Politico is reporting on the continuing deadlock in Congress over renewal of FISA legislation.  Three weeks have now lapsed since the U.S. lost the critical ability to wiretap calls between suspected terrorists overseas, and liberals in Congress continue to fight within their ranks, causing further delay.

“The House has passed a bill which is unacceptable to us and unacceptable to a bipartisan majority of the Senate,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said in an interview with Politico. “The House leadership hasn’t offered anything else, so there is not much to discuss at the moment.”

Congressional Republicans say they will accept nothing but a Senate-passed update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that cooperated with the wiretapping program the Bush administration initiated after Sept. 11, 2001.

Nearly 40 lawsuits against the telecom companies are now pending before a federal judge in San Francisco. President Bush has said repeatedly that by delaying action on FISA, congressional Democrats are placing the country at risk by threatening the ongoing cooperation of the phone companies. Democrats deny the country is under increased risk, saying that, even without any new legislation, existing laws give the administration the authority it needs to monitor the communications of suspected terrorists.

House Democrats were scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting Tuesday night in the hopes of resolving their own internal differences on the issue. Many liberal members adamantly oppose granting immunity, while more moderate Democrats are pushing for a vote as quickly as possible — even if it means bringing up the Senate bill.

It is striking that liberals in Congress would delay this legislation because it protects companies that cooperate with federal law enforcement.

Concern continues to grow over Senator Obama's foreign policy platform.  Micheal Gerson previews what the first 100 days of an Obama presidency may look like in this area, and the outlook is troubling.

Obama's 100-day agenda would be designed, in part, to improve America's global image. But there is something worse than being unpopular in the world -- and that is being a pleading, panting joke. By simultaneously embracing appeasement, protectionism and retreat, President Obama would manage to make Jimmy Carter look like Teddy Roosevelt.

Which is why President Obama would probably not take these actions -- at least in the form he has pledged. Sitting behind the Resolute desk is a sobering experience that makes foolish campaign promises seem suddenly less binding.

But it is a bad sign for a candidate when the best we can hope is for him to violate his commitments.

Ending free trade agreements, alienating long-time allies and neighbors Canada and Mexico.  Engaging with enemies who have vowed to see the end of the United States, like Iran's Ahmadinejad.  Immediately withdrawing from Iraq, leaving a safe haven for terrorists.  This doesn't sound like a foreign policy Americans will stand behind.