Bush Aired Telecom Amnesty Attack On Congress, Despite Knowing It Was False
Bush Aired Telecom Amnesty Attack On Congress, Despite Knowing It Was False
Since the Protect America Act lapsed one week ago, the White House and congressional conservatives have gone into full spin mode, hounding the Congress for its refusal to grant telecom amnesty.
In Saturday’s Radio Address, President Bush alleged that without immunity, private companies will be “increasingly unwilling” to cooperate in intelligence activities, pinning the blame on the House:
In other words, the House’s refusal to act is undermining our ability to get cooperation from private companies. And that undermines our efforts to protect us from terrorist attack.
But in reality, on Friday night — the day before Bush’s radio address — those companies agreed to temporarily cooperate with the administration’s surveillance. “We learned last night…that new surveillances under existing directives issued pursuant to the Protect America Act will resume, at least for now,” explained DNI Mike McConnell and the Justice Department.
In a hearing today, McConnell reluctantly admitted that White House officials were also notified on “Friday night” about the developments, but Bush went ahead and aired his false attack in the radio address the next day. Watch it:
In a testy exchange with Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), McConnell tried to defend the White House’s attack on the House, claiming it was a simple issue of “verb tense.” “The radio address is normally taped on Friday morning,” before the companies announced their cooperation, he explained. “I would agree with” the radio address, McConnell added.
Levin summed up the sequence of events: “The White House was notified Friday night. And yet they still played that address on Saturday morning.”
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
108 Responses to “Bush Aired Telecom Amnesty Attack On Congress, Despite Knowing It Was False”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
The White House couldn’t wake up the President to re-record the radio address. His beauty sleep is more important than providing accurate information to the American people.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:32 pmCaption Contest: “I love the smell of Bush in the morning!”
February 27th, 2008 at 1:32 pmIn accepting Chris Dodd’s endorsement today, Barack Obama said, in part:
We know it’s time to time to restore our Constitution and the rule of law. This is an issue that was at the heart of Senator Dodd’s candidacy, and I share his passion for restoring the balance between the security we demand and the civil liberties that we cherish. . . .
I’ve been proud to stand with Senator Dodd in his fight against retroactive immunity for the telecommunications industry. Secrecy and special interests must not trump accountability. We must show our citizens — and set an example to the world — that laws cannot be ignored when it is inconvenient. Because in America — no one is above the law. . . .
It’s time to give our intelligence and law enforcement agencies the tools they need to track down and take out terrorists, while ensuring that their actions are subject to vigorous oversight that protects our freedom. So let me be perfectly clear: I have taught the Constitution, I understand the Constitution, and I will obey the Constitution when I am President of the United States.
Glenn Greenwald 2.26.08:
February 27th, 2008 at 1:33 pmhttp://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/index.html
those companies agreed to temporarily cooperate with the administration’s surveillance
That’s a good start. Now, let’s hope they will also cooperate with Congress’ inquiry into the nature and scope of GDumbya’s illegal little wiretapping schemes.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:34 pmCaption contest: “Herr Dubya loves it when I pretend my finger is a mustache and speak in a German accent.”
February 27th, 2008 at 1:34 pmThe White House caught in a lie???
Surely you jest!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pmSo… basically, another lie from Bush.
Yawn.
Just one more reminder that you can’t spell Bullshit without “B-u-s-h”!
February 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pmThe Bush administration knows that without immunity, lawsuits will go forward against the telecoms, and that the full scope of the administration’s crimes of spying on Americans will eventually be revealed in court.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:37 pmBushie, your administration will be a wrap soon, so your requests aren’t of any concern to us anymore. Out of respect to the Office of the President, you need to start packing your bags. And send Cheney on early terminal leave.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:37 pmAnd McCain will denounce this when?
February 27th, 2008 at 1:38 pmTo them, the truth is optional.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:39 pm.
One of the defining characteristics to what it means to be an American, is the freedom from a form of Government that needs to spy on it’s own people; TYRANNY. Thus The Fourth Amendment.
R E M E M B E R:
THEY(sic) HATE US FOR OUR FREEDOMS…
And so, THEY(sic) lobby and debate the merits to undermining that characteristic, that freedom, that Right. When Americans and America lose that Right and freedom, who wins?
.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:39 pmWe already know this administration is composed of:
lies, spies and torture.
Not to mention erosion of our constitution and our rights and the supplantation of America by & for the Corporations…instead of the people.
So this is just the zillionith demonstration of thier perfidity.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:39 pmGeorge W. Bush is a DOCUMENTED LIAR.
He has ZERO CREDIBILITY and it has been that way for years.
Less than a year to go. Thank Christ.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pmThe radio address is normally taped on Friday morning,†before the companies announced their cooperation, he explained.
“… and we couldn’t very well interupt the Presidents cartoons just to tape a new one… that’s just SILLY!”
February 27th, 2008 at 1:41 pmNo matter when the Address was taped it matters only that Bush lied to the American people. An impeachable offense. Just add it to the rest.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:41 pmData Mining
February 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pmBush doesn’t “lie” to the American people. He just has “scheduling issues”. Surely we can’t expect him to give up his Saturday morning cartoons just to tell us the truth.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:44 pmNo matter when the Address was taped it matters only that Bush lied to the American people. An impeachable offense. Just add it to the rest.
Comment by leftcoast — February 27, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Would you have the President go without his “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” just so that you could have an “accurate” and “truthful” radio address?
February 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pmI call that selfish, sir.
Selfish and also a bit naive… anyone who knows GW knows that TMNT always comes first!
It’s clear that Bush promised the telecoms immunity when he convinced them to spy on us. Obviously they knew they were breaking the law otherwise they wouldn’t need immuity. The question is what else did he promise them in the bargain. And since they’re still spying on us isn’t it time we found out what their motivation is.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:46 pmShayne- you’re question is a good one. I think a number of promises and backroom deals were made. If telecoms were to testify on their behalf in the suits I wonder if some of this would be their defense.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pmThe thing is… if immunity is so important to the President, he can grant it. He gets to pardon whomever he wants for whatever reason he wants. You don’t get to blame Congress just ’cause they refuse to take the political heat for pardoning your cronies.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pmTo add: Bush and folks in his administration have a great deal at risk if telecoms take the stand.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm.
DNI Mike McConnell engages in semantics. He says he, “doesn’t understand the disconnect here,” but really it is he who is disconnected. Time is irrelevant to McConnell. The FACT that the taping came before the Telecoms agreement to continue to VIOLATE the Fourth Amendment, which came before the airing of the taped address means nothing to him, what so ever. To McConnell, Americans aren’t safe from terrorists until Americans have surrendered ALL their Rights and Freedoms. End point.
.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:51 pmSince the telecoms have been cooperating for years under FISA, it only makes sense they would continue. And no matter how Bush or Addington spin it, they knew it was illegal to bypass FISA totally and had to threaten the telecoms into complying. Notice the only telecom not to bend to the threats got hosed. Bush lies again. Can anyone remember the last truthful statement that came out of his mouth?
February 27th, 2008 at 1:51 pmTo them, the truth is optional.
Comment by bobcat_grad — February 27, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Too true, and it doesn’t appear to be one of their favorites options, either.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:51 pmTo add: Bush and folks in his administration have a great deal at risk if telecoms take the stand.
Comment by leftcoast — February 27, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
and that’s the real reason he won’t pardon them- then they’d be free to testify without incriminating themselves…
February 27th, 2008 at 1:52 pmbelac- Bush can pardon criminals but he can’t do anything about a the civil suits. The telecoms will tell all in their defense in a civil suit, and I think that is Bush’s big worry.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:52 pmGee, in 2003 Bush was explicitlely told by the CIA about it’s apprehensions about Iraq’s alleged attempt to obtain yellow cake uranium. Georgie decided to leave it in his SOTU anyway. Now following a deluge of experts disclaiming his statements about the Protect Telecoms Act he decides to leave it in his radio address. Hanging is to good for this POS POTUS and his posse of terrorizing, treasonous, toruring traitors.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:52 pmComment by leftcoast — February 27, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
Of course, I’m an idiot…
February 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pmYou forgot this truism, LV:
“The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on September the 11th.” –George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 12, 2007
February 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pm#25 Comment by LiberalVoter — February 27, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Yes, it was “Daddy, I wrecked the car. Yes, I was drunk and stoned.”
February 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pmMy gawd, they talk as if a terrah-ist attack is pending on every building in the country.
And they can only be stopped by granting telecom immunity.
THIS IS FU[KING HILARIOUS !
Help us government . . oh please help us . . . we’re all so . . . helpless . . .
February 27th, 2008 at 1:55 pm…Tales From the Bubble…
February 27th, 2008 at 1:56 pmBush and folks in his administration have a great deal at risk if telecoms take the stand.
Comment by leftcoast — February 27, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Why yes they do. I guess we see why immunity is more important to him than the supposed national security he’s willing to risk.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:56 pmEven the Joseph Bnanno Crime Family had more ethics than this administration.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:57 pmMake that Bonanno
February 27th, 2008 at 1:58 pmOh, come on. No one actually listens to the President’s radio address, do they? He’s been saying the same thing for seven years so why bother?
February 27th, 2008 at 2:00 pmEven the Joseph Bnanno Crime Family had more ethics than this administration.
Comment by leftcoast — February 27, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
Well of course they did. They don’t believe in killing innocent women and children. Bushco has no trouble doing that as is evidenced by the lack of action towards Blackwater.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:00 pmBush wouldn’t be in this pickle if he had initially given the telecoms proper legal requests and issued warrants. The question is why didn’t he?
February 27th, 2008 at 2:02 pmBush wouldn’t be in this pickle if he had initially given the telecoms proper legal requests and issued warrants. The question is why didn’t he?
Comment by Chuck Feney — February 27, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Because there is no way to issue a warrant to listen to everything… which is the only way to operate the type of data-mining operation that the NSA is running- they’re looking for patterns in the overall flow of data and ‘key-words’ that pop up in conversations… but if the FBI is to be believed it leads to junk leads, and a lot of them…
February 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pmHelp us government . . oh please help us . . . we’re all so . . . helpless . . .
Comment by Keith H.
And to think, it almost worked. The last, gasp 20%r’s still cling to their hero. A hero who is actually a zero to the rest of the planet.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pmclaiming it was a simple issue of “verb tense.â€
And these same guys blasted Clinton for his “it depends on what the definition of ‘is’ is” introduction to his response to a question, which was WAY more relevant, credible, and contextual.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:06 pmCaption: “I’m full of sh** clear up to here, which is why it keeps spilling out of my mouth.”
February 27th, 2008 at 2:09 pmThat’s a good start. Now, let’s hope they will also cooperate with Congress’ inquiry into the nature and scope of GDumbya’s illegal little wiretapping schemes.
Comment by tom
What I would like is for the telcoms to tell Congress exactly WHEN they started spying on us. We were told by a whistle blower that they started before 911. I would like to see that verified by the telcoms themselves. Unfortunately that is not likely to happen because they would have a much harder time defending spying on us before 911 than they would have to spy on us after 911.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:09 pmAnd since they’re still spying on us isn’t it time we found out what their motivation is.
Comment by Shayne
That’s an easy one. Their motivation is greed. I’m sure our government is paying them quite handsomely to spy on us. How about that, our tax dollars are going to telcoms so that they can spy on us!
February 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pmNobody brings up the CEO of Qwest Communication, Joe Naccio. who refused to allow the NSA to use his facilities to do illegal wiretaps.
Billions of dollars in government contracts were then taken away from Qwest.
Joe Naccio promptly sold many of his Qwest shares knowing the stock would tumble when the news of the lost contracts became known.
Naccio was subsequently nabbed for Insider Trading.
He wasn’t allowed to present this evidence at his trial. If my memory is correct the government censored him.
This occured before 9/11.
Naccio should be considered a hero. But the corporate press won’t say his name.
So the story doesn’t exist.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pmThe TRUTH means nothing to the GOP. They are interested only in money and power. Too often truth is merely an obstacle that is cast aside, jumped over or smashed flat on their run to secure more power.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:13 pmanyone remember a couple of years ago when the Government was trying to establish that they had the right to look at search engine’s traffic to capture child pornographers? and the courts threw out their argument? this is what that was about- attempting to establish a precedent for blanket warrants for data…
February 27th, 2008 at 2:14 pm#43 Bilbobaggins, why not ask Palosi she admitted knowing about the wiretapping before 9/11…..Let’s all ask her if it’s under her table…Blessings
February 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pmIs there now or has there EVER been anytime where Bush did NOT lie?
If W. were to tell the truth about ANYTHING, his face would fall off his head.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:20 pm100% off topic:
If anyone would like to email Bill Cunningham (the idiot who can’t see what’s wrong with his introduction yesterday at the McCain rally in Cincy), his email for the radio station he’s on is willie@700wlw.com
As a native Cincinnatian - it gives me great pleasure to see him get raked over the coals. I grew up having to be subjected to this idiot with a God complex. Cincinnati: one of the most backward cities in the country.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pmI think I read somewhere that they were actually eavesdropping before 9-11. If anyone here has info on this it would be appreciated.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:22 pmI do not understand why congressional investigation committees aren’t bringing down the full constitutional and legal weight on every member of the Bush administration who misleads, lies or plays semantics and or refuses to testify before them! Everyone should be required to testify under oath. If they refuse, they should be arrested and held until they are willing to do so. Are we a country of men and women or laws? Congress needs to meet its responsibilities of oversight rather than roll over and play dead for the most corrupt administration in American history. They should be playing hardball instead of just going through the motions and claiming to be impotent.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm#52 osage: It’s called corporate control. Our politicians of today are nothing but minions for big business. In other words, they’re whores.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pmLike we didn’t ALREADY know:
MURDERER Bush is a LIAR, TRAITOR and WAR CRIMINAL…
“You’re either WITH Bush and McCain OR
February 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pmYou’re with the USA and the TRUTH”
In a testy exchange with Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), McConnell tried to defend the White House’s attack on the House, claiming it was a simple issue of “verb tense.â€
Sorry Mitchy, the WH wouldn’t know verb tense if it bit them on the ass.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:29 pmEnjoy it, maybe, but know it? Not.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2007/ 11/ 07/ AR2007110700006.html
… they’re tapping everything…
February 27th, 2008 at 2:35 pmIt doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture mcconell all dressed-up in a nazi uniform, a la Hermann Goring.
Why is that? (rhetorical question).
What’s truly amazing is the number of boneheads who fall for this sh!t and continue to support this administration. sad.
Caption Contest: “Will somebody PLEASE pull my finger?!?!â€
February 27th, 2008 at 2:37 pmRepublicans out of our country NOW.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:38 pmWhat’s wrong with this picture?
Someone from the White House arguing about the meaning of “is”.
Didn’t we hear this once before?
February 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pmI think I read somewhere that they were actually eavesdropping before 9-11. If anyone here has info on this it would be appreciated.
Comment by Mr. Evil — February 27, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/ context.jsp?item=civilliberties_232
Feb. of 2001…
February 27th, 2008 at 2:43 pmIn a hearing today, McConnell reluctantly admitted that White House officials were also notified on “Friday night†about the developments, but Bush went ahead and aired his false attack in the radio address the next day.
****************************************************
And people are surprised why?!? This is par for the course for the Bush administration. Anyone else remember this little gem?
“The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.” — President George W. Bush, 2003 State Of The Union Address
The knowledge that the intelligence was of at best dubious veracity didn’t stop the Bush administration from making the claim back then, so why does anyone think it would stop them now? Can’t let something like the truth interfere with the propaganda, doncha know…
February 27th, 2008 at 2:43 pm“Less than a year to go. Thank Christ.”
Comment by drago — February 27, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Christ has nothing to do with it, Thank those that were smart enough to place limits on the Presidents term! ;)
February 27th, 2008 at 2:45 pm“We learned last night…that new surveillances under existing directives issued pursuant to the Protect America Act will resume, at least for now,†explained DNI Mike McConnell and the Justice Department.
In a hearing today, McConnell reluctantly admitted that White House officials were also notified on “Friday night†about the developments…”
Anyone else notice how this was phrased?
We LEARNED last night…
The White House WAS NOTIFIED…
Both statements make it sound like some other unnamed party was doing the dickering w/ the telelcomms and that both McConnell and the WH were passive parties in this and only learned about it after the fact…
Do these frauds EVER take responsibility for what they, themselves, do?
Come on Mike, you know you were in there demanding the telcos continue to cooperate, or even better, that there was NO chance what so ever of the spying stopping.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:47 pmPhoto Caption:
“Comparing George to Hitler just doesn’t work. See, Adolph had this weird little moustache right here…”
February 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pmBush and his corrupt enablers don’t give a rat’s ass about truthfully informing the American people. It’s all tactics and semantics with these liars who spend most of their efforts covering up the malicious intent and destructive incompetence of George W. Bush. Serving this president is not a patriotic act; it is an ignoble disgrace.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pmThanx belac.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:50 pmRadRigh; the term limit you are referring to is the “anti-Roosevelt” rule. Pushed through AFTER FDR was elected 4 times.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:51 pmFalse statements is the only thing that comes out of this administration! Since the day they occupy the WH! Around the globe people will never forget the lies about Iraq prior to the illegal invasion and the recent statements about Iran, which contradicted the serious reports on the issue. Personaly, if I want to know what is going on with these criminals, I take the oposite of what they are saying… so far it has worked 100%!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pmwe need another FDR… remember, this is post pearl harbor,
the REAL one…
[…]
I have called for personal sacrifice. I am assured of the willingness of almost all Americans to respond to that call.
A part of the sacrifice means the payment of more money in taxes. In my Budget Message I shall recommend that a greater portion of this great defense program be paid for from taxation than we are paying today. No person should try, or be allowed, to get rich out of this program; and the principle of tax payments in accordance with ability to pay should be constantly before our eyes to guide our legislation.
If the Congress maintains these principles, the voters, putting patriotism ahead of pocketbooks, will give you their applause.
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression–everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way–everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want–which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants-everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear–which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor–anywhere in the world.
That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.
To that new order we oppose the greater conception–the moral order. A good society is able to face schemes of world domination and foreign revolutions alike without fear.
[…]
Franklin Roosevelt’s Annual Address to Congress - The “Four Freedoms”
January 6, 1941
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/od4frees.html
“It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation.” … and then along came the neoCONS…
February 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pmCORRECTION…
it was NOT POST PEARL HARBOR…
In his annual address to Congress on January 6, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people possessed. As America entered the war these “four freedoms” - the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear - symbolized America’s war aims and gave hope in the following years to a war-wearied people because they knew the were fighting for freedom.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:06 pmkaty; you are right in that we DO need another FDR.
On ABC news last week, they showed a film clip of FDR giving his “the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself’ speech. Immediately followed by Bush on his fear-mongering on the telecom immunity bill, and called him out on it. Also, the USA Today ran an editorial on its position blasting Bush for his fear-mongering.
Perhaps, the MSM is FINALLY waking up to smell what the Bushies have been shoveling.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:09 pmGiGi; why don’t you go Cheney yourself?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pmComment by good_golly — February 27, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
Aren’t you over this yet? It is clear what the goal is. Give it a break. How many people do you go around referring to by including their middle name?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pmGigi, I noticed you abandoned the other thread where you tried to make an issue of this and got your a$$ handed to you.
Good thing for you that your trollmasters only care about number of posts, and it doesn’t matter if any of ‘em make sense, huh?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pmAnd remember, GiGi, dick Cheney before he dicks youl.
Oh, butt, you like it when he dicks you.
Well, there’s no accounting for taste.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:28 pmWhat a group of McTRAITORS and McWAR CRIMINALS are Bush and his PNAC stooges…
Jail them ALL in 2009, including McTraitor for aiding and abetting WAR CRIMES.
Jail until they DROP DEAD and go home to hell and MASTER Satan and TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan, now DEAD and BURNING!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:30 pmPerhaps, the MSM is FINALLY waking up to smell what the Bushies have been shoveling.
Comment by Uncle Ho
Actually I think that the MSM is finally figuring out which way the wind is blowing and they want to be on the upwind side (winning) and not on the downwind side.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pmOh you guys are being too hard on McConnell. He’s just trying to protect that big piece of hope-we-can privatize-it pie (surveillance/data mining/intelligence operations).
“Mike McConnell, Booz Allen and the Privatization of Intelligence
Mike McConnell, the man President Bush tapped to replace John Negroponte as National Intelligence Director, has been a leading figure in outsourcing U.S. intelligence operations to private industry.”
http://www.democracynow.org/ 2007/ 1/ 12/ mike_mcconnell_booz_allen_and_the
February 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pmThe thing that really get my pet goat is that once again we have the government doggedly defending an intelligence program that is not only illeagal but one that also yeilds bad intelligence… why won’t GWB listen to the Generals OR the FBI Agents???
February 27th, 2008 at 3:32 pmThere’s money to be made in them there internets!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:32 pmWhen profit is your prophet ethics become inconvenient. -Zz
February 27th, 2008 at 3:45 pm/snark off
Comment by good_golly — February 27, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
No gg. Why don’t you /fu(k off.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:47 pmAnd remember, GiGi, dick Cheney before he dicks youl.
Oh, butt, you like it when he dicks you.
Well, there’s no accounting for taste.
Comment by Uncle Ho — February 27, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
“Taste” being the operative word for littl GiGi Uncle Ho?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:48 pmShayne; most likely taste is the operative word.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pmCaption Contest: I was past the second knuckle before Bush realized it wasn’t Cheney.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pmCaption Contest: I was past the second knuckle before Bush realized it wasn’t Cheney.
Comment by nanlichi — February 27, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
That why he’s smelling that finger?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:57 pm“Pushed through AFTER FDR was elected 4 times.”
Thanks Uncle Ho! Could you imagine…. 4 f’ing terms with this bunch?!?!? Wow, I get all sick inside just thinking about it!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pmRadRight @ 3:58
4 terms for Bush? I REALLY would be in the streets with a gun advocating revolution.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pmTrial lawyers have spent millions buying influence from Democrats and have paid for the right to sue the telecom companies.
Comment by jdc — February 27, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Actually, the Constitution gives their clients that right.
Would you prefer to see a system without such rights to redress wrongs before a (supposedly) impartial authority?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pmVet beat me to it on #2.
Trial lawyers are such bad people. It seems like they are just looking for reasons to sue the big corporations. Sure the pull of profits is strong, but the big corporations have our best interests at heart. They wouldn’t knowingly endanger a person’s life just to make a buck would they? They wouldn’t continue to manufacture cars that exploded in a rear end collision rather than tweak the design a little just to save money? Or continue to sell pool filters that they know could suck a kids’ guts out when a few dollars would fix the design?
And utilities would have agreed to scrub the SO2 and NOx emissions without the threat of being sued.
Right?
Eat shit and die jdc.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pmYou must be the woman that spilled hot coffe in her lap at McDonalds some years ago.
Comment by jdc — February 27, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
I notice you replied to nanlichi but ignored my simple question:
Would you prefer to see a system without such rights to redress wrongs before a (supposedly) impartial authority?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:39 pmComment by Uncle Ho — February 27, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
I’d be right there with you!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:52 pmComment by Uncle Ho — February 27, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
Don’t Druids have spells they can use for this sort of thing?
;>)
February 27th, 2008 at 4:54 pmWho this Administration think they are fooling? I bet they think everyone’s IQ is as low as theirs!
Why can’t they just obey the law as we all have to? Why can’t they get a warrant (prior or after) in Court for any spying activities?
There must be some money involved in that somewhere in the cracks. It’s so simple to get a warrant, but they refuse to do it, they want something else above the law.
Well, that’s what Bush always did, isn’;t it? Doing things as if he is above the law. Unfortunately so far nobody has been able to stop that gang’s activities, and the BUSH-it keeps going.
I hope Barack will uncover all their illegal/criminal activities and the whole gang will end up in prison for life. The sooner, the better.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pmComment by jdc — February 27, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
… but as the story above notes, the telecoms are still cooperating with the Justice Admin. and all Bush has to do to get an extension while the House talks out there differences with the Senate is sign the extension…
February 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pmThis is an abuse how?
I don’t have a problem with the system, only the abuses of the system.
Pelosi did not bring the bill to the floor for a vote because the votes were there to pass it. The BIG trial lawyer lobby was excreting its influence. It’s about the money not security. If it was a bad bill it wouldn’t have bipartisan support in a Democrat controlled House to pass.
Comment by jdc — February 27, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
But you didn’t say anything about “abuses” you condemned the very idea of “trial lawyers” suing telcom companies. Almost as if “trial lawyers” was a sort of buzzword for you…
Why is it an “abuse” if someone whose constitutionally-protected privacy was violated by an illegal wiretap, sues the telcom that allowed access?
(And, by the way, “Democrat” is a noun. The adjective you’re looking for is “Democratic”. To confuse the two makes you look either ignorant or petty. Which is it?)
February 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pmInteresting case, the woman at McDonald’s and the one the corporate defenders bring up as THE egregious case.
The woman was 79 years old, a passenger in a car, not moving.
The coffee spilled as she was removing the lid (been there, done that).
She suffered 3rd degree burns over 6% of her body and had skin grafts.
McDonald’s had over 700 cases of people burning themselves on coffee.
McDonald’s kept their coffee at 190 degrees, instead of 135 like other fast food places.
The woman was hospitalized for 8 days and spent tens of thousands of dollars.
McDonald’s settled out of court for something less than $300k.
Poor McKie D’s.
Again, eat shit and die jdc.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:20 pm(And, by the way, “Democrat†is a noun. The adjective you’re looking for is “Democraticâ€. To confuse the two makes you look either ignorant or petty. Which is it?)
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — February 27, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
It has to be one or the other? He seems to fit both ignorant and petty.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pmBtw Jdc-
The house DID pass this legislation without the telecom immunity and Bush has threatened to veto this “vital and necessary” bill and put “all Americans at risk!”
Where’s the outrage at such blatant political theatre?
February 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pmQ: for belac
Is this data mining part of the mission of the facility in Colorado Springs that was being built for data mining operations?
February 27th, 2008 at 7:44 pmThis guy is a traitor to the American people he swore to pretect and defend. How can an active duty Admiral lie to a member of Congress and the American people with a straight face? Because he is so caught up in power, it has corrupted him. This is exactly why military officers shouldn’t be given high ranking civilian jobs, like this one. He won’t even admit he lied even when presented with the truth. He will continue lying until someone kick his lying azz out of this job he shouldn’t have never been given.
Why you think there are two high ranking military officers in these positions. Because they will following Dubya’s orders without question and even lie to protect him and their own azzes. I’ve seen it before, all you have to do it think back to Ollie North, and Admiral Poindexter from Iran Contra. They both lied to protect Reagan at the expense of their military careers. Both men should have been prosecuted and locked up for lying to Congress. This guy is a no good low down coward who is in over his head and he craves power more than he loves his country. I never trust this ahole in the first place or that other bald ahole who is hiding behind his uniform. This guy is behind the spying on all of us.
Guess what guys, they are recording every word we type and what we say. But unlike this moron, I truly love my country and would never ever ever betray it for anyone or anything. My country comes first and loyalty to a President is way down the line. America has stood for over 200 years because people like us stood up for what was right. What he doesn’t understand is that what he has done will come to light and he will be shown to be the traitor he is.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pmThere was a time when scoundrels like Bush and Cheney would have been tarred and feathered.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pmCongress and the American people have lost their backbone and their common sense.
To them, the truth is optional.
Comment by bobcat_grad — February 27, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Actually, to them, not telling the truth is not just optional, but mandatory.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:56 pmQ: for belac
Is this data mining part of the mission of the facility in Colorado Springs that was being built for data mining operations?
Comment by Chuck Feney — February 27, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
I don’t know about the facility in Colorado Springs… I do know that they are using programs developed for the sciences (SPIRE is one) to do MASSIVE meta-searches of web traffic, e-mails, and phone calls…
February 27th, 2008 at 10:05 pmCreationists use the same “that’s your opinion, this is mine” excuse when confronted with cold, hard facts. They need to be called on this fallacy, and so should McConnell.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:45 amIf Bush thinks American corporations including these telecoms are the most wonderful do-no-wrong patriotic entities in America, why would he worry that they won’t support him and his domestic spying agenda? I mean, you’re either with us or with the terrorists, right? Is he insinuating that American corporations are willing to help the terrorists?
- Tom
February 28th, 2008 at 8:56 am