We have an utterly unique opportunity between now and the day in July that FISA is raised again in the Senate.
Many recent diaries, a damning poll, and strong appearances by Prof. Jonathan Turley on Olbermann's Countdown (links below) all lead to the same conclusion: we - the Democratic base and increasingly the American people - are realizing that the Democrats in power are accessories, colluding with the Bush administration to prevent crimes they participated in from ever being prosecuted.
Turley makes the compelling (some would say obvious) case that Democrats' 'mysterious collapses' on FISA, Iraq, impeachment, even censure - almost every issue - has its roots in what Turley calls criminal collusion. In the guise of "compromise", Democrats are carefully obstructing justice, sparing themselves from subpeonas and prosecution.
In the next 2 weeks we have our best chance - and maybe our last - for a "Mr Smith" moment where someone actually speaks this truth into the record on the Senate and House floor and changes the game.
I have already begun speaking directly with Judiciary Chair John Conyers and his staff about this.
Let's use this forum to help make it happen.
George Washington U. Law Professor Turley's powerful case (Countdown video)is buttressed by the undisputed fact that Pelosi, Rockefeller, and other Democrats were consulted about warrantless surveillance and torture years ago, and kept it secret. The bipartisan Gang of Eight - including Pelosi, Reid, and Rockefeller - was carefully included by the White House in these discussions to produce precisely this effect: to be able to insist "we informed Congress" and turn Democrats into accessories.
Sure enough, now the Democrats are using their majority, and the cover provided by even more corrupt Republicans, to sell out the Constitution because:
- they think their party will benefit politically this year, and
- they want to keep their own butts off the witness stand and out of jail
Democrats are not "compromising" as they claim. And they are not "weak" or "spineless" or "stupid" or "bad negotiators" as so many here naively repeat. Those are talking points they're praying we'll keep using so they can escape their crimes - whereas any ethics analysis would require Gang of Eight members to acknowlege their conflicts of interest, and even recuse themselves from debate on crimes they witnessed and kept secret.
BonzoDogBand's recent diary and poll shows 95% of Kossacks understanding this, with 55% certain the Democrats are guilty. Yes: the most loyal Democrats on the web quietly view their Democratic leaders as criminals. And if we dared connect the dots we'd all see just why our party "loses" to the minority on every issue, and what must be done if that's going to change.
It only takes one truth teller on the floor of Congress to change the game. It could be a Kossack with a track record for truth and bravery, like Russ Feingold or Robert Wexler. It's even more the kind of truth Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul might tell. Turley, Olbermann, and several popular diaries here have helped get the ball rolling.
Let's tell Kossack Representatives like Conyers, Wexler, Feingold it's finally time for their "Mr Smith" moment that will make history. It will take courage; they can use each other for cover if they're afraid. But let's not kid ourselves: without outing the truth, the FISA "compromise" is inevitable for exactly the reasons Turley says. Democrats and Republican leaders are eager vote themselves immunity - from testifying or being prosecuted in dozens wiretapping cases that can be dismissed instead.
It really should be Judiciary Chair John Conyers, whom I have already spoken to about it briefly. I've also been corresponding with his staff. But he has also publicly admitted - certainly regarding impeachment - that he sees the political benefits to his party outweigh his Constitutional duty. His silence so far on Pelosi's FISA conflicts suggests that's not the only Constitutional duty he'd trade to benefit his party.
You can call Conyers' office at (202)225-5126 and tell him that convenient collusion is just not acceptable from the Judiciary Chair.
We've got to start playing the real game. No more "spineless", "wimps" and "compromise" chatter. That's exactly what's making Democrats feel safe and tow the line.
Terms that get their attention are collusion, accessories, obstruction, and Turley, along with conflict of interest, liability, ethics, and recusal. Let's use them to tag more diaries on this topic, until they can no longer be ignored.