Fragile much?
It's panic time again in D.C., as the Patriot Act is passed by the House and sent to the Senate.
Umm, really? I'm pretty sure that, somehow, the country wouldn't fall apart. If only because the entire House & 1/3 of the Senate are up for re-election next year. Is there anyone of significance who's not looking for another term? One wonders how these United States got through the first 225 years. They've got until the end of the month, and it's not as though there's anything else going on at this time of year.
This reminds me, in a far less significant way, of the fuss made by my American friends at the news that the Canadian government had 'fallen.' Yes, that's what it's called, no, there hasn't been a coup.
In other countries, far beyond the land mass you call home, there's a system of government known as parliamentarism. The main issue y'all would probably have with it is that those checks and balances you are so proud of between the executive and legislative branches don't really exist, as the head of the party with the most votes becomes the Prime Minister (head of government), while the head of state is the Queen. (She's locally represented by the Governor-General and it's mostly a ceremonial post.) There was a minority Liberal Government, and the Opposition made a motion of non-confidence, so they dissolved Parliament and there will be an election on January 23rd. Nothing to get your knickers in a knot about, it happens occasionally - five times in the last 100 years. And besides, it's not as though we're in the middle of a war or anything.
UPDATE: click here for hilarious commentary on the Canadian election campaign from Wonkette.
"In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment," Bush said, in a statement issued by the White House.
Umm, really? I'm pretty sure that, somehow, the country wouldn't fall apart. If only because the entire House & 1/3 of the Senate are up for re-election next year. Is there anyone of significance who's not looking for another term? One wonders how these United States got through the first 225 years. They've got until the end of the month, and it's not as though there's anything else going on at this time of year.
This reminds me, in a far less significant way, of the fuss made by my American friends at the news that the Canadian government had 'fallen.' Yes, that's what it's called, no, there hasn't been a coup.
In other countries, far beyond the land mass you call home, there's a system of government known as parliamentarism. The main issue y'all would probably have with it is that those checks and balances you are so proud of between the executive and legislative branches don't really exist, as the head of the party with the most votes becomes the Prime Minister (head of government), while the head of state is the Queen. (She's locally represented by the Governor-General and it's mostly a ceremonial post.) There was a minority Liberal Government, and the Opposition made a motion of non-confidence, so they dissolved Parliament and there will be an election on January 23rd. Nothing to get your knickers in a knot about, it happens occasionally - five times in the last 100 years. And besides, it's not as though we're in the middle of a war or anything.
UPDATE: click here for hilarious commentary on the Canadian election campaign from Wonkette.
posted by fabulous girl at
2:18 PM
1 Comments:
Cloture failed in the Senate, the PA itself can still be brought up for a vote. But hell, I'll drink to cloture failing too!
By
Rainster, at 10:46 PM
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