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Greetings from Mr. No FISA Immunity
I received an e-mail from my old penpal, Harry Reid, today asking me to contribute some money to the DSCC. Any contribution I made would be matched and doubled by a group of Senators in support of gaining seats. I busted out the Amex card and clicked the $20 button, meaning the Senators were going to pony up $60 of their own hard-earned slush. Always happy to buy some influence.
But given my discomfort with Obama's compromise on FISA immunity and anxious to protest, I chose not to enter my real name into the field provided. Rather I wrote in "NO FISA IMMUNITY" as both my first and last namesAll the rest of my info was accurate -- email, address, credit card etc.
Within minutes I received a reply that began like this:
"Dear No Fisa Immunity:
Thank you for contributing to the DSCC. This email serves as confirmation of your action. Your contribution information is below, and you can print this email as a receipt of your transaction."
It was signed with thanks from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The entire committee thanked me,
Mr. No Fisa Immunity.
I offer this little method of protest within a context of support to those who may be feeling similarly. If you wish to contribute, perhaps you would adopt this nomme de plume? Being the only person to have done this makes me an eccentric. However, if two or three more of you do it then , friends, its a movement.
As I posted in a reply earlier today, Obama has my vote. For the first time in my life (...careful now...) my vote for the Democratic candidate is not simply a default position. Like many of Barack's supporters I truly, madly, deeply yearn for real change in the country and in our electoral system toward a democracy that serves the many rather than the few. I have believed, still believe, that Obama is our best hope.
I also believe that he will win the election and have a presidency that is supported by a Democratic majority in Congress. I forsee vital progress toward the more perfect Union Barack has inspired us to hope for.
I assume that the majority of Americans oppose the notion that that the government has the right to spy on its citizens and that telecommunication providers have a right to facilitate that spying. Such spying is in fact against the law in the absence of a warrent.
Since I believe that Obama is an agent for justice I am baffled by his willingness to compromise on an unconstitutional invasion of privacy. I cannot help but see Barack's gesture of brushing dust from the shoulder of his famously well-fitted suit.
It is my HOPE that Obama will serve as a defender of freedom and the
spying issue is very clear. If he will not draw the line here, then
where?
Comments (7)
Unfortunately with the automation of systems I don't think this is a good way to support 'no FISA immunity'. I think contacting them and letting them know why you are choosing not to donate is much more effective. As long as they are getting your money, what they want, I don't sense that they will take much notice of your name except to make sure they ask you for money again.
June 24, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since I believe that Obama is an agent for justice I am baffled by his willingness to compromise on an unconstitutional invasion of privacy
Oh what rubbish, I just would not donate.
This FISA Bill is a real ticking time bomb precisely because Obama has said he will (feebly – but not really at all – protest) than vote for FISA bill anyway. Obama is not capable and you know it.
And than the minute Obama LIES again – and he will, that’ll be all she wrote – there is not a single word that Obama says that you can believe in – it’ll be cave, cave, cave from here on out - and you know it.
The really bad thing is that these left blogs could have held Obama to account – but instead you see a massive wave of denial. Obama didn't really say that, but he did. It will cost the Dem party everything in the end. Obama is going to talk big and do NOTHING, you know it, you know it, you know it.
Obama will not even get us out of this damn war either - you take that one to the bank.
June 24, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
So that's a no?
June 24, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
he has already assuren the iraq PM he does not plan to remove the troops in 16 months. whatever OBAMA said to him the iraq PM walked away saying OBAMA and McCain's position is the same.
June 24, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess this thread isn't going exactly as you planned. You have to put som positive Obama stuff in the title. Mr. No FISA Immunity sounds like you're being sarcastic. Most of the people here who read and comprehend above about 5th grade level are Clintonistas. But I will redeem this thread. When the Obamanauts see me here, they will rally to your cause. Whatever that is.
I'll get them in here for you.
Obama is a liar! He really sucks!
That ought to do it.
June 24, 2008 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Screw you Clinton supporter! She's evil, I tell you!
Ah. The good old days.
And Kevin. Props for watching out for the down ticket guys.
June 24, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I called the Senate Office in a very upbeat way, as a former staffer in the 107th who knows that there are staffers writing floor speeches [yes, I was a Congressional Fellow]
and suggested that I really supported Obamas stand on no immunity and on getting rid of the Lobbyist money that has been buying votes.
Kinwoing that the poor gal who answers the phone is merely a conduit, I gave her this website address to give to the staffer who writes floor speeches on 'getting rid of K street influence'
http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08
I explained that this group is the source for the info that the VOTES of the 94 House Dems who changed their vote in the last two months - since the last votes - were BOUGHT for an average of 8 thousand dollars - that was the average of lobbying funds given in just the last two months to those 94 Members.
That the average amount given by Telco Lobbyists on K street to those 94 Dems was DOUBLE the average amount over these last two months given to the Dems who held firm.
Hopefully, information through staffers will percolate up as it usually does - and remind Obama that we are watching.
June 25, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
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