Those insurgent Dem primaries? Those Act Blue candidates that got elected? How many of them voted the correct way today?

ActBlue, as Glenn pointed out includes everyone who can get a page up, so that's hardly a great measure. I can tell you that I stuck to progressives recommended by FireDogLake and digby, and of the ones I sent money to and who were successful, 75% voted against this bill. It's not perfect, but I like the odds.

I'm taking Iokannan's advice and heading for the cool, soothing hills for awhile. What a depressing day.

You can include Hinchey among those who genuinely opposed this . ( Unfortunately , I'm now a couple stone-throws into the Arcuri ( Weasel, NY) district) He's been emphatically, and very publicly against this all along . In a heavily Republican district too. ( that keeps voting for him ?)

I like it, except for one thing. Being a good New Deal Liberal and all, I'm forced to imagine the poor sonsabitches in the Congressional mail room, who probably have no union, and are being paid substandard wages.

They'd be the ones who suffered from our cleverness, not Handmaiden Hoyer and the rest of the imperial satraps upstairs, who never read the people's mail anyway, at least not the part of it addressed to them.

O Maybe yes.

O Maybe o-no. O gosh. Let's see.

Write in a 4-year old for a president.

O Awful. O `Awesome, And Full of Awe.

Maybe write in someone for Burp-Skills?

Let's watch the politico's discombobulate.

Before long the Harvest-Moon will shine Light.

Great post! Thank you for doing that work. Its a pity the list is so short.

Mr Obama! SAVE ME!

Save me from the lawlessness of the last 8 years!

Save me from the humiliation of the most unpopular president in the history of the country!

Save me from the endless threats of terrorist attacks! The endless color coded threat levels! The endless embarrassment of our country supporting torture and murder and sleazy religious con-men and women twisting the constitution and the laws of our great country.

Save me from the ruthless interrogation and having other human beings 'disappeared' by MY government. Save me from the lies that started wars and the lies that will continue the wars. Save me from the cooked intelligence and the partisan game playing with the economy and our cities and the poor!

Save me from the callousness of a government that sat on their hands while people died in New Orleans! Save me from a government that aids and abets the corporations to cheat and break environmental laws and who game the economy!

Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. . . .

After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act. . . It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.

It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives -– and the liberty –- of the American people.

Please God! Save us from Barack Obama! If he can't stand up for this very important thing, how can I believe that he'll stand up for anything else important.

Mr Obama: Save us from you! You have to be a grown up to be president. Int somtimes involves not going with the others and breaking out in a new direction. A 'change' in direction (wink wink)

I'm disappointed in you. Your leadership is deafening...

Funny, it didn't look like a compromise from here...

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/robertc

It is my darn fault. It's everybody's darn fault. We need a re-think, and maybe a kindly woman to run us out of the kitchen for an hour or so. Mona? Pedinska? We could go split some more kindling, or get the cat down out of the tree; make ourselves useful, you know?

-- Ouroboros

"It would be supremely ironic if in late October there is leak of telecom wiretap transcripts of Americans with Hussein in their name."

Why do you believe that would be ironic? Do you really believe that if McCain and his bunch of fascist wannabees or some third party douchebags want to leak crap about "someone with Hussein in their name" that Obama not supporting this Bill would make a difference?

I believe it would be ironic (almost Shakespearian) for someone who has provided telecom immunity (and directly undermined the 4th Amendment protections) to have his quest for presidential power destroyed in late October, 2008 due to leaked, immunized illegal wiretaps (taken during the Iraq War and its lead up) of all Americans with Hussein in their name. Of course, maybe he could compromise and get removal of telecom immunity for all "Hussein" wiretaps. Then maybe one could vote for him as a better choice than McCain.

Senator Obama has it in his power to filibuster this telecom bill. He only needs to muster the support of 40 Democrats to sustain it. As with the Iraq War funding, if Senator Obama cannot build a coalition of 40 Democrats, why should he become President Obama? Why throw more power at someone who is either spineless or ineffective in exercising the power he already possesses?

Can someone explain to me how "bipartisan" ever means anything but giving the wingnuts what they want so they don't pitch a bitch in the corner?

- Jane Hamsher , in January

WT, how 'bout this , for irritational symbolic gestures ? I have some old bills, bank statements and other assorted mail that is due for disposal . At first opportunity ( probably Tues) , instead of shredding/burning it , I'm going to mail it to the """""honorable""""" Mr. Hoyer, with the note :~ You seem to think that you &/or the White House have the right to to read this . So here . Read it , and pass it on to Emperor Bush . Thanks for eliminating the 4th Amendment. What's next ?

Probably a waste of time , but getting enough people to do it , and bury him/them in mail might be entertaining.