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Deal Close on Wiretap Law, a Top Democrat Tells CNN
The New York Times ^ | March 3, 2008 | JASON DePARLE

Posted on 03/02/2008 11:24:16 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee hinted Sunday that a battle over an expired eavesdropping law might be moving toward a conclusion that gave phone companies the retroactive legal protections long sought by President Bush.

The chairman, Representative Silvestre Reyes, Democrat of Texas, said in an interview on CNN that the committee had been talking to the companies “because if we’re going to give them blanket immunity, we want to know and understand what it is we’re giving immunity for.”

Mr. Reyes did not specify what provisions a House bill might contain. But his use of the words “blanket immunity” suggested that he might be moving toward a Senate bill, backed by Mr. Bush, that would protect phone companies that assisted in a federal program of wiretapping without warrants after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“I have an open mind about that,” Mr. Reyes said.

“We’re very close,” he added. “Probably within the next week, we’ll be able to move hopefully to bring it to a vote.”

The eavesdropping law, which expired Feb. 16, made it easier for the government to initiate wiretaps without court approval. Mr. Bush has said its expiration creates a national security risk, while Democrats say the government can continue current wiretaps and start new ones through other legal means.

The main point of the dispute over renewing the legislation concerns whether to immunize phone companies from at least 40 lawsuits that allege their actions after 9/11 violated privacy laws.

“They’re getting sued for billions of dollars and it’s not fair,” Mr. Bush said on Feb. 25. “And it will create doubt amongst private-sector folks who need to help protect us.”

Mr. Bush has also said that allowing the lawsuits to proceed could disclose government secrets and damage national security.

The Senate passed a bill on Feb. 11 ......

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 110th; bush; calea; carnivore; fisa; pelosi; privacy; surveillance; wiretaps
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1 posted on 03/02/2008 11:24:17 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: All

The Trial Lawyers are gonna be upset....


2 posted on 03/02/2008 11:25:48 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Ha ha, sounds like the ‘Rats have caved if this article can be believed. Pelosi is all bluster, or all hat and no cattle as Shrillary (the true Texan) would say!!!


3 posted on 03/02/2008 11:30:53 PM PST by Enchante (Obama: I'll eagerly kiss Castro's cold dead ass, that's my foreign policy!!)
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To: Enchante
Related thread:

Heartbreak Alert on the Left: FISA deal rumor

They have a scheme to camouflage the vote....see the link....

4 posted on 03/02/2008 11:35:37 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Another hugh and stuning victory for the Cavacrats. More popcorn please.
5 posted on 03/03/2008 12:01:30 AM PST by Atchafalaya
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To: Enchante
Hopefully, they’ve taken a peek into our possible future and seen what a Hell they’ll be inhabiting IF we ever have another terror attack and it wasn’t detected because the phone companies couldn’t cooperate.

The dim Dems had better develop 20/20 vision. It’s a lot more difficult being the “party in power”, rather than just a bunch of nattering, naysaying, dissemblers in the minority. Along with the little bit of glory that goes with the job, comes ALL the responsibility.

6 posted on 03/03/2008 12:05:18 AM PST by singfreedom
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Maybe we ought to be bugging the TRAIL LAWYERS’ lines.


7 posted on 03/03/2008 12:49:32 AM PST by societygirl
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To: singfreedom
Maybe the Dems WANT another terror attack/ Ever think of that?I HAVE.
8 posted on 03/03/2008 12:50:52 AM PST by societygirl
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To: Enchante

It goes without saying that she isn’t a true anything let alone a true Texan. After living there for nearly 25 years I found myself muttering “Git a rope” when I heard her foolishly say “You all”. Any Texan would tell you that’s a Yankee trying to blend in. Natives say “Y’all”.


9 posted on 03/03/2008 1:00:12 AM PST by DeltaZulu
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Deal Close on Wiretap Law, a Top Democrat Tells CNN...

as usual..it is on cnn....

the lib/dems are more interested in headlines than the USA...piglosi and crew are true anti-american a-holes!!!!


10 posted on 03/03/2008 3:12:45 AM PST by nyyankeefan
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To: singfreedom
Hopefully, they’ve taken a peek into our possible future and seen what a Hell they’ll be inhabiting IF we ever have another terror attack...

... or the polling results came back from the focus groups.

11 posted on 03/03/2008 4:21:57 AM PST by 6SJ7
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: From One - Many

Bond information is $550,000...small error but the post is true.


13 posted on 03/03/2008 4:59:57 AM PST by From One - Many (Trust the Old Media At Your Own Risk.)
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To: From One - Many

“American Patriot”

What did this Patriot do? If he was being Patriotic I’m sure he would not have been involved with Ricin at any level.. hmmm


14 posted on 03/03/2008 5:18:17 AM PST by tomnbeverly (All Ideologues are idiots.)
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Economic Stimulus passed. Check.
Missile Defense satellite kill. Check.
al-Libi smoked in Afghanistan. Check.
Wiretap immunity. Check.

In short, Bush wins again.


16 posted on 03/03/2008 6:41:41 AM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

http://www.bercasio.com/movies/dems-wmd-before-iraq.wmv


17 posted on 03/03/2008 7:51:58 AM PST by IrishMike (I am not a Republican first. I am a conservative.)
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To: DeltaZulu
  And Texans all know that a 'Rat Slave' isn't an indentured servant with a registration card that says he's a Democrat.  It means 'right sleeve.'
18 posted on 03/03/2008 8:26:41 AM PST by HawaiianGecko
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To: IrishMike

That is excellent!


19 posted on 03/03/2008 9:33:53 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Enchante

True but what damage I wonder has been done to our Intel while the Rats fiddled? These people are real patriots, huh??


20 posted on 03/03/2008 10:33:23 AM PST by phillyfanatic ( tH)
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