FISA Fiasco: Too Little, Too Late Pat

photo by quinnums

An indignant Pat Leahy speaking now in the Senate: "The only reason they want this is to protect those in the administration who broke the law….they want to insulate themselves from accountability."

More indignation….Leahy October 18, 2007:

I think the fact that [the administration is] bringing so much pressure on the Intelligence Committee — and if the press is to be believed, the Intelligence Committee is about to cave on this and bring pressure on this committee to immunize past illegal conduct — is because they know that it was illegal conduct.

But where was the indignation when it could’ve done any good? Leahy January 23, 2008:

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have a number of Members who are supposed to go to the Davos economic summit tomorrow night, and I would note I have talked with Senator Bennett of Utah, who is the senior Republican on that trip, and the trip that is set to leave tomorrow night will not. We will put it on hold until Thursday, to determine whether we can leave on Thursday.

If I could have the attention of the majority leader for a moment. I appreciate the majority leader has been very clear. I happen to concur with him that this is important and we should finish it. All we want to do is to know how it will go. There is a Judiciary Committee amendment to the bill. I would not anticipate taking a great deal of time on that, but I think the distinguished majority leader is doing the absolute right thing.

This is kabuki. If Leahy was so damn morally outraged why did he do the el-foldo when Reid substituted for the Judiciary Committee bill (which contained no retroactive immunity) the Intel bill(which did)?

It’s all on the House now. Sign the petition to tell them not to cave like the Senate did.

Related posts:

1. HJC Schedules “Get Democrats to Cave on PATRIOT” Hearing
2. PATRIOT Renewal Hearing, Day One Wrap Up: Who Protects Us from the Protectors?
3. Holder Refuses to Stand by Statements Saying Violating FISA Breaks the Law
4. Can Skittles help fix the PATRIOT Act and FISA?
5. Senate Finance Committee Ends Amendment Process; Next Stop, Reid’s Office