State GOP Chair Diane Tebelius characterized U.S. Senator Russ Feingold’s call to censure President Bush over the controversial domestic surveillance program as a “far left-wing” position. She issued the provocative charge in a press release today, trying to box Sen. Maria Cantwell into a corner.

Seattle, WA — Feingold’s censure call is another example of the shrill partisan tone that has come to define the other Washington.  The program, approved by the President shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, allows the government to use wiretaps to investigate individuals with known terrorist connections. An ABC/Washington Post poll found that a majority of Americans approve of the program and see it as an acceptable way to combat domestic and international terrorism. “I think this should raise several questions in the minds of Washington State voters,â€� said Washington State Republican Party Chairman Diane Tebelius. “Where does Maria Cantwell stand on the call for censure? Does she stand once again with the far left wing of the Democratic Party?

Sorry, but Congress did not authorize President Bush to ignore FISA guidelines. Did the ABC/Washington Post poll make that clear? Did it explain that Bush could have gotten the required warrants 72 hours after getting the wire tap—yet he still chose to circumvent the rules?

Thanks to the Republican deal, Congress has retroactively brought President Bush into compliance by lowering the bar after the fact. No wonder Feingold is trying to take a stand. The “rebellious” GOP sure isn’t.

Anyway, don’t listen to me (I used to be a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army). Here’s that far left wing publication, The Seattle Times, weighing in today on President Bush’s surveillance program:

Congress folds on Bush spying: Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee reached a deal with the White House over its domestic-spying operations. Instead of following the law, the Bush administration can do whatever it wants.

That is the essence of the compromise GOP leadership reached with the administration. Perversely, the agreement is being sold as congressional oversight. Current law created in 1978 requires a president to seek a special warrant from judges who sit as the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court. They decide whether to allow eavesdropping and searches, and they routinely did. Regulations even provide a 72-hour window for the government to act before it explained itself or sought retroactive permission.

The Bush administration has ignored the law based on its own sympathetic legal interpretations from its own Justice Department.

Republicans in Congress squawked and then did nothing. The new agreement says the administration must go to the federal panel whenever possible.

If the White House does not do what it is already not doing, it would have 45 days before it must appear before a seven-member terrorist surveillance committee to explain itself. Then it would have another 45 days to blow off the committee and, well, do whatever it wants as the cycle repeats itself.

This is a frightening moment in U.S. history that transcends partisan politics. Fundamental checks and balances to the power of the executive are being trampled.

For the moment, Republicans hold the majority in Congress. They are forsaking a basic institutional responsibility.