Speaker Pelosi Says Telecom Firms Should Not Receive Immunity

[babylonsister]

US Rep Pelosi On Wiretaps: Cos Must Defend Selves In Court
Dow Jones
October 11, 2007


WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., showed little sympathy Thursday for telephone companies that may have broken federal privacy laws in cooperating with the Bush administration's post-September 2001, warrantless wiretapping program.

The Bush administration and congressional Republicans say Congress should give those companies immunity for any actions they may have taken.

Democrats have split on the issue. Some say immunity should be considered, and others, now including Pelosi, say if telephone companies did nothing wrong they should prove it to a judge.

"If they have exposure, the court would be the place to go," Pelosi said at a Thursday press conference.

"These are not individual citizens without resources, these are major telecom companies with a phalanx of lawyers that understand the Constitution and the law," Pelosi said.

more...

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200710111331DOWJONESDJONLINE000953_FORTUNE5.htm

[Olney Blue]

1. Absolutely! Now this is the leadership we crave.

[MadMaddie]

2. So does she mean it or will she NEGOTIATE with the WH?

See that's what the Democratic Party does....the Republicans kick us in the teeth and our leaders in the Democratic Party want to negotiate.

Stick to your words Nancy!!

[DesEtoiles]

3. Oh, she'll cave soon enough. 5, 4, 3...

[knight_of_the_star]

5. She won't

But wait for the Blue Dogs to flip. Those bastards seem to like sitting on their backs and showing their throats too much for my liking.

[Atman]

4. "Following the press conference, Pelosi apologized to George Bush...

...for causing him any concern, and promised that his beloved donors will receive not only immunity, but special tax breaks and a lovely fruit basket."

Sure Nance. I'll believe a word you say as soon as you back those words up with actions (as opposed to backing them up with INaction, such as we've seen since the 2006 election).


.

[terisan]

6. Very strong statement for a Congressperson to make re powerful corporations.

[kurth]

7. Duh!!!

[Selatius]

8. Steny Hoyer seems more open to the idea of immunity deals. Did Pelosi forget to talk to him? Or...

is there a real disagreement among the House leadership?

[Eric J in MN]

10. If Pelosi is against immunity and Hoyer is on the fence, we might win. NT

NT

[robinlynne]

12. Well, she says she is against the war too.

[HughMoran]

9. Now we're talking!

What does that right-wing hate company AT&T have to fear anyway? :D

[L. Coyote]

11. Dear NANCY, Likewise for President Bush, who had government paid lawyers

and nonetheless disregarded the law and constitution.

BUSH Should Not Receive Immunity

[Lerkfish]

13. that sounds very nice. but the fact is BUSH broke the law and the bill retroactively

gives him immunity, right? Sort of like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel, because the telephone companies didn't really have a choice.
Bush aggressively targeted Qwest, who did NOT cooperate with the full force of his illicit govt.

So, unfortunately, her statements are a distraction from the real issue: sure, we shouldn't charge the extortion VICTIMS, but what about the EXTORTIONSISTS?