Did you come in directly to this article? It's part of a series. Make sure to read Introduction, Part 1: Obama and the death penalty, Part 2: Obama and guns, Part 3: Obama and FISA, and Conclusion.
Oh Obama, et tu?
How could Obama support this?
Note: For a great discussion of the rushed revised FISA vote, read Cyn's article.
I saved the hardest and worst for last. I want to understand Obama's position on the FISA vote issue. But I am so furious about how the government is abusing its power to spy on people like me, just in case---and how the "incidental information" that it might pick up in this immoral and (I believe) unconstitutional spying can be used against me in a court of law, with absolutely no information or recourse---that I simply want Absolutely Everyone Partaking in this Disgusting and Heinous Abuse of Rights, Justice and Power completely and utterly taken down as hard as we can, so that this ends now. And never happens again.
In fact, I think I am going to hand this one straight over to the Netroots critics and most news articles and stories I read, saw or heard.
I've seen his defense of his position and considered it. It's not a shift, or a flip flop. I'll give him that. The bill changed, in a way that he (and others, including Nancy Pelosi) can live with in order to lessen the heinousnesses of the current position.
It's still not good enough for me.
Politico wrote, "Barack Obama's support of a government surveillance bill that offers retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies — a bill that he vowed last year to filibuster — has ended his honeymoon with the progressive Netroots."
Yep.
Jane Hamsher of firedoglake.com nailed my position in this quote, "It angers the blogosphere to its core. We want to be able to know: What did you do? If we can get that information, we can make sure they don’t do that again. We can get the public engaged."
Carrie Brown of Politico also nailed my position when she wrote:
His stance on the FISA bill, however, has brought Obama back down to earth, in part because the liberal blogosphere cares more about civil liberties than many of the other traditional issues that have long dominated the Democratic agenda.
. . .
FISA, however, was different. Many of the most popular progressive blogs built their following by mining anger toward President Bush, the Iraq war and what bloggers view as his disregard of the Constitution and the civil liberties guaranteed by it. By granting immunity to telecom companies, civil courts will likely dismiss lawsuits that might unearth details about the administration’s activities, eliminating an opportunity to hold Bush accountable.
Secret court is not good enough for me. It's one move better, but it's not good. It's still bad. My rights? Still stinging from being trampled on.
This is one big reason why Edwards had my support. I don't want a Big Brother Secret Police Secret Court Gestapo Boots in the Night kind of government, and I need guarantees it will come to a screeching---that is "a throw your body violently forward and backward"---halt.
But guess what? Obama still has my support. Why?
Read the Conclusion.
Make sure to read Introduction, Part 1: Obama and the death penalty, Part 2: Obama and guns, and Conclusion.
REgarding the FISA bill, Julie... I think that Obama is using this as an avenue to defuse the "soft on terrorism claims of McLame and company.
I think that Obama will have a large enough margin in the House and Senate to have a better bill signed into law when he gets elected.
When you want a bill that can't get signed you may have to live with a bill that gives you some of what you wanted.
Posted by: Gunfighter | June 29, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I agree with Bill that I think it's a strategic move AND an inconsequential one at that. FISA is not the hill to die on. The problem is the USA Patriot Act which removed the wall of separation between information obtained through national security surveillance (FISA) and domestic law enforcement. The idea that we cannot challenge a warrant for probable cause b/c it's "secret" is disgusting to American notions of justice and frankly, makes me feel sick to my stomach. If there's going to be a FISA, there needs to be a wall. So, I tend to think Obama's position on FISA is much ado about nothing. Except in the realm of public relations.
Posted by: Lawyer Mama | June 29, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Amen, Steph! It kills me to know that while Americans spend so much time arguing about the 2nd amendment, has precious little to do with the main item in the Constitution that is currently under way... and that is the fourth amendment.
Posted by: Gunfighter | June 29, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Amen, Steph! It kills me to know that while Americans spend so much time arguing about the 2nd amendment, has precious little to do with the main item in the Constitution that is currently under way... and that is the fourth amendment.
Posted by: Gunfighter | June 29, 2008 at 08:01 PM
His position makes me think he's validating Bush and co's view of terrorism: Attacks in the US are unacceptable, and nothing should stand in the way of protecting Americans from terrorism.
I for one would rather have 1000 dead every year than torture, lack of privacy, and denial of habeas corpus for the living. if he disagrees with this, the most he'll aspire to be is a benevolent dictator.
Posted by: hibikir | June 29, 2008 at 10:00 PM