Hans B. Wrote:

Personally I take him at his word: if he's elected, he won't eavesdrop on people and will work Congress to get this thing overturned

Hans, I hate to break this to you, but no President can tell the NSA what to do. These guys will simply do what the law allows, and unless the law itself is overturned neither Obama or McCain or anyone else is going to change that, irrespective of expedient rhetoric.

Btw, I also suggest reading James Bamberg's eye-opening documenting of the NSA's travesties in Body of Secrets Pay especial attention to "Operation Northwinds" referenced therein.

All Obie had to do, really, is render a simple statement of concern for effectively warrantless searches and most of the left blogosphere would have been content. Failure to do that exposes him as merely another politico, albeit possibly with a tad more verbal-oratory flair.

Americans will not Democrats a mandate this fall, if Democrats continue to enable the corruption in Washington. They rolled over like a two dollar hooker for the Republicans once again on this FISA bill. How disappointing - to know that Democrats have no more respect for the Constitution than Republicans.

Obama needs to think long and hard about this law. Supporting it may cost him more dearly than he could ever imagine. I know at least one vote he could lose over it.

adnoto -

Thank you for your prompt and informative reply. (I especially appreciate that you didn't admonish me to "google" it, as I was conscious of taking the lazy way.)

pow wow -

Although I may be among the worst offenders in terms of practicing the opposite style, I'm coming to appreciate more and more the factual and clinical you take in your comments. Your effective use of bold emphasis draws attention but otherwise allows to reader to reach his/her own conclusions. Your closing summaries are concise and to the point. Because of all this, your comments don't always attract "attention" in terms of rebuttals and name-calling (heheheh), but I always read and appreciate what you post and I'm certain I'm not alone.

To both of you (and anyone else who cares) -

In addition to the Kris/Balkinization piece with respect to which pow wow has posted, I highly recommend that you seek out Jack Balkin's June 20 post and follow the links therein to two law journal papers that set out an analysis of the National Surveillance State.

Thanks again.

What about Gore? If you want to create a write-in movement, you could not do better than to try and draft him.

RE: Senate update.

Sysprog yesterday on Obama, and you today on the Senate. "Thanks" fer kickin' this baby in the face. Somebody's got to do it, I guess.

Sen. Obama.

I guess even constitutional lawyers can make mistakes. (The Harvard ones, Glenn.)

I take it, Glenn, you are suggesting Obama's remarks on the 'compromise', re. FISA, is some kind of political calculation by Obama to win a few 'red states' in the general election? ... I hope so!

For me, the most egregious part of the FISA ...uh, revisions was/IS 'retroactive immunity'. It's just flat-out outrageous - for Congress to retroactively immunize anyone/thing for breaking the law, any law. (Furthermore, from a constitutional point of view, it would seem to completely undermine, if not eviscerate, the role of the Courts?)

Obama has made it clear he opposes retroactive immunity.

Assuming the 'compromise' bill passses the Senate and becomes law, *with retroactive immunity* (which Obama clearly opposes), no matter which way Obama votes, perhaps he 'calculates' that he will be more able to reverse these fisa 'compromises' as the POTUS ...rather than a jr. senator?

...anyway, that's the only spin I've got right now.

bah.

The berries are there. And so is the poison ivy. I am so late. I too am and gathering up a itch with a sweat-sweat.

What a congress we got. I feel like traveling to DC today. The first person I lay my sore eys on best be wearing a green hula skirt and spiked purple hair. To read pow wow and Little Brother got me feeling like a few jarred pickles for a quick lunch before a wise rushing sram exit. The same feelings get confused and roll marble thoughts in a tin pan cranium. It is fun to roll cat-eye marbles in a pan.

It's hard to tell. Try it?

Is the rolling thunder?

Is the roar a wild sea?

When the Army vs. Navy football game is aired on TV, I want to wear a Hobo stick with a sack tied to my empty head. I'll get a urge to eat a three-dozen, raw, brown, and from those feathered barred-rock hen-eggs. Oy!

It's hard to find the words. Little Brother~

How you and pow wow do it is fabulous.

I always pray to thee entertaining Nature.

`O send a thunder strike to end my misery.

`O make neither team score any points today.

`O please send storms of fire-flames and Light.

I'm just saying: I ain't a Marine or Air Force voter.

But Retired Military Patriot is a great drill Sargent.

He's not John Singer Sargent who was a War War 1 painter.

He'd use a artist paint-brush stroke to record war's pains.

He'd got in trouble over some eroticism scandals. He was booed.

He's probably in town with his shirt tail hung out toiling at some good.

I'm just saying: The reads are like having a UT candy machine with pickles.

I'm just hoping these deviants don't become too suicidal from blowing smoke.

I'd offer to donate three dozen rotten double yoke duck eggs but, GOPS deserve worst.

I'd not choose yet a team if the Army/Navy/Air Force/Navy game is to be played on a pink-pong table with real cat-eye's or glass marbles. I just wanted to say: I shut up now.

Shut up! Poor Glenn? O chat like a red Rhodes Idiot Lame Hen. Happy Summer Day.

The bottom line is this: The Dems (especially the leadership) are no better than the Republicans; they are two species of the same animal. The only way to change things is to either create a third party or to run them out of office by electing other Dems who are not afraid to do their job of being a co-equal branch to the Executive.