Bradley Whitford and Courage Campaign: No telecom immunity!
A call to action from Bradley Whitford (”Josh Lyman” on The West Wing”) and the Courage Campaign about the upcoming FISA vote in the Senate on retroactive immunity for telecom companies. Call your Senator today and ask them to support Senator Dodd’s filibuster against retroactive immunity for telecom companies who wiretapped Americans without a warrant. Bradley Whitford will be calling his Senator — Senator Feinstein. Learn more at www.couragecampaign.org/filibuster
Duration : 0:1:38
[youtube VG_EOPN3bN8]
25 Responses
Leave a Comment
|
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
If the government …
If the government orders..you do it?..lol..wow.. I must have missed the news about America changing to a dictatorship….hmmmm
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Man, Bradley …
Man, Bradley Whitford is an idiot.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
I never said it was …
I never said it was under FISA. It’s part of US Code Title 18. It is just one of many laws the Telecoms cited as their reason for conducting the wiretaps.
My main point is why blame the Telecoms for the Governments actions. Both the Executive Branch and top leaders(Democrats and Repuplicans) were briefed and knew this was going on.
I believe the calls in question originated from outside the United States.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
However, in order …
However, in order to gain the floor, the Senator exercising rule XIX(a) (The ‘Filibuster’) would have to yield the floor.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
A filibuster is a …
A filibuster is a procedural tactic. Under Senate rule XIX 1(a.) Usually, the Senator addresses the Senate President and requests the floor. The Senate President then grants the Senator who addresses him/her first, the floor. No Senator can interrupt the speaking Senator without his/her consent. In a filibuster, a Senator holds the floor and talks about anything. It’s an effort to wear out supporters of a controversial bill and make them retract the bill from the floor.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Filibustering …
Filibustering Senators can talk about anything ranging from the bill itself to reading recipes out of a cook book (which has been done before._
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
There is no such …
There is no such number under the FISA Act. The FISA law is as follows:
50 US 35 1801-1871.
Under 1801 (A)(1)(2)(3), the President (through the Attorney General) can conduct a warrant-less wire tap ONLY on foreign powers for the purpose of foreign intelligence gathering. Even then the wire tap is only good for one (1) year.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
In order for it to …
In order for it to be treason it would have to be a crime, or the planning of a crime, against the Government of the United States. A company refusing to wiretap citizens would not constitute treason. The company had an obligation to request that the government produce a court order. Only when these things are done legally can we ensure that justice would be served. Legally, all evidence complied by the US Government via warrant-less wire tapes would be inadmissible in court.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Let’s be clear what …
Let’s be clear what we’re discussing here. There are two issues, not one.
First, there’s the Government ordering telcos to conduct wire taps. Secondly, there’s the telcos conducting the wire taps.
If the telco failed to conduct the wire tap, however illegal it may have been, there is a strong legal argument that the CEOs could have been charged with treason.
No where in this debate have Democrats offered legal relief for disobeying a government order.
If the Government orders – you do it!
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Because it’s going …
Because it’s going to cost the Telecoms the time and expense to defend themselves?
You know what else bothers me. Before all this became public, the leadership of the Congress, both Democrats and Republicans were briefed and knew this was going.
Essentialy, the government is making the Telecoms the fall guy.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Those that were …
Those that were executed were Nazis, they volunteered to become Nazi’s, they believed in the cause. The Telecoms were obligated to hand over the info, it was their understanding it was the law.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
So, is Feinstein …
So, is Feinstein more malliable on the issue or is Boxer already on board?
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Those that executed …
Those that executed were also held accountable. “We were just following orders,” was not an acceptable defense.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Give the guy the …
Give the guy the benefit of a typo and respond to his criticism. Though yes, as I often conflate, They’re and their are two very different words.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
If that is the case …
If that is the case, then there is no need for an additional immunity bill… Good research, btw. Secretary Vinick would be proud of your public spiritedness, would that we lived in his America.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
There: THERE is a …
There: THERE is a car driving down the road
Their: Terrorists just said San Francisco is next on THEIR list
They’re: THEY’RE talking to each other.
it’s simple English, learn it or don’t bother speaking it.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Here’s just one …
Here’s just one example where a court order is not required…
2511. Interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications prohibited
(b)a certification in writing by a person specified in section 2518 (7) of this title or the Attorney General of the United States that no warrant or court order is required by law, that all statutory requirements have been met, and that the specified assistance is required.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Really? You dont …
Really? You dont think the Telecoms have lawyers at their disposal who might have thought that maybe warrantless surveillance was illegal? That strikes me as a tad naive.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
No they didn’t know …
No they didn’t know. You really think the dozens of Telcos and Internet Providers all knew they were doing something illegal and did it anyway? The Senate already voted to give the Telcos immunity. The House needs to do the same. Obviously justice has no meaning to you.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
The telecoms knew …
The telecoms knew what they were doing was illegal and should be held responsible. No one forced them to do anything.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
By the way, rank …
By the way, rank and file Nazi soldiers were not held accountable, those that gave orders were. I think it’s an injustice that the private sector is being held accountable for the government’s action. At least the Senate did the right thing and passed legislation to give immunity, the House is irresponsible for not acting.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
After 9/11, people …
After 9/11, people were screaming the gov’t was doing enough from the 9/11 Commission to 9/11 Victims Groups. All sorts of legislation was written – some of it suggesting the Telecoms were obligated – is it any wonder the Telcos acquiesced? Since then, the laws were negotiated and refined, all to the administration and congress satisfaction. And all before any of this got settled in the courts. So now you are going to leave the Telcos holding the bag the government created?
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
terrorists just …
terrorists just said San Fransico is next on there list! Have the marines pulled out of there yet?
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Because jrigeli …
Because jrigeli that’s the excuse nazi soldiers did when they tortured and killed millions: We were simply giving orders.
No. Stand up and say NO.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Well, one more step …
Well, one more step this week and it’s game over. Contacting senators does no good, apparently, ESPECIALLY Feinstein, Brad. One thing may get her, and any other senator who voted for this bill- mention the name Donna Edwards (D-MD) to them. They will get it.