The U.S. Senate once again showed that it can’t stand up to Bush–this time by approving a new surveillance bill that, among other things, will block lawsuits against telecommunications companies such as AT&T and Verizon  that accuse them of helping to spy on U.S. citizens.

It has already passed the House and Bush is expected to sign it.

The vote was 69-28.

According to the Associated Press, some 46 lawsuits will now probably be dismissed.

The A.C.L.U has called this bill “a blatant assault upon civil liberties and the right to privacy.”

Barack Obama, by the way, ended up voting in favor of this bill.