Closed late night sessions are indicative of the regard congress has for the citizens it is supposed to represent. I believe the democratic and republican parties are far more philosophically accepting of each other than most people would like to think. The voting constituency of both parties is of little importance to either party unless it is election season.
The primary issue for both republicans and democrats is their ability to “rule” this country with as little oversight as possible from its citizens. The divisions of race, creed, socio/economic status and religion (mixed with bigotry, prejudice and hate) are the mainstays of political manipulation by both parties and have been for sometime. The only response short of revolution is that all of us examine our reasoning in supporting our favored politicians and ask ourselves if what they represent is what we want to leave our children and grandchildren. I for one am going to vote for change and sincerity. I do not think this is will solve all the problems we face as a nation but it is a real “first step” in taking our government back from those who show blatant contempt for the very people they are supposed to represent.

Re: Gomerspile, March 14

Thanks, I would truly enjoy listening in on your private phone conversations, and since you have “nothing to hide” I’m sure you’ll agree.  So let me know exactly what I need to do to accomplish that, I mean really....you have NOTHING to hide, so.. how do I get “in on” your party line.  Seriously, I for one find it very generous of you to offer.  Just post the link and the verbatim that is needed so that everything is “above board” so to speak.  I’ll link right up.
**************

Thankfully the House did not waver on this measure.  The Washington Post:
“Then the House went off script. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) responded by all but calling the president a liar.

“We understand our responsibility to protect the American people. What the president is trying to do is something that we think should be stopped,” she said. “I am stating a fact. The president is wrong, and he knows it.”

It also said:
“The House’s action ensures that Bush will not receive any surveillance legislation for weeks—if ever.”

But better yet, it said:
“Lawmakers from both parties said the gulf between the administration and House Democratic leaders is now so wide that the issue may not be resolved until a new president takes office next year. Bush, who has threatened to veto the House measure, and Republicans have shown no desire to move further toward the Democrats’ position, and Democratic leaders show no sign of buckling under continuous political pressure.”

And all I can say is:  Oh happy day. Good job!

Washington Post link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2 008/03/14/AR2008031400803.html?hpid=topnews

No pardon for the telecom companies from the house or senate.  Let Bush use his power.

The House voted to hold the telecoms liable—no immunity.  Bush will veto and the dance goes on.  From this point on I hope the dims will pass legislation agreed upon by the majority of the country.  Bush will veto providing a bigger weight to tie McCain to all the failed neo-con policies.

The problem is our basic rights, as citizens, are being infringed upon.

“House Republicans succeeded Thursday in delaying the vote by one day by requesting a rare, late-night closed session of Congress to discuss the bill. It was the first secret session of the House in a quarter century.”

And that probably sums up the whole motive for the “secret” session, “delaying the vote by one day.”

No actually it was probably designed to throw the mindless and the obedient into a fit of panic. “Oh my gawd, they’re coming, they’re coming!” Which of course would lead to plea’s from the public to the congress to just do whatever the president wants!

But I doubt that happened. Everybody’s still busy buzzing about Spitzer.

From what I’ve seen and heard this morning, whatever the big secret was, it doesn’t seem to have had much of an impact. Except maybe on the blue-dog dems, who are really red dogs in blue coats, standing patriotically behind Bush.

Following dems questioning last night whether or not this was just a political ploy, Blunt (repub) basically admitted it really wasn’t a big deal. Although not necessarily in those words. So a lot of dems didn’t even bother to go.

Oh, duh ... it just occurred to me this was done so the congressaurs who are afraid to stand up to Bush will have an excuse!

So when their constituents ask why they didn’t listen to the voice of the people they can say,

“Well, the things I learned compelled me to change my vote.”

“What things?”

“I cant tell you, it’s secret.”

Oh these reps, they’re just a laugh a minute.