Is it time for the revolution?

Here is Barack Obama's statement on the FISA abomination just passed by the House:

"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.

"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. 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.

"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."

A nuanced statement, indeed. We have to squint to detect any meaning, but a close reading is rewarded with this: "I may have taught constitutional law, but now I'm running for president and I'm so afraid of the big, bad Republicans calling me a sissy that I'll toss over the Fourth Amendment and promise to do better 'going forward.' Please stop asking me to actually lead the party in opposition to this bill. It's a done deal. I'm trying to put enough lipstick on this pig in the hope that you'll believe me and not the ACLU or your own lying eyes. Harry Reid's a nice old man, and I really don't want to make trouble for him, so do try to see that this is the best of all bipartisan worlds and, while you're at it, go to barackobama.com to make your donations, little people."

Speaking of Harry Reid, a dKos diarist has this from an interview Reid gave Bloomberg Television (no link yet):

Reid said the Senate may try to remove a provision from the bill that shields telephone companies from privacy lawsuits. Holding a separate vote on that issue next week may provide political cover for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Even though the attempt may fail, Reid said the vote would allow those opposed to the liability protection to "express their views."

"I'm going to try real hard to have a separate vote on immunity," Reid said in an interview to be aired this weekend on Bloomberg Television's "Political Capital with Al Hunt."

"Probably we can't take that out of the bill, but I'm going to try."

Translation: "I'm a Potemkin Senate Majority Leader. You can express your views as much as you like, but the sham will go on."

Greg Sargent over on TPM Election Central (a good place to hang these days) shares an email from Glenn Greenwald:

"I think we do a grave disservice if we try to convince people that Obama is really going to work to get amnesty out of the bill. Reid is already saying it's just theater -- they know it's going to fail -- it's just a way, Reid said, to let people "express themselves." It's all designed to let Obama say, once he votes for this bill: "Well, I tried to get amnesty out." He's going to vote for amnesty -- and his statement today seals the fate of this bill. Why sugar coat that?"

As an American, I am truly ashamed of my government. I fear the corruption and rot are so endemic that nothing and no one will be able to stop our slide from a great nation of laws into a backwater banana republic, stinking and flyblown.

The Democratic leadership treats us, their base, as cynically as the Republicans treat theirs. The underlying assumption is, "Who else ya gonna vote for? Nader? Just sit down and STFU. Oh yeah, send a donation." That last bit? The DCCC, over the signature of Madame "Off the Table" Pelosi, sent out a fundraiser email right after the Great FISA Cave-in. Ha!

The only campaign I'd be willing to donate money toward is the campaign to get rid of Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid, and every other Dem who's been eager to bend over and take it for Bush.