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spotbird Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:02 PM
Original message
Specter floats compromise on telecom immunity
Source: The Hill


By Manu Raju | Posted: 11/7/07/ 4:11 p.m.
November 07, 2007
The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee is drafting a compromise to resolve the thorny issue of whether to provide retroactive liability protections for the phone companies that allegedly participated in the Bush administration’s secret wiretapping program.

At a Thursday markup on a bill to overhaul the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) plans to offer an amendment that would make the federal government — instead of the phone companies — the defendant in about 40 pending lawsuits across the country.

....

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) seemed skeptical when asked about Specter’s plan on Wednesday.

“So we would have the taxpayers pay the cost of the Bush administration breaking the law? Interesting concept, I’ll look at it,” Leahy said.




Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/specter-floats-compromise-on-telecom-immunity-2007-11-07.html
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NC_Nurse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:05 PM
Response to Original message
1. Bullshit.
That is all.
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robinlynne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:06 PM
Response to Original message
2. I think not.
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Paulie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:08 PM
Response to Original message
3. Then they can make it even easier to claim national security
and talk the judges out of continuing the cases. Specter is such slime, how can he sleep at night?
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catnhatnh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:10 PM
Response to Original message
4. Think RICO, Think Criminal Conspiracy....
The government suggests an illegal action and the Telecoms comply for cash while hiding their actions. Then the government (conspirator #1) attempts to protect the Telecoms (conspirator #2) to prevent their turning State's Evidence as to the EXTENT of their lawlessness....
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Pavulon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:15 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Think NOT
The NSA has no interest in operational aspects of its work becoming public. No member of congress or court can disclose classified information regarding this.

The NSA has done the same job for a very long time. They break code and intercept information.

The NSA acts under military command and under numerous laws is protected from this type of investigation. Telecoms are required to allow the ability to intercept traffic.

This will just end up costing billions of dollars if exposed as the tools used will have to be reworked.
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peacebird Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. QWEST knew it was an illegal request from govt and refused to help out, why shouldn't the
Edited on Wed Nov-07-07 07:37 PM by peacebird
the other telecomms have to pay for violating the law?

FISA has rules, as flimsy as they are. Following the rules would have immunized the telecomms. They instead facilitated an illegal act by the US Govt. They are therefore not immune from lawsuits and should be sued. QWEST and other telecomms can reap the benefits of the crushing of AT&T and its buddies.
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Pavulon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 08:06 PM
Response to Reply #8
11. So they said
they are bound bo multiple other laws that require them to conform. I assure you that data on qwests network voice and data are accessible by the NSA.

Bet on it. This was based on an ask request, not a the ability to take.
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KAZ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 09:17 PM
Response to Reply #6
16. You live in a strange reality. They always fear exposure.
Why would you post such tripe?
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angstlessk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:14 PM
Response to Original message
5. of course if you sue you have to show harm..and if the harm is from
the telecons...well..TOO BAD SUER..YOU HAVE NO STANDING
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Yael Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
7. Yes, one could say that it is an "interesting concept", Senator Leahy
As for my braindead Senator -- Arlen, what in the name of all that is holy are you THINKING here, son?

Geez minetti -- it is bad enough to have the Bush Cabal draining the treasury public funds into the corporate profit machine -- now you want to take whats left and give it to the lawyers to defend the Cabal?

I think my head just exploded as I fell into the alternate universe I seem to be typing this from.
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MasonJar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 07:39 PM
Response to Original message
9. No!!!!!!!!!!! Both maybe, but no exemption for the traitors at AT$T,
scamming their paying customers to insure W gave them even more control over all our lives
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annabanana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 08:00 PM
Response to Original message
10. Leahy's quote sounds like it is drenched in
:sarcasm:
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dicknbush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 08:38 PM
Response to Original message
12. Uh OH Specter is thinking again that can mean only one thing He will vote for the Telecoms
Immunity
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JDPriestly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 08:56 PM
Response to Original message
13. No. I want to know whether the government snooped on me
or on my representatives in Congress. This opens the way for a behind-the-doors deal in which money, but no information, passes hands. This is ridiculous. I do not want to pay for George Bush's crimes. Impeach this criminal already. Please. That is the only right thing to do here.
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benld74 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 08:56 PM
Response to Original message
14. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?! NO IMMUNITY!!
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JerseygirlCT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 09:04 PM
Response to Original message
15. Can't this work like having them cop a plea?
I don't trust Spector as far as I could throw him, but would it help to make it so we HAVE to get all the information about who was sending the marching orders in order to let any telecom off the hook? Good info or face trial?

Just wondering...
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-07-07 09:34 PM
Response to Original message
17. Most of what Specter produces floats n/t
Edited on Wed Nov-07-07 09:35 PM by Canuckistanian
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kelligesq Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-08-07 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #17
18. Does Spector ever stop protecting the criminal admin ? n/t 
.
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