As an outspoken opponent of the current FISA bill, I would like to reiterate a few things that I have said in the past:

1.)  The current FISA bill does little to nothing to help the intelligence community.  The current FISA courts have been doing their job admirably for the last thirty or so years.  There is no need to overhaul the system.  If you need further proof, please see Mr. Greenwald.

2.)  The current FISA bill is not a compromise.  The needed checks and balances (which this "compromise" contains) for the FISA courts are already included in the original legislation.

3.)  The ability to take someone to court is a core priciple of democracy.  Demeaning that priciple undermines what makes this here old U.S. of A. the light of the world, and furthers the civic backslide that the GOP has been perpetuating for a generation.

4.)  Obama has nothing to gain by voting for the legislation.  Those that are familiar with the bill detest it, and those unfamiliar with the bill won't care if Obama votes "nay" on it.  The Republicans are going to paint Obama as "soft on terror" whether or not he votes for the FISA bill.  There is literally no purpose, politically, institutionally or militarily, to vote "yay" on the bill.

I regret I haven't been as active here as I should be.  This is a big issue, that strikes at the very core of what it means to be an American.

I am a supporter of Obama.  I am invested in his campaign.  However, for someone to govern well, we need to let him know what is important, and what he needs to change.  Obama has released a statement addressing people like me, but I simply cannot trade rights for public statements.  I will keep letting Obama know that this issue if important, and all other civically-minded voters should do the same.

Thank you for reading, and please take some time to let the Senators and Representatives that voted "nay" on the FISA bill know of your gratitude, in whatever way you can.