Obama Opts Out of Public Financing for Campaign  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama announced on Thursday that he would not participate in the public financing system for presidential campaigns.  He argued that the system had collapsed, and would put him at a disadvantage running …

Obama aide blames McCain on public-financing  —  Obama spokesman Bill Burton is blaming Senator John McCain's campaign for failing, he says, to negotiate in good faith on a course to public financing.  —  “In the past couple of weeks, our campaign counsels met and it was immediately clear …

Video: Important Announcement from Barack  —  The campaign sent out this email this morning...  Friend —  Barack Obama recorded a video message with an important announcement that he wanted you to hear first:  —  We have made a crucial decision that will impact how we compete in the general election …

Obama told Tim Russert at Feb. 27 debate he would “sit down with John McCain” to discuss public financing.  Obama never did before opting out of system.  —  WASHINGTON-The legacy of the sharp questioning of Tim Russert, who died Friday, is clear in this exchange he had in a Feb. 27 Democratic primary debate …

McCain Campaign Counsel Denies Obama Campaign Account  —  In explaining its decision to not enter into the public financing system for the general election, Obama campaign counsel Bob Bauer met with McCain campaign counsel Trevor Potter and, according to Obama spox Bill Burton, Potter …

THAT'S SOME COMPROMISE  —  Who really thinks that the White House and the telecoms would go along with this so-called “conditional immunity” that congressional Democrats have agreed to if they didn't think they could satisfy the condition?  —  All they must do is provide a federal district court judge with …

ACLU Condemns FISA Deal, Declares Surveillance Bill Unconstitutional  —  Contact: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org  —  Washington, DC - With news that a surveillance bill may be voted on in the House of Representatives as early as tomorrow, the American Civil Liberties Union sternly warned members against voting for the legislation.

Obama, telecoms and the Beltway system  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  As noted yesterday, Blue Dog Rep. John Barrow of Georgia has been one of the most enthusiastic enablers of the radical and lawless policies of the Bush administration.  When running for re-election …

Bipartisan FISA Compromise Reached  —  WASHINGTON - Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman John “Jay” Rockefeller (WV), Senate Intelligence Committee Vice-Chair Kit Bond (MO), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD), and House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (MO) announced today that a bipartisan compromise …

House to vote on FISA reform Friday  —  The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will be brought to the House floor on Friday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's (D-Md.) office said.  —  Hoyer announced the decision during a meeting of the Democratic Caucus, according to sources familiar with the conversation.