House passes 'compromise' spy law shielding telecoms

The House of Representatives on Friday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a "compromise" spy law that would shield AT&T and other companies from pending lawsuits accusing them of opening their networks to the government in violation of wiretap laws.

The major sticking point in the contentious rewrite of a 1978 electronic-surveillance law known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, was whether to grant so-called retroactive legal immunity to telephone companies being sued for their participation in the warrantless surveillance program secretly begun by President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks.

Touted by Republicans as a "compromise," the bill, passed on a 293-129 vote, would not provide retroactive immunity, per se. It would, however, shift the debate behind closed doors, allowing U.S. district courts to dismiss lawsuits if there was written documentation that the White House asked a company to participate and assured it the surveillance was legal.

While expected to pass in the Senate next week, the White House-backed bill could have a harder time in that chamber, where a small minority is better able to block legislation from proceeding. Time is of the essence, as Congress nears a planned July 4th-week recess.

[baggyguy1218]

I feel I have been swindled. The Bush administration, "the President", broke the constitutional law of the country he was elected to lead. Now I am being told that the "Law" does not apply to him or any accomplise that helped him commit the illeagal acts and are now being protected. When will I feel I can trust my governmet again? Maybe never!

[Commander_Spock]

Very simple - If only those very beautiful folks that lost their lives on 9/11, plus those who subsequently lost theirs by breathing in the toxic dust, plus those brave soldiers who lost theirs (while some have been maimed for life) (additionally, those fathers and grand fathers who gave theirs during WW1 and WW2 can all speak from beyond their graves; then, it would be your single voice against theirs. If you and the members of your family sleep well at nights then be very very thankful to the "Good Shepherds" that are keeping watch over you all.

[Commander_Spock]

Additionally, it is called - Search And Sweep, Search And Sweep" after an under two minutes take off of the "SUPERSONIC (HARRIER-LIKE) Fighters" from anywhere (jungles and all); and, not ETAs that are lifetimes after.

[vofreason]

Commander_Spock... you are an idiot. I obviously don't have the room here to tell you how I derive my conclusion. I will start by telling you that: 1. The FBI supposedly received calls warning them of Arabs training for flights who were not concerned with landing. 2. At least 3 of the terrorists were here illegally.
So, if these fools can't even look into that and stop it... you think 500,000 illegal wiretaps are going to help? Sheep like you are easy to lead once you're "escared"...

[Commander_Spock]

Sure "vofreason"; and, if you are correct about Commander_Spock... then help us remember what was one of the reasons the "Mayflower" arrived with its cargo at Plymouth in 1620.

http://www.pilgrims.net/plymouth/history/mayflower.html

besides, convince the descendants of these other forefathers from the Americas that it is your "religious ways" or no way. Now, are you good at math?
(http://www.genealogymagazine.com/luckhoo.html )

[unknown unknown]

I think spineless jelly fish accurately describes the member of the House, once again they cave, much to the detriment of privacy and civil liberties.

[Commander_Spock]

"Suffer the little children to come on to me; and forbid them not......."; also, "Judge not........"

[ecotopian--2008]

What a collection of spineless cowards we have for so-called Representatives!

[Commander_Spock]

"Mirror Mirror on the wall who is the "fairest" of them all (in other words - take a look at yourself in your mirror)!

[Solaris_User]

Shows you who is in control.

AT&T controls government not the people.

I'm irate about this. This is clearly against what the people of this country want..

[Commander_Spock]

Redemption time!

[franatwork]

1984 was never merely a commentary novel on communism. It was a prophecy and warning to men of the free world. Some are more equal than others. This is happening in the UK, in Sweden, and sooner or later in every other free world country.

[Commander_Spock]

Better yet, read PSALMS 68; V:4

[mmormando]

Personally I feel grateful that Congress passed this bill. I've been having a very hard time answering questions from my kids about things that they've learned in history and civics, like this is a nation of laws, and no one is above the law, not even the president is above the law...with what is really happening. Now all I have to do is say their teachers have it wrong, we just elect a new king every 4 to 8 years, and since the king's power is derived directly from God then they can do no wrong. I'd say that I'd like to thank each of the congressmen individually, but the king's storm troopers would probably take a dim view of that and I'd also wind up in Gitmo.
So again, thanks Congress for showing us that all those nasty old Jeffersonian ideas were just so much hooey, and all it took was a dozen animals flying airplanes into buildings to show us the error of our ways.

[Commander_Spock]

"Behold, all (old ideas, laws) things are passed away - all things become new" (a new Heaven and a new Earth...!

[TheObserverNTx]

I used to teach Civics and US Government. The blatant disregard of the oath taken to serve in office for each person voting for this is nothing short of a betrayal of this countries principles, laws, rights, and constitution. Every "yes" vote should be grounds to be removed from office as quickly as is legally possible. Turn them out this fall be they Democrat or Republican. I intend to check my representatives votes right now and give them a piece of my mind. The saddest fact is that I am not at all surprised...just angry and disappointed.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "I used to teach Civics and US Government...." Perhaps, there should be a program to re-train teachers one called - Ultra, Ultra, Ultra BX! :-D

[KYJurisDoctor]

Barack Obama is moving to the center, and House Democrats CANNOT deliver on ANY promises they made to their voters in order to win back Congress!

[Commander_Spock]

Its called "Close Encounter Of The Fifth Kind"! ;-)

[RonPaulRules]

See you Norm ***** of the 6th, I will do everything legally within my power to see that you will not be elected again! NO MORE ***** 2008!

[Commander_Spock]

Yep! We "will do everything legally within my power" (substituting our for my) to ascertain that what ever happened on 9/11 never ever happens again. Duh!

[honorable1]

Yes, Ron Paul 'Rules' except for the fact that he misses teh point that the WAR must be fought on th enemy's territory or it will quickly come here. Paul is a great Constitutionalist, no doubt, he missed the boat with the war. We need to make sure we are defending this country (the best defense is a good offense) from the maurauding 'invaders', NOT capitulate and 'talk' like OsamaBamaNation.

Drill for oil, move towards solar, hydrogen and eliminate the Gestapo. People you need to VOTE for every possible candidate for every possible office and often. Vote school board, sheriff, mayor, governor, 'representatives', etc. President means nothing without the Constitutional power of the Congress. Wake up people. TheRevolutionWillBeLive.com

[Commander_Spock]

And, continue to reach for the stars!

[Dalkorian]

"We need to make sure we are defending this country (the best defense is a good offense) from the maurauding 'invaders', ..." WHAT maurauding 'invaders'? The ones in Pakistan making a mockery of our military or the ones in Iraq doing the same? This war is nothing but a repuke invented FARCE to terrorize American's into giving up on the Constitution. 9/11 could easily have been prevented if the repukes had wanted to, they KNEW the terrorists were here and they knew what they had planned, yet did nothing to stop them. Now we have two wars, one that by definition can't be won (a war against an ideal like "terrorism" isn't winnable by anyone's definition) and one that is unjustifiable, illegal and run so badly as to be virtually unable to be won. Nice job repukes. Since that didn't apparently do enough damage to our fine nation, you've spent 6 years spreading fear and lies, trashing the economy and the value of the dollar together and defending tactics that hitler used as "necessary to defend against terrorism" (torture is neither necessary nor legal, but FACTS have no place near the GOP anymore). As for the "oil crisis", which is again another repuke invention to fleece this country's fine citizens for all their worth, it's one of those problems you can't drill yourself out of. Drilling won't stop the speculations, it won't stop the price fixing and it won't stop the oil executives from cashing in over $50 BILLION A YEAR while the rest of us get to decide if we put gas in the car so we can go to work for the next week or put food on the table so we don't starve to death over the next week. You repukes have had your chance over the last 8 years and I can see NO GOOD WHATSOEVER that has come from it. Now it's time for the grown ups to clean up the mess you have made.

[Freiheit13]

That's 293 Representatives who should not only be utterly ashamed of themselves but should find themselves quickly out of jobs representing the people of the United States of America. Criminal behavior ought not to be rewarded at the highest levels. By breaking the fundamental law of the land, the Bush administration have committed treason against this nation and Congress is supporting them.

[Commander_Spock]

How about a one way plane ticket for you to go and live in either Cuba, Russia or China!

[Had_to_be_said]

There are words for this... those words are HIGH-TREASON. This is nothing more than the effective, and complete, suspension of the "Rule of Law" (and the U.S. Constitution). PERIOD...

And, if (WHEN) this passes into "law"... the "Government" will no longer have ANY, legitimate, authority over the citizens of the United States. The U.S. government will simply be another, armed group of thugs, which has effectively created a totalitarian-dictatorship within a, previously-free, nation.

[Commander_Spock]

Well, at least for now the U.S Constitution is much very much alive; or, one would not have been in a position to read what you wrote.

[vofreason]

Spock... you are truly retarded.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "Spock... you are truly retarded"; and, so are all of those from BlackWaterUSA!

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

[Imalittleteapot]

Still could never figure out how they manage to suspect someone of being a terrorist before they've had a chance to get a warrant. I mean, that's just some quick prejudgment right there. Talk about not getting to know someone. Don?t have to time to get a warrant. Don't have time to test any evidence. Don't have time to review any evidence with a judge or legal authority, but by God, somehow, they already know you're a terrorist and the world needs protection from ya. They know this because, oh wait they don't know this so they'll listen to your phone calls to make sure. What? Oh but wait we have evidence!!! Well how in the crap do you have time to get evidence, but not any time to take it to a judge to show them? Are you sure you have evidence or are you just messing with us? Well Uh Uh Uh! You're a TRAITOR!!! Ohhhhh oook. So, of course, our retarded government removes checks and balances from the one thing that needs it the most. Hooorrraay!!!!! Oh wait, never mind. This wasn't about listening in on people because they were suspected terrorists. Why would we fool ourselves into believing that? No this about listening into people that made overseas calls because they might be suspected terrorists later at some point and time if we feel like it, possibly, on a Tuesday, maybe. STOP IT! THIS STUFF DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE ANYMORE, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL SAFER! Please some of you people, stop being stupid by supporting this type of stuff. The Constitution is not a hindrance. It's our reason for being. If don't like what it says move to another country please! Please realize what needs changed is every single politician in power every election. If the telecoms wanted to get in bed with this they should sleep with it.

[Commander_Spock]

So................. true: "don't like what it (what the new laws' say) move to another country please!" Well, what are some of the reasons for electing the law-makers in the first instance anyway?

[vofreason]

You are a communist scumbag.

[vofreason]

I think Gerbils used those same words in 1936...

[Imalittleteapot]

Um... that's assuming they actually modified the Constitution at some point to make these "new laws." Last I checked they had not done that even though they do have the power to do so. They haven't done so because if they did they would look like complete jerks, and oh noes!!! Not get reelected. Some argue it doesn't even cover privacy or there is no expectation of privacy. If that's the case they could easily modify it so all this is legal and end the debate. After all it would only be cosmetic right? Nothing would have really changed right? Well the problem is the spirit of the Constitution. It wouldn't be a mere cosmetic change to the page, and they know that. We would see them for how evil and power hungry they really are, and so they never made the mods to the document. Instead they'll just break the law instead of changing it. Then they grant their accomplices immunity later. So let me rephrase. If you don't like the Constitution either change it to show us how evil you really are, or move out of the country. You might feel safer if your government spies on you, but there are plenty of other governments like that. We don't need to be another one. America was supposed to be about being free at all costs. Not about only being free on days you don't feel like a coward. In the end if that's not safe and we all die then oh well. At least we weren't cowards. If you have time to suspect someone of being a terrorist then you have enough time to get a warrant.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "If you don't like the Constitution either change it to show us how evil you really are, or move out of the country. You might feel safer if your government spies on you..." Here are some choices Russia, China, Cuba, Mayanmar - Which of these will be the choice?

[benjaminstraight]

I think that what the telecoms should do is

[humanssssss]

The greatest empire of any empire is the death within. America the mighty will fall in fascism as more and more control is in the power of the Executive branch to erode away the Constitutional rights of all citizens. This is not the American government I learned when I was a kid in elementary and high school. We learned America is the land of the free, and our rights are fully protected by the Constitution of the United States. Our fourth amendment is threatened by this bill. How is it that this nation succumb to lawless, barbaric laws that send us back to the days of Hitler. The United States history is filled with the strength in the Constitution to help us survive the turmoils of the Great Depression, two World Wars, and many wars to reign supremacy! All Americans have the responsibility to overthrow corrupt government both in Congress and Executive branch that usurp the power bestow upon us by the Constitution.

It is this law that our founding fathers fear to which they created the Constitution to protect us from the tyranny of power corrupt absolutely.

I fear for my future generations.

Sad day in American history.

[humanssssss]

The greatest empire of any empire is the death within. America the mighty will fall in fascism as more and more control is in the power of the Executive branch to erode away the Constitutional rights of all citizens. This is not the American government I learned when I was a kid in elementary and high school. We learned America is the land of the free, and our rights are fully protected by the Constitution of the United States. Our fourth amendment is threatened by this bill. How is it that this nation succumb to lawless, barbaric laws that send us back to the days of Hitler. The United States history is filled with the strength in the Constitution to help us survive the turmoils of the Great Depression, two World Wars, and many wars to reign supremacy! All Americans have the responsibility to overthrow corrupt government both in Congress and Executive branch that usurp the power bestow upon us by the Constitution.

It is this law that our founding fathers fear to which they created the Constitution to protect us from the tyranny of power corrupt absolutely.

I fear for my future generations.

Sad day in American history.