We can be justly proud that our Congressman voted against Iraq war funding and against the outrageous FISA bill, as did all our Connecticut Democrats.
It is unlikely that the Congress has ever surrendered so much power to a president in this nation’s history. They have made the most unpopular and no doubt worst president in American history into an elected (maybe elected, in his case) dictator, and have handed him the ability to complete a legal coverup of his own crimes. It looks like Barack Obama is going to sign on to this travesty. No doubt his thinking is that it will pass anyway, and voting for it would just give McCain ammunition to attack his terrorist fighting credentials. No excuse whatsoever, of course. If you are claiming to be a leader, you should lead.
All this is further proof, in any were needed, that republican government and Imperial rule cannot coexist. Congress is legislating itself into being a dead letter. All at the behest of a vile, incompetent little rich man’s son. The Roman Senate at least had the excuse that it was neutered by a Caesar.
This has gotten me really depressed. Such a needless surrender. I’m glad, though, that our Connecticut Congressfolks did the right thing, particularly Joe, because I could not have brought myself to contribute my time, money or effort on behalf of someone who voted for this bill. I have pledged money to Obama, and I’m going to send it, but it’s going to be hard to maintain any level of enthusiasm if he votes as he has signaled he will.
Afterthought: The Democrats were so craven on this bill that they are actually trumpeting the fact that they have gained something because the bill makes it clear that the FISA procedure is the exclusive way for the president to engage in wiretaps. This is supposed to be a major victory, except that the current FISA bill already says that the FISA procedure is the exclusive way for the president to engage in wiretaps. Buth ignored that provision in the past, and he will continue to ignore it. The odds are better than even that Bush will issue a signing statement to the effect that he reserves the right to ignore the law.
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