Republicans Are Going to be Going Down, Down, Down in 2006!!!!

Coming to the Hill: lots of hearing-room drama: "A major reason for the new posture on Capitol Hill is the willingness of GOP moderates to challenge the Bush administration's war policies. Alarmed by recent disclosures of secret prisons and eavesdropping without warrants, moderates are joining Democrats on key votes - and behind the scenes - to step up congressional oversight.

Indeed, the limits of executive power will be a key theme in the confirmation hearings for US Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, which begin next week. As soon as those hearings end, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by GOP moderate Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, will investigate domestic spying by the National Security Administration (NSA).

'When the Bill of Rights is involved, it's time to go into it very deeply,' says Senator Specter. 'The public has a right to know as much as possible. It's hard to see how a resolution on the use of force can be extended to the conduct involved here.'"