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And in 2001, the Republicans of 2000 hadn't gone anywhere, either. In 2000, they passed the Torture Act. In 2001, they passed the PATRIOT Act.
Yes, indeedy. I don't know about it being reasonable to demand change from people who haven't gone anywhere. Old dog - new tricks, tiger changing its stripes, and all that. The best we may get out of Obama is his ability to veto the worst our bipartisan seeking, comity loving, Congress dreams up. If that were to forestall worse abuses than have already been visited on the public, it would still be worth something. I hate to think in these terms but, Obama may be little more than a benign place-holder until the public can effect significant changes in the composition of Congress (Accountability Now, anyone?). Not that he isn't capable of more, only that the constraints of Congress may limit what he can accomplish. I warn myself Obama is also capable of much worse.
