Demagogue

Sen. Russ Feingold, the only senator who had the guts to oppose the USA Patriot Act, has objected forcefully to the Bush administration's recently exposed program of circumventing FISA to conduct domestic wiretaps and surveillance. Feingold's group, the Progressive Patriots Fund, has just launched a petition drive calling for "a full Congressional investigation" into the non-court-approved eavesdropping activities.

Given that some Republican senators have already called for hearings on the subject, Feingold's petition may seem superfluous. But something tells me the GOP-controlled House and Senate may lack the tenacity to hold meaningful hearings.