I am not a scholar, not a politician, technically I am not even a bona fide blogger so this, my first diary will most likely not even be viewed. I haven't studied FISA or The Constitution (beyond 8th grade)but this issue has certainly caused a lot of folks on here, on other sites and in the local coffee houses great concern and in my humble opinion, rightly so.
One of the reasons I have chosen to write this diary, is not to add to or take away from any of the very valid points that have mentioned but to simply give a perspective that hasn't been repeated numerous times over and over. In every thing that I have read there seems to be a prevalent opinion that is either one side or the other, there doesn't seem to be much in between on the issue.
So as I do with most subjects that I am ignorant about; I have read, processed and finally been able to form an opinion.
Update: Only 28% haven't changed their opinion after reading this diary! Not bad for a first.
I am a Barack Obama supporter, yet I am not a Democrat, I am totally Centrist where politics and most every other thing in life of importance to me is concerned. I have an innate scale that seems to work on auto pilot with everything to balance my judgments, opinions, beliefs, values and ideas. It causes making decisions very difficult for me and always has.
As a supporter, I must add that I haven't been the type of supporter that has agreed with everything he has done or said and don't expect to. I have however; been able to take him at his word and have been pleased with his actions following his words. He is not God, and from the passion of the blog posts it seems that too many now disappointed former believers had given him that kind of idolatry and when finding themselves in disagreement with him are not just disappointed, but heartsick, betrayed. It's almost like finding out for the first time that your parents are human, or that your best friend has been sleeping with your loved one. I understand that kind of disappointment. My heart goes out to those of you who have put too much faith in a human being and have been let down. But let's just try my way of processing things for shits and grins.
Barack's statement on FISA:
"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, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders."
Regardless of which stance you take on the issue, I don't think that anyone can disagree with the above quote. Nor can anyone disagree that Obama knows the law and knows the Constitution better than most of us. So in my quest to understand and form an opinion, I seriously doubt that this is where the passion is ignited.
"That is why last year I opposed the so-called Protect America Act, which expanded the surveillance powers of the government without sufficient independent oversight to protect the privacy and civil liberties of innocent Americans. I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.
"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.
"Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President's illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over. It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance - making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people. It also firmly re-establishes basic judicial oversight over all domestic surveillance in the future.
I'm betting this is the part that is firing so many up:
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. But this compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place in the past, and ensures that there will be accountability going forward. By demanding oversight and accountability, a grassroots movement of Americans has helped yield a bill that is far better than the Protect America Act.
I'm wondering though how many have missed the "and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.".
"After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The House is often considered to be the "lower house," with the Senate as the "upper house," although the United States Constitution does not use such language. Both houses' approval is necessary for the passage of legislation.
Call me ignorant, but since BOTH the House and the Senate approval is necessary for legislation to pass and Obama has said he will work to remove the provision to grant retroactive immunity in the Senate that there is a bit of premature angst? The House just passed this compromise, it isn't in the Senate yet is it? Am I missing something?
"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."
Now that I've dissected the statement, to put it in my own words, Obama supports the compromise with the removal of retroactive immunity in the Senate (presently a Senator)and as President to carefully monitor and work with Congress to take any ADDITIONAL steps to protect Americans (future). Aren't we being just a bit overwrought and a bit unwilling to see that some progress is still progress and some change is still change? Are we so caught up in the argument for argument's sake that we can't accept compromise?
Are we so fed up with the last eight years and so full of hope for change that we expect miracles from a mere human being? What exactly is it that I am not understanding that has caused such heated and passionate posts?