Big brother and big biz sittin in a tree...
November 19, 2002 9:06 AM   Subscribe

Big Brother and Big Biz sittin in a tree.... The Senate voted 52-47 Tuesday against a Democratic effort to strip what they called seven "special-interest" provisions out of legislation creating a Department of Homeland Security.

Oh joy. Pardon me..there's some nice men in black suits knocking at my door.
posted by Hilfy (11 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason:



 
It's really sad that the republicans can't come up with a better argument for keeping these provisions than 'ditching them would waste time'. I mean, that's pretty much an admission that these provisions are junk, isn't it?
posted by Mark Doner at 9:20 AM on November 19, 2002


From VOA News: "Among the provisions is one that would protect pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits concerning the side effects of vaccines. Republicans say the provision is needed to help companies develop products to be used in the war on terrorism. "

The number of big business amendments that were tacked onto this bill at the last minute amaze me. But no, lets just push it on through quickly, because "the terrorists are not going to wait for us to dilly dally". I'm all for safety and protection, but our fear of this vague enemy is aiding a different enemy altogether.
posted by sixfoot6 at 9:21 AM on November 19, 2002


Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was in Paris for a fashion tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy, and missed the vote. 'nuf said.
posted by michaelonfs at 9:27 AM on November 19, 2002


See yesterday's discussion on this topic here.
posted by Espoo2 at 9:40 AM on November 19, 2002


thank the lord jesus we got this passed before the terrorists could do any more damage on american soil. i for one was completely terrified every day, waiting for this landmark bill to be passed. now if i could only get a reply from the company that sold me this smallpox vaccine that makes my ears bleed. oh well... at least i'm safe from evil.
posted by ggggarret at 9:45 AM on November 19, 2002


Pardon me..there's some nice men in black suits knocking at my door.

Have they come to take you yet? No? I didn't think so.

Darn. And here I thought the sky was falling and all.
posted by jammer at 9:55 AM on November 19, 2002


Jammer:

No, it's not falling..but can you see the cracks? No? I didn't think so!







...so there!
posted by Hilfy at 9:59 AM on November 19, 2002


If ever there was a thread ripe for deletion due to sheer lack of redeeming value, this is it.
posted by oissubke at 10:07 AM on November 19, 2002


jammer: isn't the "sky falling" comment about used up by now?

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was in Paris for a fashion tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy, and missed the vote. 'nuf said.

Yeah, it's gotta be a Kennedy's fault that our country is going to hell. I bet JFK had himself shot just to stir up conspiracy theorists and ruin the credibility of secret-police-supporting Republicans forever!

Thank God, (and I mean capital G, o, d, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, whom all good Protestant Americans should worship,) for Saint Ashcroft, who never tires in repelling the aggressive devil-worshipping Irish-Catholics.
posted by zekinskia at 10:09 AM on November 19, 2002


Interestingly, one of the seven provisions to which Democrats objected was a line that gutted an amendment passed earlier this year making it difficult for companies that were based offshore to receive tax breaks and government contracts. What this has to do with national security I don't know, but it's a good example of how the Republicans are quietly rolling back post-Enron corporate reforms.
posted by risenc at 10:12 AM on November 19, 2002


isn't the "sky falling" comment about used up by now?

About as completely used-up as the knee-jerk "omg the gummint is doing somrthing i dont like quick hide from the brownshirts" rhetoric. No, I don't like PATRIOT, no I don't like this, no I don't like the Super Spy Agency they're trying to form. But neither do I believe that I'm in imminent danger of being rounded up for saying so.

Rather than cry wolf now, I'd like to save it for when we really need it, thank you.
posted by jammer at 10:17 AM on November 19, 2002


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