(no subject)
House Republicans today defeated a measure to undo part of that wretched Patriot Act. I am upset at both the end and the means. The measure would have taken away the FBI's power to check our library records and bookstore purchases without a warrant. I don't like that they can do that one bit.
The method used to defeat it is also not beyond reproach. The roll-call vote is usually only open for 15 minutes, but House leaders kept it open for 38 minutes. If they had not, the measure would have passed, but the extra 23 minutes allowed for 10 Republicans to switch from "yay" to "nay." The measure was defeated with a tie of 210-210.
Upset, yes. Surprised? Not at all. I expect a majority Republican House to side with to side with a Republican Administration. I also expect the Republicans to be shrewd. As a Republican, I have had this perception that the GOP is interested more in winning whereas the Dems are more idealogical. The GOP just strikes me as sneakier.
In any case, this is one more strike against you, Mr. Bush, from an uncommitted voter.
House Leaves Patriot Act Unchanged
The method used to defeat it is also not beyond reproach. The roll-call vote is usually only open for 15 minutes, but House leaders kept it open for 38 minutes. If they had not, the measure would have passed, but the extra 23 minutes allowed for 10 Republicans to switch from "yay" to "nay." The measure was defeated with a tie of 210-210.
Upset, yes. Surprised? Not at all. I expect a majority Republican House to side with to side with a Republican Administration. I also expect the Republicans to be shrewd. As a Republican, I have had this perception that the GOP is interested more in winning whereas the Dems are more idealogical. The GOP just strikes me as sneakier.
In any case, this is one more strike against you, Mr. Bush, from an uncommitted voter.
House Leaves Patriot Act Unchanged