NSA Scandal Not About Dem vs. Republican
It's about liberty vs. the state, writes Jason Pye at UnitedLiberty.org:
Partisans are, of course, using the revelation of the program to say, "Look, we can't trust Obama." The authority given under the PATRIOT Act is, unquestionably, too much for any president. That's why the Founding Fathers had the foresight to put the Fourth Amendment in the Constitution, and for good reason. They had experienced the dangers of general warrants, which allowed British authorities to search their homes and effects whenever they so desired. James Otis, who presented merchants during a legal challenge to general warrants in 1760, called them the "worst instance of arbitrary power."The good news is that most Americans are expressing skepticism to what the NSA is doing. According to a new CBS News poll, 58% disapprove of the federal government collecting phone records of ordinary Americans.
Ultimately, this isn't about leakers and whistleblowers. It's not about Barack Obama or George W. Bush. It's not about Democrat versus Republican or progressive versus conservative. What we have to decide is whether or not we're going to live in a country where the Constitution and the liberties protected therein actually matter.
If the Constitution doesn't matter, then there is literally no restraint or check on government power. That has long-been what has separated our government from monarchs and dictators. Our Constitution has worked and it will continue to work, but only if we restore the liberties that it protects and the check-and-balances that have been so severely ignored.
via @dmataconis
First and foremost, it's about character. In any organization, the tone and tenor is set by the senior leader. All of these escalating revelations from this administration are indicative of senior leadership that lack character.
It's really that simple. Since we have a representative democracy, character revelation is the most important function of an election campaign. And, evidently, a majority of voters do not seem to understand that....
Mike43 at June 12, 2013 2:52 PM
If the TSA can get up and spit in Congress' face and laugh off citizen complaints, why should we expect any different from a real agency, the NSA?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22883078
Cue the shut-up-and-do-as-you're-told spokesperson.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at June 12, 2013 3:18 PM
The Patriot Act was not patriotic. The founding fathers warned of this:
Jim P. at June 12, 2013 7:37 PM
The good news is that most Americans are expressing skepticism to what the NSA is doing.
The bad news is, we won't bother to elect people who will do anything about it, but we'll keep voting for the same pompous windbags from the two wings of the One American Party.
Grey Ghost at June 13, 2013 6:31 AM
Well, actually it is about Democrat vs. Republicans. Obama had no qualms about using everything available in the way of data mining and other info from the NSA and the IRS. The Omama campaign became indistinguishable from a 4th branch of government with access to any info they needed to suppress voter turnout against them, encourage their base, and halt and threaten doners and organized political opposition.
Oh and all those firearms background checks the government is supposed to dispose of? Want to bet that the Democratic Party has a record of all you people too?
Isab at June 13, 2013 9:52 AM
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/052313-657569-gibson-guitar-raid-like-tea-party-intimidation.htm?p=full
Just one example, of how they used the IRS to target Obama's enemies.
Isab at June 13, 2013 10:11 AM
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