For upcoming House FISA vote, Bush brushed off his circa 2002 terror talking points to attack Democrats for not caving to him

The House will be voting on its version of the new FISA bill today -- debate should start around 3:00 PM. The Democratic bill actually stands for the rule of law. There was a time -- before George Bush -- when the rule of law mattered in this country. It's time it mattered again. Christy Hardin Smith is hearing rumors of GOP shenanigans to prevent a vote. McJoan at DailyKos has a list of the Democrats who need to be Democrats today.

Meanwhile, you know an election is coming up because George Bush, using his best 2002 talking points, is in a tizzy over the House bill:

Using tough language on a subject on which he has been persistent and unswerving, Mr. Bush warned House members that “they should not leave for Easter recess without getting the Senate bill to my desk.”

He argued that failure to pass the Senate language would make it harder to detect emerging terrorist threats.

“Voting for this bill would make our country less safe,” Mr. Bush said. “Congress should stop playing politics with the past and focus on helping us prevent attacks in the future.”

Yeah, he's been persistently and unswervingly wrong. We've heard this all before from Bush.

The Democratic Whip, James Clyburn, blasted Bush:

The absurd and outrageous allegations made by President Bush this morning that FISA legislation being considered in the House would make America less safe are false and misleading.

The FISA legislation being debated in the House this week would upgrade our intelligence surveillance capabilities while at the same time protecting core constitutional freedoms that all Americans value and cherish. Keeping America safe and defending the Constitution are goals I would hope the President could share with us.

Bush doesn't share those goals. But you know the GOP loves to play politics with national security. This time, the Democrats -- at least the House Dems. -- are fighting back.