Bush sues Maine to protect Verizon

The Bush administration sued the state of Maine this week over the domestic spying issue:

A lawsuit aimed at preventing the Maine Public Utilities Commission from inquiring into Verizon Communication's alleged cooperation with a domestic surveillance program marks a new level of aggressiveness by the federal government, privacy advocates say.

The new level of aggressiveness stems from the fact that Maine didn't even file a lawsuit against Verizon. The state only asked Verizon to verify that it told the truth in press releases the company issued earlier this year:

On Aug. 9, the PUC issued a written order requiring Verizon to affirm the truth of seven statements the company issued in two press releases in May. The press releases were included in the company's response to the PUC.

In the unsigned statements, Verizon asserted in broad language that it had not broken any state or federal laws involving the privacy of telephone customers.

In its order, the PUC asked that a responsible company official issue a sworn statement affirming the truth of the statements.

So, Bush is suing one of the states he purports to govern because the state asked a major telecom to verify what the telecom already stated publicly. As absurd as it sounds, Bush thinks that violates national security:

In its lawsuit, the U.S. government said the company could not comply with the order without endangering national security.

"The United States will be irreparably harmed if Verizon is permitted or is required to disclose sensitive and classified information to the (PUC)."

Irreparable harm will come to all of us if Verizon has to tell the truth. Press releases don't require the truth, but answers to the government -- even state government -- do. Bush will go to any lengths to protect a major corporation in America. The only reason to go to such lengths is that Verizon is not telling the truth in their press releases -- which would mean that Verizon worked with the NSA.