A FISA / Immunity compromise plan

Telecom immunity is an enormous issue relative to both personal freedoms and also the extents of executive power.  I am so thrilled to finally see some backbone emerge from the Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives.  I fear our victory may be short lived though.  As we know, there is tremendous pressure being applied by the White House, Republicans in Congress, and sell out Democrats to get this thing done.

Their constant drumbeat is about "fairness for the companies that stepped up to help the president protect America after the horrific attacks of 9-11", or some such Giuliani-like garbage.  Meanwhile, they are trying to hide the fact that their Bush administration's domestic spying began in February 2001, a full 7 months before 9-11.

So here is the plan ...

Give them full telecom immunity for their participation in programs which were initiated in response to 9-11.  In return, have a thorough investigation of the pre 9-11 domestic spying with full cooperation from the Executive Branch.  All witnesses will appear and testify under oath before Congress, no claims of executive privilege, no private interviews without transcripts, FULL cooperation.  At issue will be not only the programs that were put into place in the first few weeks of the administration, but also the possibly retributive prosecution of Qwest's CEO for not playing ball.  In addition, former NSA chief Michael Hayden will finally be forced to answer the question of whether NSA resources were ever used to spy on President Bush's political opponents.

There can be no excuse for them to refuse this.  After all, take away the terror boogeyman and they have no excuses period.  What can they say the February programs were in response to?  The only answer is "being in power and wanting more."