Senator Russ Feingold on the new FISA Bill

[Spiderweb127]

maybe I am just dumb, but I need some one to explain something to me.

The republicans are the ones who keep saying that dems want to take over the govt and have all this control...but isn't it the repubs who want to be like the gestapo with fisa and the patriot act?

[ninjanerd8]

It's amazing how they can piss in the face of the american people and still convince some people that the Democrats are making it rain.

[RicoRichmond]

Explanation - they's both as bad as each other.

[massspectrician]

I can't wait until I can move to Wisconsin where I will have a patriot like Russ Feingold representing me in the U.S.Senate.

[OmniSurveyor]

How did that work out for you Russ?

[darealdjnutz]

I'm losing my patriotism more everyday. It's terribly sad.

[Nominay]

All that bullshit of "George Bush is the kinda guy I'd like to have a beer with." No, no ... I want to sit down and have some matzo ball soup with Russ Feingold.

[sugarpuddin88]

1) Congress approval ratings are actually LOWER than Bush

2) Many Dem's might be indicted themselves for complacency

3) Many are supported by the AIPAC including Pelosi, whose husband chairs the AIPAC

[sugarpuddin88]

All but no. 3 of the Bill of Rights has been retracted

[Kucinich2008]

♫This is Your Moment. Impeach Bush NOW! Sign the Petition.♫

[Zile77]

Bills Obama has recently flip-flopped on:

Public Financing: Said he would, now he won't.

D.C. Gun Ban: Obama said it was constitutional. Now says it's not.

Telecom Bill: He ran against it, but voted for it.

NAFTA: The anti-trade stuff was nothing more than populist posturing.

FISA: This flip-flop elicited a few grumbles from lefty bloggers, but hardly a murmur from the mainstream press, like the Chicago Trib, that hasn't reported the truth on his flip-flops.

OBAMA IS A FISH OUTTA WATER!

[shaire99]

Y A W N Don't say a word about flip flopping if you're for McDrain, you'll never get back to your paper route.

[tony50195]

My grandparents, life long Dems, are voting for McCain. They just can't trust Obama and his lack of accomplishments. Hope, unite and change are just empty words coming from an empty person.

[motorolarules]

It seems we have one political party identified by either dem or repub. The media enables the problem by sensoring what the masses are "allowed" to see or know. I think the people that rely on the TV news for there information they should not be allowed to vote.

[Zile77]

Bills Obama has flipped on:

Telecom bill, he said he was against it before he voted for it.

NAFTA: The anti-trade stuff was nothing more than populist posturing. Again he said he was against it before he voted for it.

FISA: Worry about the press? This flip-flop got a few grumbles from lefty bloggers, but hardly a murmur from the mainstream press.

Amazing his media swooners seem to accept his every flip-flop with an equanimity unseen since the Daily Worker would change the party every night.

[yt5454]

I know the Dems have a paper-thin majority in the Senate. So what. They still have more than enough votes to stop the bad legislation going through, but they won't do it.

Their majority in the House is much larger. They have no excuse at all.

The real problem is that most "Democrats" are actually closet republicans. They and the repubs take the same corporate bribes.

[martyR13]

that was good. i hadn't heard from feingold in a while. why didn't they press him on obama's support? obama is so damn frustrating. i hear him talking about energy, and i nod my head, but then he caves on something like this, and i have to shake my head.

i wish i was surprised.

[anyusmoon1]

...trust Fiengold? The Fiengold of McLame/Fiengold FAmE? HA!

[yt5454]

Obama caving in to the anti-American conservatives on this issue convinces me that Obama does NOT mean change!

[aakozanoglu]

Obama is changing to that direction.The Washington has started changing him ALREADY.And fast.Beware the new Obama.The Obama who snubs Muslim Americans, the Obama who declares himself the foremost servant of AIPAC/Israel Lobby.

[samuelantonio]

Just let the bill pass thru? What kind of a fucking attitude is that for ppl who have the power to pass laws that effect the entire United States and our ppl? Fuckers like that need to get kicked in the fucking head!

[PoliticalFix]

watching this on cspan right now. if they gun deck this bill, it will do much to harm to the unity in the democratic party. right now the party is already having difficulties raising money. at this point, the proposition of donating to a 527 like vietnam veterans against mccain seems much more attractive.

watch?v=YYJPuKWZlVs

obama in '08!

[ShiekYerbooty]

Please urge your senators to vaote against FISA

[quartermick]

I'm not convinced that Feingold is a strict Constitutionalist and I disagree w/ some of his answers, but he does come across as a candid guy. Specifically, I disagree w/ Feingold when he said that the 3rd opt (money/complicity) was not a reason for the D's supporting immunity. Imo, all 3 play a role but the 3rd option has enough influence to negate the will of the people. That's why some say we're in an era of "soft-fascism" and are on the path toward hardcore fascism in the near future.

[Dacktyl]

America is dead. All the fears of the founders have come to fruition. Land of the cowed, home of the cowards.

[FalconX2000]

The concern over the "databank" is kinda overblown imo. The reason regulation can't keep up with the internet is because it is just too vast and grows too rapidly. We have a similar situation in Singapore with the Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Nobody is going to personally listen in on your phone call unless you are already a suspect, whereupon they can sift through previous data. The danger lies in how the power is used. The principle of a database is sound.

[FalconX2000]

The concern over the "databank" is kinda overblown imo. The reason regulation can't keep up with the internet is because it is just too vast and grows too rapidly. We have a similar situation in Singapore with the Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Nobody is going to personally listen in on your phone call unless you are already a suspect, whereupon they can sift through previous data. The danger lies in how the power is used. The principle of a database is sound.

[Rainman0422]

Thousand terrorist call Feingold office? Hahahahaha! Its about time THEY get off their ass and start takin care of Jihadist in this country...

[HeathenRage]

"Power does what it wants" George Carlin

[farazharoon]

Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution - part of the Bill of Rights, it guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

[patsagainstrats]

Looks like the bloodsucking trial lawyers will fall back on chasing ambulances. Those deep pockets at the telecoms are off limits, ya greedy fucking scumbags. LOL!

[SlaveStorm]

All this fuss over who is going to make a better Puppetdent.

The corrupt colleges SELECT who will be the next Puppetdent. The media anoints the two choices and the brainwashed masses vote for the one that gets the most media attention, dresses the nicest and has the best hair cut.

The CFF won. The Fascists are in control and you are all bent over the oil barrel taking dry up the ass.

The Corporations, governments and media talking heads are all spitting on your faces and you don't wipe it off

[garylandy]

oklahoma is free, hawaii will be free soon to and hopfully more states are going to be independent soon.

FREE THE STATES OF AMERICA!!!

...and fuck rockefeller to!!!

[slavixtube]

good job guys for having this interview!

[ShiekYerbooty]

Feingold Fillibuster !! C'mon man, you can do it !

Please call your Senators and help defeat FISA

[battierpeeler]

very good interview turks!

[voyzovrezon]

Feingold for VP!!!!

[dswynne]

It's pathetic that people want to bury their heads to the Jihadist threat. You don't want to fight them, you don't want to spy on them, you want to TALK to them. Guess what? They only care about ONE thing: the expansion of an Islamic movement that can move beyond the Middle East. Though I hope nothing happens, I hope you naive fools live long enough to see what your foolishness will bring forth. I can understand you all being against the war in Iraq, but the threat is still THERE. Sad.

[47f0]

What's pathetic is the panty-wetting neocons who are shoveling the civil liberties real patriots died for out the window as fast as they can. Jihadist threat? We created the Jihadist threat. We made this monster with our fascist intervention in that part of the world for the last fifty years.

[dswynne]

HAHAHAHAHA! Your ignorance of history is funny.

[SlaveStorm]

Your ignorance is glaring. America the fascist corporation created the Islamic threat. They created it to scare the tax dollars out of you ignorant 14th amendment slaves.

Living in a world of "state facts" and "religious beliefs"

The Nazi chain of command was promoted and financed from within the good ole USA and it never broke down after the war. It was the backbone of the CIA it created.

Every false flag since then was planned by those assets. American secret service kills Americans

[dswynne]

Since you are not American, I'll simply ignore your ignorant statement. After all, it's like me telling you what Canada is all about, and me not being Canadian. So, go home, son. Your input is neither needed nor wanted. I'm only going to discuss this issue to those who know what they are talking about, especially if they are from the U.S. Buh-bye.

[SlaveStorm]

Choose to ignore it all you want. It won't change history. It's historical fact.

The fact that you can not refute the evidence shows you are either wholly ignorant of actual history or grew up believing the fairy tales told in the public school system.

Your inability to carry on a discussion with anyone outside your country shows how truly Fascist your nation has become. Flag waving, gun toting tax paying patriotism for your fascist corporate rulers. You work half the year to support criminals

[Umberto2]

oh, you mean those cave dwelling goat herders? yeah, i'm really scared of them.

[AyaReiko77]

It's called appeasement. Pelosi is one of the worst appeasers in the party today.

[rmyoung87]

It's sad that these good democrats get lumped in with the rest of the shitty one (who are evidently the minority on most these issues). Yes the democratic leadership is either spineless or corrupt (from what i hear about the bribing from the telecoms, you cannot be spineless if you ARE acting in your best interests), but there are still those who can stand up to 'em when it counts.

[TheRagingCelt]

Feingold is one of the good guys.

Man, I'm hoping Obama steps up and does the right thing.

[dswynne]

Thank you for supporting the TRIAL LAWYERS!

[flrbase1]

A republican talking point. If you did not harm anyone, why be afraid of trail lawyers?

[dswynne]

The senate can call upon the telecoms to testify in congress NOW, if there was an illegal activity, or call upon a special prosecutor NOW to investigate run-doing, or change the policy NOW to make it EXPLICITLY clear that what the telecoms did was illegal. They haven't. So tell me, why haven't the Dems done ANY of this, and who stands to benefit the most from a lawsuit? And you do know that the TL gave money to Feingold AND Obama to insure their cooperation?

[drsmarty08]

Obama and Democrats find themselves in a dilemma. It is clear that they have tremendous respect for civil liberties, however, the GOP is awaiting any opening to label Obama and the Democrats weak on national security and counter-terrorism. By supporting the FISA Bill, which now has a proviso for an oversight committee, the Dems can fend off this "weak" label, the only thing that currently threatens Obama's aspirations. After inauguration, Telecoms can be hit hard on criminal charges.

[yt5454]

"After inauguration, Telecoms can be hit hard on criminal charges."

You're dreaming.

[yt5454]

"the Dems can fend off this "weak" label"

They cannot succeed in that endeavor by trying to appear tough. The "tough" label belongs to the repubs, and no amount of "me too" by the Dems will ever, ever change that.

Dems can succeed only by calling the repubs on their bs - convince voters that toughness is a red herring designed to scare and fool voters. (Shouldn't be that difficult, because it's quite true.)

NOBODY wants republican-lite. Not the Dems, not the repubs. That will never work.

[asdffd]

So fucking sad.

[PumaPumaPride]

I just heard LisaNova endorse you on live web cam, so I came to check you out :)

[bludrums]

Yes votes get almost $10 grand for their vote.Bought and sold!

[publicgood]

When I was a kid, spying on citizens' phone conversations was something the Soviets would do, not us.

[yt5454]

"When I was a kid, spying on citizens' phone conversations was something the Soviets would do, not us."

EXACTLY! Same with starting wars, torturing prisoners, indefinite imprisonment without lawyers or courts, rigging elections, lying to the public, turning the news media into propaganda organs, prosecuting political opposition, etc. etc. etc.

[GrandGuy555]

FUCK KIT BOND!

[jeytina]

we need a list of the backslider in congress!

[dustynbones]

The Democrats are covering their asses in case there is another terrorist act. All of the while the Telecoms are conducting a massive data sweep for marketing purposes.

It's totally illegal and FASCIST.

[Edwardsjm]

100% agreed

naomi wolf is right

USA is snowballing towards to a dictatorship

[Richardgwm]

Complete cave-in.

[kamkam127]

They just passed this bill in Sweden a few days ago, its fukking unbelievable, how could the goverment approve this type of shit.

They are probably recording everything that im writing now.

[Edwardsjm]

I was not aware of this

its worldwide brother

one world government is coming...

[glddraco]

one world government? Man the nutos are out today.

[gmax876]

The government did it, the people should hear about this stuff publicly, on tv, prime time, take the time and let the people vote on everything, because the people we put in power aren't doing the right thing.

[chumashfalcon]

IF the democrats cancel the Bush spying program, and there is a terrorist attack, they will be blamed by Bush and Cheney.

IF the democrats let Bush do his spying, and there is a terrorist attack, the american people will blame Bush and Cheney.

This is the game the senators are playing, they are stoking the fire of Bush's faliure in order to win more elections.

But Feingold is right, it is harder to undo the spying bill in 2009. The Democrats need to man up and risk having no illegal spying.

[Edwardsjm]

another great comment, there are some SMART people that watch TYT :)

its all a game...  what a joke

[drsmarty08]

I agree that the Democrats need to show some backbone. But practically speaking, what good does it do the country if they fight this bill and lose the general election because the GOP runs over Obama's candidacy by using the fear tactics of 2004. I always say that you can have the best of ideas for America, but if you never get to implement those ideas in the Oval Office, those ideas are worthless. The safest bet is for Dems to do all they can to prevent a 3rd term of the Bush administration.

[yt5454]

"what good does it do the country if they fight this bill and lose the general election"

What good does it do the country if Dems win the general election but act like republicans?

[drsmarty08]

"What good does it do the country if Dems win the general election but act like republicans?"

Even if your proposition proved correct, which is an obviously untenable notion, we still would be in no worst a predicament. I have said it once, and I will say it again, I still gladly stand beside Obama's candidacy. You have further shown why all Americans should vote for Obama, as things can only get better. Leaning on decision theory, the odds of change with McCain are slim to none.

[yt5454]

"You have further shown why all Americans should vote for Obama"

Because he will mean "change"?? Show me. I don't believe it.

"the odds of change with McCain are slim to none"

Same with Obama, or Clinton for that matter. They all belong to the same club, and as George Carlin said, YOU ain't in it.

[yt5454]

"Even if your proposition proved correct, which is an obviously untenable notion"

Actually, the Dems themselves proved it. We elected them a year and a half ago, and exactly what has changed? Exactly NOTHING, that's what.

[drsmarty08]

yt5454:

It will be great to see the change that comes to America when the Democrats have both the presidency and the Congressional majority, simultaneously. Rectifying the atrocities of the Republican Party will require control of the Executive and Legislative branches.

As a realist, I don't spend worthwhile time complaining about our only viable options. Nothing would ever get done! Barring tragedy, Obama or McCain is our next president, and I will do all I can to ensure it is Obama.

[yt5454]

"Rectifying the atrocities of the Republican Party will require control of the Executive and Legislative branches."

I only wish it were that simple. But literally decades of disillusionment have made me cynical. I wish, but I do not hope, and "expect" is out of the question.

[polidic]

I think you are in for a big surprise.

[jtilak]

retroactive immunity is not just for the phone companies. its for the bush administration. why don't people realize that?

[key8422]

exactly!!! i keep asking myself, "is this a parallel universe.?"

[kwatson813]

Wow...speechless

[ngarey]

MOSSAD = CIA? Is it just me?

[jerrydoubleu]

Telecom immunity is the worst idea for democracy. Just the worst. Feingold is right about his description as a total capitulation to the warmongering neocon hawks.

[TheYoungTurks]

Watch more at the Young Turks website.

[dkbunting]

Do you guys know that Obama hardly had any power to stop that big bill you complained about last week? I guess not.

[Edwardsjm]

he's in a catch 22 here I agree

he votes against it, he gets slammed by the GOP

he votes for it, he gets slammed by Dems

its all 1 party anyway

ANOTHER great comment

best comments Ive seen so far on a Young Turks issue! People are waking up I hope

[yt5454]

"he votes against it, he gets slammed by the GOP"

If he gets slammed by the gop, that's a GOOD thing.

[yt5454]

"Obama hardly had any power to stop that big bill"

BULL SHIT!!

He could have at least SPOKEN AGAINST it. But he didn't. He's IN FAVOR of it!

Obama claims he's for change, but he produces the SAME OLD SHIT.