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While I understand where the Republican comments are coming from, it should be useful to realize that this law was passed in a bi-partisan legislative assembly,

While I understand where the Republican comments are coming from, it should be useful to realize that this law was passed in a bi-partisan legislative assembly, and since it appears there was no objection from Democrats (or the public) at the time the law was passed, it's safe to assume Democrats were cool with it too.

tanzam75 13y ago
The environment in the US is so jingoistic that it is political suicide to vote against certain national-security measures, even ones that you disagree with. This is particularly true for Democrats -- they must vote hawkishly if they want to get reelected. This is why "Only Nixon could go to China." Only someone who built his career on anti-Communism could stretch out a hand in friendship, because that made him immune to political attacks. The only person who is currently allowed to get away with this sort of stuff is Rand Paul -- and his father before him. You used to routinely see 420-1 votes in Congress for things that are objectively nonsensical -- and Ron Paul would be the 1.