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FISA fiasco
By Mike Gruetzemacher/Cochise
The house passed its version of the new FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) bill June 20. By including retroactive immunity for those telecom companies that participated in illegal wire-tapping, the bill ensures that neither this Administration nor its sycophants will ever be held accountable for their actions.
Republican support for this bill is no great mystery. The GOP isn't called "the follow the leader party" for nothing. Why the Democrats caved in to the dictates of an unpopular, lame-duck president is harder to fathom.
So why did they? I don't pretend to have a definitive answer, but here are a few things to mull over.
Of the 210 Democrats who had initially opposed this bill, 94 changed their vote this time around. By a remarkable coincidence it turns out that the 94 who experienced this sudden change of heart had received on average 66 percent more in "campaign contributions" from the telecoms than the 116 Democrats who continued to oppose the bill!
Secondly, some Democrats have themselves been compromised, not by involvement in, but by tacit approval of this illicit activity. Republicans were smart to keep at least a few Democrats partially informed. You don't rock the boat when you're in it.
Finally, never underestimate the ability of the Right Wing Noise Machine to demagogue any issue where fear can be used as a wedge and intimidation as a bludgeon. "Blue Dog" Democrats in red districts are especially vulnerable.
Even before he had successfully eviscerated the Fourth Amendment, Bush hinted that he was going to use the legislative process to try to nullify the recent Supreme Court decision on Habeas Corpus.
Write our Congressional Representative, Gabrielle Giffords, now before the next round of fear-mongering begins and let her know that, Blue Dog or not, the next time Bush comes to shove, her duty is to stand and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
Republican support for this bill is no great mystery. The GOP isn't called "the follow the leader party" for nothing. Why the Democrats caved in to the dictates of an unpopular, lame-duck president is harder to fathom.
So why did they? I don't pretend to have a definitive answer, but here are a few things to mull over.
Of the 210 Democrats who had initially opposed this bill, 94 changed their vote this time around. By a remarkable coincidence it turns out that the 94 who experienced this sudden change of heart had received on average 66 percent more in "campaign contributions" from the telecoms than the 116 Democrats who continued to oppose the bill!
Secondly, some Democrats have themselves been compromised, not by involvement in, but by tacit approval of this illicit activity. Republicans were smart to keep at least a few Democrats partially informed. You don't rock the boat when you're in it.
Finally, never underestimate the ability of the Right Wing Noise Machine to demagogue any issue where fear can be used as a wedge and intimidation as a bludgeon. "Blue Dog" Democrats in red districts are especially vulnerable.
Even before he had successfully eviscerated the Fourth Amendment, Bush hinted that he was going to use the legislative process to try to nullify the recent Supreme Court decision on Habeas Corpus.
Write our Congressional Representative, Gabrielle Giffords, now before the next round of fear-mongering begins and let her know that, Blue Dog or not, the next time Bush comes to shove, her duty is to stand and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
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