In the ongoing effort to protect the security of the telcos who spied on us, Bush and his lap dogs are holding their breath and kicking their feet.
Bush:
Asked about a potential deal with Democrats, Bush said, "I would just tell you there's no compromise on whether these phone companies get liability protection." The administration says it needs the help of the phone companies for its post Sept. 11, 2001, surveillance.
And his puppet-on-a-string, Kit Bond:
"Last week, the House Democratic leadership had the opportunity to put national security first but they chose instead to leave town for a twelve day vacation. Today’s so-called bicameral staff meeting is nothing more than a partisan attempt by Democratic staff at the 11th hour to dismantle the bipartisan compromise that a majority of the Senate and the House support.
"The time for excuses and more meetings is over. House Democratic leaders have had months to work in a bipartisan fashion yet they have done nothing but stall. If they want to work in good faith they should give their members the opportunity to pass the bipartisan compromise that protects civil liberties and gives our terror fighters the tools they need to keep American families safe."
That's Republican compromise for you: Democratic capitulation. When the House Dems and their leadership didn't capitulate, the temper tantrums ensued.
Let's just point out again that it was the Democrats who offered to extend the Protect America Act to "keep us safe," and Bush and the Republicans who forced that law to lapse.
Let's also point out again that this is not about national security. It's about mega-corporation security with the bonus of a cover up of the administration's law-breaking.
Bush and his rubber-stampers are the ones who've said all along that not having the Protect American Act would make us less safe. By their actions, in their own formulation they put corporations and cover up ahead of American lives.