Senate drops the ball once again

Once again, it seems, we can't look to the Senate to save us. Here's today's comment from the NY Times:

It seems certain that General Hayden will be confirmed. Senator Pat Roberts, the Intelligence Committee chairman, made it clear that this would be yet another rubber-stamp session when he arranged to have the full committee briefed on domestic spying just one day earlier. If he had been genuinely concerned about checks and balances, rather than simply trying to smooth the way for the confirmation, he would have insisted on a full briefing four and a half years ago, when he learned of the surveillance program.

So, just where can we turn for help?