Russ Feingold, Hero

In the rush to approve the USA Patriot Act, Russ Feingold stood alone in opposing the law. Rightly, he opined that the law gave the government too many powers to spy on innocent Americans, to go on fishing expeditions into a person's library records or internet service providers. Wisely, he also knew that the law, once enacted, would not limit itself to terrorism or rather the definition of terrorism would be so expanded that almost anyone could be spied upon.

Fast-forward to today when Republican leaders realized they don't have enough votes to override a filibuster against provisions to extend the law for four years. The Republican leadership are calling the delaying tactic irresponsible. Some have even said they'd rather have the sixteen provisions up for renewal sunset than have to compromise and return Americans their civil liberties. Once again, faced with news they don't like, the Republicans are turning to their weapon of first choice, petulance, otherwise known as shooting the messenger.

How long before they, like Bush on torture, give in to the inevitable and deal with the opposition?