Dennis Kucinich Correct To Not Attend Closed Session Of Congress
Something does not smell right over the closed session of Congress tonight, as the members talk over controversial electronic surveillance legislation. If the Democrats cave in to the President on this issue, who will be so silly as to give more money to the House Democrats this fall? How would even Howard Dean spin that House fiasco into a silk purse?
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said debating such an important issue behind closed doors “raises questions about the constitution of the U.S.” arguing that the House floor is “the citadel of free speech” and should not be closed to public view. Kucinich said he would not be attending the session.
House Republicans called for the session—which will be closed to the media and all but the highest level staff–to discuss classified information relating to an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Democratic leaders agreed to go along with the session earlier in the day.
Congress has been deadlocked for weeks over the measure, arguing over whether or not to grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies who aided the government in the wiretapping program after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Republicans have argued that if members are able to learn more about the program, they will grant the immunity to the telecoms.
It is just the sixth closed session in House history and the first since 1983 when the chamber discussed aid to Nicaragua.
Prior to the closed session, several Democrats took to the House floor to express their disappointment with the decision.
“I smell something, and I don’t like being manipulated,” said Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.).
Technorati Tags: DennisKucinich, FISA, Congress, Republicans
Frankly, I think they held a closed session so the White House could tell them what blackmail information was obtained about those members of congress through the illegal wiretapping.
LOL And I think they told them that if they don’t vote for this bill with the immunity in it, that the wiretapping info they got would make it into the Wall street banker owned papers…….
Think about it for a moment. The FISA court has given Bush all that he has asked for, so why do this?
What is the only thing the FISA court would not approve? Spying on your policial opponent.
I think that is the reason the dems are acting like repubs. they have no choice.
Regarding the closed door session fo Congress on March 18, 2008, this was only the fourth time in 176 years that Congress has closed its doors to the public. What was it that they were discussing that they do NOT want us to know about? Word has begun leaking from last night’s special, closed-door session of the United States House of Representatives.Not only did members discuss new surveillance provisions, as was the publicly stated reason for the closed-door session, they were also bluntly warned about:
The imminent collapse of the U.S. economy to occur by September 2008.
The imminent collapse of US federal government finances by February 2009.
The possibility of Civil War inside the USA as a result of the collapse.
Advance round-ups of “insurgent U.S. citizens” likely to move against the government.
The detention of those rounded-up at “REX 84″ camps constructed throughout the USA.
The possibility of retaliation against members of Congress for the collapses.
The location of “safe facilities” for members of Congress and their families to reside during expected massive civil unrest.
Members of Congress were FORBIDDEN to reveal what was discussed and ABC News via WCPO web site CONFIRMS congress members were FORBIDDEN to talk about it!
Why not attend, and then spill the beans to the press in an act of civil disobedience?
When will our leadership learn to stand up for Jeffersonian Principles? Surely Dennis Kucinich is not the only Democrat in the House who understands what the Constitution requires. We The People have a GOD-given and Constitutionally-protected RIGHT TO KNOW what transpires inside a governnmental body that was elected by us, for us, to represent us, and to be open and honest and completely transparent in deliberations, and show us all the documents. It’s to OUR great advantage that any intended enemies know we are after their ass, their assets, their financiers, their co-conspirators and even the corporations that assist them. Think about that! Verizon, ATT and other corporations now want immunity – not only for invading OUR Right to Privancy, but for providing telecom services to terrorists, and to their conspirators! What conspirators? Why not start in on the 150 or so “Original Conspiracy Theorists and Planners” who meet secretly as “The Bilderberg Cult” ? If what they do is so helpful to world peace, to humanity in general, and to We The (American) People, why do they have to meet in secret? Why don’t they come clean, become open and honest, and be 100% transparent? As for Democratic Party leadership, why is impeachment OFF THE TABLE when you can read about it in the Constitution ? The Founding Fathers intended it as a vital method of insuring balance between the Executive and Legislative Branches. First, we take it off the table, and then we complain that the OTHER party is violating the public trust? Absurd! In 2006 we all worked hard to get control of Congress back in the People’s hands by throwing some of the bastards out and electing some new Democrats. Did that accomplish anything at all? Where are the Democrats with courage? All bought and paid for by the corporate military-industrial- media complex? Hey, folks, corporations are NOT registered voters! Those violating their charters and by-laws can be stripped of all business privileges in those States! Doing business is a privilege, not a right. When they violate the publics’ trust, they forfeit their privileges! We’re being treated more fairly by several other foreign governments, and foreign corporations, than by our own! Corporations and their lobbyists behave as though they own it all, and can run it all, as they wish. Immunity and impunity instead of the rule of law? That’s Not just absurd, that’s INSANE!
Call me a cynic, and I hope I’m wrong, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the end result of all this will be a passage of the bill that includes immunity for telecoms. The Dem’s will simply say “Hey, you can’t know what damning information was given to us in that closed session, but trust us, this was the right decision.” And no one would be able to hold anyone accountable, because we wouldn’t know what actually happened.