House Defies Bush on Wiretaps

[sabra]

Source: WP

Expiring Law's Fate Is at Issue


The House of Representatives defied the White House yesterday by refusing to make an expiring surveillance law permanent, prompting a harsh exchange between Republicans and Democrats as they prepared for an extended, election-year battle over national security.

The episode was a rare uprising by Democrats against the White House on a terrorism issue, and it inspired caterwauling on both sides about the dire ramifications of the standoff.

Republicans said Democrats were putting the nation at risk, while President Bush offered to delay his scheduled departure for Africa today to reach a deal. Democrats responded with charges of administration recklessness and fearmongering.

...

"If Congress does not act by that time, our ability to find out who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they are planning will be compromised," Bush said in a hastily arranged news appearance on the South Lawn of the White House. He said that intelligence officials were "waiting to see" if Congress would "tie their hands."

Democrats immediately said that the expiration of the temporary law would have little, if any, immediate impact on intelligence gathering. "He has nothing to offer but fear," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters after Bush's address.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021403940.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. I'm enjoying this. I'll still label it the Pelosi effect n/t

[Tatiana]

2. I guess constitutional professors and scholars shaming the Dems on national teevee may get some

results. I'll have to remember that for future reference.

[sce56]

3. Yeah Right I'll belive it When I see it!

They talk hard at first then bend over and say do me to Bush all the time!

[A wise Man]

11. They will cave in as usual

and "We the people of the United States" will lose again. Little by little our rights and freedoms are being taken away. Either we revolt or leave

[zanne]

12. You're right. I don't know why they always try to get out hopes up...

When we all know they'll give in to the minority eventually.

[tbyg52]

14. BOHICA!

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz.cfm?qid=136994
(See #13)

[frog92969]

4. "He has nothing to offer but fear,"

Ain't it the truth!
I'm guessing "off the table" Pelosi knows that better than anybody.

[nebula]

5. The first time in 8 years Dems have defied Bush on anything!

Has hell finally froze over??

[tridim]

13. I posted yesterday that it was an odd day

They defied Bush twice! It's like they knew the Repukes would walk out eventually, and yesterday they finally delivered.

Love your sig graphic BTW!

[Kaleko]

6. First time Pelosi got a nod out of me...

[comtec]

7. Too little Too late to start showing a fuckign spine!

but i suppose eventually is better than never.

[ixion]

8. that's some really lousy reporting by the WP... it's not about the law expiring or national security

as much as they try to make it out to sound like that: it's about covering the chimp's butt, and it's about our civil liberties, which the Washington Post seems unconcerned with. :grr:

[liberal N proud]

9. Somehow they will cave and give the bastard his way

I just have this sinking feeling about these things. Every time it looks like they will stand up to the SOB, they roll over like a whipped puppy and vote to approve what ever the regime has demanded.

[LeftHander]

10. Republicans need unfettered wiretapping for coming election...

That is the real reason they are moaning...