I read this latest run down of the standoff between the House of Representatives and the Bush administration with respect to retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that enabled the Bush administration to conduct wiretaps without a warrant. The Senate and House have passed bills that would extend surveillance authority for our intelligence agencies. The primary difference is that the Senate version provides the retroactive immunity. The House version does not. The White House has said it will veto a bill without the retroactive immunity provisions. The White House explained, “EEK! TERRORISTS!” The White House did not, however, explain why, if the surveillance powers were so damned important, why they would risk the powers over the issue of immunity for telecommunications companies who, after all, have nothing to fear if they didn’t break the law — exactly the same rationale for why citizens shouldn’t bother their pretty little heads over warrantless wiretapping.
Anyway, the kids and I have been on another Jonathan Coulton kick this weekend. So, Coulton’s great tune “Re: Your Brains” made me think of the Bush administration’s standard operating procedure in negotiations.
For those who don’t feel like giving it a listen, the premise is Bob, a former office mate turned zombie attempting to negotiate with Tom to open the door.
All we want to do is eat your brains
We’re not unreasonable, I mean, no one’s gonna eat your eyes
All we want to do is eat your brains
We’re at an impasse here, maybe we should compromise:
If you open up the doors
We’ll all come inside and eat your brains
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, what with Grover Norquist having compared bipartisanship to date rape and all.
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