FISA Legislation Passes with Telecom Immunity
Just as there are no perfect people in the world, there are no perfect politicians. Barack Obama just lodged his first major disappointment by voting for the FISA legislation that includes immunity for telecoms who clearly broke the law in supporting Bush's wireless surveillance program.
As the AP reports:
Bowing to President Bush's demands, the Senate sent the White House a bill Wednesday overhauling bitterly disputed rules on secret government eavesdropping and shielding telecommunications companies from lawsuits complaining they helped the U.S. spy on Americans.
So, once again this lame duck, incredibly unpopular President gets his way and not even Barack Obama can argue with him.
Interestingly, John McCain was absent...again.
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Comments
I've been trying to wrap my head around this all day. How many Republicans who supported this bill will still think warrantless wiretapping is a bright idea when it is ordered by President Obama?
Posted by: Jude | July 9, 2008 4:58 PM
Obama better take a lesson from McGovern in 1972: if you sell out your ideals to appease the center, the YOUTH VOTE WILL NOT SHOW UP.
Obama needs the youth vote to materialize for once in history. And the only way that's going to happen is if they have a candidate who they really believe in.
Posted by: Jake | July 11, 2008 9:11 AM
You have a good point, Jake. The question is, though, how many people understand the ins and outs of the FISA bill? I would bet startlingly few. I think younger voters are more concerned with the Iraq "war" and healthcare and the economy as they discover that there will be very few jobs for recent graduates and even fewer with respectabel benefits and salaries.
Posted by: Jude | July 11, 2008 11:44 AM