"Protection of Persons Assisting the Government" it's called.  Really, Majority Leader Hoyer?  How about "Protection of Persons FROM the Government?"  Because that's what I'm concerned with right now.

The bill provides another sunset clause, to be sure.  The reason I was on-board with these other extensions was because I knew that they were just running out the clock until Bush leaves office.  There's just one problem this time: the sunset isn't until 2012... just in time to be an issue in another election year!

Here's what our good friend Russ Feingold says about it:

The proposed FISA deal is not a compromise; it is a capitulation. . . . The House and Senate should not be taking up this bill, which effectively guarantees immunity for telecom companies alleged to have participated in the President's illegal program, and which fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home. Allowing courts to review the question of immunity is meaningless when the same legislation essentially requires the court to grant immunity. And under this bill, the government can still sweep up and keep the international communications of innocent Americans in the U.S. with no connection to suspected terrorists, with very few safeguards to protect against abuse of this power.

We have to do something, folks.  

Here is what I wrote to my Senator.  It is a little too late to go after Representatives, since they're voting today and I doubt they'd let this go to the floor if they weren't confident that it was bought and paid for, but we can kill this thing in the Senate if we can get through to our progressive Senators.

Senator Klobuchar:

The event that inspired me to write to you for the first time was the FISA issue last year, and again the problem resurfaces.  I'm given to understand that the House of Representatives appears to be caving in to George W. Bush's desire to get telecom immunity in a "compromise" that seems more like being stuck with the check when your date walks out on you rather than a true compromise between equals.

The compromise bill introduced by Representative Steny Hoyer appears to be congigent on the Justice Department being fair and impartial; with perfectly honest attorneys getting fired for not politicizing their job, and appointments being made based less on impartiality and understanding of the law than loyalty to a Bush Administration that has repeatedly pushed the rights of large companies to the forefront, can we trust that a federal judge will rule with an eye on rights of average Americans such as myself?  Or will they cover for the big telecoms that sold us out?  I would like to point out that one Minnesota telecom, Qwest, knew was wrong from the start and refused to participate.

I'm sure that I don't need to remind you that just last week, the right universal in civilized nations, habeas corpus, was upheld by the Supreme Court by a very sparing majority, due in part (ironically) to conservative activist judges looking to protect the failed war policies of the Bush White House.

I do have faith in our system; that's why I'm writing to you today.  If the House of Representatives passes this "bad date" legislation, it will fall upon people like yourself and Senator Russ Feingold to stand up for my right to not be spied upon, and against big-money criminals and collaborators with an abusive and unpopular government.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Dracomicron

Get out there and make a difference, folks.  Find your Senators and let them know that you are more concerned with the Consitution and privacy and justice than you are with some complicit telecoms (and George W. Bush) getting off the hook.

UPDATE: Go to Open Left and voice your concern in a letter that will be sent to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (thanks Sean Robertson).

Why Not brings us the following information for contacting our favorite leaders to speak up on the issue:

Obama (202) 224-2854

Clinton (212)688-6262 (NY) and (202)224-4451 (DC)

UPDATE II: CNN reports that the measure passed "293-129, with more Republicans than Democrats voting for it."