Kerry actually voted against the bill, despite him receiving tons of money from AT&T (http://www.opensecrets.org) . Weird weird weird.

I think the telco money must run deep on both sides of the aisle.

January is a long time away and there is plenty of time for arms to be twisted. It is important to remember that this isn’t really even about immunity for the Telecoms. This is about protecting this administration. They have committed crimes that would be revealed in discovery if the lawsuit against ATT goes forward. That is what this is ultimately about and this admin will do whatever it takes to keep those secrets.

George Bush committed a felony when he chose to ignore FISA. Telecom immunity keeps discovery frozen so that it cannot be used again in the next case and it also keeps his article II wartime powers claim alive. “Team Dick” will not allow that to happen because this administration cannot survive discovery.

I agree that it’ll eventually pass. But they’ll use substitution as a compromise–where the government sits in with them in court and fights the telcos’ battle. That way, the telcos don’t have to sue the Administration and we foot the bill while they buy time!

Meanwhile, this administration comes and goes and the next one, who’ll likely be in just as(s) deep with the telcos gets to stall discovery further.

Dodd is a hero, leaving his campaign to work for all of us. QWEST is also heroic for telling the Administration to show them the court order first; and where did it get the CEO? …prosecuted for some other questionable shit.

This is such a critical issue, and it’s disheartening but not surprising to see our “representatives” doing so very little to protect our rights or carry out our will. Can someone tell me again why we can’t just fire all these clowns?