This is disappointing. And Craig should know better.

Given such a huge change in his message, maybe it's time we stopped looking into what his reasons for the switch MIGHT BE, and started looking into what they ARE.

Could his advisors be telling him "support the bill or else?"

Could other forms of pressure have been brought to bear, second or third hand?

I mean, based on the incoherant ramblings of Obama's official spokesman, Greg Craig, it seems obvious that we haven't heard the real reason(s) for the about face, and, assuming that Obama is the rational and forward thinking man we believe him to be, I think we really need to have a real investigative reporter do some digging and find out what that real reason is.

We have a tendency to think that anyone connected to the presidency or any campaign for it must have a certain high threshhold of intelligence. Then we find out that they're just as human as the voters are. Shouldn't be a surprise, I know, but it's a scary realization and a lot of people would rather just not have it.

they're new at this stuff ... new, fresh, innovative... change, change, change ...

or simply, not ready for prime time.

While we're busy criticizing the one's we love...

...McCain gets a free pass.

I know we can make hay of this FISA vote for at least the next 4 or 5 months, and that should be enough of a distraction to get McCain into office.

Sorry, those of you on your 5th tour, currently buring up in the desert sun, maybe next election cycle!

(Wasn't Glenn going after Salon for hammering on Wright for weeks on end?)

Should've been a prosecutor, perhaps.

Love that email to Craig.

I'm guessing, if word gets out, and you ever have occasion to send an email to, say, the White House... they simply won't open it.

LOTE's killin' me. "Justice tempered w/ mercy" (for me, and other disillusioned supporters of the Constitution), Glenn.

Stop collecting money to run ads after they vote on the 8th.

Start running them now goddamit.

WTF are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Run the ads now.

NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You cannot lay the entire FISA decision at Obama's door step, as he is not currently the leader in the Senate or President.

However those lefties who choose not to donate to Obama anymore and decry his compromise on FISA are participating in the same stupid tactics that has defeated Democrats in the past 2 elections. If you waant John McCain as president continue your stupid moves.

Good leaders compromise to get what they want in the future.

Yes, express you views and keep up the pressure, but continue to support Obama. If he took the bold position you want him to take right now, the opposition will use it against him as being unpatriotic. Unfortunately political campaigns don't allow for the VERY long discussion that Glenn wants.

Write you own representatives and Senators,as they are the only ones who are going to listen or respond to you.

I heard on the ferry yesterday (they all work for the Feds around here, on way or another) that you were completely safe from surveillance as long as you didn't say the seven forbidden words. Those seven words will trigger an warrantless eavesdropping warrant. Does anybody know which ones they are?

Obama decieved me into voting for him. He should be stripped of the nomination now that his true intentions for the continuation of an imperial presidency have surfaced. It is only a matter of time before he discloses that the occupation of Iraq is keeping America safe and that we cannot leave until all sides reconcile(which will be never). If I had the money, I'd sue Obama for fraud. He well could be the Manchurian Candidate they say he is.

no

He doesn't have time to learn all the "nuances" of Domestic wiretapping law. What with all the billable hours to pad, on top of fundraisers to attend, asses to kiss...

He signed up to do some fun political campaign work, not more "law stuff"! Jeez.

Give him a break!

Do you even read the posts before you spout off?

GG has amply delineated his position (supported w/ poll data)that, not only do LOTE's flip-flops undermine the Constitution, but they in all likelihood DECREASE his electoral chances.

Pull your head out.

What a sad refrain that is. All the enthusiasm Obama inspired just a few months ago is eroding into resignation that he's just a politician like all the rest. So, will liberals vote for him? Of course, because, "What other choice do we have?"

When a politician makes the decision to disregard the ideology of the people who most strongly supported him in order to get the votes of the wishy washy center it is just political extorsion. They are saying, "I can ignore your views because you have no choice but to vote for me."

Well, Obama is going to have to do better to earn my vote.

...perhaps you'd be kind enough to tell us those seven words.

(Is our slate clean, now?)

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/02/wsj-obama-bush-third/

It's of course absurd to argue (as the Journal does) that Obama -- not McCain -- is the candidate running for Bush's third time. Even on this issue McCain is marginally closer to Bush (his current position is he supports immunity). And of course McCain is far worse (and closer to Bush) than Obama on many other issues.

Still, the point rankles. As some wag said, if you're going to sell your soul at least get a good price for it. Obama is selling his soul on this and getting less than nothing in return.

Start Running the ads now dammit!!!!!!

Stop collecting money to run ads after they vote on the 8th.

Start running them now goddamit.

WTF are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Run the ads now.

NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ads have been running in Carney and Hoyer's district. I've posted all of them as they get launched.

But the purpose of the funds that were raised isn't to run ads to convince Senators to vote against the FISA bill. It's to target Democrats who have been supporting measures like this. That is a longer-term campaign (between now and November).

It doesn't make sense to go off half-cocked dropping ads wherever the impulse strikes. It's important to figure out who is vulnerable, where we can make the biggest impact, what messaging works, etc.

I understand your urgency - I share it. Ads have been running. But this isn't about defeating the FISA bill (which is very unlikely) but about a slightly longer-term campaign to attach a price to this behavior.