"Thanks, Hotpotatomash, as I watch the 4th Amendment circle the drain"

"REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WE CAN BELIEVE IN!"

Wait a minute---that's redundant---oh, I see. That always WAS what that meant.

Fair enough.

I look forward to the day when Antonin Scalia explains to us how this grotesque abrogation of our liberties is exactly what the Founding Pussies had in mind all those years ago. -- flagwaiver

I gotta say... this is the funniest thing I have ever read in the comments section of UT. I am still laughing.

Well done sir (or madame as the case may be).

The retroactive immunity wasn't THE controversial part, it was just the "rub your face in monkey manure you total cowards" part.'

You're absolutely right, nearly everyone agrees that retroactive amnesty to lawbreaking telecom companies was really just a stunt designed to taunt liberals. It has no actual substance, and no real consequences in terms of justice, civil rights, and the rule of law. The civil liberties organizations that have been opposing the telecom immunity effort haven't given the amnesty provisions more than a passing thought.

Don't forget it was just a day ago that Barack issued a statement which seemingly condemned the compromise:

"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"

He's said much to that effect before as well. The question now is, how long will Barack have been in office before he concludes that "given the grave threats that we face", pulling out of Iraq is no longer in the best interest of national security?

He has squandered my confidence. I was wavering between 3rd party and Obama, but had decided to vote Democrat. I am no longer sure that's the way to go, and may vote LP again.

Nice to see the Senate's "most liberal member" inaction (one wrod intended).

Just like Hillary lost me with Kyl-Lieberman, Obama loses me the second this passes the Senate. The lesser of two evils is still evil. Relying on the SCOTUS to save us? Good luck with that. I'm gone, Dumbocraps. Good luck with your reign. Given the past two years, I don't expect much to change. I'm going Green from now on. And before other Dems get their panties reflexively in a bunch, keep in mind that Obama will easily carry my state of Illinois -- just not with my support. Time to put my energies towards starting something that actually might make a difference instead of just selling out to grab the brass power ring.

I honestly thought that he wouldn't roll on this. I EXPECTED that he wouldn't roll on this. It's too big an issue and way to much of a loaded gun pointed at the 'enemies of the Bushies'...

Christ, this will make the movie 'Enemy of the State' look like a historical retrospective!

For those of us who HOPEd, but did not really expect, that Obama really would, on principle, fulfill his oath to defend our Constitutional rights, this is simply his declaration that, just like many if not most other Democrats and just about all Republicans, principle will always come second to political expediency.

I guess that's a load of monkey shit smeared under my nose... Pardon me while I wipe it off and stumble back to my cage...

Far better to sit back and chuckle complacently in the fact of this outbreak of useless effort and inability to accomplish any goals.

-- Amity

Huh? You mean life goes on and we have to keep speaking and writing and calling and emailing? Guns, pitchforks and torches and really tough guy rhetoric won't help? Dang.

Do you think that if we went to any right wing blog, we would find so much bad mouthing of McSame as we have seen with Obama. I am not criticizing our commenters who have every right to be disappointed with our candidate.

I can't foresee a day where I will ever find a candidate that I can totally agree with. That would be pretty rare for any liberal. As long as the election playing field exists in its present form, I will see my candidate make compromise decisions that I don't like. The Repugs will say or do anything to get elected and then do whatever the hell they want after election. Obama is nowhere in their league.

I fail to see how my abandoning my candidate and giving more chance for a much more disgusting politician to get elected, makes much sense. I do understand withholding any donation does make sense if that doesn't magnify to the point it hurts Obama's chances.

It's easy to say that Obama should now lead and tell his congressional leaders to do what he says. Would they really follow especially if retroactive immunity is killed and those leaders are as vulnerable as the Repugs. In a presidential campaign, the degree of flexibility is not as broad as many would hope. If I were to find out that Obama made his decision because of money from the telecoms, then I would be thoroughly disgusted. I very much doubt thst is the case. The fact that he was partially forced to defend his weak congressional leadership, is disappointing but not the disaster that some commenters are making it out to be. We also don't know what was gained in the compromise such as the 21st Century GI, that would make it more of a compromise than now appears to be the case.

make that the "21st Century GI Bill

Obama is all too cocky to think that he's going to survive to be president after all this and be able to do something meaningful about it.

But remember Slick Willy? William 'Bubba' Clinton? With all the added toys from the Reagan and Bush I administrations, he didn't waste any time unassembling any of it. I expect the same...

Either he's the dumbest dumbass or Obama actually thinks that he's going to win. Playing chicken with the constitution isn't a way to win friends and supporters.