Corresponding with fellow bloggers, I think it is fair to say that we feel like we dropped the ball on the FISA amendment. But, it looks like our congressional leaders really dropped the ball. As a huge portion of the blogosphere headed for Chicago, our congressional contacts did not reach out and tell us what was about to happen. As close as I can tell, they didn’t know themselves. It appears as if they were outmaneuvered even though they set the rules and controlled the agenda.
For the first time since I began blogging I actually felt shamed by the strong editorials in the Washington Post and the New York Times. They were way ahead of me on this and their rhetoric was admirably vituperative.
The short version of this story is that the House Dems found themselves in the position of passing a Republican version of the bill, or passing nothing at all. At that point, they should have cried foul and gone on recess.
[Update [2007-8-8 16:40:18 by BooMan]: I’ve got more on this now. Bush could have called Congress back into session (Article II, section 3) if they recessed without passing the FISA bill. Also, under the rules, a majority of the House can force a vote over the Speaker’s objections. They had the votes to force a vote on Rep. Heather Wilson’s (R-NM) bill, which we would not have liked. Ultimately, the fault for this lies with the Blue Dog caucus].
But they were not willing to take the risk of another terrorist attack occurring after they refused to accede to the administration’s demands. So, they caved. Completely caved.
It was an indefensible act. The law will sunset in six months. In the meantime, we will have to find ways to educate the public about this abuse of power. Any suggestions?
