FISA Update

Senators Russ Feingold and Chris Dodd have promised to filibuster telecom immunity in the compromise legislation designed to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

This is a deeply flawed bill, which does nothing more than offer retroactive immunity by another name. We strongly urge our colleagues to reject this so-called 'compromise' legislation and oppose any efforts to consider this bill in its current form. We will oppose efforts to end debate on this bill as long as it provides retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies that may have participated in the President's warrantless wiretapping program, and as long as it fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans.

If the Senate does proceed to this legislation, our immediate response will be to offer an amendment that strips the retroactive immunity provision out of the bill. We hope our colleagues will join us in supporting Americans' civil liberties by opposing retroactive immunity and rejecting this so-called 'compromise' legislation.

Right fucking on.

You can see video (and read a transcript) of Dodd's speech on the floor of the Senate yesterday here: "I am here today to say that I will not and cannot support this legislation. It goes against everything I have stood for—everything this body ought to stand for."

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will co-sponsor and support their efforts.

Increasingly, Obama's position looks at odds with his own party. Not good.