If FISA is the bathwater, let's not throw out the Baby

Just a few personal thoughts on FISA, Obama et al.

The FISA battle may be lost. Sad but probably true. True also is the deep seated outrage being expressed within some of these pages. Deep seated, profound even visceral anger directed against those who have given up 200 year old freedoms to others who would exploit us for personal, commercial or political gain.

If ever were a reminder needed that Washington is broken, then we got one today. Those elected to represent their constituents have lost sight of both the needs and desires of the people, and sold their vision completely to vested interests. This is not in doubt, it is just brought into sharp focus at this time.

It is for this reason that a movement has grown around Barack Obama. It is a mantle he has draped around his shoulders, and it is a level of expectation he cannot hope to fulfill. No more could Martin Luther King have ended racism, nor Mother Teresa end world poverty. What these folk do is lead forward, sometimes with baby steps, and inspire and educate those who will lead after them.

The problems faced by an incoming President will be profound, and beyond the capacity to fix in even eight years. Some battles will be fought and won, some lost and some not even fought. President Obama will already be trying to determine where his efforts must go to produce the largest benefits to the most people, while not retreating too far in other areas. His priorities will not please us all, all of the time. Politics being what it is, he will not please some of us, any of the time 

He may choose to attempt, today or in the next few days, to defend the 4th Amendment. And he may choose not to, beyond his already expressed views.

I understand that Constitutional Rights are considered sacrosanct. I agree that this is so, even if that puts me at odds with SCOTUS (who, by the way, do not have a monopoly on being right). I wonder though, whether or not Obama might consider this a battle not to be fought at this juncture, with the troops at his disposal he may indeed take the view that a fight now could lose us the war in November, and he may be right.

I get that this is an uncomfortable position, and I agree that all those able to do so should be resisting as fiercly as possible. Obama should be given the space he needs to make his own assessments, outwith this immediate battle.

There are other priorities. Many Americans haven’t even heard of FISA, don’t know that they just lost the 4th, and probably don’t much care. They do know that gas is $4 a gallon, and that they don’t have healthcare. They do know that their kid just didn’t graduate High School, or did but can’t afford College. They do know they just got laid off, and that the unregulated tomato they ate last week nearly killed granny.

I am not saying these things are more important than the 4th Amendment. What I am saying is that in employing the notion the art of the possible Obama needs to concentrate now on matters that garner support, not cause Americans to scratch their heads wondering whtt the hell he is talking about when all they want are disease free tomatoes.

Go after the Blue Dogs, Primary those who knew better but did nothing. Remember though, please, to direct the anger in areas that hurt the opposition most, and try to keep the fallout from damaging the guy we have pinned at least some of our hopes for a brighter future on .... Barack Obama.

The time will come to judge him. I suggest that time is not yet!