To the Point
President Bush, the Democrats and the Fear of Terror
Alleged violations of privacy in the war on terror helped the Democrats win last November, but last week, both houses of Congress expanded the President's power of electronic surveillance. Plus, the instability of Iraq's Shiite-dominated government, a new challenge to America's voting systems.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenAlleged violations of privacy in the war on terror helped the Democrats win last November, but last week, both houses of Congress expanded the President's power of electronic surveillance. Were the new Democratic majorities out-maneuvered by a lame-duck president? We look at the politics and the substance. Plus, new questions about the stability of Iraq's Shiite-dominated central government and, on Reporter's Notebook, from California—six months before the first presidential primaries--a new challenge to America's voting systems.
Banner image: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) speaks during a signing ceremony for the Improving America’s Security Act of 2007. Joining Reid are House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (D-CT).
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesLessons from Basra, Once Called an Iraqi Success Story
Today's Washington Post says that, as British troops pull back from the southern Iraqi city of Basra, Shiite militias are battling among themselves . That's raising new questions about the stability of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated central government.
Read the story6 minBush Administration's Broad New Wiretapping Powers
President Bush may be a struggling lame duck, but Democrats can still be out-maneuvered if they think they'll be called soft on terrorism. As Congress was leaving town, both houses gave Mr. Bush the wire-tapping authority he wanted, despite opposition from the Democratic leadership.
Read the story34 minCalifornia Voting Machines Decertified, Susceptible to Hackers
With the first presidential primaries just six months away, are America's voting systems accurate and secure from tampering? The eyes of election officials around the country are focused on the biggest state in the Union and crucial for candidates of both parties in the presidential primaries on February 5, 2008.
Read the story9 min
