Say It Ain't So

“In a dangerous world, government must have the authority to collect the intelligence we need to protect the American people.”

Okay, who said that? George Bush? No. John McCain? No.

Barack Obama said that. As part of his explanation for having voted in favor of Bush’s recent FISA bill, which, among other things, immunized telcoms for helping the government spy illegally on American citizens.

An explanation which makes clear that on November 5 corporate profit will still be the raison d’etre of life on earth, and fear the principal source of that profit.

Until now, I’ve been more or less resigned to the faith-based initiatives and trickle-down economics and “refinement” of his promise to get out of Iraq and opposition to gun control and to marriage for all, or at least for anyone who might actually want to be married. After all, everyone says that candidates inevitably turn toward the center once they’ve secured the nomination. And anyway, what's the alternative?

But now I’m not so sure. Could I really vote for some guy with an American flag on his lapel? Maybe not.