One nation, under Surveillance
July 12, 2008 by Fran
I can’t believe the FISA bill to allow & expand illegal warrantless wiretapping passed. Worse, Barack Obama voted YES for it, and he is supposed to be a champion for Civil Rights & upholding the Constitution.
How very disappointing. Even Hillary Clinton voted against it….. but maybe she would have voted differently if her presidential ambitions were still on the table? Who knows. Oregon’s Senator Wyden voted no & Repub. Senator Gordon Smith voted yes. Wyden was quoted as saying “The Senate made a big mistake by shielding telecommunications companies from lawsuits, complaining that they had helped the government spy on Americans. He called the bill “a huge transfer of power to an unaccountable executive.”
The republicans selling the bill said Americans have “nothing to fear” (why does that make me fearful??), “unless you have al Qaeda on your speed dial.” If it makes Bush happy & he will quickly sign it into law, it can’t be good.
I swear, they must be putting something in the drinking water in D.C.
Obama had previously come out against the bill, in fact had long opposed it, but in the end voted for it calling it “an improved but imperfect bill”. McSame was campaigning in Ohio & did not vote, but has consistently supported immunity for wiretapping.
One nation, under Surveillance
Crossposted at Ramblings
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I think Obama is reacting to the reality of the political process in our country today, after establishing a base on the more progressive side of the spectrum, tacking towards the middle in order to capture more of the right leaning voters. I am not condoning this strategy, just stating my observation. If Obama is elected president, I am waiting to see what actions he might start to take to restore our Constitutional protections. Still planning to vote for Obama, as the alternative is waaay to scary.
The other thing I am doing, is sending a little bit of money to those members of Congress who actually reflect progressive values and have had the strength of character to stand up for our Constitution. It is easy enough to find (for example) Feingold’s, Wexler’s, Dodd’s, Kucinich’s, etc. web sites and kick in $25 or $50. We need to support the true progressives, both those who are in office, and those seeking to replace “the good old boys”.
The FISA issue is too important to just roll over on, we need to lend our support to the “good guys”, and get Congress (probably the next one) to restore our Constitution. Then, shameful as it is, I’d like to see a world legal body prosecute the principals of the Bush administration for crimes against the Geneva Convention.
Big Fellas last blog post..Progress Or Self Destructive Prolificacy?
You make some interesting points BF– but for someone to sell out on such a basic foundational right- is something I hear reveberating through the blogosphere as not a line folks are comfortable having Obama cross.
We’ve seen to many spineless dems become this mindless meld of politicians that can;t be discerned as to either party…. just a mish mash of apathetic, powerless rubber stampers who bow to every whim of the dictator, I mean, decider.
I’m glad to hear you can financially support the true progressives. I feel like I am in the throes of bush-o-nomics & struggling to keep afloat.
Obama needs to understand he can;t assume he’s locked the progressives & now he can play games with being a pandering centrist.
Voters are in no mood to be toyed with after this atrocious bush regime.
I’m with you on the prosecution front.
frans last blog post..No Picnic