This diary contains, as an Appendix, the detailed timeline for my diary, "Looking back at FISA's year in the House." These two diaries are my attempt to document and deconstruct the political theater we've witnessed from the House of Representatives, and specifically its Democratic leadership, in amending FISA this past year - from the passage of the Protect America Act (PAA) in August 2007 through the passage of the so-called "compromise" FISA Amendments Act in June 2008.  Analysis, conclusions and a proposal are included in the previous diary.

Acknowledgments: As with the previous diary, I owe many thanks to all my fellow commenters at FireDogLake, especially pow wow and Hugh, for their excellent analyses, discussions and frequent corrections during the past year.

This diary is my attempt to document and deconstruct the political theater we've witnessed from the House of Representatives, and specifically its Democratic leadership, in amending FISA this past year - from the passage of the Protect America Act (PAA) in August 2007 through the passage of the so-called "compromise" FISA Amendments Act in June 2008.

Not only has the Democratic House leadership worked to pass bills that undermine our constitutional rights and prevent accountability for the Bush Administration's illegal acts - in effect endorsing Nixon's view that if the President says it's legal that makes it so - they have explicitly rejected the principles of open, honest and responsive government in order to do it.

Part I is the timeline.

In Part II is the analysis: How did we get such bad legislation from a Democratically controlled Congress?

Finally, in Part III, are my conclusions and a proposal.

Acknowledgments: Many thanks to all my fellow commenters at FireDogLake, especially pow wow and Hugh, for their excellent analyses, discussions and frequent corrections during the past year.

How was it, that the truly awful S.1927, was passed in a Democratic majority House last week?

During the many hours spent watching C-SPAN on Friday and Saturday, and in the days since, we've been trying to understand what happened. This is a summary of my understanding to date. I'm indebted to my fellow commenters at FireDogLake (especially pow wow) and to two extremely helpful House aides - of course, all errors are my own.

Part I is the timeline.

In Part II, based on my conversation with a House Rules Committee aide, I'll try to answer two questions: "Why was H.R. 3356 (the negotiated, not-as-bad version) brought to a vote on the house floor under a suspension of house rules so that passage required 2/3 votes? a procedure normally used for non-controversial measures?" and "Why was S.1927 brought to a vote on the house floor without a rule, using instead a unanimous consent agreement that allowed passage by simple majority?"

Finally, in Part III, I ask: what went wrong and what we can do about it?

salvador posted the text of Senator Kerry's speech in a diary yesterday.  This is the report-back from MA group of the FDL roots project (hey, if you haven't yet - sign up already!).

5 of us attended Senator Kerry's speech, "Patriotism and Dissent in America", in Boston on Saturday. Afterward, we were able to speak with Kerry's state director, Jon Jennings about our concerns. Jon was open to hearing from us and, we discovered, has read Firedoglake. Before the end of the our conversation, Jon offered to meet with us on a regular basis (monthly).  We will certainly take him up on his offer - which he has already confirmed via email! On our way out, we saw Senator Kerry with a small group of people.  Taking advantage of the opportunity, Prof Foland was able to have a short discussion with Senator Kerry about how the security clearance system is abused to suppress dissent.

A very successful day!

details below the fold:

just received this Urgent Response Network email from No Stolen Elections! (you can get on the list at www.Nov3.US).

they have lots of good action suggestions and are organizing / coordinating at the national level.  get on their list and let's have our independent investigation!

To: Urgent Response Network
From: No Stolen Elections!   www.Nov3.US

ACT NOW:

    *Support efforts to make every vote count in Ohio
    *Hold public hearings in your community
    *Wake up the media

for those who were arrested in nyc during the rnc protests... i understand there is likely be a class action lawsuit regarding the conditions of detention, especially conditions at pier 57.

there've been some discussions in the diaries recently about the benefits and risks of protesting at the rnc.  for me the most compelling issue is the war in iraq... and i don't think a kerry win is going to be sufficient to get us out asap.  so, while i desperately want bush to lose - i also want to provide kerry with the political pressure (and cover) to do the right thing and end our military occupation of iraq.

starhawk's post today from nyc could have been written for our discussion... so, i just have to share some of it with dkos folks....

here's today's update from UFPJ on the big anti-bush agenda march. nyc has again denied UFPJ use of central park for a rally at the end of the march.  they are still fighting for this, but in the mean time THE MARCH IS ON.

i'll be there!  hope you you will too.
peace,
selise
...............................

from UFPJ:

NYC AGAIN DENIES USE OF CENTRAL PARK, BUT MARCH PLANS ARE ON!
Sunday, August 29 - Say No to the Bush Agenda!
Legal, permitted march past the site of the Republican Convention
**Gather 10:00am, Seventh Avenue @ 14th Street
**March at noon

Dear friend of United for Peace and Justice:

The City of New York wasted no time in rejecting our new application to rally on August 29 in three Central Park locations after our march against the Bush Agenda. Just hours after we submitted our request, they faxed over a denial, not even bothering to take our request seriously.

We are proceeding with our plans for a legal, permitted march against the Bush agenda on Sunday, August 29. We will gather at 10:00am at Seventh Avenue @ 14th Street, and our march will step off an noon, bringing a massive crowd past Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican Convention.

We are exploring a wide range of options regarding the post-march rally and will keep you updated with new developments. We believe, however, that marching in large numbers is the best way to communicate our message, calling for an end to the Bush agenda of war, greed, hate and lies.

Please spread the word to everyone you know:  The August 29 march is not to be missed! If ever there was a time to stand up for peace and justice and against the restriction of dissent, this is it. Bring your friends, your neighbors, your children, your coworkers: At this legal and permitted march, we will peacefully flood the streets of Manhattan with a cry for change so loud it cannot be ignored.

new email from UFPJ today...
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2532

UFPJ Says No to the West Side Highway
August 10th, 2004

Dear UFPJ supporter:

WE ARE MARCHING! On August 29, United for Peace and Justice will hold a massive, impassioned, peaceful, and legal march past Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican Convention, to protest the Bush Administration's deceit and destruction.

But we will NOT be rallying afterwards on the West Side Highway. As we announced in a press conference today, exiling us to a remote stretch of sun-baked highway makes a mockery of our right to assembly: The deal is off.

   

elliot organized some friends and brought the american friends service committee's eyes wide open memorial to elm park in worcester, ma yesterday.

to represent the war dead, empty boots and shoes were laid out in the grass of the park - combat boots, each one with labeled with a name and home state, to symbolize the deaths of US soldiers and unlabeled shoes to represent the iraqi civilian dead.  visitors walked around and within the exhibit, some leaving a behind a picture or a flower.

russ kick of the www.thememoryhole.org has obtained 361 photographs from dover air force base of the flag covered coffins of iraq military war dead.  he was able to get these photos by filing a freedom of information act, and then a follow-on request/challenge when his first request was denied.

this morning i saw the pictures posted at:
http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/coffin_photos/dover/

since then, the pictures have made their way around the internet (including drudge, who does not credit russ kick).

but, tonight the entire site is unavailable.

does anyone know why?