The week before the start of the recess was not good for the Democratic leadership in Congress. We got rolled. Bush finessed us but good.
We must turn the tables on him, and force HIS HAND.
The FISA re-authorization is a disaster. It takes off the modest and reasonable controls by the court, and gives them all to the DNI, who is a Presidential appointee. Thus, all control over the power of this fascist snooping is in the executive branch. I am NOT comfortable with this.
Democrats got into this position by doing two things wrong:
- They left it to the last minute.
- They negotiated in good faith.
We are looking at a 6-month sunset for this bill. To win, we must change the rules of the game. This must be done by:
- Controlling the calender: When Democrats return from the recess, they must spring a revision immediately on Bush. The revision must restore the rule of law and court supervision to this bill. The emergency stuff must be done according to rules. American citizen rights are PARAMOUNT.
- Control pressure: The bill must be offered before Petraeus’ report is accepted, and Petraeus’ report must be placed in abeyance behind the revision.
- Abort the filibuster: The Repukeliscum will filibuster this. We must defeat the filibuster by the use of the word “fascist”. This bill allows Americans to be spied upon, and there are no limits to the snooping. Ads MUST be run in the home states of Repukeliscum senators up for re-election, and in the house district of the Vulnerable 50.
A win here, a revision of the FISA bill to restore the constitution, is important. But, playing by Bush’s rules means a loss for Democrats. You must change the game to win.