This is a great post at Zen Cabin.

As the sports stadium barkers say: You can’t tell the traitors players without a scorecard. I’m sure anyone who follows the FISA fight is familiar with James Cicconi but I thought hey, why not shine a spotlight on him? So, let’s give Mr. Cicconi the attention [...]

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They got the name WAY wrong on this one. Protect America Act. How about Protect the Criminals in the Bush Administration and their Telecom Friends Act. That’s more like it. And remind me, we voted more Democrats into office……. because?????

As revelations of the Bush administration’s illegal surveillance programs continue [...]

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These companies KNEW they were doing something illegal, as did the Bush administration. NO IMMUNITY!! Of course, Steney Hoyer may well see that they DO get immunity. And by the by…..this article calls this a “secret POST 9/11 surveillance program.” Am I wrong or did they start doing this PRE 9/11? [...]

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Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) announced Thursday that he will try to attach a measure updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as an amendment to the war supplemental bill.
Lewis, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, said he would make the move if the war funding bill is taken up by the panel. [...]

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Democratic leaders of the House Energy and Commerce panel, citing new domestic spying claims, are urging careful examination of surveillance overhaul legislation that may delay progress on the measure.
Retroactive legal immunity to telecommunications companies being sued for helping with a government spying program is the major sticking point on legislation overhauling the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance [...]

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Looks like the telecom companies will be granted their immunity afterall and the FISA bill will pass. Like we didn’t know this would happen after much lip service. Same ole same ole.
From the Washinton Post:
“This is not amnesty,” Wainstein said at the meeting. “This is targeted immunity” for companies [...]

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Just a note to further point out………. Bush just said, “You can’t expect telephone companies to help if they are going to be sued.” Well dopey, if there’s a WARRANT, they won’t be sued. What you’re asking for is to be able to wiretap anybody, anytime and for any reason you [...]

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Bush just gave his fear fear fear, Dems are baddddddddd speech. I guess this is their cue to cave in. Here’s a little ditty about Bush and retroactive immunity for telecoms that I found at the Baldwin Park Democrat, from a blogger who is “Retired Navy. Retired DHS. Now just retired.” [...]

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From an interview with Michael McConnell, Director of National Intelligence, on NPR yesterday (via Irregular Times):
Renee Montaigne: Mr. McConnell, the Bush administration says that if the Protect America Act isn’t made permanent, it will tie your hands, intelligence hands, especially when it comes to new threats. But isn’t it true that any surveillance [...]

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Keith Olbermann on FISA Fight & Special Comment

[[ Video ]]

Keith calls Bush a “liar”, a “fascist”, and says he’s “full of crap!”
LOVE IT!

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Oh the theatrics! Let me ask a question. Isn’t the original 1978 bill still in effect if nothing is passed now? Just asking…….

Things just keep getting uglier on the House floor.
Moments after President Bush threatened to delay his weekend trip to Africa and force Congress to act before key intelligence programs [...]

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Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
CLINTON WASN’T THERE TO VOTE

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