Today on the House Floor an anemic but nevertheless heroic attempt by the great Bernie Sanders of Vermont to curb John Ashcroft's ability to peruse our library records and book purchases without warrant or suspicion was, after the 15 minute period allotted for voting, coasting toward a skin-of-the-teeth victory. A minor, if symbolic, blow for liberty.
Alas, it was not to be. Amid rumors of brutal White House arm-twisting the House leadership refused to gavel the vote. Losing by some 18 or so votes they kept it open minute after minute as the arm-twisting became more vicious. Slowly but surely Republicans peeled off, melted under the heavy breath of Bush and Ashcroft. Finally, after more than 30 minutes without a gavel on a 15 minute vote, the last Republican necessary to secure victory caved in (shocking, I know) and switched his vote -- after which the gavel scored another victory for the police state.
Thus goes another day in the Republican controlled Congress. There were some Republican heroes, including -- not surprisingly -- my boss Ron Paul. Thank God those evil Democrats aren't in control to take away our freedom!
