Finding Ulysses

Republican Richard Hanna had the courage to vote against the extension of the most abusive spying powers of the Patriot Act. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer did not.

Yesterday, the Ulysses Democratic Committee sent a letter to our U.S. Representative, Michael Arcuri about his vote for the FISA Amendments Act. The Ulysses Democratic Committee also sent letters to senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Barack Obama has declared that he will vote for the FISA Amendments Act, even if amendments are not passed to improve the law.

Senators Russ Feingold and Christopher Dodd have announced their plan to filibuster the FISA Amendments Act. Will Schumer and Clinton join them or leave them hanging? We’re residents of New York state, not Alabama or Wyoming. We deserve senators who will take the lead in representing our state’s progressive values, and not just sit on the fence.

We are not living in an age of idealism. Congressman Arcuri knows that, and that’s why he’s confident that he won’t lose much support on account of his vote for Bush’s spying bill today. You get to decide whether you’re willing to go along with that, and confirm Arcuri’s sad judgment of the character of our citizens.