It appears now that name calling, invocations of 911, and threats of dire political consequences to Democratic members of Congress, it appears that Bush and His Evil Minions^™ are willing to negociate in food faith.

Honestly, I don’t trust them, but it’s clear that something has changed:

The White House’s more conciliatory posture reflects a recognition that the Bush administration’s leverage on national-security matters has slipped since this past summer, a top Republican congressional aide said. “There’s a recognition that if they’re actually going to get a product they can support, there’s going to have to be some new level of engagement,” the aide said.

Pa4rt of this, IMSNHO, was that Representatives got many enthusiastic high fives from constituents when they left for the recess, and part of it is because it is increasingly clear that DNI Mike McConnell is a lying sack of sh*% (like his lying about telcos refusing to wiretap) who does nothing but carry water for Bush.

There is talk of a compromise along the lines of something like limits on liability, or some sort of government indemnification (which was probably already part of the deal).

I don’t object to indemnification or damage limits, there are precedents for this, and it would not have the effect of covering up Bush’s law breaking.

What worries me is that Steny Hoyer is point man on this, and when the going gets tough, he folds like overcooked broccoli.