Thoroughly Un-American

Tom DeLay may be known as 'The Hammer,' but Nancy Pelosi nails his latest outrage.

"Today on the House floor, Republican leaders once again undermined democracy, this time so that the Bush Administration can threaten our civil liberties. How thoroughly un-American."

In a move reminiscient of the Medicare vote that has led to charges that the Republican leadership in the US House bribed Rep. Nick Smith to secure his vote, just one of the scandals surrounding that particular piece of legislation, DeLay and his minions once again held a vote open beyond the customary limits, this time to kill an amendment offered by Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that would have removed the PATRIOT Act provisions that allow federal investigators to examine library and bookstore records without going through normal warrant procedures.

As the time for the vote neared an end, the Sanders Amendment was passing by 18 votes when the Rs stopped the game clock and started 'Hammer time,' as Democratic members chanted "Shame, shame, shame." The variety of threats and bribes that were employed in the effort to "educate" House members can only be imagined, but once they secured a 210-210 tie, the vote was finally concluded, some 20 minutes after the normal limits.

You have to give DeLay some credit, though. At least when he uses extraordinary procedures to kill legislation, at least it's legislation he wants to kill, unlike his hapless counterpart in the Senate. They're unified, though, in their hostility to the rights of the American people.

"How thoroughly un-American."

Indeed.