Olbermann Special Comment: Obama's Second Chance On FISA

In a "Special Comment" on Countdown WIth Keith Olbermann tonight, the MSNBC host told his audience that Barack Obama has been presented with a second chance to make a first impression in an upcoming vote on the FISA bill:

And he damned well better take it. The Senate vote on this tortured and reckless piece of legislation has now been postponed until after the 4th of July break. The Democrats, completing their FISA experience, a collective impression of Homer Simpson falling off a cliff and hitting every bramble on the way down, didn't exactly plan this fortuitous delay.

Watch the entire Special Comment below:

Comments

[ghostsofamerica]

History teaches us that grave threats to liberty often come in times of urgency, when constitutional rights seem too extravagant to endure.
Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (1989)


It is during our most challenging and uncertain moments that our Nation's commitment to due process is most severely tested; and it is in those times that we must preserve our commitment at home to the principles for which we fight abroad.
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld - 2004


There is no conflict between liberty and safety. We will have both or neither.
Ramsey Clark (1927--)


or as Benjamin Franklin said...


Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.


A variant by Franklin: "Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power." (Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738)

[ThermoChemist]

Here's some back at ya' :

"But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal VIGILANCE by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be WATCHFUL in your States as well as in the Federal GOVERNMENT­." -- Andrew Jackson, March 4, 1837

"In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constituti­on." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1799

"The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite." -- Thomas Jefferson

"The greatest tyrannies are always perpetrated in the name of the noblest causes." --: Thomas Paine

"It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government­." -- Thomas Paine

"A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!" -- Alexander Hamilton

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis.

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." -- James Madison

"Americans will always do the right thing, but only after they have exhausted all possible alternativ­es." -- Sir Winston Churchill

[Alethea]

I like that quote

"In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constituti­on." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1799

That sums up the spirit of America right there. Distrust. Lol!

It's funny though. You would think distrust is a bad thing. But when it comes to men and power, you have to be distrustful of them otherwise the ones without power will be abused. Like Ted Koppel said "If they can, they will." so in other words, if people in power can get away with crimes, then they wil commit crimes.

Checks and balances were the remedy of that. So you really have to wonder about those who would like to see C's & B's disappear.

[ordinaryguy]

are you supposed to be agreeing or disputing ghostsofamerica?

[kae]

"There's a lot of blowhards in the political process, you know, a lot of hot-air artists, people who have got something fancy to say." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 17, 2007

[bmsrosmuc]

love ko, but the special comments are losing their SPECIALNESS.

[Jinxykb]

That sounds about right...

[americanalien]

That sounds wrong. KO will always be special in my view.

[Marrob]

Why? because he has taken aim at Obama?

[sink]

Agreed. Less frequent and shorter is in order.

[rubberneck]

CYA...sorr­y, you will always be a political shill.

[RIPHRC]

I agree with Olbermann, but if Obama takes the route Olbermann suggests, will the right blame Obama for being soft and taking direction from a pundit? Probably.

[bygollymissmolly]

The point that Keith was making is that the Right is going to blame O'bama for everything anyway, so why abandon your principals? That's what I don't get. I thought that O'bama was smart enough to realize that no matter what he does, the Right is going to try to paint him as soft on terrorism. I have no idea whose vote O'bama is going for by throwing the progressives under the bus, because he is losing his base. Once he does that, who will be left to volunteer for him and to send him campaign contributions.

Personally I think this "special comment" was Keith's way of getting out of the corner he backed himself into by not criticizing O'bama for flipping on FISA.

[greenchili]

missmolly has a B.I.N.G.O.­..........­You are right on point. I have been asking myself the same questions you have posed. Unfortunately, one must come to the realization, that he, Obama has been bought and paid for. Or, he is protecting the high ranking Democrats who knew and participated in this crime. Either way, it seems, we the people get screwed again, by the BIG CORPORATIONS. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

You are right about KO. He most certainly painted himself into a corner. This whole idea he and Dean have concocted is just a pant load. He slipped down a few pegs with me personally, but KO is still my main man.

[ghostsofamerica]

"This has been the premise of Barack's politics all his life, going back to his days as a community organizer," Axelrod told me. "He has really lived and breathed it, which is why it comes across so authentically. Of course, the time also has to be right for the man and the moment to come together. And, after all the country has been through over the last seven years, the times are definitely right for the message that the only way to get real change is to activate the American people to demand it."
Watering down that brand is the political equivalent of New Coke. Call it Obama Zero."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/memo-to-obama-moving-to-t_b_110026.html

[ghostsofamerica]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/memo-to-obama-moving-to-t_b_110026.html



Fixating on -- and pandering to -- this fickle crowd is all about messaging tailored to avoid offending rather than to inspire and galvanize. And isn't galvanizing the electorate to demand fundamental change the raison d'etre of the Obama campaign in the first place? This is how David Axelrod put it at the end of February, contrasting the tired Washington model of "I'll do these things for you" with Obama's "Let's do these things together":

"..

In 2004, the Kerry campaign's obsession with undecided voters -- voters so easily swayed that 46 percent of them found credible the Swift Boaters' charges that Kerry might have faked his war wounds to earn a Purple Heart -- allowed the race to devolve from a referendum on the future of the country into a petty squabble over whether Kerry had bled enough to warrant his medals.

Throughout the primary, Obama referred to himself as an "unlikely candidate.­" Which he certainly was -- and still is. And one of the things that turned him from "unlikely" upstart to presidential frontrunner is his ability to expand the electorate by convincing unlikely voters -- some of the 83 million eligible voters who didn't turn out in 2004 -- to engage in the system.

So why start playing to the political fence sitters -- staking out newly nuanced positions on FISA, gun control laws, expansion of the death penalty, and NAFTA?.."

[soundfury]

I know that O doesn’t want to waste time on prosecuting GWB & co. when he has bigger fish to fry, but he should have his AG start working on it no matter if it take two years to start prosecuting. He should ensure that no other President ever gets away with this again. O should put forward a precedent that would prevent a President from ever exercising this kind of corrupt, absolute power again, and tying the hands of a future presidential candidate like is happening today. This can never happen again, and the only way to guarantee this is to start an investigation and then prosecute.

[FatherKindly]

Better yet, they should be trussed up and gagged and transported to the Hague for trial for their war crimes. Then, if justice prevails, they will serve life-long (in Cheney's case, once he is taken off his bionic life supports, maybe a few days) prison terms or, better yet, face a firing squad. Those will indeed be shots heard round the world, to resounding cheers.

[ghostsofamerica]

The buck must stop now. Quit passing the buck, Senator Obama. You cannot be president if you don't deserve it by showing the courage of the giants of democracy whose shoulders you stand on.


You must have courage to die for the constitution, and the bill of rights, or you shouldn't swear to uphold it in the oval office. What is the power of the constitutional government mean, if we destroy the fiber of moral courage that so many have fought to preserve. No man, no voting public can make you become a weakling, to become a president. Youre actions reveal your character.

Show us you are brave enough to admit you are wrong about FISA, and will stand with us against a repressive government, Senator Obama. Then and only then can you can be a president and not a weak emperor trying to subject people. (note: here on huffpo June 28)

[ghostsofamerica]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-ducat/understanding-obamas-rece_b_109796.html


"....To see Barack Obama behave like any other invertebrate Democrat is an especially painful blow.

However, this conventional wisdom on his political cowardice doesn't plumb the problem deeply enough. Obama's resort to the triangulation of the old politics is an admission of a much more serious limitation. It tells us that he does not believe in his own ability to reframe certain key issues in a way that makes a progressive stance the one that is obviously the most moral. It shows that he does not feel up to the task of rendering some liberal principles intellectually clear and emotionally compelling.

His limited ability to exercise moral leadership leaves him with no choice other than to accept Republican frames on issues. So, on the FISA bill, for example, loss of privacy and immunity for criminal telecom companies become a trivial price to pay for protection from unfathomable and pervasive Evil. ..."

[rasthedestroyer]

I imagine Old Moses must have felt he same way Sen. O. must feel right now. Why the hell should i try to help such a foolish and stiffnecked people. Remember were trying to heal the wounds. Stop scratching at it all the time.

[Liberterna]

Keith Olbermann rocks.

It's good to see journalism that caters to above the 11th grade level.

for kiddie and retarded news we can always watch fox news and Bill 'anger-management' Orally's Facktor.

[americanalien]

I agree, Keith totally rocks.

[doofmann02]

Right on.

[ghostsofamerica]

I have been deeply upset by Obama's FISA vote, and searched high and low for a forum to express it.

Democracynow.org has a excellent interview with Senators Feingold about the loss of our Constitutional powers through the FISA vote, where he states that it is the worst thing to happen to us in terms of freedoms, and much worse than is being discussed on this and other sites re: merely the immunity for telecoms.

I went to look for quotes about liberty and found a few, but the most important thing to consider was said most recently here on huffpo, that the IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY is becoming dangerous, because it sets precedents for power in the branches of government, but not for the people.

We have to keep our freedoms and liberties as fought for in the first revolution.

We must have powers of privacy, we must keep the government out of our lives. We will die if we let a violence-prone government intent on stealing the world's resources with newly developed warmachines, turn us into slaves and subjects of that machine.

CELEBRATE FISA ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, or do not celebrate real US VALUES, OBAMA.

[ghostsofamerica]

CELEBRATE THE BILL OF RIGHTS ON THE FOURTH, or do not celebrate REAL USA VALUES, Senator Obama," ....it should read. sorry.

[rasthedestroyer]

I'm still waiting for you to make your point.

[mjjcpa]

This guy still has a show?

GE does business in Iran.

[soundfury]

Oh bruuuther. I can find you plenty of corrupt American corporations that do business with corrupt regimes. Separate the man from the business. Can't say the same for Fix News who's corrupt corporations are in bed with everyone you can think of.

[Jinxykb]

Orally Water Carrier

[Alethea]

Oh yeah? Well Halliburton doesn't pay taxes.

[bygollymissmolly]

Your right wing fear is showing. You might want to put it away before you embarrass yourself.

[soundfury]

Those of you who have been with KO, don't knock him over this. He's very smart. It's good that he spelled out the pitfalls on both sides of the issue and advocates for the rule of law. The rule of law should be above every citizen, court, presidential candidate, President and King. Get it? This is what we need to understand so that we never fall into this trap again. The reason O is in this rock and hard place situation is because GWB has put himself above the rule of law and managed to do it through fear-mongering. This is fascism, pure and simple. Let's call it what it is, and stop pussyfooting around. KO speaks truth to power. Silence him and what have we got left? He is doing O a favour by exposing all sides of the issue, as this was intended as a trap to divide Dems, and it seems to be working.

[rasthedestroyer]

Much respect for your comments, good to see some one pay attention. [SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER]

[Underthematrix]

I love KO. However, I do believe Obama already knew telecoms could be held criminally liable. Sometimes people just underestimate him, you know like HRC. Then kaboom!!

[strifeknot]

They will never be held criminally liable for anything. The chance to see justice done would be through civil suits. Taking that option away lets them completely off the hook and is a travesty.

[Dansden]

True courage is choosing the 'right and clear value'
that serves the needs of the people rather than the desires of the wealthy elite!

Fascism is the way Americans have allowed our government and treasury to be governed in the last 30 years! ONLY 'crumbs' for the peons have been tossed occasionally to keep the streets free from the starving and dispossessed, BUT THE CORPORATE FASCIST AGENDA HAS BEEN GIVEN FULL THROTTLE UNDER BUSH AND HE HAS DRIVEN THE NATION INTO THE DITCH WITH HIS ARROGANCE AND GREED!

The U. S. Constitution has been the ONLY guarantee that Americans have to get a fair and just government, but we have sold off our 'guarantee' to the DECEIVERS AND DEPLORABLE legislators who have enriched themselves and trashed our CONSTITUTION!

[jrmcgraw]

KO is a gas bag and should be off the air. He is all about himself and has no journalistic integrity. He is not as smart as he is self serving. His special comments were in the beginning original and fresh and even thought provoking,however during the primaries he went over the top. His bias towards Obama was disturbing and naive, and now he is only attempting to cover his own ego. The special comments re Hillary Clinton was the turning point for me. KO is not a Democrat he is an oppurtunist, and is more about being contoversal and creating illegitimate issues. He will in the long run do more harm to our chances to win back the White House than help. I am disappointed that open minded and objective people would continue to support his brand of journalism and only discredits our objective to be fair and honest. Keith O should go and the sooner the better.

[rasthedestroyer]

Years of corrution, millions of lives lost, the constitution trashed to high hell. One man's vote does'nt really matter at this point. This is the guy democrats choose to lead them into a better future. If you dont have any faith in this Man, then what made you vote for him in the first place. Will you americans ever learn? KEEP YOUR EYE'S ON THE PRIZE.

[cyndeewi]

I lost faith rasthedestroyer. I was wrong. I realized now that Obama has to do certain things but mostly Obama has to get now just our vote but others as well. He cannot win with just our votes. He has to be President of all the people. I am back in your corner Obama and will stay this time.

[bmora]

KO rocks! That's what I like about him. No matter what's your political leaning, he'll bash you just the same when appropriate. Billo attempts this but one can always tell he's is doing it half heartedly.