Warrantless Wiretaps Not Used, Official Says

[Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence] also pushed for a provision that would grant legal immunity to the telecommunications companies that secretly cooperated with the N.S.A. on the warrantless program. Those companies, now facing lawsuits, have never been officially identified.

Democratic Congressional aides say they believe that a deal is likely to provide protection for the companies.

One question: Why?

The administration broke the law, and the telco's were accessories. Why the *&^% should they get immunity?

Veto Risk Seen in Compromise on Child Health

Senate and House negotiators said Sunday that they had agreed on a framework for a compromise bill that would provide health insurance to four million uninsured children while relaxing some of the limits on eligibility imposed by the Bush administration.

The compromise, which resembles a bill passed by the Senate with bipartisan support, sets the stage for a battle with President Bush, who has denounced similar legislation as a step “down the path to government-run health care for every American.”

I highly encourage the administration to keep using this kind of language. Back when they had some mojo, they would have amped it up to something like, "those commies want to force you to see the collective doctors at the methadone clinic downtown!" But the mojo is gone, and they are practically using the Dems rhetoric. "Health care for every American."

Say. Not a bad idea! What's that - you're going to veto that? Hmm, maybe someone somewhere will vote Republican again. In 20 years or so.