Friday, June 20, 2008

Obama caved on FISA

That may have cost him my support.

More later.


UPDATE:

I am sickened by the capitulation of the Democrats in the House over amnesty for the telecoms for illegal wiretapping. Progressive Democrats have been showing repeatedly that we don't have to argue national security issues on Republican terms, and that we can win elections while standing up to them and arguing on our terms. Caving into the telecoms and to Bush on this important issue was one of the biggest disappointments since the authorization to use force against Saddam Hussein.

Barack Obama has been running his campaign on real change in Washington, and in what is decidedly his biggest test yet, he seems to be failing on that message. By supporting the House on this matter, Barack Obama is not demonstrating change whatsoever. He can talk until he's blue in the face about being against amnesty for telcos, but if he does not stand up against this FISA compromise, his words mean nothing. NOTHING.

As MoveOn.org reminds us, Obama promised to filibuster any bill that granted amnesty to the telecoms, so it is imperitive that he be held accountable to his words. He has said time and again that he is accountable to us, we who have poured our hearts, souls, time, and money into supporting him. He said he is not beholden to corporations and their lobbyists. Now is the time for him to honor his words and prove that he really is the candidate for change, and not just another two-faced, forked-tongue politician.

As someone who walked door to door, up and down hills in the pouring rain in SF, and spent five days in Texas on the phones and walking door to door in three precincts, and spent countless hours on the phones many more times, it pains me to say this: If Obama does not keep his word on such an important matter as upholding the values of our Consitution, then I am going to have a very hard time supporting him anymore.

Closing the 527 Is a Courageous Move

Eli (and everyone at MoveOn),

You are demonstrating once more why progressives are the true champions of America. By closing the 527 and focusing on support at the individual level, MoveOn continues to show real courage and leadership towards changing the political landscape. I am more proud than ever to be a member of this organization.

It is the very hard work that you and everyone at MoveOn have put into creating the foundation for online progressive activism that helped Al Gore propel his message of global warming, helped make Howard Dean a household name, helped Act Blue launch so many new progressive candidates, and made Barack Obama's historic campaign even possible. MoveOn's contribution to making America a better country cannot be overstated.

You make us all proud, and you have so much to be proud of. Thank you all for everything you do.

Sincerely,
Jake Barlow

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Common People?

House Dems Sold Us Out!

Siding with the Republiscums and caving in to AT&T, Verizon, et al., House Democrats told all of us who elected them that our rights to privacy are less important than their right to spy on us. In other words, our representatives on Friday are going to tell us that we can take that Constitution of ours and shove it up our collective ass.

In doing so, they also violated their oaths of office. Each one of them swore to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In my view, they have become enemies of the Republic, and it is time something be done about it.

Of course, there have obviously not been enough people pressuring them to not capitulate, so there will likely not be enough people interested in ousting these political cowards from office.

Nice work, people.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Where creative juice comes from

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Obama 360

One helluva view!

My First Cavity Search