Linkmeister

Obama caves too

Here's his statement.

After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act. . . It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.

It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives -– and the liberty –- of the American people.

I'm not clear how he concludes this is a marked improvement. The court which gets to rubber-stamp warrants changes from the FISA court to the district court. That's the only difference between what Bush and his cronies wanted and what the Republicans, Hoyer and the rest of the cowardly Democrats wrote as legislation.

Greenwald is skeptical.

He says he will work to remove amnesty from the bill, but once that fails, will vote for the "compromise." Obama has obviously calculated that sacrificing the rule of law and the Fourth Amendment is a worthwhile price to pay to bolster his standing a tiny bit in a couple of swing states.

There's the new Democratic hero. He's using the same language Bush did when requesting all the new infringements of civil liberties we've had to accept over the past seven years ("Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike..."

I'm too old not to expect to be disappointed by politicians, but this, even as the general election campaign starts to lift off, is really really dismaying.

Update: Marcy Wheeler is bitter. She paraphrases Obama's statement this way:

1. I will make a showy effort in the Senate on Monday to get them to take out immunity. I will lose that effort 32-65. But hey! I can say I tried!
2. But don't worry, little boys and girls, Inspectors General are an adequate replacement for our third co-equal branch of government!
3. Nice little bloggers! Aren't you cute! After you demanded accountability we gave you piggy lipstick and fig leaves and told you it was time to move on while we important Senators told you--in polite terms--to fuck off.

A Profile in Courage this isn't.

Posted by Linkmeister at June 20, 2008 01:53 PM | TrackBack