By Martin Bosworth

“Why does Harry Reid hate America and freedom?”

That’s the question I was asking myself after S&R reader “Dee Loralei” pointed out in comments to my post yesterday that Senate Majority Leader Reid was planning to move ahead with a vote on the FISA update, even in the face of Dodd’s hold on the bill. Sure enough, that seems to be the case.

In response, Dodd is threatening to flat-out filibuster the bill if it comes to the floor.

I can easily understand why Intelligence Committee chair Jay Rockefeller is so willing to be a friend to the telecoms….as Ryan Singel demonstrates, he has recently become a huge beneficiary of AT&T’s largesse. But what’s Harry Reid’s angle? True, he too has received $22,000 in contributions from AT&T over the last few election cycles, but compared to how deeply in hock he is to Nevada’s gambling and tourism industries, that’s not a big deal. Then again, politicians come amazingly cheap these days, and $22,000 might be enough to convince a longtime pol like Reid to sell out the Constitution and American values. I wish I knew the answer.

What I DO know is that Chris Dodd has upped the ante and thrown down the gauntlet, and now is exposing a rift not only with the Bush adminstration, but within his own party. I know what side I’m on.

Here’s the video: