DC tales

Three telling tales from Washington in the news today, two of them Senate motions that failed. And they’re handily grouped right there at the top of the Washington Post’s webpage.

1. Republicans in the Senate filibustered a bipartisan effort to restore habeas corpus to terrorism suspects. The measure was an amendment to the Senate’s annual defence policy bill. Republicans 1, human rights 0, US Constitution 0.
2. Senate Republicans also rejected another bipartisan measure, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., that would lengthen home leaves of troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. John Warner, R-Cowardville, Va., caved to White House pressure and reversed his stance. Ah, so this is what supporting the troops means! Republicans 2, US troops 0.
3. And the White House is asking Congress to make permanent the warrantless wiretapping law it passed during a bout of unconstitutional cowardice in February. Game can still be evened up; it stands at Bush 1, US Constitution 0 right now.

Yes, America, these are the priorities of the Republican Party. Covering George Bush’s ass, rather than actually caring for human rights, the US Constitution or the American men and women in uniform.

UPDATE: Oh, but wait! There’s more! The asshat junior senator from my home state, Texas, is planning to do the real work of the nation by introducing a resolution to whine about a newspaper ad. Guess we can all breathe easier; the war will surely end now.

Someday, my country will return. It got lost about seven years ago. I just hope it doesn’t take too long until it finds its way again.