Move Over, FISA

Chertoff's in town:

After delaying a domestic satellite-surveillance program for more than two months, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff expects to finalize a new charter for it this week, a move that attempts to quell civil-liberties concerns and get the program back on track.

Mr. Chertoff also plans soon to unveil a cyber-security strategy, part of an estimated $15 billion, multiyear program designed to protect the nation's Internet infrastructure. The program has been shrouded in secrecy for months and has also prompted privacy concerns on Capitol Hill because it involves government protection of domestic computer networks.

Both areas put Homeland Security in the middle of a public debate over domestic spy powers, kicked off by the revelation two years ago that the National Security Agency had been eavesdropping on some conversations in the U.S. without a warrant. In the fall, the department put the satellite program on hold after an outcry on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers have also asked Mr. Chertoff to delay the introduction of the cyber-security initiative. "One lesson I've learned is it's not enough to say we know what we're doing is going to be OK," Mr. Chertoff said in an interview. "We've got to really make it clear to the public that we're doing this, but we're not doing that."

...

The charter will clarify that the satellite program will follow all current U.S. legal restrictions on technical surveillance. Where a warrant is required for collection, one will be obtained before that activity is approved. Under the charter, the program won't use technology to intercept verbal communications.

Can't... hold... back... any... longer....

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

If you don't comply, zombie Chertoff will eat your brains

Bush's EPA Sides Against California

Surprise:

The Bush administration blocked California's plan to put tighter limits on automobile tailpipe emissions, handing a victory to the auto industry on the same day the president signed an energy bill that mandates the biggest boost in federal fuel-efficiency standards in more than 30 years.

Late yesterday, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson blocked California from going further than the federal government does in curbing auto emissions that contribute to global warming, setting up a clash with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Just remember, Bush gets it:


Update: Waxman smells something fishy.

In a letter to EPA today, Chairman Henry Waxman of the Oversight Committee requests that the agency preserve and produce all documents relating to Administrator Johnson’s decision to block California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The investigation follows prior committee inquiries on highly questionable attempts by the Department of Transportation to lobby Congress regarding California’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

KBR

Classy job, those contractors.

Obstructing and Abetting

Republicans and their media lapdogs.

What Digby said.

That's Not How Things Work

How many times have you heard that line from people who work in politics? To them, everyone on the outside who actually stands for an ideal is a naive, clueless hillbilly.

Dodd's FISA victory yesterday proved that that's now how things work.

On a somewhat related note, Atrios:

One of my pet peeves has long been a certain strain of defeatism. Understandably we all feel defeated at times, but there's a certain kind of defeatist out there on the internets, people who spend most of their time chastising others for thinking it's possible to have any influence and attacking the "stupidity" of those who even bother to try. Maybe those people are right. Maybe there never is anything to be done. But if that's the case, get a new goddamn hobby.

Idealism, passion courage and keeping a level head will win the day, every day.

Reid Pulls FISA Bill

Dodd won this round, but let's be clear about what's at stake: he's only delayed the bill for a couple weeks until after New Year's. While we hope that McConnell will release enough information on the administration's program that Senators will be able to make an informed decision, I wouldn't bet on it.

Let's keep up the pressure to strip telco immunity out of the FISA bill.

Different Day, Same Bullshit

Iraqn:

A Pentagon report will accuse Iran of continuing to funnel weapons and training personnel into Iraq, adding fuel to a heated debate among U.S. policy makers about whether Iran deserves any credit for the steep declines in Iraq's once-unrelenting violence.

This is the same Pentagon that couldn't trump up charges of Iraqi WMD and Christian-eating babies quickly enough. The same DIA that had their own special offices set up to counter the sane CIA intelligence. Why does anybody care what Dick "shot to the face and you're to blame" Cheney believes about anything? He's insane, has no credibility and is wrong about everything all the time.

Of course, Thomas Friedman will use this as an excuse to tell the Iranians to "suck on this."

Filibuster Telecom Immunity

More Dodd:

It's time to see the Senate stand up for the rule of law.

You don't demonstrate leadership in the footnotes of a press release, or parroting responses from focus groups.

Leadership is demonstrated through action.

That's not so hard, is it?

Support Dodd, pay a visit to the site, email or call your Senators. The fight for telecom immunity is about being able to unlock the door to many of Bush's abuses - even pre-9/11 abuses - over the years. Granting the telcos immunity now means letting everyone off the hook forever.

He Had to Go

Joe "nobody supports bringing the troops home more than I do" Lieberman, for doing things like this:

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, trying to mount a comeback in his presidential bid, on Monday won the endorsement of independent Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democratic vice presidential nominee.

McCain and Lieberman appeared together on Fox News Channel and were expected later in the day at a campaign event in New Hampshire, where McCain hopes to pull off a repeat of his 2000 victory in the state's presidential primary on January 8.

"I happen to the think this guy is the best of all candidates to unite our country across political lines so we can begin to solve some of the problems people have in this country," Lieberman said.

"I'm certainly sending a message that I agree with John McCain a lot more on national security, foreign and defense policy."

Remember, the only reason he gets to feel at all relevant is because the Dems hold a razor thin majority in the Senate. Elect more and better Dems and help make Joe nothing more than a fly on the wall.

Paul Krugman Writes a Column

Hello hammer, meet head of nail.