One story, two different thoughts, one blog post

Bush: Surveillance compromise unlikely
By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer
Thu Feb 21, 2008
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - President Bush on Thursday stood by his demand for legal protection for phone companies that help the government eavesdrop on suspected terrorists, saying he sees no prospect of a compromise with congressional Democrats.

Okay - that's the "one story."

Here's the first of the "two thoughts":
If, as W and his minions argue, the telecoms were acting in good faith to help the government protect America, what do they have to fear? If legitimate (etymologically-related to "legal"), this seems like an iron-clad defense in any prospective civil or criminal action. Why is legislative immunity required?

More on the "one story":

Roundtable Interview of the President and the First Lady by the Travel Pool
Conference Room
Aboard Air Force One
En route Andrews Air Force Base
21 Feb 2008
THE PRESIDENT: How do you compromise on something like granting liability for a telecommunications company? You can't. If we do not give liability protection to those who are helping us, they won't help us. And if they don't help us, there will be no program. And if there's no program, America is more vulnerable.

What I'm going to do is continue to remind people that unless they get this program done, we're going to be vulnerable to attack.

Here's the second of the "two thoughts":
Whenever I hear W invoke "terrorists" to promote his agenda, I can't help but think of Hermann Goering's statement:

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

Yes, I know it's bad form to make explicit comparisons with Nazis, but this is just too apt!

Why does W continue to sell fear? It's all he's got to sell!!

Stop the madness!