I suspect they had to find him guilty of something so they could release him without losing face. I don't think anyone seriously wanted him to serve 30 years; he was picked up for possible intelligence value and obliviously his detention has outlived it's usefulness.

Posted at August 7, 2008 4:39 PM in response to Bin Laden's Driver Sentenced To 5 1/2 Years At First Guantanamo Trial

I agree and will not vote for Sen. Obama. Make any excuse you need, to make you comfortable with Sen. Obama after his reversal on FISA, but the fact is he reversed himself on a very important tenet of who he is (or pretended to be) and many here rightly disavowed him. For me, it's not enough that Sen. Obama is almost the right guy. I think that he took a spineless position and would continue to do so throughout his presidency. That doesn't mean that I will necessarily vote for Sen. McCain although he has a longer record than Sen. Obama, and one that actually includes courageous votes on issues of principle. As far as the campaign goes both persons have behaved like pandering politicians.

Posted at July 12, 2008 5:03 PM in response to NEWSWEEK Obama's 14 point drop with Libertarians and independents

It's too bad because a principled stand by Obama on FISA would have strengthened the Democrats hand in the debate about national security and promoted the stance that it is possible to enjoy civil liberties and national security simultaneously. Sen. Obama could have taken this opportunity to dispute the Republican espoused belief that it is necessary to give up one to enjoy the other. This would of given the American people a chance to get to know him better and witness his leadership. As it turns out he played the safe hand and now even fewer people can honestly say they truly know Sen. Obama. After spending the many months of this primary season supporting a man I thought I knew and understood, I am now finding him a stranger. I can not vote for a candidate that has undone in five minutes, with his yes vote on FISA, what I and many of my friends spent years fighting for during our youth in the sixties. Many of you may think of us as, "Old Hippies," but we were passionate about our country and fought hard for civil liberties and our constitutionally guaranteed rights of free speech and privacy. We saw first hand how unchecked government spying corrupted our representatives and eroded our freedoms. Many of us still have this passion and put our trust in Sen. Obama because he stated he would fight the good fight to preserve our constitution and stop the Republicans from further trampling on our Bill of Rights. I feel betrayed by Sen. Obama's failure to stand firm behind his expressed support for the 4th amendment and his promise to filibuster any bill that included immunity for the Tel-Coms. I fail to see how a weak, spineless candidate could possibly be a strong president; I will not vote for him in November.

Posted at July 11, 2008 10:53 PM in response to Poll: National Race Tightens; Majority Says Obama Flip-Flopped On Key Issues

I agree that FISA does matter, especially to the older people who fought the Republicans tooth and nail during the sixties and early seventies to have this spying curtailed. We were actively and passionately involved in securing our liberties and it makes us angry to see Sen. Obama piss it all away because of a weak back-bone or for a few extra votes. The 4th amendment is important and, in time, your generation will recognize just how important.

Posted at July 11, 2008 9:32 PM in response to Poll: National Race Tightens; Majority Says Obama Flip-Flopped On Key Issues

I support your right to express yourself and respect you for having the courage to do so. There have been some vocal individuals posting here who appear to feel we must behave in a manner they feel is appropriate. They appear to think they are the true Sen. Obama supporters, but in reality they don't have the faintest idea what Sen. Obama stands for, nor have they been listening to Sen. Obama these past 2 years. I find their disdain for posters who disagree with them Anti-Obama in every respect. Their behavior is the typical Republican "Group Think" Tactic to discourage dissent. I feel sorry that these individuals are so fear driven they believe that criticizing our candidates will somehow make them weaker. I believe just the opposite is true. These posters, that attack another poster for holding a candidate accountable, are not practicing Sen. Obama's Principles and have a very narrow view of a Democracy. Sen. Obama has encourages us to become involved and interact with our representatives. He has encouraged us to get in touch with our candidates and express our feelings concerning issues important to us; I believe constructive, even harsh, criticism makes a person stronger and well grounded.

Posted at July 3, 2008 5:13 PM in response to A Time-line Of Obama's Statements On FISA

Sen Obama does not have to be present to participate in a filibuster; the people voting to break the filibuster must be present to vote. So no time lost from campaigning.

Posted at July 3, 2008 12:56 PM in response to Why Obama's Support For FISA Cave-In Is Such A Downer

Woodrow Stool:

I support your decision and your right to say it. The real Republican Trolls are the posters that think you should stay in Lock-Step with Their Party Position; that is Republican Group Think. Citizens have an obligation to speak out if they feel a candidate has abandoned his or her expressed principles, especially principles that may have drawn one to support the candidate. Sen. Obama has urged us to become involved and let our feelings be heard by the office holders and the electorate.

Posted at July 2, 2008 5:52 PM in response to RNC Gearing Up For Swing-State Ad Campaign Against Obama

OR Sen. Obama could just vote his stated principles and the base would be fine.

Posted at July 1, 2008 9:41 PM in response to Anti-FISA-Cave Group On Obama's Web Site Keeps On Growing

There are no acceptable excuses for being unprincipled or even worse, abandoning your principles for short term gain. There is a very severe price for such action and it appears Sen. Obama will learn this the hard way. It's too bad that the candidate of change is too weak to change anything other than his mind.

Posted at June 27, 2008 8:41 PM in response to Obama Social Networking Group Forms -- To Pressure Obama On FISA

nor would Bill......

Posted at June 27, 2008 7:48 PM in response to Bill And Hillary Max Out To Obama, Giving $4,600 To His Campaign