Wed
May 24 2006
07:19 am
Bridging the partisan divide
By: R. Neal

So, it looks like we can count on Congress to work together in a bipartisan way when it comes to defending corruption. Why haven't they protested illegal surveillance of American citizens, or anything else this administration does?

But this is a a pretty scary precedent. At least they had a warrant, presumably based on probable cause that says what they were looking for. How is it that saying goes? First they came for the unions, but I didn't care because I wasn't in the union, then they came for the Jews but I didn't care because I wasn't a Jew, then they came for me, and there was nobody left to defend me?

Maybe this will be a wake-up call to Congress that the Bush administration is out of control. It would be ironic if it took what appears to be a justifiable arrest and search to convince them.

But I'm guessing it's not. I'm guessing this is politics, so members of Congress who are up for reelection can point to this as an example of how they are discharging their oversight duties and providing checks and balances.

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Andy Axel's picture

From Your Link...

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2006/05/24 - 8:48am.

Officials said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had discussed Jefferson's situation with several fellow senior lawmakers and there was a consensus that he should step aside, preferably voluntarily, at least until his legal situation was clarified. It was not clear whether she or an emissary approached Jefferson. The officials who described the developments did so on condition of anonymity, citing the delicacy of the situation.

Pelosi had no immediate comment.

Ack.

Delicacy, my foot. It only takes me about five nanoseconds before I figure out that the choice is clear. Jefferson is undermining the election year efforts of the Party and Pelosi is helping him do it. How many Barney Fifes do we have in DC???

Pelosi needs to get a clue. Please send her one.

Web Site: (link...)
E-mail: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov

Washington Office:
2371 RHOB
Washington, D.C. 20515-0508
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Fax: (202) 225-8259

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Wasabi peas are people! They're people!

redmondkr's picture

 While you are running the

Submitted by redmondkr on Wed, 2006/05/24 - 9:35am.

 

While you are running the risk of incurring the wrath of the Godwin Police with your excerpt from Pastor Niemoeller’s poem, you have made an apt comparison. 

Suggesting the closing of a discussion simply because a participant cites such an apt comparison is apparently fashionable but the unpleasant truth is, "the shoe fits".

As more parallels emerge each week, Mr. Godwin could soon find himself reciting the poem as well.  A man in his position is a ripe target for monitoring.

As an aside, it's interesting to note that Republicans such as Arlen Specter show a great amount of outrage upon hearing of another Bush assault on the Constitution and they vow to fight for citizen's rights, but, after the cameras are switched off, they quietly climb back into bed with the administration.

nill illigitimi carborundum

Andy Axel's picture

Updated Update

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2006/05/24 - 3:35pm.

Jefferson refuses Pelosi's request.

"In the interest of upholding the high ethical standard of the House Democratic Caucus, I am writing to request your immediate resignation from the Ways and Means Committee," wrote House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in the one-sentence correspondence.

The Louisiana Democrat was defiant.

"With respect, I decline to do so," he wrote back to Pelosi."I will not give up a committee assignment that is so vital to New Orleans at this crucial time for any uncertain, long-term political strategy."

Calls her off and calls her out. Yow.

____________________________

Wasabi peas are people! They're people!

Andy Axel's picture

What more?

Submitted by Andy Axel on Wed, 2006/05/24 - 4:51pm.

Disavowal would be good.

Your point is taken, but still, I didn't mean that he was right in his assessment. He's responding back with a slap -- that he doesn't think that Pelosi has the will or the way to do anything about it.

This is the sort of respect that she commands?

Yow.

____________________________

Wasabi peas are people! They're people!

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