Happy F---ing Bill of Right day

Both houses of Congress have passed the #NDAA codifying indefinite detention -- and Obama has dropped his veto threat, breaking his promise.

Meanwhile even as I write this, the House is debating #SOPA.

Remember back in 2006-8 when the Bush Administration rammed through PATRIOT Act reauthorization and FISA? Obama was on the right side for a while -- at least until July 2008, when he broke his promise to filibuster. Now, he's continuing and building on Bush policies. Senator Chris Dodd was heroic on FISA; now, he's working for the MPAA and using China's internet policies as a blueprint for the US. And how about Patrick Leahy, bulwark of civil liberties -- and co-sponsor of the Senate equivalent of SOPA?

It's not that I think the Republicans are any better on the whole. Both parties have a few standouts on civil liberties -- Wyden, Nadler, the Pauls. But on the whole, the political establishment continues to show itself remarkably unconcerned with Americans' rights.

Here's hoping that in 2012 we'll start to do something about it.

#politics #occupy