I don’t suppose that anyone associated with Baron Hill, Joe Donnelly, or Brad Ellsworth read this blog and care to offer an explanation for their vote on the bill to increase Bush’s wiretap powers? Bush hasn’t shown himself to be trustworthy and is even taken to blocking members of his administration from testifying before Congress.
I’m sure these Democrats will tell us either that they thought it was necessary to help prevent terrorism or that they were afraid of being painted as weak on terror. As to the former reason: based on what? Because the Bush administration told you so? Until this administration shows that it is trustworthy with matters that don’t involve our civil liberties, don’t believe the administration when it tells you that Alberto Gonzales needs more power.
As for the latter reason, there is an easy response: This administration can’t be trusted with power. If they want to prove themselves trustworthy, perhaps they could start by complying with subpoenas and seeking treatment for their collective bout of Alzheimers disease whenever they’re testifying before Congress.
If there are other explanations, I’d like to hear them.
Doug, maybe they were actually smart enough to realize that this administration has only a year an a half left, whereas, Al Queda & friends won’t be letting up anytime soon just because “W” is out of office.
There’s also a very real possibility that a Democrat will occupy The White House next time around, and of course if that happens, these will be “necessary” tools for that administration instead of the “sinister” tools they are to this administration.
Even the “cheerleader” who is authoring this comment is becoming disgusted with these Democrat’s actions. . .
BTW Tim, what color is the sky in your world?
Blue Skies, nothin’ but Blue Skies!
They probably voted for it because they have districts in Indiana not exactly a stonghold for liberal view points.Mr.Ellsworth who is my congressman can do what he wants as long as he doesn’t follow the national party on illegal immigration.This is a conservative district is my guess why he voted for it.
I thought conservatives favored limited government. Probably more accurate to say that Ellsworth’s district is a Republican district.
I’d say they are well on their way to matching the Bush Administration in not being trustworthy with power.
Sing The Who’s song, “here comes the new boss / same as the old boss”…
I do think Tim raises an extremely valid point: each camp sees itself as the Good Guys, and the other camp as The Evil Empire. The Republicans decried the filibusters the Democrats used in the minority… until they were in the minority and ready to employ them as well. I don’t have any doubt whatsoever that Democrats in power will use/have used spying tools on the population and would use them just the same as Republicans.
The Democrats will enjoy the same power after the next election. It’s just too bad they didn’t start impeachment proceedings when they first got into office, which is why (IMO) they were given control of Congress.
Doug, I was as dismayed and disgusted as you are that ANYone would vote to give Lord Voldemort and his lapdog Bush more power. What the hell are these people thinking? Or maybe they’ve drunk the Kool-Aid?
There’s nothing to indicate either of these parties favor limited government.Seatbelts,wiretapping,what foods can be fried in,the list is endless. Frank Mcloskey represented this district(8th).I’d say this district is conservative not Republican.Our family are all registered Democrats.If the Democratic party doesn’t have room for the Blue Dog Democrats that’s fine with us we’ll voite Republican,probably will anyway for President although it hardly matters in Indiana.
We favored the Democrats on most major issues as being better than the Republicans but for Democratic presidential candidates to rail to be for the working people then want basically a open borders policy to import more cheap labor to compete against the very people they claim to have such compassion for mainly the working poor is very hypocritical indeed.The Bush admisistration has basically the same policy.
The crap that went on in the House last Thursday night where Republicans and 17 conservative Democrats won a vote 215-213 denying benefits to illegal immigrants and the vote was gaveled a defeat was truly pathetic!So much for the Pelosi promised ethics and fair play and not conducting business like the Republicans did when in control.
The only body with a lower approval rating than Bush is Congress.Who would have thought it possible.
I made a note to check back and see if any readers had heard from their representatives. Nancy Pelosi issued a press release shortly after the FISA bill passed. Russ Feingold published a message at HuffPo. I checked the websites of Sen. Bayh and the Indiana congressmen. So far, not a word on S.1927 from any of them.
Don’t forget that Senator Bayh voted for the eavesdropping bill.
I sent a fax to his district office criticizing him for giving unfettered power to a President and Attorney General that are unfit for office.
I send faxes now because there is a delay when letters are sent and our Congressional elected officials don’t provide email contact except through a web email form.