Feinstein backs legal immunity for telecom firms in wiretap cases

[robinlynne]

And guess who the "swing vote" is...AGAIN...in committee.



In a statement at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is considering legislation to extend the Bush administration's electronic surveillance program, Feinstein said the companies should not be "held hostage to costly litigation in what is essentially a complaint about administration activities."

She endorsed a recent statement by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, that companies assured by top administration officials that the surveillance program was legal "should not be dragged through the courts for their help with national security."

Feinstein, D-Calif., plays a pivotal role on the Judiciary Committee, which has a 10-9 Democratic majority. If she joins committee Republicans in voting next Thursday to protect telecommunications companies from lawsuits for their roles in the surveillance program, the proposal - a top priority of President Bush - will become part of legislation that reaches the Senate floor.

link to article:


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/09/BA13T97BN.DTL

[EFerrari]

1. She's wrong and she's immoveable. We have to go around her

somehow because she couldn't care less what we think.

[troubleinwinter]

9. This is EXACTLY what I told a friend tonite.

She is immovable, don't waste energy on her... work with others who might be moveable.

Lieberman II.

[EFerrari]

13. Schumer has to raise money. Imho, we lean on him.

Diane has left the building.

[Bill Bored]

2. This from Chris Dodd: See the AT&T whistleblower interview:

http://chrisdodd.com/blog/mark-klein-interview

[IndianaGreen]

3. DiFi is not a Democrat but a Lieberman in drag

California voters should defeat her at the polls.

[robinlynne]

16. But that will be in 5 years!

[IndianaGreen]

18. So what? The time to plan to defeat this POS begins today

DiFi has powerful business interests behind her, and it is going to take a lot of work to send her packing.

[robinlynne]

19. I give. You're right.

[babylonsister]

4. Rockefeller, Feinstein, who else? I'm getting quite discouraged, especially

after all I've read and heard to the contrary, like that brave whistleblower on Olbermann last night.

[kurth]

5. Corporations shouldn't be "held hostage to costly litigation"

Sounds like a goddamn Republican to me.

[rateyes]

6. AT&T and the spy room is located in

California. Who are you serving, DiFi...the people, or AT&T?

Hey, California, it's time to replace one of your Senators with another one like Barbara Boxer.

[Bill Bored]

10. I'm sure there are more than 1 of these. But you do have a point. nt

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. all anti-porn crusaders are republicans at heart

I've been onto DiFi since before she was anybody. She used to picket and lead rallies at adult theaters in SF... trying to shut down the Mitchell Bros. Art Theater was one of her better publicized TV stunts... errr, "efforts in local government."

I know people have different views on the topic, but to me, anyone who pickets a movie theater is a republican waiting to happen.

The ACLU speaks for me. (But not for DiFi)

[napi21]

8. On cspan WJ the other AM I heard this bill would only block Class

Action suits. Do you know if that's true? If it is, I'm inclined to agree with DiFi. In all fairness folks, the only ones that really benefit from a class action suit are that small group of class action specialist lawyers. Go check some of the past results. The lawyers get many many millions, and the individuals involved in the suit who were really the victims end up getting $35 or some pitance in comparrison!

The guess on cspan said this bill would NOT affect any potential criminal charges against the telecoms!

[Bill Bored]

11. No offense, but why not read the bill for yourself and find out? nt

[PSPS]

12. So what's wrong with a class action suit?

The telecoms have armies of lawyers and bottomless pockets full of ratepayer money. A bunch of individuals suing them in separate lawsuits would be a piece of cake for them. They can easily defeat most legal adversaries by spending them into poverty.

A class action, on the other hand, stands a far better chance of both winning and hurting them financially, which is the punitive purpose of any civil action. So what if the lawyers get most of the settlement? You're not going to see any money anyway. The way you "punish" a corporation is to deplete their bank account. That's the hurt you want to put on them.

[robinlynne]

17. not true. There are 40 separate lawsuits, some from individuals, one from the ACLU...

We cannot let them stop these suits. This is not about money.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Could this be fear of a changing political landscape in Cali .... or

is she really that fucked up?

[EFerrari]

15. She's been this way for a long time. I don't think she's ever met

a corporation that she didn't like.

[Hieronymus]

20. Di Fi is a DINO. I quit supporting her some time ago

[AtomicKitten]

21. DiFi needs to stop cozying up with the evil-doers.

Or risk losing her seat.