Powers For Me But Not For Thee - doesn't work that way
Yes, Obama is wrong to vote for the FISA bill. No, that should not result is people refusing to vote for him as he is no Tweedledee to McCain's Tweedledum just as Gore was not a mirror of Bush. Thanks, Ralph!
However, I am disheartened by those who seem perfectly willing to give up our 4th Amendment rights because they trust Obama won't abuse the power and they believe he will win. First, he might not win. Second, what about in 2009 or 2013 or whenever the GOP comes back into power.
The GOP was all for limiting the president's power while Clinton was in office and then threw their libertarianism under the bus under Bush. Are we equally unprincipled? Do we think unconstitutional powers are okay for us?
The Achilles Heel of our constitution and the balance of power that has served us so well is that it requires that we place our trust in the system of government, not the individual. The reason we have gone so far astray is the direct result of the personality cult the Right built around Bush. Let's not do the same around Obama...because even if he does not abuse those powers, they will exist and be passed on to those who may not deserve our trust.
However, I am disheartened by those who seem perfectly willing to give up our 4th Amendment rights because they trust Obama won't abuse the power and they believe he will win. First, he might not win. Second, what about in 2009 or 2013 or whenever the GOP comes back into power.
The GOP was all for limiting the president's power while Clinton was in office and then threw their libertarianism under the bus under Bush. Are we equally unprincipled? Do we think unconstitutional powers are okay for us?
The Achilles Heel of our constitution and the balance of power that has served us so well is that it requires that we place our trust in the system of government, not the individual. The reason we have gone so far astray is the direct result of the personality cult the Right built around Bush. Let's not do the same around Obama...because even if he does not abuse those powers, they will exist and be passed on to those who may not deserve our trust.
