What’s Going On?
You can read all kinds of stories about the FISA, but Ken Strickland, Senate Producer, NBC News, has this version out tonight: Dems cut surveillance deal with White House
WASHINGTON – In the war on terror, Democrats claim President Bush has abused the power of his office, violated civil rights, and trampled on the Constitution.
But when given the chance last week to challenge the administration’s use of wiretapping, Democratic leaders instead chose to cut a deal with the White House.
The result? It may now never be known if the Bush administration broke the law or sidestepped the Constitution when it launched its secret surveillance program shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.
…On Thursday, the Senate is expected to give final passage to that deal — a bill that better regulates ongoing surveillance activity.
…
The matter is so politically complicated and nuanced, the party leaders have opted not to lead. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says there’s no party position on this bill. So Thursday, members can vote their conscious or with their political instincts.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi summed it up this way before her chamber passed the bill last week: “So again, a difficult decision for all of us. I respect every opinion that was expressed on this floor today. The knowledge, the sincerity, the passion, and the intellect of those who support and oppose this have been very valuable in making the bill better,” she said.
Pelosi concluded by saying, “I’m not asking anyone to vote for this bill. I just wanted you to know why I was.”
The leaders won’t lead and the Democratic Party has no position on the Constitution. And should support and vote for them because?
If the vote takes place tomorrow, the apologists will have to finally admit they got played. We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out, but I don’t have much hope that Senators will find a spine between now and the vote.
5 comments
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“[V]ote their conscious” [sic]?
Who are congressional Dems kidding, trying to convince us they are conscious when they vote?
This November, I’ll do what I pledged to do. After that, the DP has some ‘splainin’ to do if they want my vote.
(Lilian Jackson Braun readers will recognize the ref in the current name of my site. I had to call it something.)
They are facing a President with poll numbers that would have to go up to be in the toilet, and they cave in on everything. They don’t seem to think they have to convince anyone to the left of Genghis Khan to vote for them.
This is not why the Democrats won in 2006, and they are blowing their chances in 2008. People are not going to turn out to vote if this is what they are going to get for their effort.
And that’s exactly what you did, Steve 😉
I’ve changed blogroll, but let’s see how long until other people notice.
Guess I’m off your blogroll then. Thanks for letting me know.