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Anti-FISA-Cave Group On Obama's Web Site Keeps On Growing

That social networking group set up on MyBarackObama.com for the specific purpose of urging Obama not to support the FISA cave-in bill has now grown to nearly 7,500 members.

It's the fourth largest group on the site, after less than a week in existence.


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Can we expect daily updates on this, with the site linked, of course?

Why not, if it keeps on gaining one ranking per day? I for one am interested.

Number one by the end of the week? Let's see if we can make it happen.

Hear, hear.

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I think for Greg to be properly diligent about this, he should post two updates every day.

And maybe three, for the West Coast readership.

Fine by me.

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Probably better if he just post the updates on the hour.

Or better, he could turn Election Central into nothing but a link for that networking group.

....that would be great for the group and for the Constitution!!!!

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LOL!!!

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Looks like it. Greg, has the clinton crowd set up a website to pressure her on the vote? I'm sure alot of people would want to join that group, sign petitions and such. Thanks!

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I think I recall reading some place that she was opposed to the bill, but I don't have a link. If that's accurate, I guess the question has to do with the optics of her opposition & Obama's support (presuming he continues to support it). It would be an opportunity for her to give him a dig -- deserved IMO -- but it would definitely complicate the choreography of the last week or so. Stay tuned, I guess.

Greg,
You missed out on your true calling:
carnival shill

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It could be that Greg and many, many others are more interested in what they consider to be extremely important issues like upholding the Constitution of the United States and prosecuting people who break the law than in blindly following any leader. Some people prefer blind allegiance and that's their choice, but don't criticize people for standing up for what is right when their leader doesn't seem to have the courage to do so on his own.

You know, brother, I am actually on the same side of this argument as you are, and even I find the self-righteous priggishness of this post off-putting. If you really mean to convince folks of something, this seems like a rather poor means of going about it.

Thank you.

What he misses in his fervent, smug self-righteousness, is that the FISA bill says nothing about "prosecuting people who break the law."
The fight is over retro CIVIL imminity.
If one doesn't know the difference, they they ought to just be thought as a fool, than opening their mouths and removing all doubt.

This whole FISA mess has turned some into the exact type of animal that they accuse the people who give Obama a pass on the FISA compromise:
blindly following the positional orthodoxy.

What he misses in his fervent, smug self-righteousness, is that the FISA bill says nothing about "prosecuting people who break the law." The fight is over retro CIVIL imminity.

Well, if Oleeb is missing that, I am afraid that I am in the same boat as Oleeb. I think that the distinction between civil and criminal prosecution here is rather too fine to matter. The provisions of the new FISA "compromise" will still erode our commitment to the rule of law, regardless of how one parses the finer details. As I said, on the substantive merits of the argument, I am on Oleeb's side of this debate. I cannot see, however, how it helps to advance our position (that is, Oleeb's and my own) to accuse those who disagree with us of being cultists of personality and suchlike. I think that you are wrong on this point, dear Buckeye Nation, but I refuse to believe that this is simply because you are given to "blind allegiance" or some such.

Whoa, that's a mighty lame dis! "Carnival shill", indeed! A masterful analogic piece of wit and repartee.

-one of the proud original 7500 and Obama contributor/canvasser

Greg,
Can you found out if McCain's campaign accept the credit Bush gave him on the new GI benefit bill? Do you they any response or statement about Sen. Webb's comments on Countdown last night. This really should be a story on this. Taking credit for something he has actually opposed.
Please follow up on this. I believe this is a real story versus Gen. Clark's.

Hopefully the Obama campaign will take notice of this. There is more to be gained from staking out the anti-retroactive immunity highground than from trying to get the Republicans to let us share their "tough on terror" podium down in the Hell of the Hypocrites.

Must be a slow news day.

Are we supposed to be expecting this group to get shutdown by Obama's campaign? THAT would be newsworthy (and sad).

Annnnd, still not impressed or interested. If I had no respect for their servers, I could start a group for people who demand that he renounce his support for the Compernican model of the solar system and get the same number of sign-ups.

I do find it interesting that Reid hasn't put that bill up for a vote in the Senate yet.

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There is only one way to really fix this, IMO. And that is Congress revisits the AUMF.

That's where it all started.

So Russ Feingold, and Chris Dodd, neither of whom are running for anything now, can say what they like, but if Congress isn't willing to revisit their bad mistake that started all this, it ain't going anywhere.

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There are a lot of things that need to be fixed post-Bush, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't care about breaking more things.

Almody half way to number one (13,353) and #2 is only 1,100 or so members away (8628).

We can do it! Stand up for your rights!

Almody? Um, yeah... should be "almost".

Thanks, but I am already standing up for my rights. I also know how to pick my battles.

hmmpf. i like to fight any fight that's worth fighting.

But is it a hill to die on?

No, tis not. However, plan to keep fightin' until the vote. After the vote I will STFU and I will still back Obama, just maybe not as profoundly.

I love how so many people see the headline on the side of the TPM main site, click on it, read the article, and THEN take the time to post how uninterested they are.

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Target!...Cease fire...

FISAmentum!

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Yeah, well, FISAmentum has the potential to do damage to Obama's ability to turnout the progressive vote.

And if that happens - I ain't blaming Obama.


that's all I'm sayin - I am sick of the circular firing squad the goddamn Democrats invariably start engaging in during a campaign.

I'm sick of this whole thing because most of it is trumped up bullshit and nobody asks what the motives are of those who insist that Obama fucked up here.

3/4s of the people bitching don't know what they're bitching about.

I'm out - I don't have anything else to say about FISA.

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I'm out - I don't have anything else to say about FISA.

But, Tena, how can you call yourself a progressive?

FISA.IS.THE.MOST.IMPORTANT.ISSUE.EVER.

I don't believe it's the most important issue ever, but yes, I do think it's important.

I'm out - I don't have anything else to say about FISA.

It is precisely because I love you, dear Tena, that I am relieved to say that I do not believe the above for a moment. You are not one to bite your tongue and keep quiet. I fully expect that you will continue to take issue with folks like myself who think that Obama should stand his ground on this issue and I love you all the more for it. People like you and CT Voter keep people like me and JosephCast honest. :-)

What she said. It's been doubly frustrating for me because of all the just flat out wrong crap getting said about the merits by people who suddenly think their effing con law professors.

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Believe it or not, I'm not a Constitutional law professor...however I do understand the difference between criminal and civil immunity...a point lost on most of youg gang.

this is the year to stand our ground and speak truth to power. not to run with our platform between our legs. it's the year we don't treat the American citizens like idiots and explain ourselves and tell them why we are fighting for them and their rights.

that's why i joined this group. that's why i've written letters.

running to the center hasn't worked b/c the American people see that as weak, pandering. I say stand up for what you believe in, don't cave. The American people respect that.

FDR didn't cave in 1932 (a similar election year by many metrics), he told the American people things they didn't want to hear, but had to hear.

Obama should do the same.

I'm with josephcast - the Democrats have been branded as the weak party, and they bring it on themselves.
This is a year for change.

woohoo congrats to those who care the most.

But as I've learned, most average americans don't know FISA from FICA

I'm an old RICO fan, myself.

What I don't understand is this.

Why have a particular group denouncing Obama's stand on FISA if the dissenters don't want the protections in the new FISA amendments.

If they're spying on you now then Obama already knows how you feel!

Your railroad is a failroad.

Opposing FISA because of critical flaws /= opposing the protections contained within an immunity-free bill.

Some opponents of the FISA bill feel the way they do because of telecom immunity. We feel that it rewards criminal behavior, ongoing criminal conduct. We believe in the rule of law. We want our leader to take a principled and correct stand on this issue, as his colleagues Feingold and Dodd.

We oppose telecom immunity in FISA because shitty bills are shitty. We refuse to applaud how awesome they might be on a strategic level when they certainly will undermine constitutional protections on a constitutional level.

It really is as easy as that.

How is the sign up being screened to make sure that Republicans and PUMA freaks are not gaming the system in order to embarrass Senator Obama?

Doesn't matter. Keep your enemies closer.

The Puma folks have been a traveling band since they left the DLC.

They went to the McCain website where they had the Riot Act read to them for the Republicans there didn't want their "vote against Obama for Hillary" metality. Then they roam the air and get a host in PUMA then try to return to the democratic party.

Obama snubbing the DLC the other day left them completely homeless.


Didn't Harold Icke get a much bigger number, in a much shorter time, to sign a petition to have Obama pick Hillary for VP, and that fell flat on it's face.

With all the publicity that the FISA issue has received, the number that has signed up, which I am sure includes a good number of PUMA type mischief makers, the number reached is not very impressive.

Correction: Not Harold Ickes, make that Lanny Davis.

All weasels look alike to me.

I read somewhere that the Atwater/Rove dark art of politics has the following double imperative:

1. Mobilize and energize your own base.

2. Demoralize and depress your opponent's base.

The FISA controversy falls under #2. We are playing into their game doing this endless recrimination.

Stop being so gloomy y'all and start feeling positive and bright about how great our candidate really is!

This is a once in a lifetime candidate we've got here and so please, please don't allow one disagreement to keep ANYONE from voting their conscience.

And a person's conscience is a lot wider than the particular constitutional issue raised by retroactive immunity. People's consciences cover a lot of ground. Poverty Inequality War Empire Civil Rights Environment....

You would actually be denying the preponderance of those intuitions that in aggregate make up your conscience to deny votes or support to BHO over this one issue.

One could argue he would get #1 by standing his ground against the FISA bill.

OR Sen. Obama could just vote his stated principles and the base would be fine.

I say let the group box themselves into a corner.

At some point someone is going to pull a power play to expose themselves as the crown Prince(cess) of this motley crew.

After Glenn Greewald, KO, and Joseph Atler are shown that they really don't know what they're talking about, it'll be a case of Emily Litella's "Never Mind".

Like many here I think Obama's decision was a bad one. But I also think trying to pressure him to change through this ad hoc group is also a mistake. We've seen the fallout from direct democracy here in California through our initiative system. Voters are often simplistic in their desires and do not understand the big picture. That is why nine times out of ten the initiative pass only to either come back to bite us in the ass or be found to be unlawful. Representative democracy demands that the representatives make the final decision.

This kind of pressure is really no different than a lobby. They represent not just business but the people behind them or other interest groups like unions etc. Pressuring Obama through a group effort is lobbying.

Um, not it's not. It's called a grassroots (or netroots) effort. We aren't trying to buy him off.

Yes you are. just like a lobbyist, I heard over and over how people were not going to give Obama any more money until he voted against the bill. That is exactly the influence of lobbyist money that you all despise. Same difference.

I would see it as equivalent to signing a petition.

Representative democracy demands that the representatives make the final decision.

I grant the soundness of this premise, but I fail to see how it stands as any sort of counterargument against the group in question. After all, our group on mybarackobama.com does not force the issue. Obama is still free to read our missives and decide to keep his position as it stands. In other words, he retains the power of making the final decision quite regardless of the existence or size of this particular social networking group.

Good point.

While the telecoms were too eager to do Bush's bidding, they were told it was for national security purposes, etc. They're lack of courage is deplorable but not surprising.

It's Bush we should be going after.

Suing the telecoms is the only mechanism anyone has come up with for discovering what Bush has done. There are no other means.

If we have a President Obama + lawsuits then we could actually could actually roll back some of this massive apparatus of imperial surveillance and stifling of dissent (because they know the names of everyone you have called over the past 6 years). Actual increases in civil liberties -- imagine that!

And he is free to do the same with lobbyists. Yet the "politics of change" decry lobbyist influence.

Can't have it both ways.

Well said.

Obama's decision was disappointing but if he changes his mind he'll be accused of flip flopping.

The media will eat up this story of dissension in the ranks and it will hurt Obama's chances in the fall. It's time to move on, so to speak.

Not to be a wet blanket, but he will already be accused of flip-flopping. After all, he had already gone on record saying that he would filibuster any bill that included retroactive immunity, and now he is saying that he will vote for such a bill if that is what emerges in the senate. Given that this flip is already flopped, there is little to be lost from flipping back.

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There is a simple out for that problem:

"I listened to my supporters. They firmly indicated that they disagreed with me. In thinking carefully about the issue, and in rereading the bill, I have concluded that their opposition should be attended to."

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Sorry, won't work. That's what McCain said about immigration and y'all still called it a flip-flop...

I disagree.

Flippant media types will flip all over Obama's flip, flop, flip.

He can't be seen to be caving to a pressure group.

And I'm sure your group will broadcast that along with your blackmailed vote.

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Then they'll call him a "Flip-flop-flipper..."

When he's voted, then I'll move on.

I guess the other senators will be off the hook. Are you sure you know who's who in responsibility? But people let off the other Senators. Fine.

Funny how the outrage isn't towards Charlie Black's alleged influence.

Some supporters.

I support and plan on continuing to support. I don't understand why we find an issue important and all we do is get ragged on for it. I'm not beating my chest and saying I will vote for Nader, I'm not picketing Obama's campaign offices, I'm writing letters, signing petitions, joining social networking groups. I'm not hurting our candidate, simply hoping to change his mind while there is still time.

there is still time, and i will do my best to support my side of the issue until the vote is cast.

If he votes for the bill I will still support him. If he votes against the bill, I will enthusiastically support him. Those are my choices. I leave it to him. That's how I measure my support for Obama.

My legislators, which I have also written, will also have a measure of my vote determinant on how they vote. As for other legislators, not much I can do. They're not mine. For what's it worth I've also written Jay Rockefeller.

Isn't this how a democracy is supposed to work?

Please, continue crapping on me, while I use the processes available to me to make my voice heard.

'Preciate it.

Also, I've signed a petition to oust Charlie Black as well. I'd would suggest you try not to make me out like some kind of one issue crazy nut job activist, which I am not.

So, your side of the issue is the right side.

It seems that you enter the argument convinced that you're right on all aspects of the FISA issue without telling anyone why.

That leaves the impression that you think Obama doesn't have your best interest at hand.

How will you be able then to determine if he is making the best possible stance if you don't know all the intricacies of the amendments. You have outrage and organization. But to what end?

When Congress is on holiday they do speak to one another. There are plays two, three times ahead of what we see. The initial push was to get the bill delayed before the recess. That happened. Now it's a wait and see position. The histronics are just background noise at this point and shows that there are supporters that don't have a feeling for the pulse of things. This is what Madison didn't like.

ya just lost me, flowers. i make my voice known precisely because I don't know the intricacies of their deliberations and hope they will stand up for me when they do.

anyways, said my piece. I stand by it.

Seems you are lost.

Because I said "...the intricacies of the amendments".

Not the deliberations.

An uninformed activist is just as dangerous as an uninformed voter.

how do you draw that conclusion. because i don't understand your "meta" comment?

can you make a comment without making broadbased assumptions about me and my knowledge?

also, i have read the amendments. i thought by inticacies you meant the larger discussion, since they are rather self-evident, if a bit legalistic at times. thanks for assuming i haven't. so how do you feel about the amendment that re-defines weapons of mass destruction, that they snuck in there?

again- can you make a point without assasinating my character. because you don't know me. ya really don't, don't try to assume you do. you're just making yourself look like an ass.

...you're projecting here. yes, I think I'm right. What's right for you? That's for you to decide.

by support and continue to support (at the top), I mean Obama.

(Backs away from the meltdown)

....just like our delightful blue dog senators.

apology accepted.

How do I wipe spittle from the inside of my monitor?

"I don't do cowering"
~Barack Obama

just caving....

ok. He's caved.

Say Hi to Harriet Christian for me.

Unlike Christian, I WILL drop this issue when it is right do so and I will hold my tongue when it is right to do so. Responding to a cocky little shit like you is not one of those times.

You talking to me or Barack, Joejoe?

The other senators aren't going to be our candidate, our nominee, our standard-bearer, the leader of our party, or our president.

Obama will be that person. That is why we are pressuring him specifically.

whateva, troll.

Oops... My post was in reply to fogu2

For the record, I refuse to play hypotheticals: Oh the media will do this, oh they will do that.

However, one caveat, Obama has shown when he makes a stand he can turn the media around (ala race and Rev. Wright et al).

Yeah, and pressure groups also (ala never mind).

the problem here isn't people like myself who are making a principled stand and doing what we can behind the scenes, but still support Obama and will still support him. It's little shits like you who attack us and make us out for the bad guy for questioning him.

Ask yourself: who's being divisive here? I'm just trying to stand up for what I believe in. You're the one laying into me for it.

So?

Wouldn't it be funny if that group is promoted by Republican operatives like the PUMA and the other FISA opposition groups?

just askin'

Yeah that would fit your narrow viewpoint 100%!!!

I guess being informed is not your strong suit.

dar har har har. youse are da funniest feller on hear. dar har har har. now go shine your obama button collection.

busted.

As a final point, I will, more than likely, be out canvassing for Obama even if he votes for this shitcrap bill. Can you say the same? Or are you just another shill?

Lord help us.

I'll take your lack of a direct answer to mean "I'm a shill. I praise Obama on blogs and that's all I'll do. I'll attack anyone who doesn't support every single thing he does on the net and won't do a thing in the real world." Er, no?

Yeah, Joejoe.

Like I say. You're not very informed.

whateva, troll.

Of course you still haven't answered the question.....

"funniest" should "more funniester"

Let's lay this down like this Joejoe.

You're a vocal activist. That's cool. More power to you. But don't overextend your hand. As Barack was saying about the heat of protest can result in some unfortunate consequences, such as the degradation of troops coming home from Vietnam.
That generated a lot of criticism from him but he is absolutely correct.

Maybe you should review his speech on patriotism. That is if you support his candidacy and not your own.

"criticism from him" should be "criticism for him"

I am not a vocal activist. I am a concerned voter. I have not done one damn thing in a public forum to disrupt Obama's candidacy on this issue. BIG difference.

If you say so.

Repeatedly.


I am a concerned voter.

But maybe not a Democratic one.

Just a CONCERNED voter.

yes, because concern is just horrible. Anathema, really.

Yes, in toxic doses.

It becomes more like...um...I don't know...blackmail?

Bored with you.

And may I put a big "FUCK YOU" on there as well, I have stated several times that I support Obama and will continue to support him. I don't know what your issue is with me. Maybe I didn't write a thesis on why I'm against the FISA vote. Well, that's because I have better things to do, like write my senators, than to write on here and explain a point that you can go to any liberal blog and find. So, I guess that makes me "uninformed" in your mind. Well, so be it. I could give two shits what you think. Perhaps, you think I'm a nutjob. Clearly, you think of me as some kind of activist, when concerned citizen or concerned voter would be more accurate.

All I can say is I find you completely divisive. Why you consider it a great way to spend your time to rail on me all day, a fellow Obama supporter who merely wants the Constitution to be protected, is beyond me. Apparently, something about my stance pisses you off. While I may to agree with your capitulation on this issue, I do respect it as your view point. One you are entitled to. All I would like is the same in return.

should be : "While I may not agree with your capitulation on this issue...."

Me thinks he doth protest too much.

Everywhere.

Pressure groups are not a new bag of tricks.

Didn't you hear Obama denounce the mentality of the protest divisions "60's"?

He essentially said "I see what you did there".

* of the "60's".

Obama is brilliant.

Thanks Greg for keeping us updated on this. I appreciate it.

Latest total: 8,503 members of the group.

Though there does appear to be quite a few duplicates.

Well there you go. Clearly the system is being abused by people trying to inflate the numbers by signing on more than once. Thank God we can go to the FISA court and track down their cheating arses.

If the bill passes, we won't have to bother with the FISA court.

Hey, I think I just talked myself into withdrawing my objection to this bill!

LOL!

I just checked on it as part of telling a friend I'd joined.

It's now over 8500 members.

Greg, keep posting on this as long as it keeps growing.

I am not scared that my vocal opposition to Obama's position on this issue is going to cost him progressive votes- as many of the people whining about the coverage of this group point out, there don't seem to be a lot of people in the general public concerned about it. It's not going to cost him the election, and I believe in upholding the Constitution and rolling back the warrantless wiretapping power snatched by the Executive under Bush. I don't want any president, Dem or Republican, to have that power. I will be ecstatic come November when Obama routes McCain, but I can't ignore this just because it's "my team" doing it.

The last two sentences of your post sum up my feelings EXACTLY. If it's not right, it's not right no matter who's doing it.

Principled protest is fine in June and July, but let's not waste too much time in attacking McCain, okay?

Every day you spend grousing about Obama is a day wasted attacking the GOP.

Make that 9100 ....

We are individual voters representing our individual interests in a collective nature. We are not corporations out for ourselves. We are voters out for the good of our country.

Please,

No more Harriet Christian truisms.

troll.

LOL!

I'm gonna leave you alone, Joejoe.

You take yourself too seriously.

It's the pirate life, I guess.

The eye patch shoulda been my clue.

To paraphrase Pirate Peet:

MERGE! CONCERN! CONCERN! DILUTE!

argh

That's in, RICO. I like RICO.
Go, RICO, go!

I apologize for crapping all over this thread.

I apologize for feeding the troll.

For anyone wondering why:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfvGsGJ7wWE&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/

I agree with Obama, not Al Giordano on this one.

"patriotism can never be defined as loyalty to any particular leader or government or policy"

Indeed. Perhaps you should watch again.

Is this a special thread for josephcast? OK buddy we got it--you want Obama to throw himself on the alter for the FISA bill. I think we got it.(sigh)

so disappointing when politicians keep there word and stand up for what's right. (sigh)

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