Joe,
"while the left would like it curtailed to the point that another attack even worse than September eleventh might cause actions by the government that would even further curtail their rights."
Bull Sh*T!
Most on the 'left' expected Obama to govern in the manner he proclaimed while campaigning.
I would expect once in office he would need to adjust, since he would know more about the threats to the country. However, he promised to be 'transparent,' he has failed in this regard.
I have always believed, if Obama was in the senate at the time to vote whether to go to war with Iraq he would have voted 'Yes!'
I firmly believe that today!