Centerfield

It's really irrelevant, beyond congressional politics that is.

after all, if Bush's power to use warrentless wiretaps comes from congress's post 9/11 authorization of Bush to use whatever force and means necessary, what does he need the Patriot Act for?

And the beat goes on. Sensenbrenner blocked the 6-month extension and they ended up with an extension of six weeks, to Feb. 3rd.

Now the critters will run home for the holidays, and take the temperature of their districts. That way they'll know what posture to assume in January (for most, noisy but supine).

My least-favorite giveaway special appears to have finally passed, attached to a different bill than originally proposed. That's the one that snuck onto the original Patriot Act as an anonymous midnight surprise, one that the Dems with Hillary leading the charge managed to get removed. Broad vaccine liability immunity for big pharma. I don't mind muzzling the tort bar some, but you're supposed to get something out of it at least vaguely proportional to what you gave up. Like lower drug prices, maybe.

A cleaned-up overview of Crunch Day antics here.

I just can't wait to see how the White House will spin signing a month's extension when they first threatened to veto any such thing, and then agreed to sign a six month extension by saying that six month's is a long time, not like one month...