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Discussion: Good effort but ...
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Posted Anonymously |
Good effort but ...
Feb 21 2010, 1:46 PM EST
First, thanks to Harry for taking the bull by the horns. I have three points in reply.First, the "Obama supporters" intro. I know that being associated with Obama is the legacy of this group. However, what was right in 2008 is not necessarily right in 2010. It's been three years since Obama renounced his pledge to fight FISA and this year we learn about an extension. Continuing to say that we're Obama supporters (a) buys us no votes, (b) suggests we're slow learners, and (c) indicates that we are resigned to being kicked in the ass by our nominal leader. There's little chance that this statement will find support among other political factions, right or left, Republican or Democratic, other than those still aligned directly with Obama. Most progressives, Tea Party activists, staunch defenders of civil rights, and all of those Democratic political figures who went out on a limb to oppose FISA only to have Obama double-cross will reject it. I'm not saying this group should abandon its identity, but it doesn't make it easier to be defending a controversial political figure who has NEVER offered us even a hearing, let alone a fig leaf or support. Who has in fact always been in opposition to us. Second,the resort to fighting terrorism rankles. "Terrorism" (= fear) is quickly replacing patriotism (= false pride) as the last resort of scoundrels. Glenn Greenwald wrote a major column on this recently. Must we mention terrorism each time we speak of liberty? Third, our mission statement should get to the point: reversing FISA and ensuring Americans aren't spied on. That would be big enough for me. And small enough to attract allies without a lot of extra effort perhaps spent in vain. I think Mark's edit's are in the right direction but insufficient. However, this is a group mind thing, so more comments, please. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
Bob.Jacobson |
1. RE: Good effort but ...
Feb 21 2010, 1:50 PM EST
Sorry, this was me. I hadn't signed up with WetPaint when I wrote this. I was one of the early crop of Get FISA Right folks, during the 2008 campaign. In 2009, I was hopeful. In 2010, I don't expect this Administration to make changes until it becomes politically uncomfortable to continue its inertia on the issue. A scandal would help.
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Sallijane |
2. I changed the statements. . .
Feb 22 2010, 5:05 PM EST
according to what I had posted earlier and in response to your comments, with which many I agree. I also changed America/American to United States/U. S. to be more specific. Let's keep working!
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JonPincus |
3. Great progress
Feb 28 2010, 2:36 PM EST
I really like the vision!I split the "Who we are" out from the mission statement proper. I agree with Bob that what was right in 2008 is not necessarily right now. Get FISA Right needs to broaden beyond our original core of Obama supporters + former Obama supporters. So I am not sure how much to emphasize the Obama aspects in our definition. A couple on questions on the mission statement: - it too specific to focus only on national security issues? - is there a way to ground our mission emotionally as well as legally? jon Do you find this valuable? |
