I hear some people are concerned about aspects of the Patriot Act, but given a chance to call witnesses to make substantive arguments about whatever problems there are with it, Democrats took the opportunity to invite people to rant about Guantanamo Bay and the evils of the Bush Administration. This included representatives of "the Gulag of our times" Amnesty International, and James J. Zogby of the Arab American Institute. The committee chair, James Sensenbrenner, after repeated attempts to get the witnesses to stick to the subject, finally gaveled the meeting to an early close ("showing his pique" as the Washington Post puts it).

WaPo: Panel Chairman Leaves Hearing - Sensenbrenner Ends Patriot Act Meeting as Democrats Plug On

Is there no serious opposition left in Washington? Has the Democratic Party finally drowned itself in the Michael Moore school of government? The Patriot Act is a serious matter. What to do with enemy combatants is a serious matter. Where are the rational alternatives? Where is the serious discussion ? I understand that electoral politics and posturing infect everything in Washington, and conflating the Patriot Act and Gitmo is becoming a favorite demagogic sport, but there must be limits somewhere. It's sad the limits can't be found before the gavel needs to fall. Kudos to Mr. Sensenbrenner for trying to keep things on track. For this he will be vilified.