What to do when coward Pelosi writes asking for money:

[wtmusic]

Grab a Sharpie and write in bold letters across the donation form:

"Sending money when you uphold the f*cking Constitution, as promised"

Then send it off in the postage-guaranteed reply envelope.

She could have held off the Rape -er, Protect America Act indefinitely but brought it to a vote anyway -- even after she admitted it "does violence to the Constitution of the United States."

I've had it. :grr:

[Taverner]

1. Um, her hands are tied

I don't blame her at all - she's tried to get the ball rolling, but if she can't muster the votes there's no point in going forward is there?

Once again, we Democrats make some mighty fine circular firing squads

[wtmusic]

2. "Ball rolling"? "Muster votes"?

For what? She could have stopped this vote entirely, but instead the President is able to listen to your phone conversations, for 180 days (at least) with no one else's approval but Alberto Gonzales.

Her hands are tied by her own lack of leadership.

[Taverner]

4. How could she have stopped the vote?

The numbers were clearly on Bush's side - with all the Vichy Dems.

I'd blame them, not Pelosi. She's a Progressive Speaker leading a very conservative House.

[wtmusic]

5. "Why did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership

bring this bill to a vote over the weekend, instead of delaying it until fall or killing it outright?

The short answer? Political concerns. House of Representatives rules let the majority party control the schedule of votes, so Pelosi had the power to push back a vote indefinitely. In fact, Pelosi even said the legislation "does violence to the Constitution of the United States."

Many Democrats were worried about rushing to approve a bill just before Congress left town for a summer holiday. "Legislation should not be passed in response to fear-mongering," said Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey.

But in the end, the Democratic leadership became fearful about appearing weak in the so-called "War on Terror" and interfering with intelligence gathering, and scheduled the vote before they left town. Liberal publications such as Mother Jones responded by saying: "The Democrats can rest easily over the August recess knowing that they haven't left themselves vulnerable to political attacks. The rest of us can worry about whether the NSA is using its enhanced surveillance authority to spy on Americans." An article on DailyKos.com was even less complimentary."

http://news.com.com/FAQ+How+far+does+the+new+wiretap+law+go/2100-1029_3-6201032.html

[babylonsister]

6. I do:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-for-our-own -...

When it comes to the encroaching police state, the politicians of both parties have shown their true colors and their shirts are a disturbing shade of coffee.

The idea that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi supposedly "allowed" themselves to be punk'd again on a constitutional atrocity with scare stories and slick legislative strategy is indefensible and at some point you have to assume that it isn't just political malpractice or even spinelessness. When you see this legislation, on the heels of the passage of the Military Commissions atrocity last fall, you cannot escape the conclusion that the Democrats agree with the administration that the government must have unfettered authoritarian power to "keep the country safe."

Sure, a good many of them voted against it. But the Democrats control the agenda now and no legislation passes without the leadership's approval in this congress. They approved it. The pander wasn't to the red staters. It was those who voted against it who were pandering --- to us. If the Dems had wanted to stop Reid and Pelosi from putting this atrocity up for a vote they could have. They didn't.

And not only did they approve it, they refused to pass the bill that everyone agrees was sufficient to update the FISA rules alone and granted the administration its latest power grab instead. What could have been a real debate about who, in fact, is keeping the country safe and free, they turned into a political failure that makes them appear even weaker than before. And in the process of doing this, they were willing to give Alberto Gonzales the power to eavesdrop on his political opponents -- themselves. (Considering what we know about what he and others have done at the DOJ, it's absurd to assume he won't, isn't it?)

The powers that have now been legally invested in the executive branch, the military commissions and this new warrantless wiretapping authority, can be used by anyone. That means that on one level at least, the unitary executive theory has found bipartisan acceptance --- the fourth amendment is as quaint as the Geneva Conventions. Every single vote along these lines that ostensibly are done to "protect" us, is a step toward the authoritarian power that lies at the heart of Dick Cheney's wet dream. This has been done with almost no real debate or discussion, since our representatives have chosen to also codify the ridiculous secretiveness that continues to hold that even though we know what we know about this from the front pages of the New York Times, they still can't discuss it openly. Certainly, they didn't deem to share with us (again) why there was such a rush after years and years of not moving the uncontroversial aspects of this legislation and ramming through yet another constitutional assault in the dead of night.

[peacetalksforall]

3. It's really difficult in concept. I think it's time to go local. I remember

receiving a letter asking for money for three Congresspeople in other states who were running against Republicans who sat on the Republican side of the Judiciary Committee - the ones who totally embarassed themselves, but who were successfulf in moving the impeachment of Pres. Clinton to the Senate. I sent money. All three Republicans were defeated. I was one happy person and considered it money well donated.

I don't remember the Democrat winners' names now - would have been 2000? If any of those three voted for spying, I will consider it an uncalculable foolhardy thing that I did.

I will not contribute to anything or anyone that is DLC connected.

I will save my money for Al Gore and whoever he might choose.

I will not contribute a dime to 'the' representative from my State who betrayed the nation.