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FISA or not, smart folk will vote Obama
What is up with the media and John McCain?
I mean, seriously?
I’m pretty damned sick of hearing about Barack Obama’s flip-flops while, at the same time, McCain’s behaving like a live fish that just hit the bottom of the boat. Moreover, McCain’s elasticity with regard to the issues makes no sense. Just check out his economic plan. First off, he’s gonna keep the Bush tax cuts and balance the budget. How? Well, he’s gonna do it with borrowed money that is saved from victory in Iraq.
*** (shakes head rapidly)***
What the fuck?
Meanwhile, back in the real world, a pretty serious vote took place in the Senate today. Yes, I’m talking about the FISA vote. Barack Obama voted for three amendments aimed at mitigating objectionable portions of the bill --- particularly telecom immunity. Those amendments failed and Obama cast his vote for the bill anyway because, at the end of the day, oversight of such goings-on as were engaged in by the Bush administration 30 times is, as a result of the admittedly faulty bill’s passage, increased.
So.
What does John McCain do? Same song, 72nd verse. He calls Obama on a “flip-flop.”
Whether you believe Obama flipped, flopped or refined his position on FISA, one thing is certain. John McCain DID NOT SHOW UP TO VOTE ON THE BILL!!! So where does this pale, geriatric and, frankly, ignorant Republican asshole get off criticizing Obama? The same guy that hasn’t done one minute of campaigning on the weekend (I suppose that’s his time) doesn’t even care enough about the vote to show up and he’s climbing on his soapbox slinging barbs at Obama?
Many of you here at TPM are royally pissed at Obama for his actions on the FISA bill. I understand. I’m not necessarily right there with you, but I do understand. Still, I think most of you know that it’s nonproductive to vote for anyone other than Sen. Obama or to stay home. Because, whether you like it or not, here’s where we are:
Either Barack Obama or John McCain will be president of the United States in January of next year.
You could roll the dice and vote for Nader or Barr or stay home.
And Obama could lose.
And, for four more years, your life --- my life, hell, our lives --- could suck.
Don’t be fucking idiots.
Don’t put our nation in the hands of someone who proved today that he JUST DOESN’T CARE!
Comments (4)
I apologize in advance for the screwy formatting.
July 9, 2008 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...oversight of such goings-on as were engaged in by the Bush administration 30 times is, as a result of the admittedly faulty bill’s passage, increased."
This is flat out false and keeps being put forth here as gospel. It is a lie. This bill immunizes the telecoms and effectively covers Bush's ass in all of his illegal activities and expands their ability to spy and data mine on Americans. I really wonder, at times like this, if four more years of hell might be enough to inspire a real insurrection that would put people in control who value the principles and constitution and the poor and middle class Americans that have been ignored, stepped on and degraded so badly.
July 10, 2008 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
So you're saying oversight is not increased?
I'd beg to differ.
Is the bill faulty? Yes. But I'd argue with any expansion, too.
July 10, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aubie, I think if you read most experts on this (ACLU, EFF, Senators who have been briefed like Feingold)you’ll find a pretty good consensus that this bill, though somewhat vague and unclear, provides dragnetting programs with easy to get rubber-stamp certification that the ultimate target is foreign. It has huge loopholes that would allow spying on Americans, especially data mining, with broad warrants.
Yes, it restates that FISA (with these amendments) is the exclusive law here, but FISA has always said that. It’s a sop to say we’re serious about stopping the illegal spying while letting it continue with even bigger programs.
I respect Obama though he is a politician, and I would trust him with my last $20, but I do not trust the government with powers created to be abused.
July 10, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
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