Bennie Thompson's War on the War on Terror

Looks like the Democratic Congress is already striking blows in favor of the enemy. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, launched a campaign to eliminate the immunity from civil lawsuits that tipsters now enjoy. If Thompson has his way, calling in suspicious activity aboard an airplane can result in a massive lawsuit against those that turn in the information. Why? Representative Thompson has more concern about the possibility of profiling than the possibility of a passenger filled airplane being used as a weapon. It must have been Thompson’s vast expertise in agricultural and rural issues that got him selected to one of the House’s most important chairmanships.

I will be the first to say that the Republican Congress deserved what it got in 2006. Two years of non productive power earned it a defeat. They had chances to pass legislation to reform the tax code, to save social security beyond 2040, and expand our energy resources among many other things. Instead they played prevent defense, did nothing, and let the Democrats define the issues. In a narrow sense the defeat washed away some old blood and allowed new leaders to rise to the fore, regenerating the Gallant Old Party.

In the long run that may not be good for the nation. Now we have veritable fools running Congress that do not realize that the United States faces enemies around the world. They have held up funding the military for political reasons. Now they try to erode the methods we use to help protect airline passengers every day. Thankfully some Democrats, such as the always sensible Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut (whom the Democratic Party tried to run out of office last year) remember that we are at war with dangerous enemies and need the help of concerned citizens.

Yes, congressional Republicans needed a turnover in leadership and ideas. Hopefully this turnover will not mean a sacrifice in lives, property, and prestige. I tell you though, I would feel much more secure with people like Shelley Moore Capito and Chris Wakim helping to lead our House of Representatives than left wingers like Bennie Thompson and the woman that put him in charge of Homeland Security issues.