Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

ACTION ALERT: Fight FISA “compromise”

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Under this bill, we would have two justice systems in this country. Under one justice system, the super-rich and large corporations can break the law with impunity, then ask their Congressional pals to pretty please give them a get out of jail free card. The other justice system, the one in which most Americans will know, brings the full-weight of the justice system to bear on someone who has committed even the most minor criminal infraction. That a Democratic-led Congress would capitulate on this, for no other reason than the fear of being called weak on terror is unconscionable. If the elected representatives of the American people won’t lift a finger to defend the Constitution, then we have no choice but to take up the cause ourselves. Call your congressman and Senator Kerry and tell them to oppose this awful piece of legislation. You may also want to call Democrat Presidential candidate Barack Obama and urge him to take a greater leadership role in stopping this bill. There is also a grassroots coalition forming that has raised over $200,000 to fight this legislation, you can contribute here

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  2. via Laura Rozen:

    On Wednesday, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D?Md., had said negotiators were working on a bill that would be “significantly better” than a White House-backed, Senate-passed bill (HR 3773) that has support from some House Democrats.

    As of Wednesday, sources said the new bill would allow a federal district court to decide whether to provide retroactive legal immunity to telecommunications companies being sued for their role in the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program.

    Under the prospective deal, the secret court created by the original law would get to review, in advance, the process by which the administration chooses foreign surveillance targets who may be communicating with people in the United States.

    One source said the federal district court deciding on retroactive immunity would review whether there was “substantial evidence” the companies had received assurances from the government that the administration’s program was legal.

    A Senate Intelligence Committee report on an earlier version of the legislation detailed how the companies had received such assurances from the Justice Department and the White House.

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    p>Basically, Bush’s people demanded telcos do surveillance without warrants–and the telcos agreed (except for Qwest).  And now the Bush people want to cover their tracks, so they are trying to shut down the lawsuits with this “compromise.”

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