The Political Chase

Phony Pundit Limbaugh Gets $2 Mill for Letter

Phony Pundit and Comedian Rush Limbaugh donating the $2.1 million proceeds from the auctioned letter that Harry Reid sent him may be the only honorable thing Dumbaugh has ever done. That is of course assuming what he did was honorable. Certainly giving the receipts from the auction and his alleged matching funds is an honorable deed and therefore a foreign concept to Dumbaugh, but in a rather indescribable way, I find the prevailing context of the matter disgusting and disgraceful. It’s a blatant mockery.

Pardon me for a moment while I stoop to the same level as the Phony Pundit. There’s always that magical if, so, if I had the wealth of Bill Gates, for example, I would have run the bid up so high Dumbaugh would not have enough money to purchase a single Vicodin for the remainder of his days.

What Dumbaugh needs to do is give the money, or a substantial sum, to the honorable soldier he slanderously declared a phony. But, if nothing else is gained, the Phony Pundit’s uncalled for remark reduced his dope discretionary fund by $2.1 million.

Critical Letter to Limbaugh Fetches $2 Million

After Rush Limbaugh referred to Iraq war veterans critical of the war as “phony soldiers,” he received a letter of complaint signed by 41 Democratic senators. He decided to auction the letter, which he described as “this glittering jewel of colossal ignorance,” for charity, and he pledged to match the price, dollar for dollar.

On Thursday night, Mr. Limbaugh, the conservative radio talk show host, said he thought the letter would bring in as much as $1 million. He was wrong.

When the eBay auction closed yesterday afternoon, the winning bid was $2.1 million. It is the largest amount ever paid for an item sold on eBay to benefit a charity.

The money will go to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization in New Jersey that provides scholarships and other assistance to families of marines and federal law enforcement officials who die or are wounded in the line of duty. Mr. Limbaugh is a director of the organization, which had total revenues of $5.2 million last year.

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Johnson to seek re-election

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), who was near death after suffering a brain aneurysm, will seek re-election to the Senate.

Roll Call (sub. req.):

Clearing up any lingering questions that his near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2006 might deter him from seeking re-election in 2008, Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) released a statement Friday assuring Coyote State voters that he intends to be on the ballot next year.

Johnson decided to make a formal announcement Friday, more than 10 months after he was struck down by the aneurysm, because he “needed time to recover and regain my health in order to determine whether I could do the job and best serve our state,” his statement said.

“After months of rehabilitation and recovery, more than a month on the job in Washington and after my recent trips back to South Dakota it is clear, to my family, my doctors, and me that I am able to do the hard work required of a United States Senator,” Johnson said in his statement. “I have said before that I wanted to take this second chance at life and focus even harder on being the best advocate I can for the people of South Dakota. Today I am asking South Dakotans to give me the chance to give back to them by announcing that I will run for re-election in 2008.”

Martinez Resigns from RNC

Mel Martinez has resigned as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Senate Intelligence Committee FISA bill summary

(update below)

These are the bullet points of Senate Intelligence Committee’s version of the RESTORE Act, which the distinguished Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Kit Bond (R-MO) so generously provided on the Committee’s Web site.

• Authority for the intelligence community to conduct the intelligence collection needed to protect our country.
• Strong FISA Court review and approval of the procedures used to accomplish that collection.
• FISA Court review of the minimization procedures used to protect U.S. person information.
• Individual court review for targeting US persons overseas.
• Improved oversight by the FISA Court, the Congress, and the agencies’ Inspectors General.
• Targeted immunity for companies who assisted the government after the 9/11 attacks.
• A six-year sunset to allow Congress to evaluate how the new authorities in the legislation are being carried out.

I do declare [in Scarlet O'Hara dialect] , isn’t it thoughtful of the Committee to provide a sunset clause that parallels the statute of limitations. President Bush and Vice President Cheney are not the type of people who should be thrown in jail for committing felonies hundreds of thousands times.

I have not been able to find a copy of the Committee’s bill yet, but did find these highlights.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BIPARTISAN INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE

FISA MODERNIZATION PROPOSAL

October 18, 2007

The bipartisan Intelligence Committee FISA bill fixes a number of deficiencies in the flawed Protect America Act that passed in August. Specifically, it strengthens our national security, protects the civil liberties and privacy rights of all Americans, and ensures that the unchecked wiretapping policies of the Bush Administration are a thing of the past.

STRENGTHENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY

The bill ensures that the Intelligence Community has the surveillance tools needed to go after foreign terrorists and other threats to American security. It allows the Attorney General and DNI to authorize the targeting of persons reasonably believed to be outside the U.S. for the purpose of collecting foreign intelligence for up to 1 year.

PROTECTING AMERICAN RIGHTS THROUGH MANDATED COURT REVIEW AND APPROVAL

The bill strengthens the role of the FISA court by requiring judicial review and approval in four ways:

• First, the court must review the certification submitted by the Attorney General authorizing the foreign intelligence surveillance;
• Second, the court must approve the foreign targeting procedures for determining that the target of the surveillance is reasonably believed to be outside the United States;
• Third, the court must approve the procedures for minimizing the identities of and information about Americans incidentally collected during the surveillance of foreign targets – a glaring omission in the Protect America Act;
• Finally, the court will be required to approve or disapprove the targeting of Americans overseas under this new authority, on an individual basis, based on its review whether there is probable cause to believe that the person is an agent of a foreign power.

IMPROVED OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The bill includes a 6-year sunset to allow Congress to evaluate how the new authorities are carried out and to ensure that abuses do not occur before authorities are extended further.

The bill requires the Intelligence Community to conduct an annual review and requires detailed semi-annual reports to be submitted to the Senate and House Intelligence and Judiciary committees concerning collections authorized in the bill — including instances of non-compliance.

The bill also requires the Intelligence Community to conduct a yearly audit to determine whether foreign intelligence information, in fact, will be obtained.

In addition, the Inspectors General of the Department of Justice and elements of the Intelligence Community are authorized in the bill to conduct independent reviews of agency compliance with the court-approved acquisition and minimization procedures.

ENSURING THAT THE UNCHECKED WIRETAPPING POLICIES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ARE A THING OF THE PAST

The Bush Administration’s 5 ½ year warrantless surveillance program prevented both the judicial and legislative branches from conducting oversight of electronic surveillance. The Administration’s decision to circumvent the FISA court and limit even cursory knowledge of the program’s existence to only a handful of congressional officials was misguided and ultimately undermined the legitimacy and effectiveness of the program.

• The bill contains an exclusivity provision that reasserts that FISA and Title 18 are the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance may be carried out.
• By granting the authority to collect against identifiable foreign targets without requiring individualized court orders and by requiring court oversight of these activities, the bill effectively eliminates any justification for a President to seek unwarranted and unchecked surveillance.

IMMUNITY FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES

Private companies are essential partners in law enforcement and national security efforts. In the case of support following the 9/11 attacks, it is clear participation was based on what they believe to be lawful requests made by the government. The onus should be on the government to ensure that the requests it makes of private companies are fully supported by the law. While private citizens should be able to hold their government accountable, companies should not be put in the situation of complying with a legitimate security request and then being unable to defend themselves due to the government’s assertion of state secrets.

• The bill provides narrowly circumscribed immunity to companies that may have participated in the warrantless surveillance program from 9/11 until it was placed under FISA court authorization in January 2007.
• The bill requires a certification to the court by the Attorney General that the company’s participation was pursuant to a written request or directive of the Attorney General or intelligence agency head or deputy head and was part of program authorized by the President and determined to be lawful.
• Nothing in the bill provides retrospective immunity for government officials for their actions, nor to companies outside the specified timeframe.

Update:  It is important to remember why the telecom companies via the Bush administration are desperately seeking Congress to revise the current statures. The courts have already ruled that the telecom companies’ acts were illegal. They only have two remedies available: (i) appeal to the Supreme Court, which would not render a decision before all the civil suits pending against the telecom companies go to trial, and (ii) get Congress to pass an amnest law. The patriotic duty argument by the telecom companies is a crock. They are taking every step they can to avoid paying billions of dollars in fines and what other remedies or actions the courts may deem appropriate.

Rendition

The movie “Rendition” starts today. For those of you that see it today or in the future, I would be interested to hear your comments.

Here’s the trailer:

Panel Approves Eavesdropping Bill with Immunity Intact

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s version of the RESTORE Act was approved tonight after a closed mark up session. The Committee’s version of the bill still allows "blanket warrants," which are the same as those used by King George III against American colonists and provoked the Declaration of Independence. Moreover, it appears retroactive immunity is included in the Senate version.

More on this tomorrow.

Panel Approves Eavesdropping Compromise - New York Times

After nearly five hours of closed discussions, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, the Democratic chairman, and Senator Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, the Republican vice chairman, emerged to announce that the measure had been approved in a 13-to-2 vote.

“There were substantial compromises on the part of all members and, frankly, of the administration,” Mr. Rockefeller said of the measure, which would expire in six years. Two Democratic senators, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Ron Wyden of Oregon, cast the no votes.

But passage in the committee came with one unexpected hitch. In an interview after the closed session, Mr. Wyden said he had succeeded, by a vote of 9 to 6, in adding an amendment that would offer additional protections by requiring that the government get a warrant whenever it wanted to wiretap an American outside the country, like an American soldier based overseas or a business person.

…The main difference between the [Senate and House versions] comes down to the question of giving immunity to the major telephone carriers — AT&T and Verizon — that are now being sued over their roles in the eavesdropping program after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. The House bill does not grant immunity.

Dodd’s Leadership and Reid’s Reaction

Chris Dodd took a bold leap today by putting a hold on the Senate Intelligence Committee’s version of the RESTORE Act (H.R. 3773). While the Committee’s version is not public yet, we know the Committee reached an agreement with the Bush-Cheney administration that would give the telecom companies and the administration immunity for any surveillance related lawbreaking they may have done in the past.

I believe all those opposing any type of retroactive immunity should thank Senator Dodd for his efforts. Many in Congress love to talk, but few take action, especially controversial action. Following is a statement from his campaign’s web site.

The Military Commissions Act. Warrantless wiretapping. Shredding of Habeas Corpus. Torture. Extraordinary Rendition. Secret Prisons.

No more.

I have decided to place a “hold” on the latest FISA bill that would have included amnesty for telecommunications companies that enabled the President’s assault on the Constitution by illegally providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization.

I said that I would do everything I could to stop this bill from passing, and I have.

It’s about delivering results — and as I’ve said before, the FIRST thing I will do after being sworn into office is restore the Constitution. But we shouldn’t have to wait until then to prevent the further erosion of our country’s most treasured document. That’s why I am stopping this bill today.

Now for the bad news via Spencer Ackerman and Greg Sargent.

Tim Starks of Congressional Quarterly reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to bring the Senate’s surveillance bill up for floor debate in mid-November. That’s despite the hold that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) plans to place on the measure — something first reported by Election Central’s Greg Sargent.

Reid’s decision to move forward and ignore Dodd is puzzling at best, and it certainly wouldn’t have anything to do with that $22,000 AT&T gave him. Jane Hamsher contacted someone she knows with “extensive Hill experience” that offered this comment:

“I can’t think of one time when Harry Reid went around his own. It’s just not normal for a leader to do that to his own side. Sometimes you’ll go around Republicans, sometimes they’ll use holds to be “spoilers,” but that happens to the other guy. You just don’t do it to one of your own.”

Maybe Reid is ticked off because Dodd challenged his authority. Back in June, Reid got more than p**** off when Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) used the same procedure to stop legislation, but DeMint is a Republican and an idiot.

Go figure.

Brownback calling it quits

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) - Outta here.