http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/opinion/10mcconnell.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


Mike McConnell has an editorial in today’s New York Times, which I have not yet read – but I have little doubt it will be a doozy! The mere title, “Help Me Spy on Al Qaeda,” and the text highlighted: “Congress needs to pass a law that improves foreign surveillance,” is damn near laughable if this guy wasn’t actually serious. Shouldn’t you be writing this for the Wall Street Journal or even The Washington Post, Mike? The aforementioned latter text mentioned itself is ridiculous because congress already has passed a law that already has improved foreign surveillance by your own assessment, Mike! First sentence: “The Protect America Act [PAA, as in PAA-lease!!], enacted in August [namely because, a) congress was facing the threat of not being able to take their vacation & b) doctored intelligence was being circulated that there was an imminent attack on Capitol Hill that for some reason might be prevented if the PAA was ratified ASAP] has lived up to its name and objective…” Yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah. I am frankly rather dismayed that The Times even bothers publishing anything from anyone in this the administration that lost ALL of its credibility. I presume they extend the courtesy because they were, after all, the publication that broke the other big news story of last week that will in all likelihood play out over the tenure of this already scandal-ridden administration’s term. It does not seem like much of a stretch that said administration will attempt to usurp as many more powers as it possibly can in its extraordinarily weakened state. I believe I have said as much in the past, but it is important to keep in mind that a weakened opponent is potentially that much more dangerous, as there is increasingly less for them to lose.