Just remember, today in the United States is Independence Day........
But in England, it is still known as.....
The Day The Divorce Became Final!
Have a happy!
As Heard on The Stephanie Miller Show
Friday, July 04, 2008
Obama on FISA
I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to those of you who oppose my decision to support the FISA compromise.
This was not an easy call for me. I know that the FISA bill that passed the House is far from perfect. I wouldn't have drafted the legislation like this, and it does not resolve all of the concerns that we have about President Bush's abuse of executive power. It grants retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have violated the law by cooperating with the Bush administration's program of warrantless wiretapping. This potentially weakens the deterrent effect of the law and removes an important tool for the American people to demand accountability for past abuses. That's why I support striking Title II from the bill, and will work with Chris Dodd, Jeff Bingaman and others in an effort to remove this provision in the Senate.
But I also believe that the compromise bill is far better than the Protect America Act that I voted against last year. The exclusivity provision makes it clear to any president or telecommunications company that no law supersedes the authority of the FISA court. In a dangerous world, government must have the authority to collect the intelligence we need to protect the American people. But in a free society, that authority cannot be unlimited. As I've said many times, an independent monitor must watch the watchers to prevent abuses and to protect the civil liberties of the American people. This compromise law assures that the FISA court has that responsibility.
The Inspectors General report also provides a real mechanism for accountability and should not be discounted. It will allow a close look at past misconduct without hurdles that would exist in federal court because of classification issues. The recent investigation (PDF) uncovering the illegal politicization of Justice Department hiring sets a strong example of the accountability that can come from a tough and thorough IG report.
The ability to monitor and track individuals who want to attack the United States is a vital counter-terrorism tool, and I'm persuaded that it is necessary to keep the American people safe -- particularly since certain electronic surveillance orders will begin to expire later this summer. 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.
Now, I understand why some of you feel differently about the current bill, and I'm happy to take my lumps on this side and elsewhere. For the truth is that your organizing, your activism and your passion is an important reason why this bill is better than previous versions. No tool has been more important in focusing peoples' attention on the abuses of executive power in this administration than the active and sustained engagement of American citizens. That holds true -- not just on wiretapping, but on a range of issues where Washington has let the American people down.
I learned long ago, when working as an organizer on the South Side of Chicago, that when citizens join their voices together, they can hold their leaders accountable. I'm not exempt from that. I'm certainly not perfect, and expect to be held accountable too. I cannot promise to agree with you on every issue. But I do promise to listen to your concerns, take them seriously, and seek to earn your ongoing support to change the country. That is why we have built the largest grassroots campaign in the history of presidential politics, and that is the kind of White House that I intend to run as president of the United States -- a White House that takes the Constitution seriously, conducts the peoples' business out in the open, welcomes and listens to dissenting views, and asks you to play your part in shaping our country's destiny.
Democracy cannot exist without strong differences. And going forward, some of you may decide that my FISA position is a deal breaker. That's ok. But I think it is worth pointing out that our agreement on the vast majority of issues that matter outweighs the differences we may have. After all, the choice in this election could not be clearer. Whether it is the economy, foreign policy, or the Supreme Court, my opponent has embraced the failed course of the last eight years, while I want to take this country in a new direction. Make no mistake: if John McCain is elected, the fundamental direction of this country that we love will not change. But if we come together, we have an historic opportunity to chart a new course, a better course.
So I appreciate the feedback through my.barackobama.com, and I look forward to continuing the conversation in the months and years to come. Together, we have a lot of work to do.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Eat At McDonald's.......here's why!
It's not because the food's that good. It's good, but not that good.
It's not because the food's cheap. Actually, for 99c, you can get a bigger burger than that double cheese.
It is because that friend of equality, Rev. Donald Wildmon has called a boycott on the Golden Arches.
Dearest God....
Part of this started last year when MickeyD's ran an ad in support of SF Pride. And for No-Neck. this, of course you know, means war-ah!
AFA has put a petition a site they created called www.boycottmcdonalds.com. On it, it states.....
What the boycott of McDonald's IS NOT about:
*This boycott is not about
hiring homosexuals.
*It is not about homosexuals eating at McDonald's.
*It is not about how homosexual employees are treated.
What the boycott of McDonald's IS about
*It is about McDonald's, as
a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars. (what do
you mean by "neutral, Donny Dear???") McDonald's has chosen not to remain
neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the
homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.
Yeah, I'll have some fries with that I-do!
They have an online petition, and a paper petition you can download. They have also posted a letter written to Wildmon by Pat Harris, Global Chief Diversity Officer (whaaaa?) of McDonald's. On it he quotes McDonald's founder Ray Kroc: " "Our founder Ray Kroc once said, ’None of us is as good as all of us.’........this is a core value of McDonald's."
To which our No-Necked friend replies "phiffle" to that values rubbish. Don't they know what we did to Ford???? (sorry....car sales dropped even more steeply after the AFA boycott, showing there were big problems under the Blue Oval before that....Wildmon just co-opted it and just called it his doing!). And let's not talk about those sodomite-lovers at DISNEY! Why things are so bad there that Wall-E is the number one movie in America, millions more are watching ESPN, and ABC's has hist like "Wipeout," "How I Survived..," and that dancing show...and don't forget "High School Musical!"
Well, maybe THAT boycott didn't work out either.
The fact is that Donald Wildmon is on his period again and he won't stop until every ho-mo-s*x-u-wul in A-mer-ree-kah is denied their Big Macs.
(Though I do know that some have taste for.......wait for it........Whoppers!)
And if it is Wildmon's want to boycott all pro-gay businesses.....his robotic followers will be doing without a lot.
From the HRC's Corporate Equality Index:
- Financial: Allianz, American Express, Capital One, Chubb, JP Morgan Chase, Metlife
- Food: Pepsico, Kraft, General Mills, Coca-Cola,
- Drink: Anhuser-Busch
- Cars and trucks: Ford, GM, Chrysler, and VW
- Heck, even Mac and PC are on the same page!
- Here is the full index for 2008: http://www.hrc.org/issues/workplace/ceihome.asp
In fact, the HRC says that there is a 41 percent increase in the number of gay-friendly businesses for 2008.
And yes, just as we asked you to buy Fords during all this, we are asking you to circumvent this bozo's clowning by buying all the McRibs, Big Macs, McNuggets, and McMuffins you can eat (lay off the Southern Fried Chicken sandwiches, though. IMHO, they taste......well....funny).
Look Donny, I know it sucks to be on the losing end. Hey, I'm a Lakers fan. But, as a piece token, my brother, hows about a nice Angus Third Pounder on me, huh?
Nope?
Then, it's on. Again.
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