An unremarked upon aspect of the fracas over the NSA eavesdropping intelligence program is the implication that Democrats in Congress have no faith in their leadership.  In bygone days when there was bipartisanship on foreign policy and security matters — when politics stopped at the water's edge — it would have been considered standard procedure for the president to work with the leaders of both parties on the relevant Congressional committees, as Bush in fact did in informing Congress about the NSA program.

By expressing such outrage at what the White House actually did — it met with the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees — the Dems are saying that conferring with their leaders in Congress is not sufficient. 

What can this mean but that the Dems have no faith in their own leadership?  Which brings up the question of whether the public should have any faith in them either.

Greg Richards    2 10 06