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By Matt from Eureka, CA - Jul 10th, 2008 at 4:39 am EDT

Also listed in: President Obama, Please Get FISA Right

You can count me among those no longer interested in either the Democratic Party or Senator Obama.

From now on, my support goes to the ACLU.

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Filibuster

By Matt from Eureka, CA - Jul 7th, 2008 at 9:23 pm EDT

Also listed in: President Obama, Please Get FISA Right

Today I am urging everyone to do what you can to support Senators Dodd, Feingold, Boxer, and Wyden (did I forget anybody?) in their possible filibuster of the illegal domestic spying bill.

According to Senator Obama's previous statements, he should be filibustering too if the bill continues to contain the telecom immunity. As we all now know, that previous statement was patently false.

At a *bare* minimum, what I would like to see from Senator Obama is for him to vote against closure of debate if/when the filibuster happens. He can support the filibuster without actually being part of the filibuster.

Last time this bill was filibustered, there were only 10 senators that voted against closure: Barbara Boxer (CA), Sherrod Brown (OH), Maria Cantwell (WA), Ben Cardin (MD), Chris Dodd (CT), Russ Feingold (WI), Tom Harkin (IA), John Kerry (MA), Bob Menendez (NJ), and Ron Wyden (OR). Neither Obama nor Clinton voted at all - what great "leaders" we have!

Here's the complete list:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00435

We need to keep all 10 on board and increase that number to give the filibuster a chance at succeeding. It seems like a long shot, but it's the best I've got this afternoon.

Call, write, pray...! (any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!)

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re: Senator Obama's response to the Domestic Spying bill controversy

By Matt from Eureka, CA - Jul 4th, 2008 at 2:29 am EDT

Also listed in: President Obama, Please Get FISA Right

I appreciate the fact that Senator Obama took the time to respond to the concerns and controversy surrounding his position on the Domestic Spying bill. I also realize that he's now backed himself into a corner and is unlikely to change that position for fear of seeming even more wishy-washy than he already appears.

Nevertheless, he's still wrong. This bill is still bad and should not be passed. I can disagree with a politician on a great many issues and still support them, but our constitutional rights are too important and this issue is too big.

My vote will be based on my principles and my conscience. Simply being better than Bush/McCain is not good enough.

My monetary support will go to those that stood for the American people and our legal rights: Senators Feingold, Boxer, Dodd, etc; and not to those that vote for bad bills out of political expediency.

There are some that will argue that we should trust Senator Obama and believe in him to make better decisions on other issues. I respectfully disagree. That trust is already greatly diminished due to his position on this issue, and frankly there aren't many issues more important than respect for the constitution and the rule of law.

Truthfully, this is not entirely an "Obama problem". This is the problem with most of the Democratic party. As Alexander Hamilton said: "Those who stand for nothing, fall for anything." That pretty much sums up the Democrats of the past 8+ years. Obama is apparently just one more of that continuum.

As Senator Obama said today: ""Whether it is the economy, foreign policy, or the Supreme Court, my opponent has embraced the failed course of the last eight years, while I want to take this country in a new direction."

So far his "new direction" is looking a lot like the old direction.

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re: FISA/domestic spying bill

By Matt from Eureka, CA - Jul 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm EDT

Also listed in: President Obama, Please Get FISA Right

I was glad to contribute to Senator Obama's campaign and vote for him during the primary, and I was looking forward to doing whatever I could to help with his election in the Fall; however, my support is NOT unconditional and due to his stand on the so-called "Protect America Act", I will not be supporting him in the general election.

I understand the political need to "move to the center" for the general election and can live with the realistic need to make compromises, but caving on the 4th amendment and this very badly written FISA bill is not "moving to the center". There is no "left", "center", and "right" on matters of the constitution. This is a line I will not cross, unlike most of the Democratic party, and I will not support anyone who goes along with this sham of a bill. Cheers to Feingold, Dodd, Boxer, and the few others who actually believe the constitution means something; Jeers to Senator Obama and the rest of the Democratic party.

Trading principles for "political calculus" will ultimately lead to neither. The reason the Democrats are consistently believed to be weak on national security is not because of how they vote on various bills, it is because they consistently cave-in and capitulate to the Republicans. If you never stand firm for any basic principles, how can we believe that you will stand strong on national security (or anything else)?!

Lastly, I will leave you with this quote (source unknown): "Do not do the right thing because you seek reward… and do not avoid the wrong thing because you fear punishment. Do the right thing, because it is the right thing." This is something the Democratic party and Senator Obama need to learn. This FISA bill is *wrong* and I am disgusted by the willingness of our elected representatives to promote it as a positive.

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