Bush Seeks Legal Immunity for Telecoms

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm/Page/Article/ID/8362
(my apologies if this has already been posted)

August 31, 2007 - The Bush administration wants the power to grant legal immunity to telecommunications companies that are slapped with privacy suits for cooperating with the White House's controversial warrantless eavesdropping program.

The authority would effectively shut down dozens of lawsuits filed against telecommunications companies accused of helping set up the program.

The vaguely worded proposal would shield any person who allegedly provided information, infrastructure or "any other form of assistance" to the intelligence agencies after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. It covers any classified communications activity intended to protect the country from terrorism.

Republicans say immunity is necessary to protect the companies that responded to legal presidential orders to thwart terrorists in the years after 9/11. Yet some Democrats fear the administration's proposal would do much more than advertised, potentially protecting anyone who gave broad categories of aid to the government as part of a spy program that monitors communications.

[acmavm]

1. bush** thinks he should be granted the divine rights of kings.

[Mandate My Ass]

2. He's already granted himself that

Think Napoleon crowning himself emperor. His signing statements alone indicate he considers himself above and beyond the laws of the land.

Now he wants the telecoms to be exempt too because they're doing his illegal bidding.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. You watch. Democrats will okay it. nt

[TwilightGardener]

4. They wouldn't be doing this if they thought that what they were doing was legal.

They know the warrantless wiretapping will eventually be found illegal, and BushCo is protecting them--and thus, itself from future prosecution.

[Solly Mack]

5. Yep

[unhappycamper]

6. Fuck Ivan Ivan Seidenberg.

I worked for those miserable bastards for 21 years.

[VP505]

7. There must be

some immunity benefit for Bu$hCo along with the telecoms or he wouldn't be pushing for it. * doesn't do anything unless he or his cronies profit from it in some way.

[TwilightGardener]

9. I see it this way--

if anyone tried to prosecute telecoms, they would say as a defense that the President ordered them to act in a time of war, and their lawyers would have to dredge up all sorts of communications and dealings that the administration doesn't want to come to light. Ultimately, they wouldn't be held responsible--ChimpCo would. This is not meant to protect telecoms--it's a back-door way of ensuring immunity for the Chimp.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Double whammy - screwing the customer, AND usurping Congress' powers.