Organizing for America | Why I Support Barack Obama: Is there Life after FISA?

1 | Report to Admin

By Obamamaniac Jim B - Don't stand in the doorway - Don't block up the hall Jun 27th 2008 at 1:51 am EDT

You forgot to say 1st. I guess it doesn't count when it's your blog.

Is there life? Of course. The funny thing is that every time I talk on my cell phone I assume that the government is listening in anyway. I also figure that they are watching my emails.

I may seem paranoid but the first year that they had the Freedom of Information Act my father wrote into the government to see if they had a file on him. Sure enough they had a file with records of his involvement with none other than the ACLU. Most of the report was blacked out and we always believed that they had more that they were not releasing. He was a long time activist and was involved in everything from civil rights to anti-war, anti Iran-contra and so on. He was also involved in the Milwaukee chapter of Peace Action Network. My dad died in 2000 at the ripe old age of 80 just prior to the election. In April of 2002 there were big protests in DC and SF and a bunch of people from Milwaukee Peace Action Network flew to DC to join in. They were all detained at the airport for more than 12 hours because they were on "the list" of people who got detained with no explanation other than the fact that they were on "the list". They held them in little rooms and asked them questions about what they were doing and why. They eventually released them all and got on new flights, barely making the protest. You can check it out. The story is in an issue of the Progressive Magazine.

So I figured that my Dad would most certainly have been on the list since he was the president of the Peace Action Network in Milwaukee. I guess too much peace is a bit scary for some.

So I am one to fear the government and I do not believe that it is paranoia. I believe that it is well- founded. I do not trust agencies of the government to act as the President necessarily wants.

So is there life after FISA? Sure. Do I think is is different from life before FISA? Not much.
I'm back to not trusting politicians. I think it is healthier for me. I'll still vote for him but I'll be watching my own back.

Re: 1 | Report to Admin

By Rick Beaule' Jun 27th 2008 at 9:36 am EDT

I wouldn't have worried and feared my government until after George Bush (the Lessor, someone called him on the main blog last night) took office. Since then I have seen such a rapid degeneration of our Consitutional rights that it is truly scary.

I truly believe that McCain will be more of the same. But I will be watching anxiously when Obama takes office until all of those liberties are restored and more balance is added for everyone's lives.

Rick
Mustard seeds for everyone!!!

Re: 1 | Report to Admin

By Obamamaniac Jim B - Don't stand in the doorway - Don't block up the hall Jun 27th 2008 at 3:57 pm EDT

Unfortunately what seems most likely to occur if history repeats is that Obama will get elected and most people will stop paying any attention to what goes on in Washington. Most people will continue to get their news from MSM which is apparent from most people on the Obama blog. Most people will become complacent and many will think that since Obama was elected we have nothing to worry about. What will happen after that will come about only when there is disruption of the norm. When there is economic failure or obvious threats the Democratically controlled Congress will act. Otherwise they will maintain the status quo. That is my expectation. I will continue to try to change things but I am not naive enough to believe that this will be sufficient for any real change. I will give Obama a chance but I am ready for him to not follow through. I am open to Obama's supporters proving me wrong by maintaining pressure on him to do the right thing, but my expectation is that most people will just assume that he is doing what he can and they will go back to the TV and their lives and get mad only when gas prices reach $6 or $8 a gallon. Maybe I am being pessimistic and cynical. I really do hope that people can prove me wrong.

Re: 1 | Report to Admin

By Rick Beaule' Jun 27th 2008 at 11:37 pm EDT

It's a valid concern. My only quibble, if you could call it that, would be that I hope that it truly is a partnership between electors and elected. It would be a much better scenario than the American public being forced to stand over Washington with skeptical arms folded.

But you can rest assured that I will be watching Washington as I have for the past several years. And I honestly don't think I will be alone. There are too many sleeping dogs that have been awakened now.

Rick
Mustard seeds for everyone!!!

Re: 1 | Report to Admin

By Obamamaniac Jim B - Don't stand in the doorway - Don't block up the hall Jun 27th 2008 at 11:48 pm EDT

It would be nice if it were a partnership. That would be good. At this point it has not been that way. But you are right that the sleeping dogs need to stay alert. I hope that people are also starting to realize that the MSM is not a reflection of what goes on. They spend a lot of time ignoring and distorting and sometimes just plain lying about things. People need to look into the activities of their government and not wait until it shows up on the TV. This FISA bill is a good example that only seemed to surface when it became a problem. I am guilty of this also. If we had kept a better eye on Pelosi and company we may have ended up with a better bill. So we all need to be more vigilant.

I guess it's better to stand over the government with our arms folded and a little glare in our eye than to be shaking our fist and screaming at them. In a couple of years we may feel that we can change our stance again but at this point I think I like the image of the folded arms. It's a big improvement over recent years that's for sure.

Guilt by association | Report to Admin

By Obamamaniac Jim B - Don't stand in the doorway - Don't block up the hall Jun 27th 2008 at 5:35 pm EDT

There is somebody (Tom - "I'm here because of Ashely") who is suggesting that people delete friends who are friends of someone who has been posting anti-FISA stuff. This seems to be a new tactic to try to isolate people who have dissenting opinions. This is not productive and does not promote the well-being of the campaign. It also strikes me as odd that after months of trying to combat guilt-by-association there are those who will do exactly that when it suits their own purpose.

Re: Guilt by association | Report to Admin

By Nancy M. Jun 27th 2008 at 5:42 pm EDT

Ick! That is the exact opposite of what should be doing. People should befriend the ones who have concerns and talk with them about them! Very sad.

Re: Guilt by association | Report to Admin

By Obamamaniac Jim B - Don't stand in the doorway - Don't block up the hall Jun 27th 2008 at 5:56 pm EDT

I know. It's funny in some kind of crazy way. Some people think that everyone should stand up for an issue and if you are not in line with the issue than you are out. Some people think that you should be nice to Clinton and if not you should be out. Some people think you shouldn't be nice to Clinton and if you are you are out. Some think we should just tow the line on everything that Obama says and if we don't we are out. If you draw the Venn-diagram we end up with a bunch of isolated groups that won't talk to each other.

Re: Guilt by association | Report to Admin

By Rick Beaule' Jun 27th 2008 at 11:39 pm EDT

That is the true problem here, and the one that scares me the most; the tendency for those who want change becoming as single-minded and polarizing as the ones whom they wish to displace.

Rick
Mustard seeds for everyone!!!

Time to chime in. | Report to Admin

By ATW Jul 5th 2008 at 8:52 pm EDT

First off I've gotta say I havent read all of the posts on this topic. What I do have to say is this is a serious matter, one of which Barack owes his loyalists an explanation.

If he has already presented one please post in reply . Bottomline I am behind Barack because of his unabashed dislike for "Washington as usual" style politics. He position has always been..."you do not need that". Is it possible to project how running for President effects ones ability to think clearly? I think not. Barack you have made a MISTAKE -- TELECOMS HAVE FAR TOO MUCH POWER and leverage against the people. Your vote was a CLEAR INDICATION OF A BASELINE DISCONNECT between your votes and the average American.

It's YOUR responsibility to level the playing field. Please, in your action and words inspire us to believe again, that you are truly the rebel pioneer for a New Free World and Country.

Willing to believe and fight,

Tim

Reader Comments	Comments RSS
Comments are closed for this post.