Weekly Update (8/10/07)

Right-Wing Democrats Help Bush Pass Surveillance Bill
It is a huge disappointment to report that this week the so-called “Protect America Act” was passed into law. This bill will expand the National Security Agency's (NSA) ability to eavesdrop, without warrants, on phone calls and email with foreign parties. This bill is not even limited to individuals suspected of terrorism, and is clearly a threat to our civil liberties and the freedoms established by the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. This act in effect legalizes the wiretapping that the NSA, under the Bush administration, had been questioned for doing.

The Democrats who capitulated to Bush and voted for this bill are a disgrace to their party. In all, 16 Democratic Senators and 41 Democrats in the House helped Bush pass this law. All of DAPAC's endorsed members of Congress voted against this act. When we help elect more progressive members of Congress in the future, dangerous bills like this will not become law, and American liberties will be protected.

Democrats and Republicans Debate
The Presidential race continues to be in full swing, with both parties engaging in debates this past week. The Democrats participated in a debate sponsored by the AFL-CIO in Chicago, where key issues included union loyalty, support of big business, and opinions on NAFTA. With all of the candidates touting their support for unions and labor, the AFL-CIO has put off endorsing any candidate for the time being.

Foreign policy was another major point of debate, especially in the wake of Senator Obama's remarks that he would consider sending American troops to Pakistan if the Pakistani government did not fight terrorists on its own.

Obama drew criticism from some of his fellow Democrats, but fired back by saying it was ironic that those criticizing him “helped authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation.” Obama's statements were also attacked during a Republican debate held on Sunday morning. Republicans also debated abortion, especially how loyal each has been to the anti-choice cause. Rudy Giuliani skirted the issue, but on his website waffles on choice, supporting restrictions, and avoids taking a strong stance by proclaiming he wants to lower the number of abortions. Giuliani also takes credit for lowering crime in New York when crime rates went down by the same proportion in cities across the country. Third, he touts his tough stance on terror, although on his watch the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed a second time.

This Week's Polls:
Americans Want Bridges Fixed:
In a Gallup poll released Tuesday, Americans stated their views on the bridge disaster in Minneapolis. A majority (57%) feel that the event is an indication that the nation's transportation system has serious problems, while 37% view it as an isolated incident. To remedy the situation, 70% of those polled want Congress to spend more than $100 billion to repair the nation's bridges, while only 22% oppose such spending.

Voters Name Top Issues: In a New York Times/CBS News poll published this week, Americans ranked the issues that will be most important to them when they vote in the coming election. Of those that said they would vote in the Democratic primary or caucus, the three most important issues were Iraq, health care, and the economy/jobs. Of Republicans, the most important issues were terrorism/national security, immigration, and Iraq.