Unqualified Offerings

By Thoreau

Greenwald is reporting that the House is ready to pass telecom immunity. If it passes there, it will go to the Senate.

I’m going to say that this is Obama’s big test. If he has a real interest in civil liberties, if he really wants to change Washington and govern differently, then he should go to the Senate floor and fight this side-by-side with The Dodd. (The Dodd abides.) Yes, I know, he has a campaign to run, but this is not yet the crunch time of the campaign. Besides, if he wants headlines for doing something significant, if he wants a chance to draw the sharpest possible contrast between himself and John McCain, and if he wants the easy approval that comes from fighting against a deeply unpopular President, then this is his opportunity.

So, to Barack Obama, I say this: Leave the road, leave behind the crowds, leave behind the events, leave behind your campaign to achieve greater power, leave behind all of that for now, and go do the job that you are sworn to do. Stand side-by-side with The Dodd (Respect The Dodd) and Russ Feingold and a handful of others, and show us what you are capable of in a fight. Show us that you are prepared to take every possible step to protect the freedoms of the American people. If you are voted down, at least go down fighting, and return to the campaign trail with a pledge to continue the fight from 1600 Pennsylvania, and an example of why we need change in Washington. If you prevail, then take your bows (and be sure to give a fair share of the glory to The Dodd) and return to the campaign trail with a fresh victory over John McCain, and a crystal clear example of how you differ from him.

Do these things, and I will lay aside my cynicism and donate to your campaign and volunteer for your campaign.