A New Wave

Hillary Clinton's Principled Position On FISA

I won't rehash what has already been written about the Senate vote on FISA. Detailed analysis, roll-call votes and what the new bill does and doesn't do are available here, here, here and here. Glenn Greenwald, as usual, has the most in-depth and insightful review and analysis.

Progressives are hurt and angry that Obama caved on FISA. At the same time, they seem surprised that Hillary Clinton didn't. I'm not. Her position on FISA has been crystal clear from the beginning and she has never wavered.

This Just In: Obama Is A Politician, After All

The Senate voted 80-15 yesterday in favor of granting immunity to telecoms who engaged in electronic eavesdropping under Bush Administration "information-gathering guidelines". This is the first part of a two-part vote on the bill. Sen. Barack Obama held a press conference after the vote, explaining why he favored the "reworked" FISA legislation:

Asked specifically why he's supporting the current FISA bill when he'd promised months ago to support a filibuster of an earlier version of the bill, Obama suggested flat out that "national security" overrides the question of telecom immunity...

[snip]

Obama's line on national security here seems to be affirmation of something that many understood already: That he will support the bill even if telecom immunity isn't stripped from it, despite his promise to try to get immunity out of the legislation. If the issue of telecom immunity doesn't override national security, he'll of course vote for the bill with or without it.

Happy 4th of July! - Part III

Ah, the Swedes. So insistent about little things - like freedom, privacy, civil liberties. So committed to ensuring that their civil liberties remain intact. Granted, Sweden is a lot smaller than the U.S. Still, the fact that a majority of Swedish citizens understand the threat posed by unwarranted eavesdropping/snooping and will take action about it is encouraging. We have a role model:

Happy 4th of July! - Part II

I received an e-letter from Jay Inslee yesterday regarding his position on FISA. Rep. Inslee represents Washington's First Congressional District and is thus my representative. He is also a terrific representative and legislator.

I am especially proud of the fact that he voted no on the 2008 FISA Amendments. Here is his brief statement from CR:

Pride Around The World 2008

A few highlights from Pride events. There are a couple of unusual stories, some surprises, and news about prejudice and hatred that still exists toward LGBTQs.

PRIDE NYC:

The largest of the pride celebrations in the United States, more than one million people attended today's gay pride parade in New York, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots.

[SNIP]

This is a particularly memorable year for New Yorkers as newly appointed NYC Gov. David Paterson recently ruled that New York will recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

Obama Is Just A Politician After All: PART II

It's been a rough couple of days for the O-godosphere (Obama's online cheerleaders). First he makes a political calculation to abandon public financing so that he can use his own online ATM (otherwise known as "small donors"). Then he capitulates on a reworked FISA bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Friday.

Obama is at least old enough and smart enough to know that his decisions must, of necessity, be political; that they are frequently the best-available and best-intended compromises; and that this is how the world works (more often than not). His young supporters do not know this.

CA Marries Lesbian Activists Martin And Lyon

Two of the nation's best-known lesbian activists enjoyed a big first yesterday. Phyllis Lyon, 84 (seated) and Del Martin, 87 became the first lesbian couple to marry under California's gay marriage law, which was upheld by the state Supreme Court last month.