New Spy Law Will Provide Immunity To Wiretapping Telcos

By cwalters June 20, 2008

Update: Voted! Passed 293-129.
Today the House votes on a new compromise FISA Bill that will make the NSA’s formerly questionable activities—like spying on Americans—legal, and will grant conditional immunity upon the telephone companies that aided the NSA in spying on their customers. It’s “conditional” because there will still be a court review, but nobody seems to be taking the court review seriously: Senator Russ Feingold, D-WI, calls it a “capitulation” in the ongoing fight over holding the telcos responsible, and Rep. Roy Blunt, R-MO, says the review will be a “formality.” Looks like you’re about to get off free, Verizon and AT&T!

We’re curious what Senator Obama and Senator McCain have to say about this—particularly, whether Obama will vote speak out against it. Oh wait, he’s too busy campaigning to weigh in on important issues, right? Because that’s how career politicians work. (End of rant on politicos not doing their jobs.)

“Deal clears way for wiretap-law overhaul” [CNN]
New FISA Bill Would Grant Telcoms Immunity; Vote Is Tomorrow” [Slashdot]
(Photo: Getty)

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Comments

  1. SinisterMatt says:
    June 21, 2008 at 7:22 pm

    Oh, and if anyone wanted to know the sole Republican that voted against the bill, it was Timothy Johnson, from Illinois.

    Cheers!

  2. Dakine says:
    June 21, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    @Bladefist: “I’ll take corrupt corporations over corrupt government any day of the week.”

    They are one and the same today. You have been duped.

  3. Trai_Dep says:
    June 21, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Cheers indeed to Mr. Johnson.
    Let’s also extend our appreciation to the others who voted against this travesty. I regret lacking first names and states for all of the Representatives, but evidently the House can’t afford a proofer.
    Abercrombie, Allen, Andrews, Baldwin, Becerra, Blumenauer, Brady (PA), Braley (IA), Capps, Capuano, Carnahan, Carson, Clarke, Clay, Cohen, Conyers, Costello, Courtney, Cummings, Davis (CA), Davis (IL), DeFazio, DeGette, Delahunt, DeLauro, Dingell, Doggett, Doyle, Edwards (MD), Ellison, Eshoo, Farr, Fattah, Filner, Foster, Frank (MA), Gonzalez, Grijalva, Hall (NY), Hare, Hill, Hinchey, Hirono, Hodes, Holt, Honda, Hooley, Inslee, Israel, Jackson (IL), Jackson-Lee (TX), Jefferson, Johnson (GA), Johnson (IL), Johnson, E. B., Jones (OH), Kagen, Kaptur, Kennedy, Kilpatrick, Kucinich, Larsen (WA), Larson (CT), Lee, Levin, Lewis (GA), Loebsack, Lofgren, Zoe, Lynch, Maloney (NY), Markey, Matsui, McCollum (MN), McDermott, McGovern, McNulty, Meek (FL), Michaud, Miller (NC), Miller, George, Mollohan, Moore (WI), Moran (VA), Murphy (CT), Nadler, Napolitano, Neal (MA), Oberstar, Obey, Olver, Pallone, Pascrell, Pastor, Payne, Price (NC), Rangel, Rothman, Roybal-Allard, Ryan (OH), Sánchez, Linda T., Sanchez, Loretta, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Schwartz, Scott (VA), Serrano, Shea-Porter, Slaughter, Solis, Speier, Sutton, Thompson (CA), Tierney, Towns, Tsongas, Udall (NM), Van Hollen, Velázquez, Walz (MN), Wasserman Schultz, Waters, Watson, Watt, Waxman, Weiner, Welch (VT), Wexler, Woolsey, and Wu.

    I’d include all the Republicans that voted for it, but I’m afraid the vast amount of text would break the Vast Gawker Empire’s entry box. :D

  4. CharlieInSeattle says:
    June 22, 2008 at 6:27 am

    Norm Dicks you are a traitor! I will do everything in my power to see that you don’t get elected in 2008. No More Dicks 2008!

  5. RedSonSuperDave says:
    June 22, 2008 at 6:54 am

    @Bladefist: I have to take exception to this comment.

    This is not an oil discussion thread. I’ll just say they are a business, just like walmart, just like Bobs Carpet, and they have a very low margin, and it’s not their job to absorb anything.

    I can’t let this go by. Exxon-Mobil just had the most profitable quarter by ANY CORPORATION EVER. Low margin? Puh-lease.

  6. Bladefist says:
    June 22, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    @RedSonSuperDave: You just don’t get it do you.

    It ain’t my job to teach you either.

  7. chartrule says:
    June 23, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    i really feel for you guy’s south of canada’s border

    bush and his admin have really shreaded your constitution

    and here i thought that the president of the united states job was to defend the constitution – i guess it isn’t so

    hopefully your next president will do a better job and restore the checks and balances enshrined in your society

  8. sncreducer says:
    June 23, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    @Bladefist:

    It ain’t my job to teach you either.

    HAHAHAHAhahaha. The true words of a coward. RedSon and I both challenged your defense of the poor, defenseless oil companies and you can’t be bothered to respond. What a great metaphor for the intellectual bankruptcy of the conservative movement.

  9. RedSonSuperDave says:
    June 24, 2008 at 3:20 am

    @Bladefist: So, is that a concession I’m right, or what? Yes, I “don’t get it”. I “don’t get” how an industry that consistently posts record profits quarter after quarter can be considered “low margin”.

    Let me guess. Bill O’Reilly is one of your heroes.

  10. stopNgoBeau says:
    June 24, 2008 at 3:59 am

    @ARP: I only said it b/c of his obvious “I know more than you” attitude.

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