Yes. And I would like to hear from the other cell phone companies. The way the press is pushing this story, I believe we are supposed to be real mad at Verizon. Geez, I just added a new service to my Verizon account. Don't want to discontinue my service. I'll wait for the rest of the story.

I hate to go against you, Randy, but I see no conection between making them tell everything they know about the Administration's Constitutional crimes and giving the phone companies immunity.

Several companies refused to comply, by the way.

Let's see how much cooperation we get and then we can discuss forgiveness, not immunity.

Steve

Seven hundred compliances by one company does seem like a lot if it's only one year. That could mean thousands if you add up all the carriers. How many real national security events using the phone actually occured?

I think every company should report the yearly totals, and in secret session, the National Security Council should be given copies of the requests and a random sampling of transcripts from the calls. That would be honest transparency.

This idea that there are things going on that no one in the Congrss should know abut stinks. Without disclosure there is no oversight.

Immunity does allow more information to flow, but it should be limited immunity. If criminal acts were involved, they have to be held accpountable.

With the President and his henchmen breathing down their backs. the phone companies didn't have much choice really to do this. It's the present and future danger of these practices that seem most important. What they did in the past is relevant, but it's less important to punish them for it. I'd give them immunity and encourage them to become whistleblowers.

You probably lose any leverage you have with the telcos by giving them immunity.

The real problem with going after the government on this is that no one will hold anyone to any kind of account. Are we looking to the Congress to make that happen? The press? Angry bloggers?

Oh, wait. Brittney turned herself in. That's news...

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"Respect mah authoritah!" - Fred Cartman Thompson

Just how many hundreds of new and used MBAs & lawyers do you think Verizon employs? Why was there not one of them who would see something suspicious about an emergency request coming in everyday and still no subpoenas? Why didn't one of them ask for a retroactive subpoena? Why didn't one of them think of a blanket subpoena? Hell No! No immunity, period. This was an active and aware collusion on their part. They willingly and knowingly aided and abetted the circumvention of the law.

I say hang the bastards!

CAFKIA

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It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

I'd condition any offer of immunity on a full explanation of how the program(s) were presented to the telecoms.

If the telecoms were swayed by official opinions from the Office of Legal Counsel, they were probably justified in believing they stood on firm legal ground. However, if they went along just to get along (and therefore stay in the running for lucrative federal contracts), they in no way deserve a pass.

Verizon could have said NO. NO IMMUNITY for caving in.

I'd give immunity to the bubonic plague if it meant Rumsfeld and Cheney would get what they deserve, but I have no confidence that anyone with power is willing to stand up to those traitors. This country has become Worthless and Weak. The only real hope is a military coup, and I would support our troops if they decide that is the only way to get a competent commander.