The real point here, is a legal fishing expedition, because as admitted, no one knows if a crime of any sort has been committed. Everyone running around with their hair on fire just serves as amusement for the rest of us.

Actually, everyone KNOWS a crime was committed, only un-American, anti-conservative, fascist GOP-toys continually deny it.

Just like they deny that the administration ever lied about WMDs (they're in SYYYYYRRRIIAAA), or that they've "lowered taxes" by raising debt 10x what that pinko socialist librul Clinton left us.

Keep laughing, chucklehead.

Mockery from obvious fools and goose-stepping stooges is the highest praise.

I second Jim White's comment. If you can document your assertions, that's potentially quite important.

@Jebbie re: sharter28%

If only your last comment were true, we'd all be spared the inanity.

at (919) 636-3131 and the polite guy who answered said they had been getting a lot of calls on FISA and Sen. Edwards would be issuing a statement tomorrow. He said they fully supported Sen. Dodd, and believed that Senators Clinton and Obama should be present to vote to oppose telecom immunity.

It sounds as though progress is being made.

Is it just Reid? Is it Reid and Pelosi? Is it just a few appeasers among the Democrats who are the problem? Is it just a matter of getting a few "bad" Democrats out of office? Or is there something deeper, more systemic to this constant capitulation than merely a few personalities?

is (919) 636-3131. I just spoke to someone there that said they are getting a lot of calls on FISA/supporting Dodd's efforts. I told him I was an undecided voter and would vote for Edwards if he takes the lead on this issue.

Kellygirl, I live in your zip code. Don't despair! Mitch would love it if you stayed home.

and

did we find out whither be-bop-o?

Let's see, you folks are up in arms because ATT keeps track of phone calls. Yet you are the very same people that want government to keep track of your doctor visits, test results, medical conditions, and all those of your family and friends. AIDS list anyone?

Jim White - are you sure no one left an electronic listening device in your appendix?

Tempus - Aren't you the nitwit that I may have saved from going to jail for not responding to a jury summons?

Talesofunrest - Which point am I missing again? From Glenn's interview with Condy Cohn of the EFF

CC: Yes. We brought the case only against AT&T because AT&T has an independent duty to you, its customers, to protect your privacy. This is a very old duty, and if you know the history of the FISA law, you'll know that it was adopted as a result of some very deep work done by the Church Committee in Congress, that revealed that Western Union and the telegraph companies were making a copy of all telegraphs going into and outside the U.S. and delivering them to the Government.

(snip)
CC:As a result of this, Congress very wisely decided that it wasn't sufficient to simply prevent the Government from listening in on your calls - they had to create an independent duty for the telecom carries not to participate in illegal surveillance.

So. Is anyone here alleging eavesdropping? Nope. Is ATT keeping track of who is using it's equipment, illegal surveillance? I'd love to see someone try and argue that.

GG: There will be a judicial ruling, assuming your case goes forward, as to whether or not the activities the telecoms engaged in, in concert with the Bush administration, actually broke the law?

CC: Yes - and that I think is tremendously important even if we don't end up knowing every nook and cranny of what the Government has been doing.

The FISA law really makes it illegal for the phone companies to give this information to the Government, and what the Government does with it afterwards isn't really relevant to our claim.

The real point here, is a legal fishing expedition, because as admitted, no one knows if a crime of any sort has been committed. Everyone running around with their hair on fire just serves as amusement for the rest of us.

"So the next question is, why aren't you people torching ATT kiosks for doing the same thing you're freaking out about here? Heh."

Dipshit. Is there a law which precludes AT&T from obtaining this information and using it for marketing purposes?

Once you've thought about it, ask yourself another question...

Is there a law which precludes the government from doing the same thing without a warrant?

I swear, Shooter. I sometimes think you're too damned stupid to breath.

If you still have the originals of those emails (if, for example, you sent them from your personal laptop) and if your friends can come up with the versions they received, I would strongly encourage you to contact EFF or ACLU as soon as possible. It seems to me that they could make good use of this in court. One of the biggest hurdles in many of these cases is establishing standing. If you can produce the evidence I described, standing is a slam-dunk in your case.

We are being governed by children. This is not the way adults should act. This is like student body government, only clunkier.

Dear Senator Reid,

I am writing today to express my strong opposition to your position on the FISA bill about to be brought to the Senate floor. It is simply outrageous that the bill would include immunity for the telecom companies who assisted the adminstration in breaking the law. The president has admitted to breaking the law, and the Senate and Congress have done nothing to hold him accountable. Instead you want to retroactively legalize it. That is unforgivable.The administration ignores subpoenas, and what happens? Nothing. They break the FISA law, nothing.Torture prisoners, Nothing. The president adds signing statements saying he can overrule the law he is signing, Nothing.

By doing nothing you are destroying the checks and balances that have kept this country strong for over 200 years.

I would like to take a minute to express my particular outrage at the way you have treated Senator Dodd. When any Republican feels like holding up a Democratic bill you act as if you are powerless to stop them. Yet when a member of your own party puts a hold on a bill, to stand up for our rights and the constitution, you refuse to honor it. When Republicans insist on filibustering every bill you up , you allow them to do it without actually having to filibuster. When a member of your own party opposes a bill so strongly, you insist on forcing the issue.

My question Senator Reid is WHY? Why will you not stand up to the president? Why will you not stand up for us? Why are YOU not outraged at what this administration has done ?

It seems to me that if THIS congress does not hold the administration accountable for their excesses, the next one or the one after will push even further. How much further do we go before we look back and realize we are living in a Dictatorship? Sinclair Lewis is famous for saying "When Fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." How much further will you let them push before it is too late? I hope you act before then.