Like in this case -- in what you all are attempting to do here -- as much as I would like to see this BS "compromise" stopped, I almost hope your ad campaign fails. I think it sets an incredibly bad precedent. And not even a truthful precedent. Throwing money at a problem may work now and again but it isn't a long term solution and, if it succeeds in this case, there will be those that will think of it as a first best option in the future.

First, there is nothing new in this approach. It's called Advocacy, and Advocacy Groups have been doing this since the begining of the country.

Second, sorry pal, but if you want to fix the crooked game, you have to pay to get into the ballpark. The sooner you realize that EVERYTHING, good or bad, revolves around money when it comes to politics, the better.

Third, I don't believe those of us with a genuine desire to improve the state of the country are so one-dimensional that we cannot form long term strategies which will require less and less money as those strategies become more and more successful.

You have to start somewhere, and it seems WE all have to start with finding a way to get their attention, because the criminals running this country (and that is exactly what the vast majority of them are) simply and blissfully ignore emails, letters, phone calls, personal messages, and flowers. Now wire up a bale of money and drop it in their office when no one is looking, and you might just get an ear.

This is what I received from Obama's campaign via email after writing to them last night. Lots of nice platitudes to make me feel all warm and fuzzy, but zero commitment to actually speak up NOW and do something that moves the movement NOW. Oh well....

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me about the proposed legislation to give phone companies legal immunity for past wiretapping. I share both your strong opposition to this special interest provision and your frustration that the President and his supporters in Congress continue to push it. This fight is just one more example of why things in Washington must change.

I have consistently opposed this Administration's efforts to use debates about our national security to expand its own power, whether that was in regard to the conduct of the Iraq war or its restrictions on our civil liberties through domestic surveillance programs or suspension of habeas corpus. It is time to restore oversight and accountability in the FISA program, and rejecting this unprecedented grant of retroactive immunity is a good place to start.

Giving retroactive immunity to telecom companies is simply wrong. Thankfully, the most recent effort to pass this legislation at the end of the legislative year failed. I unequivocally oppose this grant of immunity and support the filibuster of it. I have cosponsored Senator Dodd’s proposal that would remove it from the current FISA bill and continue to follow this debate closely. In order to prevail, the proponents of retroactive immunity still have to convince 60 or more senators to vote to end a filibuster of this bill. I will not be one of them.

This Administration has put forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand. When I am president, there will be no more illegal wire-tapping of American citizens; no more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime; no more tracking citizens who do nothing more than protest a misguided war. Our Constitution works, and so does the FISA court. By working with Congress and respecting our courts, I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining our Constitution and our freedom.

Thank you again for contacting me. I look forward to continuing to wage this fight.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Thank you for so conclusively confirming my my point.--adnoto

I'll tell ya what. You go out and get yourself a couple of experienced lobbyists, some media designers, producers, and directors, editing guys, a direct marketing company, some folks to spend their entire days writing blogs for free, a really well-connected PR firm, and an attorney plus a gov't wonk or two who can help you through the process of setting up your own NFP political action committee or advocacy group.......ALL for free, and let us all know how you do on that.

Effecting change in any kind of substantive way in this mass media day and age isn't free, and since it isn't likely you're going to get any voluntary "million man marches" on Washington for your pet causes anytime soon, it's probably best to live in reality vs. ideality. Just a thought.

I can certainly sympathize with your point, adnoto, and I think you stated it very well, as far as you went. But what really is your alternative? Do you really want a million man march? Maybe, but then what? As bamage asked too, it would be good of you to flesh out your thoughts even more. Your post was indeed interesting. But again, I must harp on the "ideality vs reality" of what you're speaking.

If it hasn't been clear that Obama is a clear calculating politician operating within the system he pretends to abhor, it should be now. I think Glenn's idea of bringing together many blogs and groups to bring the greater sum of their parts to this fight is the right move.....for now. If it doesn't bear fruit after a reasonable amount of time, I would think more drastic measures would be in order.

www.changecongress.org

I feel your pain, brotha. Maybe that site will give you some solace.