes than corporations? The Democrat ideal is that people, not corporate entities, are the ones that should be protected by our laws. Lawsuits? If you paid attention you would find that the majority of lawsuits that are filed in the US are by corporate lawyers, working to manipulate the law in their favor. You are either rich and out of touch with the majority of America or you love to be abused.
  • defektiv, on 12/18/2007, -0/+8and we'll need to focus on it again when it does. no doubt in my mind they are shelving this until they think the public isn't paying attention again. we need to make sure we're ALWAYS paying attention.
  • cottonslurpy, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1Dodd for President. Dodd is a brilliant man, with straight - to the point answers. Watch any interview or Q&A , with Dodd in it, and you'll see this guy isn't fake, and "appears" to be uncontrolled by corporate America. Has anyone heard or seen anything bad about this guy? I would love to see this guy in the White House. Unfortunately, it seems that in-order to become president, you have to have the most money, which he does not have. No wonder corporations own the world?
  • Meshyf, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1Whoa nice move senator. Lets see some more.
  • bxblox, on 12/18/2007, -0/+1Until next year, plenty of time for the "accident"
  • TrojanGuy, on 12/18/2007, -0/+3Dugg in support of Dodd's willingness to grow a pair unlike so many other Democrats who were ready to go along with this horrible bill.
  • MrXfromPlanetX, on 12/18/2007, -0/+2Please help watch the vote. They need volunteers and donations to run ads. The goal is to keep the primary in New Hampshire and caucus in Iowa honest this year. Anyone anywhere can help chip in.

    watchthevote2008.com
    http://watchthevote2008.com/

    electionreform.meetup.com/168
    electionreform.meetup.com/167

    The US is becoming fascist, and that's something both liberals and conservatives appose. We all need to ban together to stop this.

    http://www.favreau.info/misc/14-points-fascism.php

    The 14 points of Fascism

    1.

    Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

    Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
    2.

    Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

    Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
    3.

    Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

    The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
    4.

    Supremacy of the Military

    Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
    5.

    Rampant Sexism

    The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
    6.

    Controlled Mass Media

    Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
    7.

    Obsession with National Security

    Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
    8.

    Religion and Government are Intertwined

    Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
    9.

    Corporate Power is Protected

    The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
    10.

    Labor Power is Suppressed

    Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
    11.

    Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

    Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
    12.

    Obsession with Crime and Punishment

    Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
    13.

    Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

    Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
    14.

    Fraudulent Elections

    Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
    • GrantRobertson, on 12/19/2007, -0/+1America has been fascist since the first railroad barons, and probably before. That is why the price if liberty is eternal vigilance. The vigilance is not against outside forces as those in power would have us believe. Instead, we must always remain wary of those very people to whom we give power in exchange for their leadership, service, and devotion to that self-same liberty. Those who want to lead but only offer only false liberty must be taken down. No matter how many times the railroad barons, union busters, corrupt corporations, and corrupt politicians are brought low, there will always be more who will eventually gain enough power to to become corrupted by it and then start abusing it. It is as sure as night follows day. So, again, we must always remain vigilant.
      We must be especially vigilant in protecting our means of, well, being vigilant. This is why freedom of the press is so important. In this time of massive media mergers and acquisitions, "freedom of the press" no longer means freedom from government censorship. Today, "freedom of the press" means freedom from the self-censorship of corporate owned media outlets. This is why services such as Digg are so important. By making it easy for regular people to find articles and videos on the internet which oppose the corporate powers-that-be, Digg is providing that last bastion of freedom which is vital for the protection of our liberty. Unfortunately, every time an independent source becomes popular, as Digg has, the corporate powers will buy them out and start a new round of self-censorship, just as Rupert Murdock has already begun to do with the Wall Street Journal. Hopefully, we as a people can learn to recognize this pattern and continuously migrate to other sources which are unfettered by corporate greed.
      In conclusion, I call for Digg to resist all offers to be bought out by any major media conglomerate. If they cannot withstand the temptation, then we should all take our eyeballs elsewhere.
  • Pherdnut, on 12/19/2007, -0/+1Check out the Salon story on this. Relax GOPers. No real libbie spin on this one. It's just about how it was an internet/blogger movement (i.e. us!), not a politician or a MSM source that inspired this action to happen. I feel like the whole world just shifted back into orbit.

    http://www.digg.com/politics/Anatomy_and_significa ...
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.