Friday, December 16, 2005




Is it a draw for privacy?

Round 1: Senate blocks Kneejerk Patriot Act. It seems like we're slowly waking from our 9/11-induced paranoia. Just as long as we don't sink back into the naivete of thinking that we're bulletproof, that's a good thing. This is also a sign that the Democrats actually believe that they can accomplish something in 2006, which means they might. This to me is much more significant than the kerfuffle over Reid's closed-door session. How's that probe coming, by the way?

Round 2: Bush defends policy after eavesdropping report. It's interesting to me that despite the long amount of time that this story has been brewing - the New York Times apparently wanted to scoop this story a year ago, but instead deferred to requests from the White House that the story remain unpublished for the sake of national security - the White House seems pretty unprepared to respond. Instead of the usual bluster, all we've had are a few mentions of the policies still falling under the administrations interests to "uphold the law."

I'll take round 1 unanimously. Round 2 is up in the air. If this official turns out to be telling the truth, we probably shouldn't be surprised by any of this. Still, the thought of it is pretty alarming. The payoff will be in whether or not anything comes of this. If the story is buried - I smell a terror alert - then we definitely have some work to do. But if more information turns up to possibly corroborate this story and the whole things festers - we may have them on the ropes.

And by them I of course mean the Man.


Posted by Joel at 12/16/2005 10:51:00 PM