President makes case at news conference, cites al-Qaida threat
MSNBC News Services
updated 8:15 a.m. PT, Thurs., Feb. 28, 2008
WASHINGTON – President Bush on Thursday pressed Congress to give telecommunications companies legal immunity for helping the government eavesdrop after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Speaking at a White House news conference, Bush continued a near-daily effort to prod lawmakers into passing his version of a law to make it easier for the government to conduct domestic eavesdropping on suspected terrorists’ phone calls and e-mails. He says the country is in more danger now that a temporary surveillance law has expired.
Filed under: Congress, Democrats, News, Politics, Republicans
Really hope the house stands its ground on this issue… I want to know exactly what the telecoms did before they were legally allowed to do with it. I want it explicitly stated that they may not under the FISA act engage in any domestic surveillance what so ever.
-James
http://www.thepoliticus.org
The Senate appears to favor retroactive protection of the telecom companies. The Act’s (S 1927) expiration though, could serve effective notice that Congress is finally drawing a line in respect to Bush exercising the power to circumvent his Constitutional authority.
This might be the first step in restoring a Democratic Republic to moderate the threat of imposed lawlessness, so many of us have come to dread.
-brian