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

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.

Where creative juice comes from

Obama 360

One helluva view!

My First Cavity Search

Speaking of cell phones and radiation

there's this...

Some Big Brother tech I could get behind

In theory, surveillance technology in public spaces is supposed to make us safer, but I'm still not a huge fan of CCTV on every corner. The Bush administration has proven how this kind of stuff can be abused. But this idea for tracking nuclear material passively through cell phones is really cool!

Researchers at Purdue University are working with the state of Indiana to develop a system that would use a network of cell phones to detect and track radiation to help prevent terrorist attacks with radiological "dirty bombs" and nuclear weapons.

Such a system could blanket the nation with millions of cell phones equipped with radiation sensors able to detect even light residues of radioactive material. Because cell phones already contain global positioning locators, the network of phones would serve as a tracking system, said physics professor Ephraim Fischbach.

Is home grown and hand sewn better?

In many ways, notably by the quote below, the writer of this post is a douchebag. But he makes a few somewhat sensible points about the locavore lifestyle.

"Deliciousness" is subjective. But one obvious point is that no one person can grow or produce all the things she would like to eat. As a kid who grew up on a small farm, I can tell you that after I had my fill of corn and asparagus and raspberries, all I really wanted was a Big Mac.

WTF? He could have picked a better burger. Big Macs suck. He could have made his point just as clearly by saying "cheeseburger," but in exposing his desire for one of the worst fast food inventions ever, he damn near discredits anything else he says.

Still, it's worth a read.

Know CHANGE!

Obama Moves DNC Operations to Chicago

This bodes extremely well for the party, and speaks powerfully as an example of change. Any argument that Obama would not be capable of any sort of real change just got weaker.

STUNNING SNAP!

The Supreme Court gives Bush a stunning SNAP! No, this is actually a bitch slap! Honestly, I am gob-smacked. I didn't think the court had it in them to actually stand up for our constitution. I must say, for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of this Supreme Court. This is huge!

The justices, voting 5-4, said a 2006 law unconstitutionally stripped Guantanamo prisoners of the right to file so-called habeas corpus petitions. The majority, pointing to the six years that some detainees have spent in captivity, said a system of limited judicial review set up by Congress didn't adequately protect inmate rights.

"The costs of delay can no longer be borne by those who are held in custody,'' Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority. "The detainees in these cases are entitled to a prompt habeas corpus hearing.''

All said, I kind of fantasized that a future President would have declared Bush and Cheney enemy combatants and shipped them off-shore somewhere never to be heard from again. But I'll take a proactive stance on human rights even for our enemies over indulging fantasies of poetic justice wrought on the Bushies any day.

Tastes like chickenhawk

I gave $25 to get this on the air. So can you.

(h/t to Will)

Money Quote

Paul Rieckhoff from VoteVets.org on the bullshit issues Congress wastes time on while "Rome is burning."

"It's like a pilot crashing a plane because he was too busy giving all the passengers their complimentary peanuts."

I'm voting Republican because...

Harbinger?

You know Republiscums have got to be worried when even a poll on a Fox News website has Obama ahead of McCain. Out of nearly 30,000 votes, more than 70% think Obama will be the next president.

BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Dennis Kucinich introduces 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush

This is for real!

http://www.democrats.com/kucinich-introduces-35-articles-of-impeachment-against-george-w-bush

Call your representatives right now to show your support for Rep. Kucinich

ABSOLUTE MUST SEE!

This is long, but incredibly important. Please watch this video of the legendary journalist Bill Moyers addressing the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis, June 7, 2008.

Money Quote

"We now know that a neo-conservative is an arsonist who sets the house on fire, and six years later boasts that no one could put it out."

Bill Moyers

Monday SNAP!

Here's what taking the country back looks like:



Watch as one of Bill O's douche bag thugs - Porter Barry - masquerading as a journalist tries to ambush Bill Moyers, but ends up first getting pwned by Bill Moyer's then reverse ambushed by other true journalists.

Porter looked like he was going to cry! It's awesome that the entire world will get to see - unedited - Faux News getting manhandled like little bitches.