Spy, phone protection bill clears Senate hurdle

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080625/pl_nm/usa_surveillance_dc_2

A White House-backed spy bill to protect telecommunication companies from billions of dollars in possible privacy lawsuits passed a Senate test vote on Wednesday and headed toward final congressional approval.

On a vote of 80-15, mostly Republican supporters of the bipartisan measure, which would also implement the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. spy laws in decades, easily mustered the 60 needed to clear a Democratic procedural roadblock.

Overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives on Friday, the bill may win needed Senate concurrence before Congress begins a holiday break the end of this week.

(snip)
In addition to providing a special court review of lawsuits against telecommunication companies, the bill would increase oversight of U.S. intelligence activities and bolster privacy protection -- but not as much as civil liberties groups and a number of lawmakers want.

"This bill is not a compromise. It is a capitulation," said Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat.

[Hardrada]

1. I am going to go back to see if there are some other systems

of government (or non-government) that work batter than democracies. People should not pledge allegiance to a flag of chickenhawks and informers and snoops. And genocidal maniacs to boot.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Reuters reporter Thomas Ferraro is spinning. n/t