Might be a dumb question... Warrantless Wiretapping...

[johnlal]

On the Warrantless Wiretapping law that recently passed in the Senate...

Why wasn't this filibustered? Why can the Republicans (with a minority) be so successful in filibustering withdrawal from Iraq, but can speed through this warrantless wiretapping law?

[Maat]

1. Not a dumb question ..

in my humble opinion.

They caved, as far as I can see - period.

[endarkenment]

2. 60 votes ends a fillibuster.

The War Party carefully crafted a 60 vote majority while allowing various War Party presidential candidates to nominally vote 'no'. 60 votes ends the discussion. A better question is why the Democratic alternative bill in the house was put under a 2/3 majority rule that pre-ordained its demise.

[The Stranger]

11. We are so fucked.

[indepat]

15. Keeping Amurikkka safe from terra and for perpetual 'puke rule while the bridges are apt to keep

falling from neglect.

[underpants]

3. EVeryone is scared to death of looking like they are weak on defense

The Dem leadership basically got the Republicans in their head and did their bidding all by themselves.

It is not looking two moves ahead it is form over substance, politics (bad politics) over policy.

[C_U_L8R]

9. So they prefer to look dumb on defense ???!!!!

cripes. this is so embarrassing.

[underpants]

10. They triangulated to look dumb on the Constitution

We never said that they couldn't wiretap we just want someone to know who and what they are listening to. We don't even need to know anything about what they find but YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WARRANT!!!

Pelosi and Reid screwed up bad.

[C_U_L8R]

14. Like triangulating your own neck

gack !!!!!

[MrCoffee]

4. It's our Democratic Congress at work. Never question their motives!

[Robbien]

5. The Dems wanted the bill to pass

go read kpete's thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1525073

On any bill we want to pass, the Dems keep whining about not having the votes or that GOPers are blocking them. This bill didn't have the required two thirds votes but it passed anyway. Why? The only reason is that the Dems wanted it to pass.

[Johonny]

6. I think it shows the power of the block voters

The republican party is so uniform that they actual have a lot of power in the current make up of the Senate.

[buzzard]

7. Another dumb question but Bush said he would veto anything that didn't give him what

he wanted so it seems to me no matter what one does they are screwed.

[Hydra]

8. not a dumb question

but they weren't required to submit a bill.

If I had been the majority leader of either body, I would have said this:

"You want us to alter FISA to make what you're doing legal? Screw you! The Law stands! BTW, we'll be talking to you soon about that law and your history of breaking it!"

[LSK]

12. why give him anything? it was a seperate bill

Its not like it was tied to the Defense bill or anything.

Fuck him.

[LSK]

13. to answer your question, Harry Reid is a dumbass

He surrendered the filibuster on the Military Commissions vote also.

:grr: