Speaking of cynicism, it is worth remembering that John McCain is not the only member of Congress to repeatedly stab the American people in the back (how do you Republicans like that accusation thrown back in your faces?). Numerous Democrats, including the despicable Majority Leader Harry Reid, have been in on the game:
TURLEY: Well itās not just Republicans. In case you noticed, thereās more than 31 Democrats in the Senate. But only 31 people voted against the immunity provision. The fix has been in for some time on the unlawful surveillance program and the torture program.
Many Democrats and Republicans were aware of the program and they are actively helping the White House to try to shut down any confrontation on the issue. And this is also helped by the fact that the telecoms are one of the five most powerful lobbying forces in Washington. And many of these members have close ties to those lobbyists.
Turley also singles out Clinton for her cowardly refusal to participate in the vote:
TURLEY: Well itās going to be harder to get this cat to walk backwards once you grant immunity. The question about the next president is a good one. But youāll note that in the vote on immunity, Hillary Clinton didnāt even show up to vote. She was in the area campaigning. Her opponents, McCain and Obama showed up.
But it really, I think, is symbolic of this disconnect betweenāhere youāve got someone who is campaigning for the president of the United States, making pitches of civil libertarians, but even doesnāt show up when sheās in the neighborhood to vote against telecom immunity. And Iām not just dumping on her. The fact is that thereās been a lot ofāreally duplicitous work being done, by both parties, to shield what has been a very fixed deal from the beginning on telecoms.
The rest is just a rehash of what you already know. Reid needs to go, and that should be the first order of business after the elections.