McClatchy: Congress escapes, leaving NSA to eavesdrop freely

[babylonsister]

Commentary: Congress escapes leaving NSA to eavesdrop freely
By Joseph L. Galloway | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Thu, August 9, 2007


The nation’s capital is blissfully Congress-free this week as our senators and representatives join their colleagues in the Iraqi parliament on summer vacation. The Iraqis left Baghdad with an unblemished record of having done nothing. If only we could say the same of ours.

Our representatives in the Democratic-controlled Congress left town after one final, cowardly cave-in to Bush administration fear-mongering by passing a law that not merely extended but expanded warrantless wiretapping that further encroaches on the rights of every American and further erodes our constitutional protections.

What were they thinking? Do they really believe that the voters in 2006 elected a Democratic majority to take over the Republican role of rubber-stamping whatever The Decider decides is right?

The last-minute, late night and Saturday sessions by a Congress more accustomed to leisurely four-day workweeks also begs the question of why the sudden rush to jam through some of the most important legislation to come before it with minimal discussion.

Did any of our legislators even bother to read the details of this law, wherein the Devil surely resides? Were they aware that buried in those details was language that delegates to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell authority to order up eavesdropping on broad categories of American citizens?

Few in Congress on either side of the aisle have much confidence in our attorney general’s ability to do anything except cover the tracks of the White House and its denizens when they're bending, breaking and ignoring all manner of laws governing the politicization of our government and its agencies.

Yet they trust Gonzales with our phone calls, e-mails, letters and conversations on personal matters large and small? Sacre bleu!

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/18820.html

[I Have A Dream]

1. I'm glad to see this. K&R! n/t

[rudy23]

2. Those Dems who voted for this have no principles

None. They would rather go on vacation, then stay behind and hammer out the nuances in this bill that would've kept it Constitutional. Make sure when they come home to your district, you let them hear loud and clear just what you think of their vote.

[MsMagnificent]

3. One BIG K & R!

[tbyg52]

4. McClatchy rocks! nt