Sen. Dodd strikes a nerve

Here's our Commuter and Thief at his latest press conference:

I'm also disappointed that Congress failed to pass legislation to ensure that our intelligence professionals can continue to effectively monitor terrorist communications. Those of us in public office have no greater responsibility than stopping new attacks on our country. And this summer, Congress passed a bill that -- called the "Protect America Act," which strengthened our ability to collect foreign intelligence on terrorists overseas. The bill closed dangerous gaps in our intelligence; it was a good piece of legislation. It wasn't perfect, but it was good. Unfortunately, Congress made this law effective until February 1st of 2008, as if the terrorist threat is going to go away on February the 1st, 2008.
The first priority of Congress when it returns in the new year must be to pass a good bill and get it to my desk promptly. They have a duty to give our professionals the tools necessary to protect the American people. The bill should include liability protection for companies that are facing multi-billion-dollar lawsuits, only because they are believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend our nation following the 9/11 attacks. And it must ensure that our intelligence professionals have all the tools they need to keep us safe.

The fear-mongering won't work with any of us citizens who are paying attention. Retroactive immunity to giant telecoms who enabled illegal spying on U.S. citizens has nothing to do with "monitoring terrorist communications," and everything to do with protecting Cheney/Bush and their minions for being held accountable for their crimes.

Likewise, the "Protect America" act is not focussed only on "terrorists overseas," but rather gives the Cheney/Bush junta broad powers to intercept any communication between any American and any foreign telephone number!! We all need to redouble our efforts-- in supporting folks like Sen. Chris Dodd, and Senator Russ Feingold, when they bravely stand up to the Bush/Cheney enablers in their own party, who are only too willing to give Bush/Cheney the totalitarian "tools" they crave. Eternal vigilance is indeed the price of our liberty!