That I knew all along that Obama was a typical cynical politician first and formost. My reaction was reinforced when, exploring the internet I came across stickers for sale featuring Obama's name with a peace sign for the "O". Who in their right mind would think that Obama actually represents a "Peace Candidate"?

Certainly not I.....

I nevertheless feel strongly that it is important to work within what's possible and that Obama is indeed the least of seventeen evils.

If we end up with a McCain Presidency, I'm going to be quite upset with the folks who today are insisting that they can no longer support Obama and that they might as well vote Green or Libertarian.

A quick comparison of the mood in America between now and 2003 will reveal that there is indeed hope. Let's not squander the momentum.

I'm both an Obama volunteer and a contributor. I never assumed I'd found an ideological soulmate in Obama, but rather a strong candidate to remove the neocons from office. Will McCain do anything to reverse the Bush years? No, by all accounts he'll put those things into hyperdrive.

What Obama has done here is wrong, and I wasted no time calling his office and expressing to them my dismay. But what's at stake here has not changed. The two choices have not changed. The only thing that changed is that the bloom now off the rose.

After asking myself if I'd back off of my support in terms of time and money, I realized that if the choice is still clear, then my moral duty is still clear. Only now I need to combine my time and money getting Obama elected with my time and money pressuring him to move away from this policy and others just as reprehensible.

Yep, that's just what I would do. I'm sure Glenn would too, were he running for Prez.

Un hunh. It's all just a wise strategic move on Obama's part, especially when it contradicts what he said a mere six months ago. BTW, I love this deviously cynical explanation for the flip-flop. Is there a sunset clause on this most clever deception? Do you expect his true agenda to be made clear by January 20, 2009? Sometime in 2010? 2016? I'd like to know at what point I can expect vindication in my support for a "change" agent.

It is hard for me to believe that Obama's condemnation of this bill would have cost him votes to McCain. Yes, he would have losed some on the "weak on national security issue", but I think he will lose more because potential voters will stay home. Obviously the campaign called it differently from me. But if it is close, it is better to err on the side of liberty and the rule of law meeting constitutional requirements.

Even before taking the oath of office, Obama has capitulated on Israel, rescinded his pledge to take public financing, and now supports this FISA bill, which basically codifies warrantless wiretapping.

This is the new kind of politics...

I'd like to know why nobody spoke up when it mattered.

-- Martin Gale

What does the primary have to do with it? Why is that "when it mattered"?

I utterly agree that the slavish support for Obama's "nuanced" endorsement of this FISA rewrite is reprehensible. There are many elements one could focus on, but the notion (as expressed at Balkanization) that Obama "wants all the power he needs to protect the country" is preposterous. The last thing we need is a new iteration of a Father Leader. If we are supposed to be a nation ruled by laws, and we are, then anyone--and I don't care who he is--that seeks to undermine that is someone who has departed from our Constitutional founding. Obama's position doesn't need to be defended. It needs to be challenged and challenged with full-throated rejection. It is worth repeating that elected officials serve their constituencies--not the other way around.

As for Pelosi's "argument" that this legislation returns the wiretapping issue to the appropriate oversight venues while removing it from the Executive, well, what evidence for this? George Bush disregarded Congress, FISA and the FISC from the outset--without penalty and with the connivance of the Justice Department. Pelosi may say, even think, she's curtailed the Executive's power grab but the evidence says otherwise.

It is best that we know this about Obama now rather than later. There is no need to be delicate about this. Obama is running for the Presidency and needs a majority of voters to get there. If the electorate needs to elect, over time, more and more Progressives who are attentive to the Constitution and, generally, embrace the fundamental ideals of equity and decency, then Obama will be forced to understand this soon enough. After all, the people will have spoken and that's the only way to make progress. It has always been so.

Yep, that's just what I would do. I'm sure Glenn would too, were he running for Prez. -- grubert

Perhaps it shouldn't surprise me anymore but it still amazes me how devoid of principle most of my countrymen are. We really are a country of people who believe that the ends justify the means. It is no wonder we have leaders who act in the ways that they do.

Carlin is right....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u6lCBnRoHQ

So now that we know Obama is a politician like any other, and that he offers "change" in only the most rudimentary sense (as in, a change from a Republican to a Democratic administration). The difference between his position on FISA and McCain's is whisker-thin. Worse, if Obama doesn't win in November, all this newly sanctioned power will be in GOP hands.

Barack's policy positions were similar to Hillary's, albeit somewhat less progressive and far less detailed (transparent). He has a lot less experience. He has far fewer accomplishments. [But he's so inspiring! And she's such a bitch!]

To those who are new to this experience: this is it feels like to have your support taken for granted. This is what it feels like to find out your core issues are expendable. This is what it feels like to be told by members of your own party that your concerns are petty and immature and to just get over it "for the greater good."

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

Sorry, just had to vent.

God bless, Glenn, for doing this work - we have got to stand up for the Constitution NOW, while we still have some leverage, before the Senate vote happens. It looks like the MSM will take a dive on this issue too... I'm going to make my donation to your campaign now.