For Fear Of Fear - Part One
It has been an exciting and fascinating two days, yesterday and today. It has been the best and worst of American democracy in action. The thrill of victory in stopping the contemptible SSCI bill with telco immunity yesterday, and the defeat today in extending the similarly contemptible Protect America Act.
Chuck Schumer: We Will Fix the Bankruptcy Bill
We just had a panel on economic issues, with Byron Dorgan, Chuck Schumer, and Sherrod Brown. It took until the last question--mine--for anyone to bring up the Bankruptcy Bill.
From these three Senators, there was little dispute: the Bankruptcy Bill was a bad bill and it needed to be fixed. There was also the recognition that the part of the bill that pertained to protecting houses had exacerbated the foreclosure crisis.
That's
Reid Thanks Christy and McJoan on FISA
I'm at a schmoozy event at the Senate today--Harry Reid gave an opening speech focusing on the areas where progressive loud mouths have really helped out the Senate.
He spoke for a bit about FISA--repeating what he has said publicly (that if the Republicans won't accept a PAA extension, then it will expire).
The Jeff Sessions-BushCo Mutual Protection Racket
Jeff Sessions is helping the Administration evade the Presidential Records Act. That shouldn't be a surprise, though, because Sessions and the Administration have been protecting each other for some time.
Was It Her Colleagues, or Her Constituents?
Did Hillary return because her colleagues asked her, or because her constituents asked her?
Bush Would Forgo New FISA Programs to Make Sure Dick Gets Immunity
Bush says he wants a new FISA bill, and he wants it now.
The White House told Democratic congressional leaders Saturday that President Bush opposes a 30-day extension of an expiring eavesdropping law and instead wants an expanded version to be passed by Friday.
“The president would veto a 30-day extension,” a senior administration official said.
Mukasey, Orwell, and Bradbury
Keith Olbermann notes, with great dismay, that Michael Mukasey chose to hang a portrait of George Orwell in his office (the other portrait is Chief Justice Robert Jackson, which makes me quite happy). I'm willing to take Mukasey's word that he admires Orwell for his writing (and his thoughts on language). Yet I don't know how to square that with Mukasey's endorsement of the Bradbury renomination.
Bush's Secret Cyber Initiative
I'm all for being more proactive about protecting our country from cyber-attack. But I get really uncomfortable when Bush signs off on such plans in secret, particularly when the details suggest the plan is inadequate and has too little oversight.
How to Lead: Chris Dodd Edition
While Hillary and Obama were leaving the work of legislating to others, Chris Dodd stepped up to lay out the stakes for the FISA debate. Senators are not entitled to see their amendments pass. But they are entitled to this: a good-faith debate, honest criticism, and, ultimately, a vote. Last night, they didn’t get it.
Hillary, YOU Don't Get to Decide to Seat Our Delegates
Hillary's call to seat MI's and FL's delegates is a reckless ploy that threatens to do real damage to the party. And as a MI voter, I'm incensed that she would suggest SHE gets to decide whether our delegates get seated.
Reid on FISA: It's Up to the President
Harry Reid says it's up to the President whether he gets a FISA bill or not. It's a good message. But it's one we need to repeat all weekend long.
Bye Week Trashtalk: The Mystery of Brady's Boot
I'm beginning to believe the whole Brady Boot thing is a plot, cooked up by Bill Belichick, to seriously mess with the press and possibly even the Giants pre-game planning.
The Gazan Jail-Bust and Middle East Dynamics
While we were all glued to CSPAN on the FISA fight yesterday, Hamas engineered a massive jailbreak that may have redefined the dynamics of Middle Eastern politics.
Anti-Immunity Porn
Feingold and Dodd are still working hard to defeat immunity for the telecoms.
How to Establish an Empire without Congressional Approval
Charlie Savage has a great article summarizing Bush's threats to establish a security relationship with Iraq without consulting Congress.
President Bush's plan to forge a long-term agreement with the Iraqi government that could commit the US military to defending Iraq's security would be the first time such a sweeping mutual defense compact has been enacted without congressional approval, according to legal specialists.
After World War II, for example - when the United States
Reid: The President and the Republicans Want Failure
One of the things we're fighting for now on FISA is to make sure the Republicans get pinned as the obstructionists here. The key is explaining that the Republicans don't want to protect our country, they want failure.
What Ever Happened to "Upperdown Votes"?
Say what you will about Senator Reid. But right now, he's in a giant showdown with Mitch McConnell (and, disgustingly, Jello Jay Rockefeller), and I guarantee you'd rather have Reid win than McConnell.
The Republicans have refused to allow an "upperdown" vote on any amendment since the Leahy substitution amendment went through.
Fieger Judge: Prosecution "Unusual;" Government Must Explain Recusal
The federal prosecutors prosecuting Geoffrey Fieger are going to have to reveal to him why the top lawyers in Detroit's US Attorney office recused themselves from the investigation--seven months after it began. Judge Borman has judged that, "the reason for the November recusal – is essential to permit the Defendants to argue their claim, of Government misconduct."
Did Bush Re-Nominate Bradbury to Control Mukasey?
Mind you, I'm sure Bush re-nominated Steven Bradbury, the second incarnation of John Yoo, because Bradbury has dutifully shredded the Constitution on demand, and Bush would like to reward him. But the National Journal's coverage of the Bradbury re-nomination raises an interesting point. It notes, as does everyone else, that Bradbury's nomination is a big "Cheney yourself" to the Democrats who have refused to approve Bradbury's nomination in the past.
Dick Wants His Immunity, and He Wants It Now
Dick Cheney decided that he would be a good person to exhort Congress to pass telecom immunity and that the Heritage Foundation would be a good venue for doing so. It's laughable on its face. The pity is, it'll still probably work.