Debate Over Homeland Security Plan Hits Congress Full Force

"Delay in passing this bill helps the terrorists because it means we are unprepared that much longer,'' Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, told the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security.

Remember: If we don't create a wholly new cabinet department with broad, sweeping, yet ill-defined powers, the terrorists will have won!

Meanwhile Joe Lieberman is running for President and saying that the plan could hurt members of government employee unions. It's not all stupid, though:

Questions are also being raised by some Republicans and Democratic lawmakers about plans to have the new department sift through intelligence gathered by the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency and others. Intelligence analysis will not improve unless the new department has more direct authority over these agencies, they said.

Bingo.