You can see the endgame from a mile away. To his credit, Dodd has announced that he will filibuster the FISA legislation. Harry Reid has announced that he will co-sponsor Dodd’s amendment to strip immunity out of this legislation. Nonetheless, it’s clear that Reid stands ready to put the knife into Dodd, and to deliver the blow quickly:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced moments ago on the Senate floor that he would vote against FISA, but that he has an obligation to move legislation that the majority wants:
I don’t particularly like FISA, and I’m going to vote against FISA. But, I have an obligation here as the Majority Leader to move legislation that the majority of the body wants to go forward.
This is a very interesting concept. Apparently his obligation to move legislation wanted by the majority is operative only when a large majority of that majority consists of Republicans. He has done nothing to move legislation opposed by Republicans, but supported by a majority of the Senate. Republicans have been allowed to kill legislation, often politically popular legislation, merely be announcing an intent to filibuster.
In an even richer irony: Pelosi, without whom this bill would never have seen the light of day, and who voted for the bill in the House, has this to say:
At a breakfast with reporters this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said it would be “healthy and wholesome” if the Senate filibustered the House-passed bill.
There is, undoubtedly, a reason why the Democratic leadership feels impelled to cave to Bush, make themselves look weak and irresolute, and eviscerate the Constitution, and give a one fingered salute to their most loyal supporters. The money from the telecoms does not appear to be a sufficient explanation. Could they still be suffering from battered legislator syndrome. Could it be that they are still listening to the pundits who helped sell the Iraq War, and now insist that only the un-serious people (you know, the ones who opposed the Iraq War from the start) are opposed to making Bush an elected king? No explanation seems satisfactory, but as sure as there’s no God in Heaven, Reid will deliver this bill to Bush, despite his protestations.
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