NationStates Jolt Archive

Senate and Bush Agree On Terms of Spying Bill
Some Telecom Companies Would Receive Immunity

By Jonathan Weisman and Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 18, 2007; Page A01

Senate Democrats and Republicans reached agreement with the Bush administration yesterday on the terms of new legislation to control the federal government's domestic surveillance program, which includes a highly controversial grant of legal immunity to telecommunications companies that have assisted the program, according to congressional sources.

Disclosure of the deal followed a decision by House Democratic leaders to pull a competing version of the measure from the floor because they lacked the votes to prevail over Republican opponents and GOP parliamentary maneuvers.

The collapse marked the first time since Democrats took control of the chamber that a major bill was withdrawn from consideration before a scheduled vote. It was a victory for President Bush, whose aides lobbied heavily against the Democrats' bill, and an embarrassment for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who had pushed for the measure's passage.

It had to happen sooner or later.

Glad I don't live in America.

Americans can feel safer now! No need to fear terrorists, just fear the US government itself.

I kinda saw this coming, as much as I hate to say it. The Democrats in office today, while the majority, are too weak to topple it.

...

So does this make America safer? Not in the slightest. If terrorists hate our freedom so much...then why are we helping them with measures like this.

I'm worried...but I'm not THAT worried, if you know what I mean. I learned long ago that spiraling scenarios from something such as this does me no good. I remember getting worked up over the Military Commissions Act, and being sick days after.

...But I will remain vigilant.

Give it a few years. Either it will become an obscure, overlooked law, or mysterious vans will start showing up outside my house, wondering if I have any "contraband" (Kerry/Edwards Stickers), in which case I'll sneak out back...and sneak up north.

Why do I still live in this country...

Glad I don't live in America.

uh arent the usa fighting for freedom against terror doesnt make sense, we get critised about our state of "us defined democracy"

Look at the bright side, at least you will be spied upon legally from now on.

Which means that those doing the spying are not criminals any more, but acting in accordance with law.

It had to happen sooner or later.
It's been clear since the elections that the Democrats just can't advance legislation as they had promised. They passed a bunch of clubhouse rules, but nothing meaningful for the rest of the country.