Thwarting Bush. What a concept. Even on a small scale it is comforting to finally see the members of Congress taking a stand. Keeping the Senate in session technically during the holiday break to nullify Bush’s ability to make recess appointments to top goverment positions. Finally. Maybe the backbone is beginning to regenerate.
Archive for the 'Congress' Category
According to the Washington Post, Cheney admits having the subpoenaed records on warrantless wiretapping. Apprently he isn’t talking about being in possession of just a paper or two, either. There are lots of them.
They include 43 separate authorizations from President Bush for the program, which had to be renewed approximately every 45 days beginning on Oct. 4, 2001.
The letter also lists dates, from October 2001 through February 2005, for 10 legal memoranda from the Justice Department. Although Cheney’s office has copies of the memos, none of them “was rendered to the Office of the Vice President,” (Cheney council) Coffin wrote.
But in a characteristic fit of vice presidential pique, he refuses to abide by the congressional subpoena and turn them over.
“When the Senate comes back in the session, I’ll bring it up before the committee,” (Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman) Leahy told reporters yesterday. “I prefer cooperation to contempt. Right now, there’s no question that they are in contempt of the valid order of the Congress.”
You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t follow the logic in Leahy’s statement here. Seems that if there is “no question that they are in contempt”, what’s the issue? Why did they need wait until after recess to consider further action? My patience is wearing more thin with my own Democratic Congress right now than it is with the Bush/Cheney regeime. At least with Bush/Cheney we expect delay, dishonesty and deceipt. We don’t (at least I don’t) necessarily expect it from those we voted in to reign in that kind of behavior.
(h/t Talk Left)
In yet another stunning feat of absurd acquiesence, the Democratic Congress that we voted in to rescue us from the pseudo-maniacal behavior of the Bush Administration voted to temporarily extend that administration’s powers of non-authorized eavesdropping and covert other things. What the hell??? Weren’t they supposed to be dedicated to overturning that kind of tyrannical presidential behavior?
The more I think about what is going on in this government today, the more I am convinced that we are heading into another dark age — one brought on by our own lackluster response to these egregious government oversteps!
From Blast Off! :
I’ve allowed that there probably have been legitimate reasons for much of the Congressional action, or inaction; I mean, for example, I totallydisagree with Nancy Pelosi’s decision to take impeachment off the table, but at least she has a plausible rationale. So, I’ve generally given the Dems a pass.
Until now.
…The Senate’s acquiescence to the Bush crime syndicate on FISA this time is unforgivable. I can’t for the life of me understand what they are thinking by giving Drunky McStagger more authority to violate individual rights; with all the evidence that when you give them an inch, they take a mile, you knowthat this is going to lead to more warrantless domestic surveillance, whether covert or not. If they did this only because “Bush promised to veto a stricter proposal,” then they’ve lost their last shred of honesty and integrity.
I concur. Ditto. What he said.
