Was Blind, But Now I See

It is truly amazing how politicians can change their stances on any given issue, if the public perception of that issue changes. But sometimes, there are other reasons for the flip flop. Rep. Jane Harman of California has been on the House Intelligence and Terrorism Risk Assessment Subcommittee for eight years, and the ranking democrat or Chairperson of that subcommittee for the last 4 years. When she was originally briefed on the Presidents plan to subvert the 4th amendment and use the NSA to wiretap the conversations of American citizens without the pesky need for a search warrant or even a review by the FISA court, she didn't question it. Of course the fact that she was/is a lawyer makes that particularly troubling. Even more troubling is that she became an active defender of the illegal practice when the New York Times blew the secrecy of the program wide open in 2006. "If the press was part of the process of delivering classified information, there have to be some limits on press immunity," Rep. Jane Harman told NBC's "Meet the Press." Well right now... April of 2009, Jane Harman is absolutely positively convinced that the warrantless NSA spying is terrible and ILLEGAL. Did she have a middle of the night epiphany? Did she study the US Constitution? No. She found out her phone conversations were recorded by the NSA. Seems that in these phone calls Harman was agreeing to seek lenient treatment for two pro-Israel lobbyists who were under investigation for espionage. In return, the caller would have a wealthy businessman - Haim Saban -(and large Pelosi donor) threaten to withhold campaign contributions to the soon to be House Speaker, back in early 2006, if Pelosi didn't select Harman for the Intelligence post. Amazing how easy it is to see the light! Especially when the light is the bright white heat of getting caught in the act. Or at least a tape recorded version of the act.