As a long time defender of the Democratic party, I've had to swallow one surrender/capitulation after another. They just don't seem to get it. Don't understand that the Rethugs operate with a different set of rules; they set the agenda and don't compromise. They have a take no prisoners approach to everything where ruthlessness is the greatest virtue.

Most Democratic voting, progressive, left-leaning, people I know don't behave that way. They generally see the goodness in people and believe in peaceful negotiation. Maybe these qualities aren't suitable for our adversarial political system.

What happens when an aggressive, warrior tribe encounters a peace-loving tribe. Who survives? Or maybe the Democratic party is just too diverse. Certainly, there's a big difference between a Louisiana Democrat and a Vermont Democrat, whereas Republicans seem to be more homogenous throughout the country.

I am deeply disappointed with the cave in. I think the Dems are terrified by this: "if you don't give me bill and the terrorists attack us you will get the blame". That is the background against which Bush 28% has faced down the majority party. And the Blue Dog Democrats don't help. All in all I have lost respect for Reid and Pelosi. Oh, by the way, they are introducing a bill to cancel out the last one!

I'd be interested in hearing why everything crossing the border can be searched without a warrant, (including the body cavities of citizens), but not telephone calls. What makes them so special?

What happens when an aggressive, warrior tribe encounters a peace-loving tribe. Who survives? -- hyonahil

What warriors?

is the fact that so many people still think Pelosi, Reid, and this latest group of Democratic "inner party members" (there will always be enough D's to get these things through, they let some vote the "right" way for appearance's sake only) "capitulated" or "surrendered" to Bush on this when it's as clear as the brownshirts on their backs that they are every bit the fascists that the Republicans are.

Welcome to Amerika baby, it CAN (and has) happen here.

All the pieces are in place, I guess it will actually take seeing the likes of Micheal Moore and/or a bunch of lefty bloggers actually lined up against the wall and executed for the vast majority of Americans to finally realize they are now living in a dictatorship. And even then I expect them to accept it as just the latest in "reality tv". Hell, who am I kidding, they'll probably instantly send it to number one (with a bullet).

Viva la' Bush.............

Still looking for an answer....

I'd be interested in hearing why everything crossing the border can be searched without a warrant, (including the body cavities of citizens)-- shooter242

The only "body cavity" that is relevant here is the vast expanse of empty space between your ears.

In these sad, sorry days of dwindling rational discourse, it is not often I find myself nodding approvingly over the editorial page of the Washington Post, but today is an exception.

To call this legislation ill-considered is to give it too much credit: It was scarcely considered at all.

This is as reckless as it was unnecessary…

The administration will no doubt again play the national security card. Democratic leaders say they want to move quickly to fix the damage. If only we could be more confident that they won't get rolled again.

---

“Won’t get rolled again” is exactly the right theme for the work that’s ahead of us to restore some basic sanity and sense to not only this legislation, but to the Democrats in Congress who just lay down and get run over - repeatedly.

Cue the music:

We'll be fighting in the streets

With our children at our feet

And the morals that they worship will be gone

And the law that spurred us on

Its judgment oh so wrong

Left us no choice but to sing this song:

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around

Look at Congress and say

This can’t be like yesterday

Then I'll get on my knees and pray

We don’t get rolled again.

No, no! .

With all due apologies to you know Who.

They're politicians and they crave power. that's the only reason they're there. Its their goal to step on the necks' of the American people the same as the administration and the Republicans. The only difference is that Bush and the Republicans are up front about it. The Deomcrats go through this rediculous hand-wring and then quietly capitulate every time. They're covering their asses. Let the Republicans and the President look like the thugs and present themselves as powerless pawns of the evil ones. Well they have the majority in BOTH houses. No excuses.

People should wake up and realize that NONE of these politicians are in the least bit interested in doing anything other than consolodate power. They have no interest in the american people besides campaign contributions and votes.

As it stands now, they are hostage to this fear. Worse, they are displaying signs of Stockholm Syndrome, and slowly identifying with the agenda of their captors instead of that of their constituents. That this should be happening now, when their opposition is at a historic low and the country is clamouring to support them if they'd but act, is even more heartbreaking.

-- Howard K

Even I don't pretend to know what the people in a state like Virginia think. I'm pretty certain it is in an entirely different universe than mine here in CA and even here some people are happy with that bill.

There is only one way to get this cowardly party strong. Stop giving them money. Go to Democrats.org and tell them that you're not giving any more money to the party until they get some backbone and do some real work to get us out of Iraq and give us back the freedoms that Bush inc. has taken away.