freedom getting raped, officialy and legally

[jverne]

Congress votes to immunize lawbreaking telecoms, legalize warrantless eavesdropping

The Democratic-led Congress this afternoon voted to put an end to the NSA spying scandal, as the Senate approved a bill -- approved last week by the House -- to immunize lawbreaking telecoms, terminate all pending lawsuits against them, and vest whole new warrantless eavesdropping powers in the President. The vote in favor of the new FISA bill was 69-28. Barack Obama joined every Senate Republican (and every House Republican other than one) by voting in favor of it, while his now-vanquished primary rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, voted against it. John McCain wasn't present for any of the votes, but shared Obama's support for the bill. The bill will now be sent to an extremely happy George Bush, who already announced that he enthusiastically supports it, and he will sign it into law very shortly.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/07/09/fisa_vote/index.html


i would say who gives a **** since it's the US, but i'm concerned it'll get exported really soon to other places.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Oh, my god. That is so fucking spineless.

 

[AtomicSpark]

Yes. Any YRO on /. makes me angry.

 

[CyberPitz]

What the shit? GAYYYY

 

[Stigmata]

I've lost all hope for America.

Oh well. At least after the apocalypse, we'll be able to dig up some pretty sweet SUVs.

 

[Raziaar]

Obama still needs our vote though. Our future with him is far far more ideal than it is with Bush, and far more ideal than it is with Mccain.

Anybody who sways towards Mccain from Obama over something like this is an idiot. And anybody who chooses not to vote because of this is an idiot and I dare say it's worse than voting for Mccain.

Grrr!

 

[Dekstar]

I would like to say what Jon Stewart would have to say about this, but The Daily Show still isn't being uploaded to their site :\.

As for my opinion, I have no idea why so many would be in support of it, especially someone like Obama. That sucks.

 

[Jintor]

What the ****?!?

They've created precedent, mother****ers! PRECEDENT!

 

[theotherguy]

This is ridiculous. They even immunized them from lawsuits so that it couldn't get shot down by the Supreme Court. We need a class action suit immediately. Anything.

 

[Jintor]

The update on the article says the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is going to challenge the thing in court under the fourth amendment the second the President's Signature is on it.

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35928prs20080709.html

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

Obama still needs our vote though. Our future with him is far far more ideal than it is with Bush, and far more ideal than it is with Mccain.

Anybody who sways towards Mccain from Obama over something like this is an idiot. And anybody who chooses not to vote because of this is an idiot and I dare say it's worse than voting for Mccain.

Grrr!

Are you moronic, DID YOU NOT READ THE DEMOCRAT-LEAD CONGRESS APPROVED THIS BILL?

/me facepalms

 

[Jintor]

And McCain was not there, but still supported the bill?

The article has a major Republican, or at least anti-democrat bias, of course.

 

[Rizzo]

Im to drunk to read the whole thin gbut i dissaprove.

 

[Cpt Tenacious]

TLDR. Someone shorten it for me.

 

[Stigmata]

The abridged version:

 

[phantomdesign]

Obama still needs our vote though. Our future with him is far far more ideal than it is with Bush, and far more ideal than it is with Mccain.

Anybody who sways towards Mccain from Obama over something like this is an idiot. And anybody who chooses not to vote because of this is an idiot and I dare say it's worse than voting for Mccain.

Grrr!

He voted for it too. We're f*****

 

[Muffin Man]

 

[Glirk Dient]

America...land of the once free.

I can't believe this sort of stuff happens. It honestly scares me what sort of world we will be living in 20 years from now. Every year 1984 becomes more of a shocking reality.

 

[Raziaar]

Are you moronic, DID YOU NOT READ THE DEMOCRAT-LEAD CONGRESS APPROVED THIS BILL?

/me facepalms

So you're going to let this sway you to vote republican or not at all based on this one situation? If you're never willing to trudge through the shit of the political system and deal with the problems that arise and realize that not everything your party does will always fall in your favor, then you might as well give up on hoping for change in this country because you're going to be perpetually disappointed.

 

[Sheepo]

Canada is my absolute last resort. I'd like to say something meaningful, but really, why bother.

 

[delusional]

So you're going to let this sway you to vote republican or not at all based on this one situation? If you're never willing to trudge through the shit of the political system and deal with the problems that arise and realize that not everything your party does will always fall in your favor, then you might as well give up on hoping for change in this country because you're going to be perpetually disappointed.

But both parties believe the same thing! And the people who said they wouldn't let this happen made it happen. We are all doomed. The constitution is the minority now...

 

[Sheepo]

Both parties are shit. This is established law.

 

[<RJMC>]

so the democrats make a law that the republicans support?

this sounds like the patriots of metal gear

 

[mastag]

Obama's move toward the center has really surprised and disappointed me.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

Obama's move toward the center has really surprised and disappointed me.

This is how I feel. But I still support him as he still has some genuinely solid beliefs in terms of healthcare/social assistance/education and such.

 

[delusional]

Im just glad I didn't vote for him in the primary. Almost did. Probably vote for him in the general election though, (I don't like anyone in the third parties.)

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

It should be noted that the bill was changed multiple times before it made it all the way through congress. It's still a bullshit piece of civil-liberty raping legislation, though. For anyone that cares the New York Times has a great overview of the situation. It's really unfortunate how many so called liberals voted entirely in favor of the bill, it's frightening.

 

[Krynn72]

Thats it, I'm packing up and moving into Stigmata's new house. **** America. I've had it up to here with it! UP TO HERE I SAY!

 

[Raziaar]

I've resigned to moving only if Obama isn't elected. Because then, things are truly hopeless.

 

[Krynn72]

I really doubt either of them will improve things. I have a feeling that the best Obama can do is damage control and cleaning up Bush's mess.

 

[Geogaddi]

 

[Jintor]

I really doubt either of them will improve things. I have a feeling that the best Obama can do is damage control and cleaning up Bush's mess.

It's better than McCain's bullshit.

Admittedly I care less because I'm in Australia, but still.

 

[Absinthe]

Good to see the Democrats are living up to their reputation as being spineless sacks of shit. And I am thoroughly disappointed in Obama's approval of it. No excuse of compromise so we can get payoffs elsewhere (wherever the **** that is) is going to fly for me.

I feel they're the ones who really need to be brought to task on this. The Republicans are obvious; we all know they're devious slimeballs. Democrats need to supply a thorough and well-reasoned (sic) explanation for their cowardice and compliance.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Right, f*ck this, everyone to Stig's house. Come on, get in.

I said... GET. IN.

 

[Tagaziel]

Ah, the Land of the Free.

 

[Moto]

God, you know what's looking so good right now? Canada.

Canadians, how's it going up north? How are your women and schools? Do you still have your civil liberties? Can you make a phone call without some guy listening to your every word? Where can I live that has somewhat nice weather year round?

This election year sucks ass. There isn't a single candidate worthy of anyone's vote. I'm very scared for the future.

 

[15357]

Hah!


At least we get warrants first!

 

[Sulkdodds]

Moving won't let you escape. If I'm not mistaken, part of what was immunised was the US' right to spy on foreign communications without a warrant.

 

[Sheepo]

I really doubt either of them will improve things. I have a feeling that the best Obama can do is damage control and cleaning up Bush's mess.

I feel the same way /:

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

I really doubt either of them will improve things. I have a feeling that the best Obama can do is damage control and cleaning up Bush's mess.

If you mean him putting the "tail between his legs are running" then yeah he could "clean" up a mess. :|