John Warner (R-VA) said the telecoms volunteered to spy...

[ColbertWatcher]

...can someone help me understand why he would say such a thing?

I am watching the clock run out on the FISA bill on CSPAN 2 and Warner got up and emphasized that the telecoms volunteered their services in the same way Americans volunteered to help during WW2.

I have never heard anyone make that assertion before.

Who is this 11th hour invention supposed to help? How could it help anyone?

Thank you in advance.

[DJ13]

1. The GOP prefers to say volunteered instead of coerced by the Bush admin

Sounds less like Big Brother that way.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. But legally it's different, no? n/t

[EFerrari]

3. Right. And those who didn't "volunteer" were subject to political prosecutions

like the Qwest CEO. :shrug:

[ColbertWatcher]

4. That's why I'm confused...

...using Warner's new 11th hour claim, the prosecutions are political, the whole damn thing is political.

This makes it a losing proposition for the GOP.

I don't understand how they could use this as an argument in their favor.

[EFerrari]

5. In another light, they are protecting telco "patriots".

Most people just hear the descriptors and don't think about them, i.e., government + corporations = fascism.

[bdamomma]

6. they volunteered ???

that is really delusional.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. YES!

And this is why I'm confused.