Times the word “Constitution” was spoken in Barack Obama’s nomination speech of August 28: 0
Times the phrase “Fourth Amendment” was spoken in Barack Obama’s nomination speech of August 28: 0
Times the word “Surveillance” was spoken in Barack Obama’s nomination speech of August 28: 0
Times the word “Warrant” was spoken in Barack Obama’s nomination speech of August 28: 0
Times the word “Warrantless” was spoken in Barack Obama’s nomination speech of August 28: 0
Times the word “Wiretapping” was spoken in Barack Obama’s nomination speech of August 28: 0
I’m just saying. On the very first day Barack Obama enters office as our next president, we need to have a movement ready to pressure this man into paying attention and to putting freedom back on the front burner.
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.” -Theodore Roosevelt, Kansas City Star, 149 May 7, 1918
It’s all been turned around during the Bush administration. He was undoubtedly the worst president ever and he got away with trashing the Constitution and misusing his office because the rest of the government went along with it. During Roosevelt’s time people had integrity (for the most part, at least when it came to government). Now, it’s like Orwell – it’s all backwards and doublespeak. It’s going to take a lot to regain even a semblence of what we used to enjoy.
Jim: he gave a great, historic speech; i hope he can at least inspire the nation to get back to the balance we used to have and away from the police state, corporate owned government. Unless we get rid of K street, all those campaign promises will be hot air. It ain’t gonna be easy, and Bush can sink everyone’s hope just by bombing Iran in his last days in office.
Well, you’ve got the audacity of hope. I hope you’re right.