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FISA The Flag Pin Of The Left
Many on the Right use flag pins, patriotism, as a proxy for race. I believe now we are seeing phenomenon on the Left only it's called the "FISA issue".
At first I thought the intensity of opposition is understandable, we are talking about the Constitution after all.
But then came the character assassination and now for reason the issue remains at the forefront on the minds of many.This leads me to believe that for a percentage of people, their is more than "patriotism" on their minds.
Now we have veered off into retracted support,and withholding support. In other words, people are saying they don't want him to win.When you mess with money and support, you increase McCain's chances and so it becomes an open question as to whether or not you want Obama to win.I thought one thing Progressives had learned from all these years of defeat is that single-interest politics becomes cannon fodder use to caricature our candidates and smooth the path to victory for Republicans.
In fact, I know we've learned this lesson, I've read many a diary here that said so. I read the many comments agreeing with those diaries. So what is really animating this attack?
Like it or not, most Americans are not going to vote on FISA. We are going to vote on the economy, the war, health care, education policy, investment in infrastructure, etc...
In order to make this happen, with the hurt of 8 years of Bush still ongoing, we allow our candidate to have a very wide swath. We say let him do what he feels he needs to do to get elected. Especially on an issue that is symbolically at best.
We understand quite well that the Constitution is in jeopardy. We believe the best way to secure it is by having a Democratic Congress working with a Democratic President (who taught Constitutional Law).
We also understand that the courts have yet to weigh in on this law. In other words, we are a long way from the dire declarations that many here are two weeks into repeating daily.
It is clear then that, like flag pins, something else is going on besides looking at the big picture. Principle you say? Perhaps. But those who stand on principle do not then take actions that further imperil that principle!
No "my friends", there is something else going on here and it's time now to call it what it truly is. Leave it to Democrats to always wound their candidate.
Comments (11)
It's the perpetual immaturity of the "left" - their insistence on getting everything they want, right now, dammit!, and no compromise will be tolerated.
Unfortunately, in the real world, progress (note: the root of the term "progressive") is incremental. And appeals to reason are almost always answered with guilt-tripping emotionalism.
The only consolation is that the "right", with their naked lust for power and devil-take-the-hindmost attitude, is far, far worse.
July 3, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know I thought after going through the pain of 2000 and watching the destruction that the Naderites helped bring about by whining about Al Gore and how awful and centrist he was, that maybe, maybe some people on the Left had learned their lesson. The last 8 years have shown in so many ways how indeed the Naderite Perfect of 2000 in the long run became the very terrible, awful enemy of the good that would have emerged from a Gore Presidency.
But my God no indeed people did not learn that lesson and some are again going to make that same very grievous mistake in punishing Obama for not being pure enough. It's like deja vu all over again and it's the fall of 2000 and I am pleading with unreasonable people to be reasonable to no avail. I hope people will get a grip because if not we will all be sorrier for it.
July 3, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
"But my God no indeed people did not learn that lesson and some are again going to make that same very grievous mistake in punishing Obama for not being pure enough. It's like deja vu all over again and it's the fall of 2000 and I am pleading with unreasonable people to be reasonable to no avail. I hope people will get a grip because if not we will all be sorrier for it."
The sad part is people actually died because of that arrogant, fickle, selfish Naderism.
Gore would have been great. Now we have drowing polar bears and endless war in Iraq. The world hates us, and the government is spying on us.
And the same assholes who made all this possible are telling us yet again we need to hate, you guessed it, *the Democrats*!!!!
(Are we sure that this so-called "Left" isn't on the GOP payroll. Maybe Kos and Greenwald are Rovian plants intended to sabotage)
July 3, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, it's one of those "symbolic" issues, which claim to be about Principles, but are really about ideology and litmus tests.
Like abortion, or gays, or guns. If you support choice, you are a murderer. If you support the ACLU, you "hate America". Likewise, if you think FISA is a bad bill but not the end of the world you "hate the Constitution".
Say, for the FISA zealots:
Do you think President McCain will be worse than Bush or more like Bush Lite?
And will his invasion of Iran be more successful than the Iraq fiasco?
July 3, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great post. Thanks.
July 3, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
"We also understand that the courts have yet to weigh in on this law. In other words, we are a long way from the dire declarations that many here are two weeks into repeating daily."
Er, the courts won't be able to override Congress...
Believing for a minute that the FISA debate is a non-issue is a mistake. Acceptance of the compromise will show legislators that further capitulation with regard to this matter is acceptable.
July 4, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
If never before, we MUST stick together and get a Democratic president in office. True our nominee may or may not line up exactly with how we feel or how we think things should be accomplished. We can deal with that in January. Now our primary work is to defeat McCain. Come on Democrats let's prove we are a Party worth investing in.
July 4, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, but you say this even as you admit it's a substantive issue. Flag pins never were. This isn't about symbolism, it's about not wanting the government to peek into the private data of citizens without cause, permission or transparency.
July 4, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps deep down inside, many in the far left like behaving as perpetual wailers from the losing side.
The Right Wing talk radio types claim that they do much better when the Democrats are in power.
Perhaps the Netroots also thrive when the Republicans are in power, and deep down inside they may be acting out that wish.
If Obama is in the White House then MoveOn gets diminished. Do you think they are hoping for that result!
July 4, 2008 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we are over-analyzing.
The democratic party is traditionally the home of liberals and progressives, civil rights folks, and civil liberties folks.
All of these populations distrust government exceeding the checks put on it by the Constitution and all of these populations are leary of infringements on civil liberties, to include warrantless searches and arrests, seizures, or searches without probable cause.
So one would not have to be a Nostradamus to predict that there would be an outcry on FISA from the rank and file.
No covert racism, no trying to perpetuate special interest organizations; just our traditional, historic support of civil liberties and civil rights.
The Bush era has been 8 nightmarish years. And ALL of us are very impatient to see it come to an end. This new FISA legislation seems to be a relic of the wrong, statist/pragmatic thinking that gave these last 8 years their horrible quality.
But I don't think we will be talking about this issue much longer, there are bigger problems that should occupy our minds.
Like getting our candidate into the White House.
July 4, 2008 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is no outcry from "the rank and file" as you put it. The outcry is from the usual suspects that are always looking to seize any excuse to hug the latest Nader type candidate. On election day they will do as they have always done, and not vote for the Democratic nominee. The fringe always falls of the party tree in the Fall.
July 4, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
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