Security Will Dominate Congress's Short Fall Session (Republican Playbook for Fall elections)

Human Events ^ | 8/25/06 | Mike Franc

[teddyballgame]

When Congress returns from its August recess, the fireworks will come from three interrelated issues—counterterrorism, border and port security, and national security. Republicans, not coincidentally, enjoy a political advantage on all three and expect extensive media coverage of these high-profile issues to give them a much-needed political boost going into the November elections.

Though the fall session will be brief, congressional leaders hope to force votes on some or all of the following:

• One or more bills to clarify the legality of National Security Agency programs to monitor phone calls, financial transactions and other communications involving suspected terrorists and persons in the U.S.

• Legislation granting explicit approval for the military tribunals used to prosecute suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. (The Supreme Court ruled in its Hamdan decision that the current system lacks proper authorization from Congress.)

[teddyballgame]

Works for me. Paraphrasing a haughty, french looking Senator, "Bring it On"!

[KarlInOhio]

No mention of border security (either real or shamnesty) in the article. Has Congress decided the issue is too hot to do anything this close to an election? Incumbent security is far more important than national security.

[glorgau]

Strip search Americans in airports flying from Chicago to Iowa City and let Mexicans walk across the border unimpeded, and released if "caught". Makes sense to me.

[Soul Seeker]

IMO, it's not specifically mentioned because most of the others have the approval of the Senate.

When it comes to the borders, it's the House and some incumbent Senate Republicans up for re-election hammering home need for border security.

It hasn't been dropped, they are doing townhalls right now on it, but considering the administration and even the Majority leader of the Senate are on the WRONG side it's not part of the "party" platform in anything but the generic sense.