Comments on: But … But … What about Oversight?

By: bmaz

bmaz — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:11:45 +0000

All exactly right. And John Kerry too. And as much as i have painted it about stepping up, it doesn’t have to all be public. Several calls around to some of these Dems saying hey, if you want me to come help you, you better get your head out of your butt on this, would go a real long way. And he has control of the power and organization now. Even Dean is still there by Obama’s choice. He HAS the power and tools to do this in several ways; just need to use them.

By: WilliamOckham

WilliamOckham — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:03:35 +0000

It’s not just Obama, though. The national Dems don’t understand how to work the issue. Edwards ought to be out there hitting the populist angle. Don’t let the big telecoms off the hook when they break the law. He could weave in “Two Americas” and stories of the companies he sued. Doesn’t matter if the gov’t wasn’t spying on you, the law is supposed to protect the little guy. Just like [insert heart-rending story of corporate malfeasance] wasn’t about your kid, the next time it could be.

Clinton ought to be hitting McCain hard over this, preferably in conjunction with some honest Republican (maybe Lincoln Chafee). She needs to be questioning McCain’s leadership over this.

Howard Dean needs to be hitting the Sunday morning shows. Al Gore could be speaking out too.

I’d like to see Obama saying the same thing he did earlier this week (I can protect America within the constraints of the constitution) and putting some muscle behind by making campaign appearances with strong FISA opponents. Behind the scenes is where he could make a real difference.

By: bmaz

bmaz — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:02:42 +0000

I have said for years that the Republicans were idiots not to lead the impeachment effort. Bush and Cheney are no good for them and haven’t been worth much for a long time. If the GOP en masse turned on them and took the “principled high ground”, and led accountability, as crass as it would be, they would clean up. Thankfully, they are too stubborn and stupid to do that.

By: JThomason

JThomason — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:01:57 +0000

Sorry if this came out snarky. I am just bitter that Gore did not step up.

By: JThomason

JThomason — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:57:29 +0000

Then again he may want to consider more turtle necks in his public attire and more browns, tans, earth tones and deep weaves.

By: Leen

Leen — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:53:57 +0000

I have always feared this. Especially after watching Obama at Senate hearings the last three years always playing it safe always running for the Presidency. After he bailed out on the Kyl Lieberman amendment this confirmed my worst fears. The Obama team coining “change and Hope” was masterful…everyone that I encourntered in South Carolina before the primary there were repeating it like drones. Few able to articulate just why they were supporting him aside from “hope and change” but that is the way it is. They have captured it and an incredible job they did…tapping into the deep dissatisfaction without having to define just where it came from or where it was going

What you can see coming is the Rove factor playing out with McCain claiming Carters energy policies etc. Rove will help McCain grab onto issues in the center and squeeze. I put money on about a month before the election Rove and the secret team will start playing the “race card” and the “muslim card” in south eastern Ohio and elsewhere in the south. This is what they did in southeastern Ohio just a few weeks before the 2004 election….the “god, guns and gay card” it was thick and not enough time to catch them and just enough time to tip the election along with the too few machines in voting districts where they knew the turnout would be high.

I would not put it past Rove to grab onto the follow the law…impeach issue. This would be all out absurd but would not put it past them. Trump Pelosi and Reid on this issue.

By: PetePierce

PetePierce — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:44:57 +0000

I have to say as gung ho as I have been for him this is a very good assessment.

By: PetePierce

PetePierce — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:43:07 +0000

I have had a night of wrestling with my ISP down for hours when I’m on deadline for a journal article and some sleep,and I full agree with all of you that Obama should exert leadership on FISA hitting on all cylinders loud and clear. Your comments have been dead on as have Bmaz’s and very well expressed. There is no defense for someone who wants to be the next President not coming out at this critical time and going after these cowards who are playing games with immunity and other aspects of FISA behind closed doors.

By: bmaz

bmaz — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:42:31 +0000

That has always been pretty much my only real reservation on Obama. He is so good, so talented, and so fresh, that I have always had a nagging fear that we all were so desperate that we were imprinting a lot more on him than he really might be. Doesn’t matter at this point, he is our, and my, guy. But we should make sure he remembers why we have made him the guy. LOUDLY. And, I don’t have much doubt that he agrees with us, it is only a question of him having the cojones to step up and forcefully make the stand.

As Pete says, change is not “parsing positions so much that they can’t exert leadership”; that is what we should be changing away from.

By: PetePierce

PetePierce — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:36:48 +0000

You just summed up a lot of recent Congressional history there. We vote for them because we hope they do the right thing, and know the other guys are repulsive and what to do when they do what Hoyers and certainly Reyes, Rockerfeller, Feinstein, and a host of Blue Dogs and and I hate the name at this point, Leiberman do is the question.