Really, this is about fighting terrorism:
The House approved a bill Thursday that would grant legal status to President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program with new restrictions. Republicans called it a test before the election of whether Democrats want to fight or coddle terrorists.
“The Democrats’ irrational opposition to strong national security policies that help keep our nation secure should be of great concern to the American people,” Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement after the bill passed 232-191.
“To always have reasons why you just can’t vote ‘yes,’ I think speaks volumes when it comes to which party is better able and more willing to take on the terrorists and defeat them,” Boehner said.
***After the House voted 253-168 to set rules on tough interrogations and military tribunal proceedings, Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was even more critical than Boehner.
“Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and 159 of her Democrat colleagues voted today in favor of more rights for terrorists,” Hastert said in a statement. “So the same terrorists who plan to harm innocent Americans and their freedom worldwide would be coddled, if we followed the Democrat plan. “
This isn’t about fighting terrorism, coddling terrorists, or keeping America safe. It is about power, and it is little more than using the fear of terrorism to keep the party in power entrenched in Washington. That the legislation is flawed, wrong, and likely to be overturned is immaterial- it is the motivation behind the legislation that is so disgusting.
Apparently they just weren’t getting enough bang for the buck out of gay-bashing this election cycle.
capelza
Sigh…I can’t count how many times I have pointed this out to people around me.
It is so bloody obvious, why don’t people see it?
Nicholas Weaver
Of course they are following this strategy.
It WORKS.
The average american is too buisy/ignorant/whatever to figure out that this (and the torture) legislation HURTS our security, makes our republic LESS secure, and diminishes us in the eyes of the world.
And the numbocrats are too cowardly/ignorant to put up a fight!
Mr Furious
As sickening as all of this shit is, the statements above are actually the worst part. The Republicans are so fucking blatant and transparent about this, and they are getting away with it. Split the blame between an ineffective response by Democrats and a fucking feckless media.
[vomits in mouth]
Mr Furious
And guess what. They will still fucking hold both chambers when it’s all sadi and done. The fact that this shit still plays in Peoria convinces me of that.
capelza
I think you are right, Mr. Furious..I just came from elsewhere..someone was talking about “antiquated ideals”..that is, the pre-Bush American values.
ThymeZone
That’s the CW on this, but I am not sold.
I think the ‘Crats are too smart to be sucked into a Washington power struggle that they can’t win. The timing is rigged and the rules are gamed to give the GOP talk show invitations and a soapbox for their talking points right before the election.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, about these legislative moves is straightforward or without ulterior motive. The entire process is theater, with the screenplay written and directed by Karl Rove. It’s a Heads I Win – Tail You Lose ploy, and the best thing Democrats can do is just ride it out. In January, the cleanup begins.
Timing, as they say, is everything.
chopper
i still don’t understand why the GOP has such a big problem with the idea of checks and balances. it’s kinda a big part of the consitution.
Punchy
Nah. If you think Americans are dumb, well…they also have very short memories. This is the last shot the R’s can take until November. This’ll pass in days, if not hours. No one’s gunna remember a vote on a not-even-a-bill by Oct. 1…
Some dumb blonde will go missing or straight kick it, and Nancy (dis)Grace will have a hard-on covering it for the next 97 months. Unless it’s actually Grace who straight kicks it, in which case I’ll be sporting the wood. (sorry Krista…where’s Krista been?)
ThymeZone
Check, please.
Nicholas Weaver
punchy: My bet? There will be a distraction, but it will be an even worse one.
Between now and November, there will be a new bin Laden tape if that F@#)$(* murderous F@#)$(*@# @#)$(*@#)($* is still alive.
Why? Because bin Laden understands his strategic objectives, and knows all too well that the Republican party is acting in his best interest. Witness his reverse-psychology campaign video for Bush in 2004.
Bin Laden, if alive, will probably release a video, which will have two objectives. Objective 1, continue the “warning” that he is obligated to give under Islamic law. Objective 2, knowing that the “warning” will not be heeded, encourage voters to vote Republican/support the administration by denigrating the administration.
Call me a bleak, cynical bastard, but I’d bet real money on this happening.
Proud Liberal
yeah… I voted for a bill that I know is unconstitutional:
DougJ
Bin Laden, if alive, will probably release a video
I’ve heard that he and some of his henchman are going to perform the popular “Million Ways” dance. If that doesn’t scare voters, nothing will.
Edmund Dantes
The reason it plays is because people come back with a statement like this (and I actually faced this in a discussion on torture)
“There has too be a .00001% chance that this will effect you or someone you know in any way.”
Richard Bottoms
>Of course they are following this strategy.
Look how long it took John to get wise and he pays attention. Even with him the best I hope for is he stays home on election day.
This election is not about convincing Republicans and never has been. Any bullshit they give you about how they might vote Democrat if only we would be “reasonable and realistic” is the same rope-a-dope crap they have been dangling for the last six years.
We do not need a single Republican, screw em.
It’s about convincing the 2% of independents in the nation who are open to changing their vote. No one else matters.
And I don’t mean the McCain suckers (Dems who buy his act).
The same dimwit 49% that voted for Bush will be back at the polls on November 7th voting for the rethugs again, out of fear of terrorists, or loathing for fags, or love of Jezus.
You can’t reach them, you will never reach them. Stop wasting your time.
Karl Rove knows he will never get your vote so he keeps his 49% and works double hard at hoodwinking that crucial 2%.
Convince that 2% that Bush has the Vasiline out and is greasing them up one more time and we might gain control of Congress.
SeesThroughIt
You would be amazed how many wingers cannot grasp this. Actually, I guess it isn’t that amazing–if they were to grasp this concept, then they would have to wonder what that says about Bush’s foreign policy that bin Laden wants Bush in office. But yeah, they dutifully chirp, “Bin Laden wanted to get Democrats in control–look at his tape from 2004!” without worrying themselves with, you know, thought ‘n’ stuff.
El Cruzado
As a foreigner living in the US on an H1B visa, I’m creeped out by this in such a way that words fail me.
Even getting a green card won’t help if The Man decides to take an interest on me. Way to go.
Nicholas Weaver
SeesThroughIt: Worse, you see it in some semiofficial analyses…
EG, this Air Force “Quick Looks” on “Cognitive Effects” (aka Psychological operations)
http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/pdf/johnson_cognetics.pdf
I actually emailed the contact point that they had it backwards on Al Quaeda “October Suprise” tape, that the operation was succesful because it was intended as reverse psychology (the part that wasn’t intended as an islamic warning, that is).
Richard 23
Sigh. Those were the good old days. I prefered the gay bashing to the Constitution bashing. I guess we’re getting closer to the part where they come for me and there’s nobody left to protest.
Pb
SeesThroughIt,
And of course the GOP quotes bin Laden to justify their policies. Seriously, down to the level of “Why should we do X? Because bin Laden said Y!” But of course we couldn’t trust Saddam–just bin Laden.
Pb
Maybe the GOP has finally decided to stop discriminating, and just attack all of our civil rights equally.