I'm down with "The Lesser of Two Evils" - Until the lesser evil is too evil....

[Junkdrawer]

I'm a yellow-dog Democrat. I walk into the booth and pull the Straight Democratic lever (now I touch the Straight Democratic touch screen button - do NOT put a nickel in THAT slot ). Have EVERY General Election since 1972.

But now....

Best way to make sure you lose me: defend the further destruction of the Constitution.

Tell me it's all a lie. Tell me, when the smoke clears, I'll see that these scandals were Republicans projecting their crimes on Democrats. Tell me that, if ANYONE (Democrat or Republican) is shown to have violated the Bill of Rights, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

But DO NOT defend the further destruction of the Constitution. That is my line in the sand.

[lastlib]

1. "My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total...."

"...And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution."

--Barbara Jordan, 1974.

[Junkdrawer]

2. One of the Giants of her time....

Sorely, SORELY missed.

[tavalon]

14. Every time I go to the Austin/Bergstrom airport,

I stop by the statue they have of her. Loved that woman. She was so amazing.

[Shivering Jemmy]

3. Everyone needs a line in the sand

[Egalitarian Thug]

4. K&R. Thanks for posting. n/t

[Junkdrawer]

5. I can't BELIEVE some of the posts I've been reading over the past few days....

Party Loyalty is one thing, but.....damn.

[Egalitarian Thug]

8. I know, right? If President Obama raped a nun and shot a puppy in the Rose Garden

during a press conference, there are about half a dozen here that would be writing how the nun was an undercover terrorist and the puppy was actually the bomb the nun was preparing to set off, and that they had both talked to a republican in the past, so they had it coming anyway.

[Junkdrawer]

10. Check Koko's post below. n/t

[KoKo]

6. The Major Sea Change in Media Discussions of Obama and Civil Liberties

The Major Sea Change in Media Discussions of Obama and Civil Liberties


Almost nobody is defending the DOJ's breathtaking targeting of AP, and with good reason: as the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press made clear yesterday, it's unprecedented:

"In the thirty years since the Department issued guidelines governing its subpoena practice as it relates to phone records from journalists, none of us can remember an instance where such an overreaching dragnet for news gathering materials was deployed by the Department, particularly without notice to the affected reporters or an opportunity to seek judicial review."

But there are a few people excusing or outright defending the DOJ here: namely, some progressive blogs and media outlets. They are about the only ones willing to defend this sweeping attempt to get the phone records of AP journalists.

As I noted yesterday, TPM's Josh Marshall - who fancies himself an edgy insurgent against mainstream media complacency as he spends day after day defending the US government's most powerful officials - printed an anonymous email accusing AP of engineering a "smear of Justice". Worse, Media Matters this morning posted "talking points" designed to defend the DOJ in the AP matter that easily could have come directly from the White House and which sounded like Alberto Gonzales, arguing that "if the press compromised active counter-terror operations for a story that only tipped off the terrorists, that sounds like it should be investigated" and that "it was not acceptable when the Bush Administration exposed Valerie Plame working undercover to stop terrorists from attacking us. It is not acceptable when anonymous sources do it either." It also sought to blame Republicans for defeating a bill to protect journalists without mentioning that Obama, once he became president, reversed his position on such bills and helped to defeat it. Meanwhile, the only outright, spirited, unqualified defense of the DOJ's conduct toward AP that I've seen comes from a Media Matters employee and "liberal" blogger.

During the Bush years, it was conservatives who supported the Bush DOJ and Alberto Gonzales' threats against the press on national security grounds; now, defenders of such threats to press freedoms are found almost exclusively from progressive circles (similarly, many of the most vicious and vocal attacks on WikiLeaks and Bradley Manning have come from progressives).

This is such an under-appreciated but crucial aspect of the Obama legacy. Recall back in 2008 that the CIA prepared a secret report (subsequently leaked to WikiLeaks) that presciently noted that the election of Barack Obama would be the most effective way to stem the tide of antiwar sentiment in western Europe, because it would put a pleasant, happy, progressive face on those wars and thus convert large numbers of Obama supporters from war opponents into war supporters. That, of course, is exactly what happened: not just in the realm of militarism but civil liberties and a whole variety of other issues. That has had the effect of transforming what were, just a few years ago, symbols of highly contentious right-wing radicalism into harmonious bipartisan consensus. That the most vocal defenders of this unprecedented government acquisition of journalists' phone records comes from government-loyal progressives - reciting the standard slogans of National Security and Keeping Us Safe and The Terrorists - is a potent symbol indeed of this transformation.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/15-4

[Junkdrawer]

7. Hadn't seen that. Thanks for posting....

[woo me with science]

13. Excellent. Thank you for posting this link. nt

[Autumn]

21. Holy shit. That should be a stand alone OP

Words fail me. Well actually, anyone who posted that would be attacked since it's the dreaded Glenn Greenwald. Good post and thanks for the link.

[idwiyo]

26. K&R BRAVO!!!

[woo me with science]

9. K&R

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Cut nose, spite face

Today media, tomorrow bloggers, next those silly people who want to redress their government and we are now a Christian nation.

People really do not understand the kind of fire they are playing with.

[woo me with science]

12. kick

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams

[DonCoquixote]

31. the same way the greens in Florida

cherish their folly in 2000, while stepping around the bodies of those who would NOT have died under a president Gore.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

32. So, if Gore didn't appeal enough to the left to get their votes whose fault is that?

Not the voters.

[DonCoquixote]

33. If the voters were dumb enough

to think that they were not letting Bush in, and if they honestly think Gore would not have been a much less damaging president than Bush, then HELL yes!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

34. The candidate failed to appeal to the left.

If he wanted their votes he should have gone after them instead of going after the "middle".

[DonCoquixote]

35. and then

the middle would have rejected him, and the far left could sit around, drinking tea, and talk about how noble they are even though they have no intention of ever trying to please anyone but themselves, much less actually GET RESULTS.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. Tsk. Tsk. Then his efforts to ignore the left and appeal to the middle failed.

Again, whose fault is that?

And, more Democrats voted for Bush than did Greens.

[DonCoquixote]

37. So

if the Dems put up candidates that only appeal to 40 percent of the pop, at best, and lose every election as a result, is that good for you?

And do not even mention parliament. In Canada, 60 percent of the populace hates Stephen Harper's gut, but since they DO have several left parties, they were divided, which means Stephen will get to stay in Ottawa for a good long time, at least enough to get his pipeline.

[roamer65]

16. Problem is we are a one party state...

...masquerading as a two party state. I do believe I am quoting Jello Biafra on it.

This country really needs meaningful multi-party democracy very badly.

[Junkdrawer]

17. Winner-takes-all is a big flaw in our current Constitution....

Probably why most Western Democracies (who have proportional, multiple winner systems) do so much better for their citizens.

Until THAT charges....

[DonCoquixote]

38. note my cpomment about Canada

Canada has a parliament, and the leftists got so divided there that Harper reigns, despite 60 percent of the vote against him.

[woo me with science]

19. +10000 You hit the nail on the head.

It is a surreal experience, once you begin to pay attention and realize that the two parties are unfailingly complicit in every major policy area important to the one percent....

It is surreal to finally see with clear eyes the absolute delusion upon which the vast majority of our political "news" is based. We drown in propaganda that hypes the irrelevant differences, obscures the chronic collusion and complicity, reinforces absurd framing and lies....all to keep us focused on the fake partisan game, rallied into our teams, and defending even the most predatory aspects of the corporate agenda as long as it is our side's turn to implement them.

It's time to wake up and realize that something other than the two corporate choices we are offered, over and over again, is really possible...

[Junkdrawer]

18. ...and I'm gone...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014485013

[woo me with science]

20. Someone predicted that shame would cause Obama to fire Holder by the end of the week.

Here was my response:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2840202

I don't know. This is not the government I grew up with.

It seems to me that the corporatization of our government has been accompanied by a very disturbing change in attitude toward the people and our civil protections. Under Bush and now Obama, the stripping of our civil liberties and implementation of privacy invasions has become pretty damned brazen. The attitude to me feels more like, "What are you gonna do about it?"

I wish I were as confident as you that this will garner any shame at all. You can see from the usual apologist mouthpieces here that the arrogant spin in defense of the outrageous has already begun.

Surveillance and intimidation are now par for the course from this government. We are in deep, grave trouble in this country.

[Junkdrawer]

22. Seen this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022848695

[woo me with science]

24. Thank you. Chris Hedges is one of the very few, along with Greenwald,

who refuse to pretend that each assault occurs in isolation, as some kind of aberration.

There's a constant, relentless pattern here that grows more horrifying every day.




Chilling Legal Memo From Obama DOJ Justifies Assassination of US Citizens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654954

Obama seeks longer PATRIOT Act extension than Republicans (December 2013)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x380450

When it comes to civil liberties, apparently Democrats are just as bad as Republicans.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022101960

NSA's Massive New Spy Center to Track Your Emails, Internet Activity, and Phone Calls
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101620852

Obama Quietly Signs Abusive Spy Bill He Once Vowed to Eliminate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022104861

Obama repeals Magna Carta, asserting powers our forefathers denied to Kings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101655620

Obama's Memo on Killing Americans Twists 'Imminent Threat' Like Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654919

Obama no better than Bush when it comes to security vs. civil liberties.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022355307

Obama Admin Seeks Permission TO LIE In Response To FOI Requests - Even To The COURTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2185303

NDAA on trial: Obama Administration fights ban on indefinite detention of Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101748688

Obama administration complicit with private prison industry: President Obama's IncarcerNation
http://www.nationofchange.org/president-obama-s-incarcernation-1335274655

Obama, Democrats Push to Make Bush Spying Laws Permanent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022084702

NDAA, signed by Obama, is a direct attack against legitimate protest and dissent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022064803

NSA Whistleblower: All Americans under constant surveillance, all info. stored, no matter the post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002193487; http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021935289

Bipartisan Congress Disgracefully Approves the FISA Warrantless Spying Bill for Five More Years
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022087323

While Public & Media Focused on 2nd Amendment, 5th Amendment Quietly Dismantled
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022390581

How the Obama administration justifies extrajudicial killing of Americans,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022318187

Judge Says Under Law Executive Branch Can Commit Acts That Sure Do Seem Unconstitutional
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022122464

Obama Justice Dept. says wiretap lawsuit should not proceed
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014337039

NDAA Lawsuit- Hedges v. Obama, The Last Thin Line of Defense
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022357078

Federal authorities step up efforts to license surveillance drones for law enforcement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022383596

Big Banks and FBI worked together vs Occupy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022095056]

FBI Investigated 'Occupy' As Possible 'Domestic Terrorism' Threat, Internal Documents Show
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022061578

FBI Documents Reveal Secret Nationwide Occupy Monitoring (Updated the OP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022057064

Public Buses Across Country Quietly Adding Microphones to Record Passenger Conversations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021965291

Street artist behind satirical NYPD 'Drone' posters arrested
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021920967

The Obama DOJ urged the Supreme Court's endorsement of strip searches.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527

Obama Administration Fights to Allow Warrantless GPS Tracking
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1074474

Anonymous to FBI: hey, dudes, maybe you could take a break from...investigating activists....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022145621

Half a billion dollars for drones to spy on Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021876414

From Bradley Manning to Aaron Swartz -- The Government's Inhumane Persecution of Brave Truth Tellers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022276941

The sight of Army helicopters and the sound of gunfire...on Houston's south side
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022276742

Kiriakou and Stuxnet: the danger of the still-escalating Obama whistleblower war
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275570

Can the DEA Hide a Surveillance Camera on Your Property?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022237059

Social Media and the Stasi
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021888029

Homeland Security Wants to More Than Double Its Predator Drone Fleet Inside the US, Despite Safety/Privacy Invasions
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014312823

CIA Behind Bizarre Censorship Incident At Alleged 9/11 Plotters’ Gitmo Trial
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022280285

“I Am Wearing My Conviction As A Badge Of Honor.”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275128

Meet the Contractors Turning America's Police Into a Paramilitary Force
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12525281

How Secrecy Corrodes Democracy
http://election.democraticunderground.com/101655009

Obama Quietly Issues Ruling Saying It's Legal For The FBI To Break The Law
http://election.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7545687

US Pulls Plug on Iran Cable News (Press TV)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014394770

DHS Watchdog OKs 'Suspicionless' Seizure of Electronic Devices Along Border
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022339091

[Junkdrawer]

25. The specter of hunger and thirst IN AMERICA looms....

5 yrs, 10 yrs, WHO KNOWS.

The only thing Orwell got wrong was the date.

BTW: For ONCE, there are actual DISCUSSIONS on that thread. 3 for 4 ain't bad.

IMHO, worth reading.

(Normally, I see deep indents, assume multiple flame wars, and move on.)

[KoKo]

23. Yes +1 have your same worries.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

27. Supposedly, Obama is going to fix the latest scandal by supporting a Bill for a Federal shield law.

Of course, the Obama-will-support-this-type-shield law would be limited in that it would only protect journalists and publishers.

Even then, it might be written and interpreted in a way to protect only the journalists and publishers of the MSM type.

[MotherPetrie]

28. It's such an obscenely empty gesture. Obama knows such a bill will never pass so he'll never have

to put his money where his mouth is.

[woo me with science]

29. Protection of a free press and protection of the privacy of citizens should be a GIVEN

according to the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution. All these posts crowing about legislation to ensure privacy for certain limited groups under certain limited situations are appalling.

We also saw ridiculous praise this evening for Obama's statement that a warrant should be required before the government can access the email of American citizens.

Good grief. That should be a given, and it certainly should not be limited to email. Americans should *already* have a guarantee of privacy from warrantless government spying into ANY of our private communications, email or otherwise.

Creepy, creepy, creepy authoritarian framing going on these days. We are seeing Alice in Wonderland praise for politicians who brag about wanting to preserve only a fraction of our Constitutional rights....as though that were a great gift to us.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

30. There seems to be more and more giddy, authoritarian supporters.

Somehow their grammer school teachers failed to teach them basic civics.

And I'm reminded of a thought from George Carlin:

[woo me with science]

39. These boards are heavily propagandized,

and knowing that makes the uptick in cheerleading for authoritarian rule even creepier than it would be otherwise. We are living in very disturbing times.

[KoKo]

40. We had no idea how far this would go.

and that's the sad of it. But, we just keep on going. And, there are many who really don't like that. I say: "Tough LOVE!"