No matter what, Reid must go but if he shoves immunity through, the Democrap party must pay because it wont happen without them.

-- tempus

Feingold and Dodd are in that "Democrap" party.

Do I call Republicans Repukes? Yeah, and I probably shouldn't because their were once men of principle even in that party. They are either dead or Democrats now. But I also correct people who call them the "Democrat" party. While reading Little Brother's letter, which I needn't quote, I get the sense that much of his frustration stems from what I'll call Aycharaychism: The stubborn belief that you are the center of the universe and everyone everywhere thinks exactly like you do.

Anyway, just an observation.

What makes this story so (Sylvester the Cat voice) DESSSTHPICKABLE is that the behavior is so, well, Republican. Rupublicans love to hand off anonymous smears about their opponents, and projecting their worst motives on others is something they do basically whenever their mouths are open. It's fun, effective, and they never have to spoil their beautiful minds defending their positions.

But here's a tactical tip, Sen. Reid... Republicans employ these techniques on the...opposition party. It's really a lot more effective.

If you're going to be a corrupt, amoral backstabber, could you please learn a thing or two from your mentors? When they're pissing in your tent (again) make a note of which way they're facing.

Here's an email I received from Herb Kohl's office in response to one I sent asking him to support Dodd. It's scary how closely he's toeing the WH's talking points. Emphasis is mine.

In December 2005, the revelation that the President authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor telephone calls and e-mails of United States citizens without obtaining a warrant or court order raises important legal and policy questions. I strongly believe that the President, Congress, and the courts all share a common goal: to protect the American people. If terrorists are operating in this country, or people in this country are communicating with terrorists, everyone can agree that we must give our government the tools it needs to protect the American people, including the power to listen to their phone calls. Security, the rule of law, and the protection of civil liberties, however, are not mutually exclusive concepts; we can have all three.

Many telecommunications companies have been sued for their alleged involvement with the wiretapping program. Senator Rockefeller recently introduced S. 2248, which was approved by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence the same day. In addition to amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the bill would also grant retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies who participated in the wiretapping program between September 11, 2001 and January 17, 2007. Should this legislation come to a vote before the full Senate, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Shall we discuss, who's most responsible for damaging the CIA and dismantling the vetting procedures that insure the accuracy of our intelligence?

I can assure you that the results would reflect rather poorly on the Cheney administration.

But of course since we've established that shooter only exists to contradict and that his actual arguments are content free, we can rest assured that no actual discussion will take place.

I don't know; nor am I much concerned about it this morning.

I'm interested in contributing something to the discussions that take place here without a lot of bear-baiting.

That's about it, friend. Have a good one.

The House passed an immunity free bill, and that should be given more credit, and more weight in strategic deliberations towards preventing immunity from becoming law.

First off there's every reason to believe the key House figures would have the same pressure from the Telco lobby and yet they managed to resist it and pass a decent version of the bill (we can't forget immunity isn't the only thing wrong with the SIC version of the bill (pun not intended, but it does fit).

So I do think every effort is worthwhile to bolster Dodd, Feingold and Kennedy and the few others who were willing to act materially to stop immunity, pressure should also be on the House to oppose immunity and for Pelosi to promise not to pass a conference bill that contains immunity.

Cynically, I fear that the House's clean version was just a showpiece, and then when the soiled conference version arrives, they'll quietly acquiesce, but I'm not prepared to conclude that out-of-hand and simply give up. The House's version is a stake in the ground that should be defended.

I should just like to add that you may be focusing too much on the lesser of the two evils, and by that I mean the two parties running our government in our name. With a real adversarial and functioning free press, even Harry Reid might be a more decent politician, as politicians go. I know Glenn has cited this passage before:

The way to prevent these irregular interpositions of the people is to give them full information of their affairs thro' the public papers, and to contrive that those papers should penetrate the whole mass of the people. The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, our very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter...

Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington January 16, 1787

If you've been reading Glenn for some time, you know he's been doing the job Howie Kurtz gets paid the big bucks not to do.

I have read Glenn's articles now for the last few months. He brings amazing insight into what is happening in America and his reasoning is very impressive, as it teaches all of us how to put together constructive arguements relying on facts and not fiction. However, IMHO, Glenn and the rest of America have to take the next step.

Back in the UK we have a political system that is rotton to the core. We allowed the ruling elite to provide us with nothing but an illusion of choice, our pre-determined leaders have been chosen, our media is nothing more than an official mouthpiece for these inhuman criminals that thrive on dividing us and using our emotions against each other. The labour party is the conservative party and the liberal party, the conservatives are the labour party and liberal democrat party, and the liberal democrat party are the conservative party and labour party. Providing the party with a different name throw's the rest of us some different crumbs it is percieved by the masses as having a different ideology, but surprise surprise we all end up back at the same place.

Your constitution has been taken from you, not bit by bit, but right in front of your eyes, this is the level of power the ruling elite has over you. They even tell you what they're going to do, right to your faces, and you do not stop them.

Reid, Pelosi and the rest of the Democrat gatekeepers do not suscribe to an ideology of Democrat ideals, they are one and the same as the current gatekeepers. You voted to end the war, you voted to end criminal corruption within your political system, but surprise surprise you have ended back where you were in the first place. Remember, the EU has already trapped the whole of Europe, we agree to a European constitution without even having a vote, wake up America, you need to start shouting it from the rooftops, your two party system is not a system that includes you, there simply is no excuse for allowing a major organisation to spy on you for years and not hold it to account. The FISA bill is the line in the sand, you empower the ruling elite if you do not stop this.

Glenn, you need to call out the Democrat gatekeepers and all who are working for the ruling elite. People are waking up, back in the UK many of the people I know are suddenly realising why we are being distracted with reality TV and the media's attempt to keep us looking in the wrong direction. Bloggers like Glenn have the power to wake people up, but he must use this power to really cut to the bottom line and call these people out. Reid, Pelosi etc DO NOT WORK FOR YOU, they do not care about you, there is nothing they will not do to block your attempt to make their masters accountable for their actions, they will throw you some crumbs, but on a major issue that directly affects their controllers, you will NOT PASS!!. If this FISA bill is passed with immunity, you have to get rid of these people by any lawful means possible. The land of the Free and the home of Brave, next year will tell.