Who is Obama kidding? My take on his FISA statement (telecom immunity).

[ElvisL1ves]

@Obama

I voted in the Senate three times to remove this provision so that we could seek full accountability for past offenses. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful.

Then why wasn’t it *four * times?
.

[Knorf]

@ElvisL1ves

Then why wasn’t it *four * times?
.

Because it was a clear it wouldn’t pass a fourth time, or anytime in the foreseeable future.

[jackdavinci]

It’s not just that Obama voted for FISA, which in itself was annoying. It’s that he made statements that he would oppose it for along time before hand. For example:

“I am proud to stand with Senator Dodd, Senator Feingold and a grassroots movement of Americans who are refusing to let President Bush put protections for special interests ahead of our security and our liberty.”

I can’t find it right now, but there was another quote to the effect of “I won’t vote for any FISA bill that includes telecom immunity.”

Plus that his change of heart seemingly went unexplained. I’m glad that he has at least addressed the issue now and that he’s aware of how many of his supporters were not happy about it.

It worries me that part of his defense is that as president he’ll keep an eye on any abuses. But isn’t the fact that the current president involved a huge part of the problem? We shouldn’t have to rely on the goodwill of the CiC and the hope that Obama happens to get elected.

I’m still not entirely clear on one thing - a big part of his argument is that a modified compromise FISA is better than no FISA at all. What would the current situation be if FISA didn’t pass at all vs a passed modified FISA?

[marshmallow]

@elucidator

I have absolutely no idea what motivated you to turn my simple statement inside out. I am not aware that I have done you any injury.

Democratic Partisans around the web assure us that if their favorite party just gets consolidated power, everything will work out. Because that’s generally how it works with monopolies of political power approved by the establishment. Individual liberty wins out. Or something.

Perhaps an IOZ quote is in order?

Prior to the sugar buzz of their lately lamented electoral successes, our dear Donkle friends spent a lot of time fretting over various tired, cryptoMarxian theories on the false consciousness of the vast, flat, dreaming heartland–how those people kept voting contrary to their interest, even as they were betrayed at every turn. Now for all the world to see the geese nest, the cows are comin’ home, the mallards return to the lakes, the crocuses sprout, the grass greens again. Every single Senatorial mule whinneys out an “Aye!” to expanding our aggressions, including the sanctified, reified, beatified Russ Feingold, and Los Netroots cry, “Why!?”