Observations of a Misfit

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July 09, 2008

The Honeymoon's Over

Little did I know how prescient I was a few months ago when I posted my entry on "Yeats and Tyrrany." This opinion could not be more relevant than after today's senate session.

Today the senate passed the horrible FISA bill (where Barack Obama suddenly and inexplicably switched from vehement opposition to telecom immunity and warrantless wiretapping to voting AYE on this egregious violation of the Fourth Amendment; a switch I theorize has more to do with his attending the recent Bilderberg conference in Virginia this past June 6-8 [don your tin foil hats] than it does with moving to some illusive "middle" politically, but that's another entry for another day), and in response, I have joined this organization:

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

I tried everything in my power to change Senator Obama's mind, including threatening to stop contributing to his campaign (I know, big deal, but still), writing letters to his campaign, posting on the "Stop FISA" blog on his website, and even praying for whatever it was worth that he would come to his senses, all to no avail.

My shock and outrage at his vote is only exceeded by my disillusionment. I guess I should have known better, but I was caught up in the fantasy (like millions of others) believing someone could make a difference in Washington.

Silly me. Like a bride who finds out on her wedding night that the chivalrous, charming sailor she married is actually Bluebeard. Arrgh.

As many of you know, I was an active supporter for the Obama campaign for the past 5 months in many ways: I volunteered in Cleveland for the Ohio primary and got out the vote during truly horrible late winter weather in early March. I donated regularly, albeit modestly, but in proportion to my resources. I invested more time and money in the Obama campaign than any other campaign in my life and would have continued to donate time, talent and treasure for the general election. I wore Obama t-shirts, wrote entries on my blog about supporting him, hung a framed poster of him on my bedroom wall, preached the Obama message, and would have been considered by everyone who knows me an “Obamaniac.”

But first and foremost, aside from any political labels, I am an idealist and a vehement protector of the US Constitution and will fight for its restoration and oppose any legislation or presidential signing statements that violate its fundamental tenets. Fortunately, my Congressman is Dennis Kucinich and, whatever you may think of him, he at least is an active and consistent protector of the Constitution. God bless him and Senator Sherrod Brown, who voted NAY today.

I'm not just a nouveaux fan or former Clinton supporter (I never supported her and I hope she is not on the short list for Veep) who has just begun to pay attention to politics because of the celebrity aura of Senator Obama or the fact that he is my age, or that he seems like the most outside of outsiders when most of us are sick of the corrupt politics in Washington. Frankly, if most of my friends and I had our druthers, it would be “Everybody Out Of The Pool!” The current Democratic leadership is a sham, and proved criminally so today.

In the not so distant past, Senator Obama voiced his opposition to retroactive immunity to the telecommunications companies that violated the law when agreeing to assist the Bush administration in its questionable wiretapping and data mining project. Rather than go into all the major policy issues that stink to high Heaven with Bush & Co., I feel very strongly that Senator Obama should have voted “NAY” on principle on the so-called “compromise” FISA legislation.

His “NAY” vote would have been symbolic. The Senate didn't need his vote for this bill to pass; it may yet be struck down by the Supreme Court someday soon just as the suspension of Habeas Corpus was in a recent 5-4 decision. There may be, as John Dean suggested, gaps in the bill that provide for criminal prosecution that Senator Obama would pursue when elected President. Regardless of these potential outcomes, Senator Obama should simply have voted “NAY” to protect his reputation, to allay the fears of his loyal constituency that he is caving to political pressure, and because this legislation is WRONG.

So, like a jilted lover, I am scorned and furious. FURIOUS! My romance with Obama is kaput. If I vote for him in November it will be a decision based on "the best of two evils", which is a tragic ending to what could have been a Fine Romance.