[NSA "Hearings"]

Tough Work.

I've been unable to get near a computer much today, but every now and again, I hear part of the NSA hearings. What's not self-serving (Republicans lecturing Democrats about the seriousness of terrorism while they make excuses for Bushie-boy spying on Quakers) is mostly unenlightening: Al Gonzales is a master of the well-told lie. However, I did hear this dandy a few minutes ago, from the insufferable Orrin Hatch, as he tried to explain why it was the administration may have failed to alert Congress to their illegal spying:

"It's hard to get something past 535 legislators."

Oh really? Let's check the record:

Senate vote to invade Iraq: 77-23.
House vote: 296-133.

Senate vote to pass PATRIOT act: 98-1.
House vote: 357-66.

Number of times Bush has vetoed legislation passed by his Republican Congress: 0

Number of times FISA has been amended to expand rights of Federal surveillance: 7
Number of these expansions under Bush: 4

So very hard.