Up until now, I haven't gotten that worked up about FISA, in particular the retroactive immunity. Yes, it's bad. Very bad. Parts of the new FISA legislation are even worse that the immunity clause, in particular the extension from the 72 hours, to one week, of wire tappin' prior to going to the FISA court, as well as the seeming expansion from "foreign" to more domestic sources. It is a bad bill and should be defeated, although I say again, I'm not tremendously worked up about it.
Having said that...Sen. Obama needs to pay attention to what has happened with this bill. Because THIS is what is wrong with Washington...and THIS is what he needs to focus his message of "change" on.
Let's review...
FISA and telecom immunity were dead, only to be revived in this "compromise" measure. (Why? Who knows? Apparently Mr. 29% wanted it, so we had to work something out...just because we're that swell of folks...and hey, with the approval ratings of just about everybody around the federal government hovering around 30%...why not try a measure that strips away at our 4th Amendment rights, because, y'know, the folks in the countryside just LOVE it when you take away their rights in favor of big fat cats...)
Now, just about everybody, except those on the Hill, and those pesky lobbyists, universally agree that a. the measure isn't a compromise, because it just gave up everything the President wanted and b. it's a poorly written, pretty unnecessary bill.
OK. So we get that.
Now, the House decides it's best to fast track the sucker, and so, without anybody really reading what's in the thing, it passes the House with the support of Republicans and Democrats, giving it the appearance of bipartisanship.
But wait, there's more.
Now it's in the Senate, and Sen. Feingold, among others, are raising holy hell about it, hoping it doesn't get to see the light of day. A prolonged debate, perhaps in the form of a filibuster, is in order. And NOW comes word from Speaker Pelosi, that, come to think of it, maybe the Senate SHOULD debate this a little more. Maybe the House jumped the gun a tad, after hearing the outcry (of course it doesn't explain why SHE voted for the bill, but hey.)
Sen. Obama, are you getting to see the problem now? As much as you talk about the partisan rancor that usually stalemates Washington (and I agree with you believe me), you've got to watch out for the so-called bipartisan compromises that actually serve noone but a few entrenched interests.
THIS has been the problem in Washington for years now. The partisan fights occur over issues that actually matter and can benefit the people, and the bipartisan stuff compromises are over insidious stuff that benefits noone but the entrenched few.
Sen. Obama, are you starting to see the problem yet? Do you see what you are up against? You are up against a dysfunctional system that will take years to break. And as much as I'm inspired by your message of change, can you, as one person, break it?
The answer, of course, is no. You will need the millions of us behind you to get it done.
Now whatever your decision is with respect to the FISA bill, it's yours to make. But understand the learning curve of this moment.
THIS is what you are up against.
THIS is what is wrong with Washington.
THIS is the cycle that needs to be broken.
Always, always, ALWAYS ask, when these bills come forward:
Cui Bono? "Who benefits?"
Because that will be the question WE expect you to ask when you are President.
And we will ALWAYS be there to remind you.