Ok. I posted this on the Obama blog. And i have to post it here too, probably going to get more feedback here. Yeah, it's about the FISA thing and Obama doing some of his congress friends favors (Rockefeller, bush dogs in congress, some donors i think).
I do think that Obama voting for this bill has more to do with him trying to get the center leaning democrats to fully support him (although, one has to wonder why would he prefer full support from conservative democrats and not full support from the netroots and more progressive democrats) Who the hell is advising him? are they telling him that he might look weak if he votes for the bill?
IF so, and he is agreeing with them, then from my point of view Obama is still pretty insecure about his political capital in the party and congress. He might be the nominee, but that doesn't give him political capital to make other Dems angry at him by voting against FISA.
What ever. It's mostly about letting my frustrations out. This FISA thing hurt but you can tell from the press conference today and the tepid response to questions about his support for the bill, that he really isn't enjoying having to make a decision about this. Don't know if that helps.
Markos from Dailykos was right the other day when he went on Keith Olberman and said that if he votes for the new FISA bill even with retroactive immunity in it, it will be a BIG blow to the enthusiasm in his campaign. Like it or not, a very large part of his support comes from bloggers and liberal youth that are well informed about the consequences of FISA and retroactive immunity for telecoms. Remeber, it's COLLEGE EDUCATED LIBERALS who make up his big volunteer army for the upcoming election. If the Obama campaign thought this would be a minor sacrifice in order to get more friends in congress, they were wrong. And if enough votes go Dodd and Feingolds way in the Senate, Obama might end up looking pretty stupid.
Anyway it's getting harder for me to defend Obama.
Most of his new rhetoric for the GE really isn't much in the way of changed policy from the primaries, like NAFTA or his speech in front of AIPAC. Even tough he might use different words or harsher tones, it's not really a change in policy, but a spin on it. The same with NAFTA, the basics remain... He has seen benefits from it, but there are some loose ends to knot.
But this FISA rhetoric AND POSSIBLE vote, is really a kick in the stomach. The new FISA bill IS not compromise, its surrendering to BUSH. And even if it's not that and you believe Obama about it being better than the last one, he is backtracking on his promise to filibuster any bill with immunity in it.
GOD DANG IT!. All of this to me feels more like being helpless that betrayed. Why? Obama has spoken out against FISA many times before and to suddenly just cave in like this at the start of the general election just makes me see a picture of Obama surrounded by his advisers, allies in the Senate like Rockefeller and other bush dogs (who have a lot to loose if this bill isn't passed), by big donors, all telling Obama that this isn't a very important issue for voters but a political move he must do in order to get the Presidency.
Fuck, why isn't Michelle Obama pulling him aside and telling him that this whole thing stinks and Obama should stick to his guts and stop listening to his advisers about possibly looking weak on security?
For god sake, he knows that this bill is NOT compromise, he TAUGHT the constitution, he knows. Dodd knows, and now even Harry Reid has said he will vote against it. UGHH.
He better remove immunity from it or vote against it.
Thats my venting! I gotta rant from time to time, all i do mostly is reading everybody's else rants about FISA! haha.
UGGH. When is the vote by the way?
Still supporting Obama and everything, and this might turn out to be a footnote in June after VP selection in July, the convention in august, debates in September, the BIG heated campaign in October and election day in November. But he needs to prove that he is real change after this, especially if he ends up voting for FISA WITH immunity in it. UGH.