Political Bloviation

Christy over at FDL seems to like it (somewhat):

Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » FISA: GOP Blinks (Somewhat)…Let’s Get To Work
The go to guy on all things FISA, Glenn Greenwald isn’t a fan of it:

 The whole agreement seems designed to ensure that the GOP gets everything they want — that they are able to defeat all of the pending amendments which Dick Cheney dislikes, and to do so without having to engage in a real filibuster. In what conceivable way is this an instance of “Dems not caving” or “holding tough?” This is how CQ described the agreement:

Republicans pressed for the threshold to head off any amendments that would significantly change the bill, which was negotiated with the White House. Some amendments, though, would loosen restrictions currently in law or in the bill.

One by the vice-chairman of the Intelligence panel, Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo., would change definitions in the law to allow surveillance without a warrant in cases that involve the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Its adoption would require a simple majority vote.

The amendments the GOP likes (i.e., the Bond/Rockefeller amendment to change the Intelligence bill to match Dick Cheney’s demands by increasing eavesdropping powers further still), as well as those that can’t get 50 votes, are subject to the requirement of simple majority. The ones that can get 50 votes but which the GOP dislikes must get 60 votes. If you’re Mitch McConnell, what’s not to like about any of this?

This doesn’t impress me as a principled stand on basic constitutional rights. Does anyone on the Republican party believe in the constitution anymore? Guess not…

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