Dems: Heads in the Sand

Josh Marshall meets up with Matt Yglesias at The Strand bookstore in lower Manhattan where’s he was promoting his new foreign policy book Heads in the Sand: How the Republicans Screw Up Foreign Policy and Foreign Policy Screws Up the Democrats.

Somewhat related, but on the domestic front, is the Dems’ capitulation with a deal that would grant new spying powers to President Bush and arrange retroactive amnesty for telecommunications companies accused of illegal surveillance. Way to go Dems!

Meanwhile, Barack Obama has been mostly silent as the House caved into White House demands for more surveillance power. He’s advocated civil liberties and accountability during previous clashes over surveillance, voting against a White House spying bill in August, but sidestepped the issue this week, despite pleas from supporters that he speak out on this fundamental issue.