Just Politics

How Democrats fight terrorism

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi placed the Democrat leadership in opposition to the Patriot Act and providing law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the tools to fight the War on Terrorism.

Forty-three Democrats joined 214 Republicans in passing the bill, which dropped 14 of 16 expiration dates on provisions initially drafted into the law shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The House version provides for a sunset in 10 years on provisions allowing for roving wiretaps and access to library records.

However, Pelosi and the more liberal House members continued to try to weaken the Patriot Act during debate and many voted against it on final passage.

"The bill before us fails to assure accountability," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "Today, we are deciding whether the government will be accountable to the people, to the Congress and to the courts for the exercise of its power."

Congress has held numerous hearings overseeing the Patriot Acts implementation since its passage.

The bill primarily follows legislation established to allow law enforcement to take down organized crime. The legislation also allows for foreign intelligence agencies to communicate information with domestic intelligence agencies.

Media’s license

A conservative group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about CBS and its Bush National Guard story. The group complained that CBS producer coordinated the story with the Kerry Campaign. Republican Commissioners Michael Toner, Bradley Smith and David Mason wrote in the opinion that dismissed the complaint:

"It is not for this agency to determine what is a 'legitimate news story' or who is a 'responsible journalist,'" the three wrote.

"Allegations of coordination are of no import when applying the press exemption," they said. "What a press entity says in broadcasts, news stories and editorials is absolutely protected under the press exemption."

There you have it. CBS stands for Can’t Believe Stories.

Senate civility

Sean Hannity has brought to light a tiff between Sen. Orin Hatch and Sen. Charles Schumer during Schumer’s question of John Roberts to the Appellate Court confirmation hearings:

"Some [of Schumer’s questions] I totally disagree with. Some I think are dumbass questions, between you and me."

"I am not kidding you," Hatch continued. "I mean, as much as I love and respect [Schumer], I just think that’s true."

Schumer asked Hatch if he would like to "revise and extend his remark" for the congressional record.

"No, I am going to keep it exactly the way it is. I mean, I hate to say it. I mean, I feel badly saying it between you and me. But I do know dumbass questions when I see dumbass questions," Hatch replied.