We all know that the Senate and House caved in and rushed through a terrible bill to "amend" FISA, and have effectively removed all oversight on the government's ability to spy on its citizens. The White House wanted this bill because it make the administration's warrantless spying activities legal. The Senate and the House gave Bush the right to spy on Americans without a warrant, and they put Alberto Gonzales in charge of overseeing the program. Alberto Gonzales.
Why did our legislators allow this to happen?
This happened because the Republicans don't care about democracy, or the Constitution. This happened because 16 Democratic Senators, and 41 Democratic Representatives, were afraid of the mighty Republican power to call them names. Also, because they wanted to go on vacation, and they didn't want to spend their vacation being called weak on terror. They want to win in 2008, ladies and gentlemen, and their "winning" strategy is to run out the clock.
No "drastic" move, like upholding the Constitution, or listening to the will of the people, is going to get in the way of their ultra-careful march to the White House. Until the elections are over, Congress will write the bills the way Bush wants them to, and if he doesn't like what they send him, he'll veto the bill, and just send them one of his own. Did you know? The major function of the legislative branch of our government is to give their approval of bills written by the exectutive branch. So, wait until 2008, and maybe you can have this back:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Today, I'm going to call the DC and/or local offices of my Congressmen, and talk to them. This is not how our government is going to work. Are you mad, or sad? Talk to your Representatives and Senators.
This is an action diary. Please call today. It's too late to stop the FISA bill before recess, but it's time to let our legislators feel the heat. If your Congressmen, Dem or Repub, voted for this, let 'em have it. (Politely, of course. Kossacks are better than O'Reilly trolls.) If they voted against it, feel free to say thank you. Regardless of the vote, though, tell them directly how you feel about what happened. Do they understand how sad it is, that they are afraid of a weak President with Nixonian approval ratings? Do they understand that what happened over the weekend is exactly the same thing that led us into Iraq in the first place?
Talk to the House and Senate leadership. How did this nasty FISA bill get onto the floor? Why are they allowing the Exectutive Branch to tell them what to do, and how to do it? Why are they so afraid? What's this plan to "amend" FISA again? How many more times do they intend to let us down?
Don't they know that true patriots cannot trade liberty for false security?
This needs to stop, and it's up to us to do it. I will ask these questions of my Congressmen, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, and I'll post whatever responses I get in the comments. Please, if you call, post a comment about the response you get.
For reference, here are the roll calls on the FISA vote:
House roll call
Senate roll call (provided by Meteor Blades)