Hypothetical

Here's a hypothetical for you.

Suppose you're a U.S. Senator who is considering FISA legislation. During your discussions, the director of the intelligence community, whom you think is credible, tells you that domestic wiretapping powers are needed due to a very credible, imminent threat of a serious terrorist attack.

Do vote for give the power ....
....or do you vote to maintain civil liberties. And probably more importantly, how do you think American voters would want their Senators to vote?

As best I can tell, this is exactly the dilemma that faced Democrats over the recent FISA discussions.

Added: It looks to me like Bush did what he often does with people and their reputations, their credibility. He used McConnell's creds to get what he wanted. Now McConnell is burned. He can now join the ranks of Colin Powell, Petraeus (soon to be burned), and all the other administrations officials who have been used up.

If true, it's amazing how many people, political and policy professionals, are naively allowing themselves to be used. These are not stupid people, and yet in one of the most basic human interactions .... trusting another in authority ... they are getting eaten for lunch.

Here's a money quote from one of the above links:

Senator Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said a crash course in the ways of Congress might ultimately help the retired admiral get his way.

Mr. McConnell has “admitted ruefully that he’s not experienced in politics,” Mr. Bond told reporters last week.

“And I suggested to him that he is getting a whole lot of experience very quickly.”