RawStory: Senate preparing to fold on telecom immunity

[jgraz]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Senate_preparing_to_fold_on_telecom_1011_af.html

Senate preparing to fold on telecom immunity

This week's much touted rebuke to immunity-seeking telecommunications companies may be scrapped as Senate Democrats are appearing ever more ready to accede to President Bush's demands.

Reports are emerging that the Senate is preparing to introduce a foreign surveillance law update that would shield telecommunications companies from litigation or prosecution over their assistance in the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program instituted after Sept. 11.

Based on a tip from the ACLU, Firedoglake reported a draft proposal being quietly circulated in the Senate "does contain legal immunity/amnesty for the telecom companies" that would include any of its actions over the last six years.

President Bush vowed Wednesday not to sign a bill that doesn't spare prosecution for the telecommunications industry, and House Democratic leaders have indicated they may grant immunity if Bush's administration agrees to detail the companies' involvement in the wiretapping program.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Senate_preparing_to_fold_on_telecom_1011_af.html

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[earthboundmisfit]

1. WHY?

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY, GODDAMN IT??????????????????? :grr:

[1monster]

2. Why? Why do they always fold when their constituency is backing them all the way

on standing firm against giving into the demands of the Boy King and the telecommunications industires?

When most of the citizens of this country are backing them all the way on standing firm against the demands of the Boy King?

What does the White House have on these guys or what do they hold over their heads which makes them capitulate almost every time?????

[Truth2Tell]

3. K & R. What a surprise. n/t

[Pavulon]

4. 70 Years of precident

A quick review of eavesdropping reveals why.

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2007/10/domestic_taps

[eShirl]

5. sounds about right

they won't stop until the Bill of Rights is 100% null and void

[Richard Steele]

6. Wow, I'm shocked. nm

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Well, they have to be "tough on terra" to protect our freedoms(?).

Or, perhaps, maybe, an outside chance, that they're playing politics. Naawwww...they wouldn't do that.

[dkofos]

8. Of course they will. Because they know the dem sheeple will still

vote for them next time around.

Fuck the PEOPLE they don't really count.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Fuck. We're back to where we were two days ago.

[Neecy]

10. Harry Reid=worst Dem Majority Leader EVER

[frebrd]

11. What a shocker! I wonder if they have...

a formula they follow to determine how long to wait before folding.

:-(

[BuyingThyme]

12. Next time they'll give Pukes immunity when murdering Dems.

It's all coming together.

[NightWatcher]

13. is the "senate folding" breaking news anymore?

[Pavulon]

14. Reality

this is part of the power in washington that does not go up for election..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Assistance_for_Law_Enforcement_Act

[Individualist]

15. The origami contingent folds again

No surprise.

[babylonsister]

16. As usual, follow the money:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2024876&mesg_id=2024876

[L. Coyote]

17. So, where is there something substantive in this tale of horror?

Watch the House Committee hearing on C-Span. This idea was proposed as an amendment by the Rs and soundly trounced!

House Judiciary Cmte. Mark Up of FISA
Chair. John Conyers (D-MI) holds a House Judiciary Cmte. mark up of pending legislation, including the draft of a bill updating the rules for electronic surveillance. This new bill would replace one passed in August that expires next year.
10/10/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr. 43 min.

http://c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100&Page=3

[bdamomma]

18. sickening.

why are they so afraid to confront this POS * ? Nancy Pelosi does not look so good either, something is up with her. She looks like she was spooked!

[L. Coyote]

19. MORE: FISA “RESTORE” thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2018498

[L. Coyote]

20. BILL: Responsible Electronic Surveillance that is Overseen, Reviewed, and Effective

H.R. 3773, The Responsible Electronic Surveillance that is Overseen, Reviewed, and Effective Act of 2007 (RESTORE)
Bill text = http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/HR3773FISA.pdf

RESTORE Act Summary of H.R. 3773, http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/HR3773FISASummary.pdf

A Comparison between the RESTORE Act and the Protect America Act of 2007 (PAA)
http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFS/RESTOREvPAA.pdf