Cut Their Pay and Send Them Home

I've been watching in amazement as House Speaker Dennis Hastert and her wackiness San Fran Nan have joined forces to decry the FBI raid on Congressman William Jefferson's (D-LA) Capitol Hill office. They've actually gone so far out on the limb, they are now demanding that all examination of the seized items be stopped and the items be immediately returned to Jefferson. They are claiming all kinds of privilege, based on a misreading of the Speech and Debate clause in the Constitution (which is the same defense tried by Patrick Kennedy when he wrecked his car while driving under the influence).

This is sort of the same approach the pro-abortion forces used when they "discovered" the right to privacy which had somehow slipped everyone's attention for nearly 200 years. We now have a new right - the right of Congress to use their offices as a "get out of jail free" card. Apparently Congressmen are free to hide whatever incriminating information they wish in their offices, and law enforcement can't touch them.

This is the same Congress which does not for a moment hesitate to bombard the Executive branch with subpoenas demanding every kind of testimony and documentation, and screams bloody murder when the President exercises his power for foreign surveillance without obtaining warrants. But when one of their own, a corrupt one at that, is required to submit to subpoena, and a warrant is obtained for a search of his office, well, we can't have that! I think it's official - we now have an imperial congress.

I think it's Captain Ed who has called for a movement to "cut their pay and send them home". I wish we could flush the bunch of them and start over, but thanks to gerrymandered districts, we can expect that most of them will be back after the fall elections.

Too bad.

UPDATE: I believe it was someone at The Corner who suggested that perhaps a random search of congressional offices should be made part of the Capitol Hill routine, given that they obviously have something to hide. My suggestion - make 'em pee in a cup while they're at it.