CivicActions

No one likes to be backed into a corner, especially politicians. Seems the spectre of appearing weak and ineffectual was enough for the Dems to surrender their votes on Saturday to the new and improved surveillance program backed by President Bush.

It's a lose-lose for the Dems. Had they voted against it and stalled the vote until after the congressional recess the GOP would have had plenty of fodder in the fall to cast Democrats as blocking important legislation. Having voted for the bill opens them to the criticism from their own party for participating in the erosion of our constitution, giving more power to an already discredited Attorney General, and supporting a program that that has yet to be proven effective inspite of its enormous cost to our personal freedom.

I can imagine the language being used on the floor yesterday to strong-arm the Democrats into acquiesence- talk of terror, threat levels, homeland security, and the same fear-inspiring rhetoric we've been hearing since September 11, 2001. I'd like to suggest that from now on when we refer to "9-11" that we also include the year - "9-11 2001." Two thousand one. That's six years ago. I know there are still terrorists in the world, but certainly after six years if we're still hoodwinked by the same old language then we deserve to have the wool pulled over our eyes and our phone lines tapped.

I'm sure it wasn't easy for some of our allies to cast their votes. But I'd like to think that given the choice between sacrificing our constitution or being seen with a little egg on their faces that they'd choose the later.

Unfortunately it appears as though the threat of egg was too great, the cost of protecting our rights too high, and the pressure from the GOP too intense, thus relegating the choice between a rock and a hard place to its citizens once again.

See also:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/washington/05nsa.html?hp

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/08/04/senate-democrats-cave-agree-to-...