Bush To Capitulate on FISA?

This, from today's WSJ, is what I would call a Democratic Victory:

The White House, seeking to break a months-long standoff, has signaled to Democratic lawmakers it is open to negotiation over a proposal to expand government spy powers, according to officials familiar with the conversations.

We still don't know the details of what exactly the Administration will give up in their 6 month effort to ram FISA reform down our throats, but ANY compromise is a big concession.

You should thank:
Chris Dodd for having the Spine to make defending the Constitution a central issue.

mcjoan for making it a central issue on the front page here.

Glenn Greenwald, Jane Hamsher, Emptywheel, TPM Muckraker and a lot of other bloggers who made this a major issue.

It also took a lot of you calling your Democratic congresspeople to let them know that the Constitution matters.

And Importantly:
Thanks to the House Democrats, especially the Freshmen, for standing up and showing that a spine allows one to stand up proudly and make a difference.

UPDATE
From Roll Call:

The Bush administration is "now in a position where they want to talk about a possible compromise" on stalled electronic spying legislation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters today.

"I think, frankly, they were surprised" that House Democratic leaders were able to pass their preferred version of the bill, which would reauthorize and update the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, just before lawmakers left for the two-week spring recess, he said.

Hoyer said he has been in conversations with administration officials and with House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), all of whom have indicated that they are ready to reach a compromise.

•  The Other Side of

  Capitulation

  by drational on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 08:37:24 AM PDT

  •  As it is April Fool's Day,

    I don't know whether to be excited or not...

    Negotiate,?? George, just sign the damned bill and take your pill.  You lie, you lose...you cheat, you lose...its supposed to be the American way.

    by gdwtch52 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 08:50:37 AM PDT

•  I want hearings that

  get to the bottom of how spying without warrants was approved before 9/11.  How was BushCo able to get this done that early.  I want to know the facts on that and why the companies cooperated.

  by dogheaven on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 08:55:30 AM PDT

  •  I agree

    but one step at a time. Immunity needs to die first.

    by discocarp on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:05:28 AM PDT

•  I'll believe it

  When I see it.

  by egarratt on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 08:56:09 AM PDT

  •  So far, the definition of "negotiate"

    has been, "let me tell you how to vote."

    by ccyd on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:05:14 AM PDT

    •  Boy that's so true

      It's probably Bush's version of an April Fool's joke.

      by KS Rose on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:07:42 AM PDT

      •  Bush negotiating is like

        Lucy zipping the football away from Charlie Brown.  I don't think the White House has any intention of negotiating, let alone experience at it.  Their idea of negotiating will probably be something like: where in this delectable bill would you like to put telcom immunity, first paragraph or last?

        Come to think of it, what IS there to negotiate about telcom immunity? It is yea or nay, right?  We know it is a smoke screen to get Bushco immunity from prosecution and to cover the telcoms for the pre 9/11 spying, but since that negotiation will never be brought to the table ( they'd have to admit to doing illegalities), we just have to stand firm, show us the authorizations for warrantless wiretappings and the telcoms are off the hook.  No negotiations.

        by sailmaker on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:29:12 AM PDT

•  You need to add mcjoan

  to your thank yous. Tireless posting on FISA. If this is a win, mcjoan was directly responsible for what was probably thousands and thousands of calls to senators reps.

  by discocarp on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:04:39 AM PDT

  •  sorry- mcjoan, not miss laura

    by drational on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:12:46 AM PDT

•  No compromises

  No capitulation by Democrats.

  No immunity.

  Pass NOTHING on this subject that gives the White House ANY legitimization of an increase in surveillance powers.

  Make them stay guilty of crimes for their past and present overreaches.

  by beemerr on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:08:39 AM PDT

  •  At this point I'd actually prefer the

    White House to stay stubborn instead of being "open to compromise" — the standoff is way better than passing some new law!

    by Simplify on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:12:57 AM PDT

•  Don't give him anything he can sign

  Because he'll add a fucking signing statement. Wait out FISA until we have a real president.

  by Pompatus on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:10:06 AM PDT

•  Remember Lucy, Charlie Brown & the football?

  That's what this is here. The White House is signaling its willingness to negotiate?

  Bullshit.

  The White House is desperate to preserve Telecom immunity come hell or high water, because they know any trial will reveal the slimy depths of Administration criminality for all the world to see. They can't let that happen. Ever.

  So don't be fooled here. Sure, they may offer to hold the football for Reid and Pelosi to kick; but when the foot is committed, you can bet your last Euro that Cheney yanks the ball out of the way.

  by Ralphdog on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 09:58:20 AM PDT

•  Bush: "I'll compromise...April Fools!"

  Anyone who believes Bush will compromise on his get-out-of-jail-free card hasn't been paying attention the last seven years. The only compromise Bush will consider is a complete compromise by Congressional Dems.

  What is really interesting here is that this shows just how desperate Bush is to get this immunity before he leaves office. Given the amount of energy, effort, and strategizing this effort has consumed at the White House, I can only assume that there is one huge pile of steaming crap the Chimp is desperate to hide. Which should make Dems even more reluctant to give the Chimperor what he wants.

  My guess is that he will turn to blackmail next, with Rockefeller, Reid, and Jane Harman as the primary targets. I'm stocking up on popcorn for this one - now it's going to get really interesting.

  by skrymir on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:17:35 AM PDT

•  Dodd really got the ball rolling.

  At his own great peril, he seems to have convinced people that standing up to Bush was not a suicide mission.

  by rhutcheson on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 11:19:11 AM PDT