No Time For Recess

IBD ^ | February 15, 2008

[Kaslin]

National Security: House Democrats have committed what may be an unconstitutional abrogation of responsibility in the area of national defense. Congress is taking another vacation as it leaves us vulnerable to terrorism.

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly was in a hurry last week for the House of Representatives to begin its umpteenth break — which one this time? Valentine's Day recess? — so she could get to her daughter's wedding as early as possible.

But there are thousands of Americans whose presence was missed from their own loved ones' weddings and other family events over the past 6 1/2 years because our enemies in the global war on terror took their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

For Pelosi and her fellow Democrats to blow out of town without acting to stop the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) from expiring on Saturday, so lawmakers can for 12 days indulge in their personal leisure activities, goes beyond the usual outrages for which this 110th Congress has become infamous. Indeed, it rises to the level of betrayal of the Constitution.

Each member of Congress takes an oath solemnly swearing he or she "will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." The National Security Agency's terrorist surveillance program has clearly protected us against our enemies, foreign and domestic, in remarkable fashion in the years since 9/11 — with not one single attack on the homeland since that dreaded day.

For Pelosi's Democrats to be lounging around as that program is disabled by the FISA expiration deadline is to say to each and every American: "We care more about our own comforts than about our obligations under the Constitution to protect you."

[SandRat]

I like it worded this way

National Security: House Democrats have committed what may be an unconstitutional abrogation of responsibility and willful dereliction of their sworn duties in the area of national defense. Congress is taking another vacation as it leaves us vulnerable to terrorism.

[phrogphlyer]

"[H]e (the President) may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them..."
- U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 3

Sounds extraordinary enough to me. But I doubt he has the, ahem, backbone to do it.

[Kaslin]

I think you are going to be surprised

[phrogphlyer]

I hope so. I’m not holding my breath, but that would be nice.

[Kaslin]

Then it must have been a surprise to you that he didn’t take the terrorist attck on 9/11 laying down, like Gore would have done

[phrogphlyer]

I’m not looking for a fight about the President. I voted for the man twice, and if he could run again, I might just make it three in a row, especially considering the other choices this year.

That said, there have been a ton of wasted opportunities along the way, and I’m afraid this is just going to be one more. He’s got the constitutional authority to call these losers back to D.C. and make them do their jobs. He could accomplish something significant for the good of the country, and at the same time score some political points at the expense of the jackasses. But I’m afraid he’s too concerned about getting along. Problem is, getting along requires the cooperation of both sides.

I wish he would play political hardball with the House and Senate leadership with the same zeal he went after the terrorists.

[Balding_Eagle]

Sounds extraordinary enough to me. But I doubt he has the, ahem, backbone to do it.

I'm quite pi$$ed at GWB about a lot of things, but on the issue of terrorism he is always right there.

I have no idea how this is going to go, but when all the dust settles, the Commander in Chief is going to get his way.

The only disappointment is going to be that he won't humiliate the hell out of the Dems along the way. THAT's one of the things that pi$$ me off.

[phrogphlyer]

Yeah, that’s the problem. Too much bipartisan, ‘new tone,’ get along with everybody in DC crap. He could turn this situation into something as big as John Bolton’s recess appointment, but I really don’t think he will.

I have every confidence that he’ll do whatever he needs to in the fight against the foreign enemies. But I wish he’d do a little more about the domestic ones.

[Balding_Eagle]

I wish he’d do a little more about the domestic ones.

He won't. That has contributed a lot to McCain being 'our guy'.

Seesh, I can taste bile coming up by simply having to type "our guy'.

[purpleraine]

Let’s hear from some more baseball players.

[phrogphlyer]

Yep. It’s amazing how he can be so right on some things and so wrong on others. Still, like Kaslin mentioned earlier, he’s better than Gore ever would have been. Or Kerry. Can you imagine where we’d be if W had lost either of those?

[MilspecRob]

"We care more about our own comforts than about our obligations under the Constitution to protect you."

Interesting use of quotation marks. I would love to see the original text from the Speaker were she said this.

[Christian4Bush]

mark