105 DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR BUSH'S IMMUNITY TO TELECOMS

I am angry at the House for going along with Bush in his quest to give immunity to the telephone companies for aiding and abetting the administration in the violation of the wiretap laws.

Bush got everything he wanted. A harsher wiretap law, immunity for the telecoms, and a victory for those repressive forces who think that everything is justified if it is for "national security."

Dan Eggen, Paul Kane and William Branigin write in today's washingtonpost.com:

"Ending a year-long battle with President Bush, the House approved, 293 to 129, a re-write of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that extends the government's ability to eavesdrop on espionage and terrorism suspects while providing a legal escape hatch for AT&T, Verizon Communications and other telecommunication firms. The companies face more than 40 lawsuits that allege they violated customers' privacy rights by helping the government conduct a warrantless spying program after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"Before the vote, President Bush today lauded Congress for reaching agreement on the legislation, saying it was vital to help thwart new terrorist attacks."