W's Watergate: How to Discuss NSA Wiretapping

Keep it simple, as the saying goes. Dick Cheney and the other GOP minions are framing their wiretapping crimes as a case where we can either follow the letter of the law or move aggressively against Al Qaeda. That's their "meme" - tough action on terror. Suggested response: It's not about Al Qaeda, it's about spying on Quakers - and for all we know, Democrats too.

They want us to picture Kiefer Sutherland in "24." Instead, imagine Tricky Dick with sweat on his upper lip, getting drunk and talking to the portraits on the White House wall. I got yer meme right here, pal!

Here's a point-by-point breakdown of the issue you can use when debating the wiretapping scandal with your favorite Republican:

Point #1: If they really needed more flexibility to spy against Al Qaeda, why did they oppose the proposed 2002 law change that would have allowed them to do just that?
Point #2: If they opposed that original law - which would have given them 45 days to go to a judge - then they don't want to go to a judge. Ever.
Point #3: That means they want to keep their spying targets secret. Ask yourself why.
Point #4: They've been using the military to spy on Quakers and other harmless peaceniks - right here in the US. Why? Because they say these Americans (who, need I say, were right about what would happen in Iraq) are a "security threat" - just like the unnamed NSA spying targets.
Point #5: Who says they've only been spying on Al Qaeda types? Them. What's their record for honesty been so far?
Point #6: They got the "moderate" Republicans to back off. They wouldn't even let their friends look at who they've been bugging. Why?

And here's a bonus point: For years everybody kept saying that Karl Rove was a genius who could anticipate the Democrats' every move. But he hasn't been much of a genius lately. Could he have been getting some secret help - from wiretaps?

So why do I say it's "W's Watergate"? Four simple reasons, to start:

• Their program is widespread, and illegal.
• This GOP Administration has a history of espionage against nonviolent, legal dissent by patriotic Americans.
• The GOP has shown a pattern of unethical and illegal electoral activity (i.e. New Hampshire phone jamming, Ohio scandals, etc.)
• They won't let anyone take a look and see who their spying targets were - even a judge with top-security clearance. Their secrecy speaks volumes.

The Senate, including supposedly high-minded solons like Specter, Hagel, and Snowe, has suddenly decided not to investigate the program. Instead, they're going to retrospectively legalize it.

That means the tawdry history of GOP eavesdropping, including the identities of its possible political targets here in America, will remain hidden - unless a) we elect a Democratic Senate, and b) it has the guts to do the job.

So our collective assignment is to elect that Democratic Senate, no matter how disappointed we may be with the gutlessness and moral weakness of many Democratic Senators. And those of us who are commentators will do our best to hold those Senators to higher standards of ethics and performance than they've displayed so far, should the Senate change hands this year. (Not that they tend to listen to us, or even acknowledge our existence ...)

How do we elect that Senate? One way to do it is to point out that, with this crowd, it's Watergate II - except the Senate lacks the guts to do the right thing, so we need to do it, to defend the Constitution.

Oh, one more thing: Leaving aside their honesty for a second - do you trust this Administration's competence? The Katrina gang is playing with your constitutional rights, without adult supervision. That's a disturbing thought.

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid. And make sure everybody you know has heard these talking points - before they vote in November.

A Night Light