Sen. Russ Feingold on FISA Vote

OK, now that I've vented my spleen regarding the disastrous FISA vote, I get to feel a little more hopeful about the whole deal. Senator Russ Feingold, an ardent opponent of the FISA bill appeared with guest host, Rachel Maddow on tonight's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. I trust Feingold's opinion, and if he feels hopeful about this thing (provided Barack Obama is elected in the fall), I guess I can feel hopeful too.

Russ Feingold on FISA in 30 Seconds

Yep, another video. Hey, it's just what I'm finding that's interesting tonight! Anyway, this one is from one of my favorite Senators, Russ Feingold. And he explains one of the biggest problems with proposed FISA rules in a 30 second clip. Pretty good, Russ! Watch.



Found at Crooks and Liars

Sen. Feingold's Speech on FISA & Telecom Immunity

Photo from RawStory.com

Senator Russ Feingold is, in my opinion, one of the most earnest and genuine politicians in Washington D.C. He was one of the (sadly) few Democrats to join Senator Dodd in his effort to postpone today's vote on FISA. Take a look.

[Excerpt]

Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
In Opposition to the Flawed FISA Bill

. . .This is not about whether the companies had good intentions or acted in good faith. It is about whether they complied with this statutory immunity provision, which has applied to them for 30 years. If the companies followed that law, they should get immunity. If they did not follow that law, they should not get immunity. A court should make that decision, not Congress. It’s that simple.

Congress passed a law laying out when telecom companies get immunity and when they don’t for a reason. These companies have access to our most private communications, so Congress has subjected them to very precise rules about when they can provide that information to the government. If the companies did not follow the law Congress passed, they should not be granted a “get out of jail free card” after the fact. . .

Read the whole speech here

Feingold On Board to Stop Telecom Immunity

Photo from source, RawStory.com

Yes! One more of the very few Congressional Democrats with cojones says he will filibuster the "blanket immunity" that spineless Democrats (along with the Republican rubber-stampers) have agreed to give telecom companies. Russ Feingold joins Chris Dodd in fighting this madness.

[Excerpt]

Rocky road ahead for Senate's gift of telecom immunity

Feingold vows to use 'every tool at my disposal' to block telecom immunity, protect privacy; Dodd says will filibuster.

"The bill still cedes far too much power to the executive branch, which has time and again shown it will only abuse it," Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) said in a statement. "If the bill that ultimately reaches the Senate floor includes immunity and does not adequately protect the privacy of Americans, I will fight it vigorously with every tool at my disposal."

Read the whole story at: RawStory.com