Beneath the NSA legislation debate, McConnell seeks amnesty.

Just like torture, Gunatanamo, and everything else, the administration is now seeking amnesty for laws already broken through the earlier patently illegal NSA program.

Second, those who assist the Government in protecting us from harm must be protected from liability. This includes those who are alleged to have assisted the Government after September 11, 2001 and have helped keep the country safe. I understand the leadership in Congress is not able to address before the August recess the issue of liability protection for those who are alleged to have helped the country stay safe after September 11, 2001.

I would expect this issue to be covered exactly the same as amnesty was for "prisoner treatment." It will be a tiny footnote in the larger discussion, and when it is mentioned, it will always be framed as "protecting the frontline warriors."

However, any amnesty also serves to protect administration officials who ordered the illegal program. But we'll never hear that talked about.