Barack Obama’s Position On FISA Bill Based On Enormous Gamble

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – The Proposition #1

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Okay, so the FISA bill passed. Barack Obama supported it. People have other issues to contend with. It’s time to move on, right?

Well, no, it isn’t. Obama posted an explanation to his position on FISA over a week ago (reprinted here on The Huffington Post). The following excerpt worries me most (emphasis added):

Given the choice between voting for an improved yet imperfect bill, and losing important surveillance tools, I’ve chosen to support the current compromise. I do so with the firm intention — once I’m sworn in as president — to have my Attorney General conduct a comprehensive review of all our surveillance programs, and to make further recommendations on any steps needed to preserve civil liberties and to prevent executive branch abuse in the future.

My question is simple: what happens if Obama loses? What are the implications of this bill if John McCain “triumphs?” People can point to Obama’s donation numbers, grassroots support, poll results, momentum, etc, all they want, but what happens if, come election day, John McCain wins?

In short, the FISA bill will grant McCain the power to do almost anything he desires with regards to domestic surveillance. Remember what Chris Dodd said about “illegal, unwarranted, unchecked domestic surveillance?” Yeah, well imagine that in the hands of John McCain. Imagine it across every conceivable communication platform — telephone, Internet, GPS units — and the picture begins to look quite grim. Terrifyingly so.

I support Obama. I will continue to support Obama. However, I deeply fear the repercussions of this bill under a McCain administration over the course of four years. I can only guess as to what other liberties Obama will surrender in the upcoming months with the promise of amending past wrongs once elected.

Needless to say, I’m less than comfortable.

Kind intentions aren’t something I typically put much stock in.

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