The House Judiciary Committee approved contempt citations against Bolten and Miers on July 25, but (Speaker Nancy) Pelosi has yet to bring the measures to the floor.
The latest delay? The economic stimulus package.
Senior Democrats have decided that holding a controversial vote on the contempt citations, which have already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, would “step on their message” of bipartisan unity in the midst of the stimulus package talks.
Don’t worry, though, Pelosi will come up with some other excuse after it is passed. Oh, it’s nice to know that Pelosi “personally supports” the contempt citations. Six months on, you can’t get party consensus enough to pass this? And, if that’s not a reflection on your leadership style, that’s a reflection on a number of Democrats who are hiding in the shadows.
Reason No. 943? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears to be determined, come hell or high water, to pass a FISA renewal bill with telecom immunity. The claim that Senate Democrats lack the vote to do otherwise is patently ridiculous. All Reid needs is 41 votes to keep any immunity-riddled version of FISA renewal off the floor.
With the backbone of Pelosi and the brains and sentiment of Reid (I have a sneaking suspicion he actually, at bottom line and his protests to the contrary, wants the immunity-guaranteeing version), the cry just gets stronger and stronger for real progressives to bail on the Democratic party.
Sorry to the Kevin Drums, Josh Marshalls, fellow Watching Those We Choose bloggers, but “enabling” just doesn’t cut the mustard.
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