WTF? Sen. Rockefeller predicts Senate will grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies

[sabra]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0108/Rockefeller_predicts_win_in_FISA_fight_over_telecom_immunity.html

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) is predicting the Senate will grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies as Congress takes up reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and other Democrats, however, are not backing down on their promise to filibuster the FISA bill over this issue.

...

"I think we will prevail," Rockefeller said on Wednesday, adding that he hoped the Senate will finish the bill by next week. The FISA legislation expires in February, and both President Bush and GOP congressional leaders have demanded new legislation be in place by that time.

...

Rockefeller defended the actions of the telecom companies, arguing that the companies received explicit orders from the National Security Agency to cooperate with the super-secret surveillance effort. The West Virginia Democrat said the telecom companies were being "pushed by the government, compelled by the government, required by the government to do this. And I think in the end, we'll prevail."

Rockefeller added: "If people want to be mad, don't be mad at the telecommunications companies, who are restrained from saying anything at all under the State Secrets Act. And they really are. They can't say whether they were involved, they can't go to court, they can't do anything. They're just helpless. And the president was just having his way."

[CoffeeCat]

1. What do our candidates have to say about this issue?

Where do they stand on immunity for the telcos?

I know Obama is against it.

What have Edwards and Hillary said about this?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. Edwards asked yesterday that we support Dodd in his filibuster...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4179014

:hi:

[GodlessBiker]

2. "They can't go to court, they can't do anything." And still Rockefeller capitulates.

What an asshole.

[Solly Mack]

3. lololol

that's fucking laughable

[havocmom]

4. You don't really think the wiretaps were on terror suspects, do you?

;)

When someone is holding files on you and there might be some really damaging items in those files, you go along. That is the lesson cheney has taught the corporations he wants cooperation for. He gives them tools too when he gets tools for himself.

[Blarch]

6. Where is Hillary on the issue ?

[endarkenment]

7. Rockefeller is, er, um

a Rockefeller.

[Junkdrawer]

8. Direct great-grandson and named for ole John D. himself.

But let's call him Jay cuz he's one of us...