Color me unimpressed with Senator Obama’s statement with respect to the FISA "compromise".
There are a number of things that he could have done to take a stand for the very Constitution that he is running to "preserve, protect and defend". And while I don’t doubt that, as you say, as President you 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.", you miss the larger point here - and you miss it by a long shot.
It is no guarantee that you will become the next President of the United States. And you can bet that Senator McCain, if he wins, will not be as careful or as diligent as you with respect to this illegal program. Moreover, if you do become the next President of the United States, you will only be President for a maximum of eight years. What makes you so sure that the next President will be as "diligent" as you say you will be?
And before the point of a sunset provision (in 2012) for this illegal law is made, once a law is in place for such a long period of time, it will not be easy to reverse it or reverse the program that was implemented and continued by this law.
Or the damage to the Constitution as well as our freedoms and rights from the implementation of the program passed by this law, for that matter.
Even more importantly, it shouldn’t even be a matter of trusting you to monitor this carefully. You shouldn’t (nor should anyone else) have the ability to exercise such discretion in matters such as this
Period.
As for the telecom immunity, you promised to stand with Senator Dodd in a filibuster of any law with this provision. Senator Feingold has already called this a capitulation, not a compromise. Yet, you seem to think that a "step up from what was previously proposed" is good enough.
Sadly, even though "horrible" is better than "miserable", it is still horrible, and we are stuck with this horrible capitulation.
By a Democratic majority, nonetheless.
Why not put a hold on this bill, especially if it is to include telecom immunity? Just saying that it isn’t good but there isn’t much to do other than vote against it is not nearly good enough. You have a huge megaphone right now. And yet, you have been remarkably silent over the past few days - until one of the most tepid statements you have made in support of the United States Constitution.
You have either willfully or unwittingly fallen into the "we must use all the tools available and if the President will play chicken with national security then we must give in to him in the name of ‘security’" trap.
Let us not forget the words of Benjamin Franklin when he said that "those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither".
And let us not forget another phrase that you once uttered and hope to utter again. And that is "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".
Your comments today and actions show that you are not as committed to that as you should be.
Which is a shame. For all of Americans.