White House may drop insistence on telecom immunity.»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/01/white-house-may-drop-insistence-on-telecom-immunity/

White House may drop insistence on telecom immunity.»

The Wall Street Journal reports:

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. <…>

Over the two-week spring recess, administration officials contacted Democratic leaders to suggest they were open to compromise on updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. “We definitely want to get it done,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. “We’ve had some initial conversations with Congress about the need to get FISA reform done quickly.” He added that Mr. Bush still prefers the Senate measure, which the White House negotiated with Senate Democrats. <…>

The White House’s more conciliatory posture reflects a recognition that the Bush administration’s leverage on national-security matters has slipped since this past summer, a top Republican congressional aide said. “There’s a recognition that if they’re actually going to get a product they can support, there’s going to have to be some new level of engagement,” the aide said.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. You mean, they actually blinked?

Look what happens when we stick to our guns!

Good god...

This is a most hopeful sign!

I will be watching this one closely...

Thanks for posting!

[babylonsister]

2. That's all they've done so far, but it could be a start.

This doesn't happen often. Fingers crossed.

[Cant trust em]

4. Negotiations 101

Dems thought that weakening themselves right off the bat would somehow make them stronger.

[marmar]

3. So he can conveniently break the deal with a signing statement?

I just don't trust La Casa Blanca.

[L. Coyote]

5. In other words, BUSH will not veto DEMS giving him more spy powers! D'OH!!!!

What, the red herring over-pickled?

[DJ13]

6. Sorry, dont trust them

They probably have an alternative plan to give them immunity on deck.

[annabanana]

7. I don't see anything about the retroactive immunity in that article..

There have to be consequences for merrily breaking the law at the request of the administration and setting up warrantless wiretaps...

[Kelvin Mace]

8. I'm not buying it.

The usual tactic here is for Precious Leader to claim he is re-thinking his position and is willing to compromise. The Democratic leadership buys into the lie, then approves a bill that gives Bush what he wanted with nothing tangible in return.

If that fails, there always a signing statement in the reserve.