The Closed Door

The Senate today has been forced by Democrats into a rare closed-door session. Harry Reid has led the Democrats to demand answers in the wake of the Plame Indictments of Scooter Libby and the ongoing investigation of the White House.

This is a fascinating event: it signals a kind of backbone, but one enacted with certain wisdom. In the false and contrived media frenzy surrounding the re-nomination of an conservative judge to the Supreme Court, Reid has forced the nation's attention back to where it is needed most: the moral and ethical fibre of the country's leadership. How does [Insider-trading] Bill Frist respond?

"I demand on behalf of the America people that we understand why these investigations aren't being conducted," Democratic leader Harry Reid said.

Taken by surprise, Republicans derided the move as a political stunt.

"The United States Senate has been hijacked by the Democratic leadership," said Majority Leader Bill Frist. "They have no convictions, they have no principles, they have no ideas," the Republican leader said.

Reid demanded the Senate go into closed session. The public was ordered out of the chamber, the lights were dimmed, and the doors were closed. No vote is required in such circumstances.

Reid's move shone a spotlight on the continuing controversy over intelligence that President Bush cited in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Despite prewar claims, no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq, and some Democrats have accused the administration of manipulating the information that was in their possession.

Those smarmy, manipulative, media-hoarding Democrats have no principles!! Because a principled, ethical, legal, and appropriate response to any of these investigations [including white-collar crimes, like insider trading investigations] is to not investigate! That's principle! That's leadership! That's [not] political grandstanding!

That is what is best for America!!!! gaaaah!!!

Mr. Frist, perhaps you should go promote good Republican Breeding to hilight those supposed values...

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UPDATES
Hang out at Aravois' place for some nice info, and also peruse the dKos threads and comments to get some of the gravity of this event.