Democrats Trying To Take Back Immunity For Telecoms Counter-terrorism Efforts

Heritage Center/The Lid ^ | 10/8/09 | The Lid

[Shellybenoit]

Nothing pisses off progressives more, than a perceived infringement on people's rights especially if it has the potential of saving thousands of lives. To those progressive the FISA bill (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) was the definition of evil. The bill prescribed prescribes for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of "foreign intelligence information" between "foreign powers" and "agents of foreign powers." This is the bill that was made famous because it allowed for "warrantless wiretaps" under certain conditions.

Last summer, after much debate. FISA was renewed. The debate centered around a provision which granted immunity from prosecution for the Patriotic Phone companies that helped out Uncle Sam with wiretaps. The progressives and other Democrats wanted to hang the telecom companies for that horrible crime of answering the call when the Commander-in-Chief asked during a war.

Thankfully the bill was passed over their objections, but now 15 months later, the Russ Feingold has introduced a bill to remove that immunity:

[fight_truth_decay]

Can't we just send Pink Slips in bulk to all these people???

[KarlInOhio]

If I were a phone executive I would have to refuse any request for a wire tap, phone records or any customer information without a signed warrant. I don't care if a bus full of orphans an kittens are being held hostage by Osama bin Laden, the cops will have to bring a warrant which I will run by legal council before giving them anything. How do you like the world you've created, Dems.

PS, was McDermott ever convicted and jailed for illegally distributing an illegal recording of Newt Gingrich's phone call in Florida? No? I didn't think so.