Democrats once again are showing the American people where their priorities lie. Rather than bringing the Senate version of the FISA bill to a vote they have chosen instead to play political games which would eventually allow many provisions of FISA to expire. What’s worse, they interrupted the memorial service for Tom Lantos, the Democratic chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee who passed away on Monday in order to do so.

Moments after President Bush threatened to delay his weekend trip to Africa and force Congress to act before key intelligence programs expire, House Republicans staged a walkout to protest Democratic inaction on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill. Frustrated Republicans streamed out of the Capitol and onto the east steps of the Capitol, a powerful act aimed at stopping House floor proceedings and forcing a vote on the FISA bill.

The Republican walkout came after an angry morning in which both sides accused each other of improperly using House floor procedures during the memorial service of Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) who died Monday. Republicans were also angry that Democrats are taking up contempt resolutions against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers.

Hot Air has the video of Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) leading Republicans out of the House.

David Freddoso elaborates on the issue a little further:

Yesterday, the Senate voted to reauthorize the FISA bill with a veto-proof majority. The President wants to sign the legislation before it expires on Saturday.

But House Democrats did not have time to pass the Senate bill, because they faced the crucial and time-sensitive matter of voting on contempt charges against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers.

This is why the walkout took place. Republicans say they were not avoiding the contempt vote so much as they were upset that the House has time for that but no time to reauthorize a bill that is widely supported on a bi-partisan basis in Congress and by the public, and which must be reauthorized before Congress leaves. “The walkout still would have happened,” said one staffer. “Our message was that it’s interesting that you guys are willing to stay in town to play this useless political game, but you won’t renew the FISA bill, which has serious implications for national security.”

To be fair, the walk-out did allow Republicans to skip a vote on the contempt citations. But FISA is obviously the more important issue.

The Senate FISA bill has enough support to pass the House, if it’s only brought to the floor. The Democratic House leadership is playing to the left-wing base. They tried yesterday to pass a temporary extension, during which they could significantly alter the bill that passed the Senate.

By “altering the bill”, what David is referring to is the retroactive immunity offered to telecom companies who had cooperated with intelligence agencies in the aftermath of 9/11. The idea that these companies cannot be sued for millions of dollars for complying with a request from the Justice Department has driven the nutroots crazy, and House Democrats are attempting to pander to their base.

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Dumb Dems, Election 2008, Liberals, Politics, Terrorism, Video