What is the Democratic strategy on this FISA debate?

[kentuck]

There was something a little strange when the Senate passed the FISA bill so quickly and sent it back to the House for reconciliation. We all cursed! How could they do such a thing? But, the House did not rubber stamp it. They refused to give retroactive immunity to the Telecoms. Mr Bush said it would make our country less safe. Then, rather than compromise, he got on his plane and took a vacation to Africa with Laura.

When he returned, Mr Bush and the Repubs started on their fear campaign once again to scare people into believing that the Democrats were blocking the CIA and the rest of the intelligence agencies from gathering the information needed to protect this nation. Of course, they were lying - they only wanted the immunity for the Telecoms and, by extension, for Mr Bush himself. As of today, the House still has not surrendered to Mr Bush on this issue.

To give the Senate Democrats some credit, it was a much better politically strategic move to send it back to the House. If the democrats in the Senate tried to block it, the Republicans would filibuster or would talk it to death for political advantage. The legislation is in much better condition sitting in limbo in the House of Representatives. It can go nowhere if the Leadership does not bring it to the floor. Mr Bush and the Repubs appear to be out-maneuvered on this one.

[tekisui]

1. The Leadership in the House has impressed me, on this one.

They have stood and stopped what the Senate passed. Whatever the strategy, as long as it stops Immunity and chimpy, I applaud it.

[L. Coyote]

2. I did not curse. I said it was a sign the House would not cave. So now, the Rs

did not show up for the conference meeting! Yeah! They say there is a frikkin' emergency, but they can't be bothered with the conferencing.

[kentuck]

3. When was the conference meeting?

I must have missed that?