Mitch McConnell Caves

Brian Beutler, Media Consortium

Here’s Reuters: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell relented on Monday and said he would offer a short-term extension of an anti-terror surveillance law, set to expire this week, as he seeks immunity for telephone companies. The Kentucky Republican made the announcement as he pushed for passage of a stalled bill to replace the temporary law, which expanded the power of U.S. authorities last August to conduct electronic surveillance of enemy targets without a court order…. After it was clear McConnell did not have the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to clear a procedural hurdle and obtain a vote on passage of the bill, he said could agree to “a very short” extension of the law. “Republicans will not allow this critical program to expire and will offer a short-term extension, if necessary,” he said. With the law set to expire on Friday, lawmakers may agree on an extension of a week or so as early as on Tuesday, before House Democrats leave for an out-of-town retreat. A week isn’t very long. Stay tuned.

The text is from the poem “QUADRENNIAL” by Golden, reprinted with permission. It was first published in the Poetry Project. Inside front cover photo by Golden.
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