PrismmmMMMMmmmm, good! NOT!

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

4th amendment says government needs a damn good reason to be in your business, which the Patriot Act casually gutted. And Republicans just noticed.
and

I am appalled that the government is snooping on me - this must stop! On the other hand, when someone is watching it does make it hotter.

-Bill Maher

Yup. It was a bad law that everyone initially voted for, which both sides renewed in the Senate and which Obama - using questionable Constitutional methods - extended despite the extension's failure to pass the House in 2011.

Lots of blame to go around on this one. As the Chief Executive, however, administration of the law is firmly in the purview of Obama. He has shown his ability in the past to forego enforcement of laws he found distasteful yet, here, he has endorsed the gutting of individual liberty.

Call Republicans hypocritical if you like. Bottom line is that this administration has expanded the attack on personal liberties well beyond anything Bush did.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Yup. It was a bad law that everyone initially voted for, which both sides renewed in the Senate and which Obama - using questionable Constitutional methods - extended despite the extension's failure to pass the House in 2011.

Lots of blame to go around on this one. As the Chief Executive, however, administration of the law is firmly in the purview of Obama. He has shown his ability in the past to forego enforcement of laws he found distasteful yet, here, he has endorsed the gutting of individual liberty.

Call Republicans hypocritical if you like. Bottom line is that this administration has expanded the attack on personal liberties well beyond anything Bush did.

If Bush were still in office, don't you think he'd be pushing the same agenda, or maybe worse?

I'm not in favor of what's going on, it's just funny to hear everyone up in arms about this now, where was all the fuss in 2001?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

If Bush were still in office, don't you think he'd be pushing the same agenda, or maybe worse?

I'm not in favor of what's going on, it's just funny to hear everyone up in arms about this now, where was all the fuss in 2001?

This is a sexier story. A "heroic" whistleblower escapes the grasping claws of a tyrannical government so expose its nefarious misdoings. In the only thing being discussed was the potential for this type of stuff. Not many seemed to care.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

If Bush were still in office, don't you think he'd be pushing the same agenda, or maybe worse?

I'm not in favor of what's going on, it's just funny to hear everyone up in arms about this now, where was all the fuss in 2001?

Where was it in 1979?

https://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/eo12139.htm

[RedskinRat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Where was it in 1979?

https://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/eo12139.htm

The use of the word 'Foreign' threw everyone off?

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Where was it in 1979?

https://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/eo12139.htm

SS you must have made that up , that could not have happen because Obama wasn't President and as this board will tell you he is personally responsible for everything wrong in this country ,......ever!!!

[RedskinRat]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

If Bush were still in office, don't you think he'd be pushing the same agenda, or maybe worse?

I'm not in favor of what's going on, it's just funny to hear everyone up in arms about this now, where was all the fuss in 2001?

Just reference any of The One's pre-office statements on this kind of thing. It doesn't seem to be such a concern now.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by RedskinRat

Just reference any of The One's pre-office statements on this kind of thing. It doesn't seem to be such a concern now.

Welcome to politics. Where politicians say what they need to say to get elected, then reality hits when they get in office and they see what's really behind curtain #1.

[Lotus]

I for one consider Snowden a hero rather than traitor. He gave up a cushy life, a nice paycheck, and his security to call out our government for abrogating the Constitution. I think we all owe Snowden a debt of gratitude.

[RedskinRat]

Originally Posted by Lotus

I for one consider Snowden a hero rather than traitor. He gave up a cushy life, a nice paycheck, and his security to call out our government for abrogating the Constitution. I think we all owe Snowden a debt of gratitude.

I agree.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by RedskinRat

I agree.

Now you're agreeing with Lotus?!? I dunno Rat ... I am really, really getting scared.

Let's have a prayer circle where we discuss the competing ethical considerations of Mr. Snowden's actions. You in?

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by RedskinRat

I agree.

So at what point would a computer judge/jury not find him guilty based on the emotional belief that giving up safety/security for country outweighs the purely analytical rule of law that says he told national secrets?

no need to respond, I Robot answered it already.

[HailGreen28]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Welcome to politics. Where politicians say what they need to say to get elected, then reality hits when they get in office and they see what's really behind curtain #1.

I think it's more a case of

I think national-level politicians know exactly what positions they're going to take when they get in office. It's just a matter of what the public will let them get away with.

edit: And like you said, they say what they think they need to get into office. Even if they're going to do the same thing when they get in.

[NC_Skins]

When Vladimir Putin is defending America for its spying on its citizens, I think it's high time we start rethinking the direction our country is heading.

Putin on NSA leak: Government surveillance shouldn’t break law — RT News