His blatant reversal on FISA, regardless of how "underground" an issue some think it to be, only contributes to the counter-narrative that he will calculate as nakedly as any other politician.

You accurately gauge the likely effect of Obama's capitulation on his image and the enthusiasm of the base.

But while his vote was certainly calculated, few votes have ever been calculated less nakedly. He's left every man jack (and woman jill) of us guessing what the hell his calculation was. Yes, many of us guessers are sure we have the One Right Answer to that question. It's just that the various One Right Answers don't agree with each other.

He saw the whip count, realized he couldn't prevent the outcome, and went along to at least look like he had some clout with his own party. He has a Secret Plan to fix things when he's elected (not popular on this site, but on Dkos, oh brother, and this is really five or six different possible calculations in its own right.) He gets the same willies as the Vichy Dems when Republicans whisper, "soft on terror". He'd be happy to stand up for the Constitution in open debate, but wants to control which issues will dominate the fall campaign, and prefers other ones. He doesn't want open schism with the Congressional leadership. I could easily go on. And frankly, I haven't a clue which if any of these calculations are actually his.

His "I don't do cowering" is looking mighty thin at this point. But as a slit-eyed poker player, he sure doesn't do naked.

thanks for the photos, glenn. i found them utterly appalling. concerning the last one, what do you think cheney said to lieberman to make him grin so shamelessly?

He probably said something like..."I can't believe they let us pass this crap in Congress!..."

For all I've read of GG, and all the Senate "debate", and all the confusing and multi-threaded language of the actual bill, I interpret the substantive change (outside amnesty) as this:

PRE - As of 1978 + multi-ammended FISA, the GVMT had to get a warrant to actually COLLECT international communication.

POST - The GVMT can COLLECT every single piece of communication by decree of the AG or other executive official, without warrant. If they want to LOOK at it, then they need a warrant. And if it is determined by a court they collected it illegally, well then... they're not destroying it, but they can't legally USE it in a court (minimization).

So they've shifted the burden of invasion of privacy from the collection of your detail to the use of your detail. Subtle, yes. Potential for damage and misuse? Endless.

I think I understand what you're saying. It's true that some have falsely said that Democrats wanted warrants for purely foreign-to-foreign communications (this, for example: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/29/hoekstra-joe-klein/), but that is not what Rachel Maddow said.

Let the record state that I unequivocally agree with both of your last posts to me. We are on the same "side" after all!

I'm just saying, as simply as I can this time: Let's hammer the other guys for a while. They deserve it more. Its productive. And, hell, we like doing it!

Let's, as a liberal constituency, pull a "Costanza" on this one (do the exact opposite of what your gut reaction is) and see how it works out this time.

cabdriver: I've got no idea what you're on about..

Cheers and goodnight!

Hey Joe, that Grenn Greenwald blogger never uses a fork, just bamboo chop sticks, when he chows down on Uncle Ben's brown grain rice.

-Great idea, Joe.

You were brave to suggest that the Vice-commando could bribe a NSA film crew to secretly snap photos of all the Senate and House, drooling with alter boys, trollops, and those non-family member whores.

You got the psychiatric folders released that informs 98% of Capital Hill is fearfully-scared to death of clowns.

-Great idea, Joe.

Stop over for a dress rehearsal. Bring the buddy-boys, and gals who helped in the reversal of sensible balance.

Who needs laws?

Have AT&T come.

We'll listen to Capital Hills sex-chats, hot-lines. The bed snoring noises calm me down more that shooting lawyers who hunt pheasants. By the way, Joe. It's near time to itch to bomb. I'm in the mood to kill.

Another bloody idea?

Joe, time to kill peasants?

O My advice Joe? Bomb Iran.

No eat blueberries. The fruit will unclog a colon. You will feel better than a woozy drunk. But, too many of the color blue in you, I FEAR, Joe.

You eat them with 'Gefilte Fish' and you need to be careful. Green vegetable broth with broiled stuffed 'Gelfilte Fish" may cause you to smell like a halibut. Joe, you don't wish to slip and break a tailbone at a eve-bash tonight. Use caution while hop-scotching down the bunny hop trail. You love those DoJ masquerade parties as much as I do, Joe. Surly love those dress up pretense, get better acquainted, shindigs. It's being free and true to our true depraved natures, Joe. BTW, there is a Yiddish speaking moo-cow that is a Derbig Mooser. He comments @ UT. The Lefty Jebbie wants to show congress what moose's naked behind looks like, Joe.

Great idea, Joe.

When a moose moons you and me eating a stuffed Gefilte Fish, photo it. Glenn Greenwald can show it to readers @ Salon's UT. We will smirk and smile with the Habanero hot butt grimace sneer.

(no send this)

Thanks for confirming what I said about my "off the cuff" writing. That you manged to extract a meaning which was the exact opposite of what I thought I said, condemns my extemporaneous writing much more than it condemns your reading comprehension. Otherwise I would say you were stupid, and I know you aren't.

My writing chased Timberman away, and I hear it has been a quick descent into monomania, idee fixe', dipsomania and self-abnegation for poor William since then. To avoid a similiar fate, I suggest you avoid my comments.