Barack Obama

I don't agree with Obama's position on this, but I also think fellow Dems are being somewhat unrealistic about the entire matter.

If he had not continued with a strong national security the republicans would have accused him of being weak on defense and putting peoples lives in jeopardy over trivialities. As much as I LOATHE this particular position he has made it where no dem can be accused of being weak on defense for many many years to come. That is a good thing.

The base is wanting him to act ideologically pure again and forgetting all the fearmongering the repubs did in the past and the political realities of the present. He had to make the decisions that he made.

This is not the "West Wing" where our political opponents are drooling morons (though many are). Or would these dems rather have Obama replaced with a republican who would not only expand the policies even further, but also have the belief that they can declare anyone who disagrees with them an enemy combatant?

That said, I hope Obama uses this situation to promote legislation to protect our privacy rights and restrict/end the drone program and repeal the patriot act. But I am sure the republicans would stop pretending to care about our rights and shoot that down in an instant.