From the Burlington Free Press this morning:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20121120/NEWS03/311200012/Warrantless-snooping-controversy-snares-Leahy?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|

Leahy claims he never supported warrantless surveillance, an afternoon update from CNET claims he caved due to online pressure.

I guess the answer is to see the actual bill.

I agree…I cannot fathom a Republican paying $50,000 a plate to attend a Romney fundraiser, recording Romney’s speech and then giving it to the media. Highly unlikely. Obama is destined to win. It has been the plan all along.

Agreed. Perhaps that’s why Obama has left so many judicial vacancies…he’s waiting until after the election to pick those judges that support the 1%.

So what happens if the ACLU wins in court and the Obama Administration still refuses to hand over the information? Short of an impeachment, which isn’t going to happen with this Congress, what is the ACLU’s recourse?

I know I’m naive, but what’s in it for the Obama administration to keep bombing these poor people? Keep the drone-makers happy? Intimidate Pakistan? Let US citizens think he’s tough? I just don’t see how this helps his public image particularly since it gets such minimal coverage…thoughts?

I think one key to this ridiculous ruling is that (according to the Detroit News) once the petitions are approved 4 of the 7 “government managers” now in charge would immediately be suspended. Republicans know their decision on font size won’t pass the test in the courts, but during the time the judicial process is followed, those 4 people are still in power.

I agree that Obama and Co. figure the law will be struck down. With my usual cynicism I think they already know what the outcome will be. That’s why there are no contingency plans should it be struck down; it will be “Oh, well we tried”. But I don’t believe it’s beneficial to Obama’s campaign rhetoric; to me it looks like they are handing the Republicans a huge election talking point since everyone hates the mandate. Who can figure out what is really going on at that White House? Obama is the most disingenuous person on the planet.

Two thoughts on this: 1) maybe it’s NOT a Congressman. Maybe it goes higher up than that and Tim was just told that (heck, maybe even the Warden was told that). And 2) the purpose of it is not so much to punish Tim but to tell all the environmental activists to watch out or this is what will happen to you.

Didn’t Emanuel win by 55% of the vote? What can you say? The citizens elected him….do the voters pay attention to what these politicians actually stand for?

Thanks David for keeping on top of this whole thing. Glad Schneiderman’s people are “upset” with you. That means you’re hitting a nerve. He really sold his soul to the devil. What a bummer…I thought he was one of the few with integrity.

Wonder how they got to him…found skeletons in the closet? Promise of a great appointment? Threats? Swiss bank account? As a New Yorker I have to say Schneiderman REALLY wimped out – I had high hopes for him.

I knew a man back in the seventies who was on the board of a local bank. He said the bank didn’t want to foreclose on your house; it was too much of a pain to deal with – to try and sell it, etc. they would try their hardest to keep you afloat and in that house. That was then, this is now. So my question is WHY do the banks want all these foreclosures now? Being the cynic that I am it seems like it’s all part of the plot to erode local governments….

WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP VOTING FOR THESE IDIOTS?!

I agree with your post. The powers that be of the Republican Party (and these clowns do not actually belong to it) could pull the rug out from under this group of candidates so fast it would make their heads spin. All of this is a diversion – that’s why the powers-that-be don’t step in: it keeps the news and the populace focused on pelvic politics instead of the important issues, makes Obama look good and reasonable because they really want President 1% to be re-elected and that will in turn ensure Limbaugh a job for the next 4 years, ya-da, ya-da. If I can figure this out then I’m sure the people at these corporate think tanks have figured it out too.

True, very true. As I heard Ralph Nader say the other day on CNN it only takes 1%-2% of the population to effect change.

Sorry to be a cynic but I think it will pass. They are all just laying low until the vote on Tuesday when lo-and-behold there will be 61 senators that vote for cloture. And then what can happen? Obama isn’t going to veto it (no matter what he says), the people are still going to vote for the same politicians (and they know it) and all will go as planned. That’s my prediction anyway.