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thatcrazycajunNPR's All Things Considered and the Associated Press (thanks, shelleybear) have both posted stories on the now-former director of the State of North Carolina's Standards Laboratory, one L. F. Eason. Seems Mr. Eason felt very strongly that he could not participate in the statewide order to lower flags at all state-government facilities to half-staff in memory of the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R), out of his objection to the views and votes of Helms during his lifetime. And he felt it was worth giving up his job to stand on his principles.
Now if only the Democrat "leaders" we elected to Congress two years ago to stand up to Junior Bush and the Republicans were so willing to go to the mat for their party's stated positions. Sadly, however, it seems far too many of them—including the one nominated to run for President—were much more willing to give up our civil liberties than their offices, as witness this morning's signing of the FISA update bill that gives Bush and the big telecom companies a free pass for violating the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution and infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens. No less than three amendments to delay or mitigate the immunity language went down to defeat, and party discipline out the window, as Dems by the dozens went off the reservation to vote with the GOP.
Historically, the GOP has gotten a great deal of political mileage out of painting my party as "soft" on national defense due to its efforts to limit military expenditures and adventurism. These last seven years, they have been able to do the same with our objections to extreme, invasive measures taken ostensibly to guarantee another 9/11 won't happen. And thus the thing every Democrat running for re-election this fall fears most (especially those elected by razor-thin margins from heavily "red" states and districts) is a campaign-season attack ad claiming s/he is "soft" on terrorism and homeland security. Karl Rove, may a just God damn his slimy soul to eternal perdition watching Michael Moore films, has taught them that the "security moms" and other fear-ridden voters eat this stuff up with a spoon.
Someone needs to hold Barack Obama's feet to the fire on this. At every single public appearance he makes from now to Nov. 4—every debate, every press conference, every rally, every photo-op, every interview—he should get asked at least once, "Sir, why did you vote for the telecom-immunity-tainted FISA bill after you promised to oppose it? Why did you sell out our Constitutional rights and justice? And why should we even believe a single thing that comes out of your mouth, let alone vote for you, given your actions in this matter?" That he is still the lesser of two evils is, as Shelley noted, a sad commentary on the state of politics and "leadership" in our country today.
And the same goes for every other Congressional Democrat incumbent running this fall. In the meantime, the American Civil Liberties Union is mounting a legal challenge to the FISA update; you can contribute at their website. Pelosi, Reid & Co. have made the calculation that they won't have to pay any real price for caving to Bush and the GOP on this issue; let's let them know they need to recheck their math.
shelleybear) have both posted stories on the now-former director of the State of North Carolina's Standards Laboratory, one L. F. Eason. Seems Mr. Eason felt very strongly that he could not participate in the statewide order to lower flags at all state-government facilities to half-staff in memory of the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R), out of his objection to the views and votes of Helms during his lifetime. And he felt it was worth giving up his job to stand on his principles.Now if only the Democrat "leaders" we elected to Congress two years ago to stand up to Junior Bush and the Republicans were so willing to go to the mat for their party's stated positions. Sadly, however, it seems far too many of them—including the one nominated to run for President—were much more willing to give up our civil liberties than their offices, as witness this morning's signing of the FISA update bill that gives Bush and the big telecom companies a free pass for violating the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution and infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens. No less than three amendments to delay or mitigate the immunity language went down to defeat, and party discipline out the window, as Dems by the dozens went off the reservation to vote with the GOP.
Historically, the GOP has gotten a great deal of political mileage out of painting my party as "soft" on national defense due to its efforts to limit military expenditures and adventurism. These last seven years, they have been able to do the same with our objections to extreme, invasive measures taken ostensibly to guarantee another 9/11 won't happen. And thus the thing every Democrat running for re-election this fall fears most (especially those elected by razor-thin margins from heavily "red" states and districts) is a campaign-season attack ad claiming s/he is "soft" on terrorism and homeland security. Karl Rove, may a just God damn his slimy soul to eternal perdition watching Michael Moore films, has taught them that the "security moms" and other fear-ridden voters eat this stuff up with a spoon.
Someone needs to hold Barack Obama's feet to the fire on this. At every single public appearance he makes from now to Nov. 4—every debate, every press conference, every rally, every photo-op, every interview—he should get asked at least once, "Sir, why did you vote for the telecom-immunity-tainted FISA bill after you promised to oppose it? Why did you sell out our Constitutional rights and justice? And why should we even believe a single thing that comes out of your mouth, let alone vote for you, given your actions in this matter?" That he is still the lesser of two evils is, as Shelley noted, a sad commentary on the state of politics and "leadership" in our country today.
And the same goes for every other Congressional Democrat incumbent running this fall. In the meantime, the American Civil Liberties Union is mounting a legal challenge to the FISA update; you can contribute at their website. Pelosi, Reid & Co. have made the calculation that they won't have to pay any real price for caving to Bush and the GOP on this issue; let's let them know they need to recheck their math.
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-11 05:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-11 09:52 pm (UTC)As for Strange Bedfellows, I know politics tends to make them, but naught else. Please to be explaining this.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-11 10:37 pm (UTC)Write his (former) supervisor
Date: 2008-07-11 03:59 pm (UTC)Standards@ncmail.net
(919) 733-3313
or
1050 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1050
Might be worthwhile to give him an idea of how many people support Eason's decision.