You said:

If I see him treading water on FISA or even pushing us further into the depths of constitutional crisis, I will tell him,

"Treading water on FISA"???? Looks to me like he's holding our heads underwater and waterboarding our constitutional rights.

And BTW, many have been trying to "tell him" as you suggest, and a fat lot of good it's done.

Is it a "constitutional crisis" when portions of the Constitution are stripped away, one by one, without a peep of objection from our so-called party leader? Instead we get a "oooh, it's SO bad out there, we've GOT to take away these constitutional rights to keep you SAFE."

Bullshit. Formerly this was bullshit peddled by Republicans. Now the Dems have opened a franchise.

Posted at June 26, 2008 7:27 PM in response to Obama's Been Trying to Tell You

I dunno. I think these guys think they are so f***ing smart they can dance rings around the Congressional persons. So they probably relish the opportunity to go up to the Hill and make fools of the panel. And from what I've seen of some prior Congressional "questioning," that shouldn't be too difficult a feat.

Posted at June 24, 2008 9:46 PM in response to Addington and Yoo to Testify on Interrogation Practices

Isikoff is a total jerk. Too bad you tried to work with him. Try a "real" journalist like Sy Hersh.

Posted at June 22, 2008 7:22 PM in response to The Media Conspiracy The Media Won't Touch

Here's a suggestion: you know that $100 [or $50 or $25] you were going to send to the Obama campaign? Send them HALF of it.

Then send the other half to a good progressive House candidate. [I see that Wexler has an ad here. Regina Thomas (http://reginathomas4congress.com/) is another good candidate. Just stay away from Blue Dogs like Sestak, McNerney, Chris Carney, Heath Schuler et al.]

The way to "keep [get] Obama honest" is to put good people in the Congress. It's harder to do from afar.

Posted at June 22, 2008 7:17 PM in response to Powers For Me But Not For Thee - doesn't work that way

I hope the Blue Dogs, Steny the Snake and Nancy realize that Donna's the poster child for what's going to happen to each of them: booted from their seats by an intelligent, responsible individual.

The FISA capitulation showed their true colors -- and Donna's mettle. You can run Blue Dogs [and House "leadership [sic]"] but you can't hide.

Posted at June 21, 2008 6:34 PM in response to On the House floor, a Star is Born

Sorry for the typos. Couldn't see the keyboard through the smoke coming out of my ears.

BTW, an "edit" function would be welcome here.

Posted at June 21, 2008 3:46 AM in response to House Dems' Fundraising Email Promises "Strong" Dem Majority -- On Same Day AS FISA Cave

It's difficult to see why the spineless Dems voted for this bill -- other than the one suggested by Professor Jonathan Turley [that Dem leadership (sic) is covering its ass to keep secret their knowledge of, and lack of action against, Bush war crimes].

Purported Reason #1: "we'll be called weenies by the Republicans." Well sh*t, if being called weenies gets them so scared, maybe Dems are "soft on defense." The Republicans' playing of "the Fear Card" didn't work all that well in the 2006 election. Is there some reason to believe it's got more power now?

Purported Reason #2: "the Blue Dog Dems told us they were vulnerable to challenges by Republicans in their districts." Two responses: 1) these Dogs aren't really Democrats. They don't vote like Democrats, and their only usefulness is that that put Dems in the majority [and thus Pelosi in the Speaker's chair with Steny the Snake right beside her]. There are going to be LOYS of new Dems come November. Shedding a few of these imposters wouldn't be a loss.

2) Why should the leadership [sic] bend the legislative agenda and image of the Democratic party at the whim/request/threat of some folks who aren't really Democrats? I rest my case.

Purported Reason #3: There are really bad people out there, and FISA is an effective way to combat them. [Almost a verbatim quote of Pelosi today.] Plu-leeze. Too stupid to even merit a response.

This whole thing just stinks to high heaven: the shredding of what used to be our constitutional rights for NO discernable reason.

Posted at June 21, 2008 3:44 AM in response to House Dems' Fundraising Email Promises "Strong" Dem Majority -- On Same Day AS FISA Cave

I think a good place to express our outrage is to the DCCC and DSCC: Chris VanHollen & Chuck Schumer. Letting them know how dissatisfied we are, and that we won't be answering their pleas for $$$, and contrasting that with the $200,000+ that Glenn Greenwald and the firedoglake & emptywheel blogs were able to raise in under 48 hours, ought to speak in a language they can understand.

Posted at June 21, 2008 3:32 AM in response to House Dems' Fundraising Email Promises "Strong" Dem Majority -- On Same Day AS FISA Cave

And BTW, what ever happened to "we need 60 votes to cut off debate" that Dems are always whining as an excuse re why they can't get decent legislation passed?

Doesn't that mean the Repubs need 60 votes to cut off debate and get a vote on FISA? They've managed to use their "minority status" to block stuff in the past; why don't the Dems -- whether they're majority, minority, or whatever they are these days -- take a page from their book and bring back the good ole filibuster?

Posted at June 20, 2008 8:45 PM in response to Senate Opponents Decry Immunity Deal

I just don't understand the rationale behind the Democratic fold.

Pelosi and Steny the Snake Hoyer have said that the Blue Dog Dems came to them and said they "couldn't have this issue hanging over their heads" in the upcoming election. Huh? So a few worthless not-really-a-Democrat-anyway folks are going to get defeated in conservative districts by Republicans?

First of all, I highly doubt it. The "fear, fear, FEAR" meme didn't seem to work so well in 2006; why does anyone think it will do better this year?

Second, why should Pelosi & the Snake give a damn about saving some Blue Dogs? There are going to be MORE Dems after the 2008 election. Losing a few who aren't really Dems is not a problem. [I'm looking at you Heath Schuler & Chris Carney].

Third, why should the Blue Dogs "set the agenda" and establish the values [i.e., shredding the Constitution] for the Democratic party? So in order to "save" these Blue Dogs, the leadership [sic] is willing to have the entire party branded as weak weenies?

Finally, has anyone seen Pelosi's remarks on the floor in support of the FISA bill? Shameful!!!

I just don't understand the reason Pelosi & Hoyer "led" the party over this abyss.

Posted at June 20, 2008 8:41 PM in response to Senate Opponents Decry Immunity Deal