Specter: ‘Retroactive immunity is exactly wrong.’
By on Apr 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Specter: ‘Retroactive immunity is exactly wrong.’
In an interview with the Washington Post editorial board yesterday, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the ranking Republican member of the Judiciary Committee, expressed “frustration at Attorney General Michael Mukasey’s unwillingness to compromise.” “”Mukasey is non-negotiable,” said Specter, pointing to Mukasey’s refusal “to budge from the Bush administration’s position that telecommunications companies must be granted retroactive immunity for their past cooperation with intelligence operations.” “I think retroactive immunity is exactly wrong,” added Specter. “How can you ask for retroactive immunity in a context where you don’t even know what you’re immunizing?”
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Perhaps the spectre of cancer has Specter’s conscience in full tilt boogy. Go Arlen, git em!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pmImmunity can always be purchased. Simply initiate a direct deposit into Hillary’s checking account.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pmUnless Alan follows up with a live vote, his comment is just a Specter.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pmOh, yeah, Senator, you can SAY it’s wrong – but you’ll vote in favor of it when your masters tell you to.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pmSpecter will talk tough, then fold like a cheap lounge chair.
_AIO_
April 18th, 2008 at 12:14 pmSeems to be a pretty big consensus, Arlen – you talk a good game.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pmWhen one is about to answer to God he/she seems to speak up.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pmTo bad that phase wasn’t used for Scooter Libby. Specter was so embedded with the Republican criminal Party he made up the Magic Bullet to cover up the murder of President John Kennedy. Specter was the Republican Party hero and has been every since. Now with death at the door he was to be honest. Senator Specter will stop short of turning on Satan now. Lip service seems to work today. Specter will be seeing some old friends soon and meeting the likes of Hitler and other Satan workers when he reaches Hell.
“Specter: ‘Retroactive immunity is exactly wrong.’”
Now, walk the walk.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:24 pmIf Mukasey is not willing to negotiate, here is an idea — do not negotiate with him. An new Unitary Executive will enter the WH (relatively) soon.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pmSmacks of rhetorical grandiosity. He, and many other congressmen and congresswomen have had the chance to change the tide for years now but have chosen to take a back seat on the Bush crazy train. He has a point thought about not immunizing an object when you’re not sure what you’re immunizing against. Perhaps we should ask John McCain and his telecom buddies what they feel should be done in this regard?
I certainly don’t believe Arlen is headed to Hell. Limbo perhaps? Not Hell. Of course, one would have to believe in such post-humous infrastructure to guess.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:26 pmMukasey, like the rest of the Cheney goons, is trying to run out the clock. Stall, baby, stall.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:27 pm“Clinton did it” within 17 minutes!!!!
OUTSTANDING!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pm“How can you ask for retroactive immunity in a context where you don’t even know what you’re immunizing?”
Mukasey, Bush and his moronic cronies know exactly what they are immunizing – chances are though, the American sheeple will never know.
The other posters are correct though…Specter is all talk and no walk.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pmHe can’t help it robbez.His little peabrain can only absorb so much from drug limpballs,he then has to empty on here so he can fit tommorows drivel from comedian RL.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pmghost_of_earthquake Says:
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Was “retroactive immunity” wrong when Bill Clinton pardoned all of his convicted Whitewater buddies on his last day in office?
You tell us wingnut. Were you outraged? If so, why the change of heart now? Or are you merely a scumsucking parasite who doesn’t think for itself?
If you could think for yourself you would see even if Clinton pardoned all his Whitewater buddies, they didn’t receieve retroactive immunity because they would have to have been tried in order to be convicted. You want the telecoms to be free to commit more crimes without fear of any judical oversight. Why are you a facist?
April 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pmG-of-E is even more stupid than the usual breed of troll we get here. What a moron.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:40 pmghost_of_earthquake Says
April 18th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Was “retroactive immunity” wrong when Bill Clinton pardoned all of his convicted Whitewater buddies on his last day in office?
__________________________________________________
I see you are reduced to a “Clinton did it, too” argument, which isn’t surprising. However, in this case it’s apples and oranges.
Clinton’s pardons were for convictions from CRIMINAL trials.
The proposed telecom immunity is for CIVIL lawsuits.
Clinton’s pardons were for people WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN ON TRIAL AND CONVICTED.
The proposed telecom immunity is to KEEP LAWSUITS FROM SEEING THE LIGHT OF DAY IN A COURTROOM.
Clinton’s pardons given in his last hours of office weren’t to save his backside (His backside no longer needed protection. He’d already been impeached and acquitted, and he was leaving office that day). Giving telecoms immunity from lawsuits is expressly to keep information hidden that could (and probably is) embarrassing to the administration.
If you’re going to use the “Clinton did it, too” maneuver, at least try to get something that’s comparable.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:41 pm….but, if you insist, I suppose I’ll have to vote for it.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pmghost_of_earthquake: now that you’ve admitted it, what are you going to do about it? Likely nothing – just like the rest of Congress
April 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pmGOE is GONE. See ya! :)
April 18th, 2008 at 1:19 pmSpecter: ‘Retroactive immunity is exactly wrong.’
What exactly about this garbage administration and the GOP has been “right” these past 7+ years , Arlen ?
April 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pmWe’ve heard Specter say the right thing before, then do the wrong thing.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:27 pmWill the reoccurrence of cancer inspire a “come to Jesus” moment? It would be sad if it happens for that reason.
Marie Says:
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We’ve heard Specter say the right thing before, then do the wrong thing.
Will the reoccurrence of cancer inspire a “come to Jesus” moment? It would be sad if it happens for that reason.
It would be sadder if it didn’t.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pmThe TELECONs with their big lawyers knew the law. They chose to commit a crime. They broke the law. They should be held accountable.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pmTalk. Talk. Talk. That’s all Sen. Specter does. He never acts upon anything when it comes down to “yea” of “nay.” He continues to hold the party line. If a vote, for some crazy reason, hit the Senate floor tomorrow to strip Mukasey of his AG credential Sen. Specter would vote against it. He might have been aggressive in confirmation but he passed him anyway. Arlen Specter has been a company man forever and will continue to be one. When the administration allowed him to keep his Foreign Relations Committee Chair four years ago it owned him for life! I have no faith in anything Sen. Specter says.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pmsacopenapa Says:
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The TELECONs with their big lawyers knew the law. They chose to commit a crime. They broke the law. They should be held accountable.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I believe that’s why you hear nary a peep out of the telecoms themselves ; they DEFINITELY worked out a deal with Chimpy and Co prior to when the illegal warrantless spying 1st commenced.
I’m certain of that ; the only ones you see shitting themselves are Chimpy and Co/the GOP………..
April 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pmIs it Spector’s time to come clean and do the thing that he really wants to do, but never could?
April 18th, 2008 at 2:08 pmFollow thru on this, Arlen. You will feel better forever and ever.
What makes a great newsbite today, Spector won’t remember saying tomorrow.
-AF
April 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
If only this criminal administration did anything legal, ethical, moral, or right I would truly be shocked that a snowflake could exist in hell.
Hey congress critters, you happy now that you ok’d Mukasey, what a shining gem of justice that one is, uh?
April 18th, 2008 at 2:28 pmDi-Fi, Chuckie, I must thank you again for your tremendous support for Mikie Mufakesy.
WTF?
He’s refusing to budge on anything Gonzo set up, ordained or supported. He’s refusing to initiate any investigations that involved Rightards. He refuses to even support subpoena’s issued by Congress.
Thanks again, Dem traitors.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:12 pmps: Chuck, have you considered retiring with Di-Fi. I’m sure you could both be comfortable, just living off her War stocks.
I was going to point out that Arlen has a long history of sounding like he’s on the right side and then voting the other way but, apparently, that has already occurred to one or two of you …
April 18th, 2008 at 4:18 pmIf the telecoms didn’t do anything wrong as they insist, then why do they need immunity?
Discovery. If there are lawsuits, every one of those lying, corrupt, oath-to-the-Constitution breaking scumbags in the Bush Administration will become exposed as criminals. That’s why.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:56 pmThe only spying Specter is against is when it’s one NFL team spies on his beloved Eagles.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:14 pmTypical Spector, feint left and run right routine. How many times is Think Progress going to fall for this act?
April 18th, 2008 at 8:14 pmSpector is the Republican Biden. After a while you get to realize he’s got some great lines but he backs it up with bupkis.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:58 pmThat ole Arlen Spector. The original maverick.
As soon as a bill for immunity was put up on the floor to vote. He’d YEA it.
April 19th, 2008 at 3:14 am