by James Oliphant
The floor debate on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act continues, with Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.) offering an impassioned defense of the provision that immunizes telecoms from private lawsuits over alleged assistance given to the government. He argued that if information about the NSA program comes to light in litigation, it could endanger the companies and their employees. “There are evil people out here who would love to be able to get information and confirm what companies might have participated,” Bond said. “And if that happens those companies would be at great risk abroad.
During his extended floor remarks, Bond glanced repeatedly at his BlackBerry-type device as he spoke, marking one of the few times we at the Swamp here have seen a member of Congress reading directly from a PDA. (That’s Jimmy Stewart you hear — finally toppling over in shock. End of filibuster. ) A wave of the future? More ironically, it comes during a debate over telecommunications companies. Very nice touch, Kit. Very nice touch.
