OH MY GODS! The NSA is snooping on phone calls!

[Drale]

[truebrit71]

1. So it's okay if OUR guy does it, but not THEIR guy, right?

[EOTE]

2. I don't think that's the point of the poster.

The poster seems to be taking the stand that it's an awful thing REGARDLESS of the president it's utilized under. But the idiot GOPpies only give a damn when Obama does it.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Correct.

[Drale]

9. Actually I think the meme is attacking the Media

they didn't get bat-shit crazy when Bush did it but it happens under Obama and all of a sudden its a scandal par with Watergate

[truebrit71]

12. To be fair, some parts of the media went bat-shit crazy when Lt Awol did it...

...but the M$$M Lapdogs drowned them out...

[JohnnyRingo]

33. +1

And that's exactly how it'll play out.

Republicans thought it was a good idea for their own to abuse power, but now it's somehow "different". It's like they read from a script.

[KharmaTrain]

37. Also...

...that it's Congress that authorized this draconian law and then reauthorized it. The only ones who can abolish this is Congress...including many of those who voted in favor. It's their shame and should be brought to light. Rushpublicans are likely to pass ball here...blaming President Obama and Democrats when they are as complicit, if not more, since both authorizations happened during the dubya regime...

[sharp_stick]

3. One difference

there was a warrant issued by the FISA court this time around. Shrub decided it was easier to just ignore the FISA court.

[truebrit71]

8. Oh well that's okay then....

BOTH are equally wrong imho...

[lakercub]

29. not equally

Both are wrong. But at least one went through proper channels. I'm sick of all the spying and I want it stopped, but these are not equally wrong. Bypassing FISA was even worse. At least this way there is some form of paper trail and some checks and balances (obviously nowhere near enough). Doesn't mean its still not bad either way.

[frylock]

19. so the obama admin has their ducks in a row as they skullfuck us..

I can rest easier now.

[blm]

15. It's been institutionalized.

I trust the Dems to eventually bring about its conclusion more than I trust the GOP.

[Enrique]

4. that would make sense if the RWers were the ones protesting this

as far as I know, they have no problem with it, whether it's Bush or Obama.

[malthaussen]

6. Every time I am reminded of how many voted for the Patriot Act

... I want to spit. These are the people who want to "preserve and defend the US Constitution?" I wish I'd known about DU then, I might have felt less like an insane person crying in the wilderness. Or not, since there are quite a few folks here who are with the program as long as a Democrat does it.

-- Mal

[Bonobo]

7. Nope.We always cared.

We just thought that voting in our party would make a difference.

We were wrong and we apologize for our naiveté.

[Puzzledtraveller]

14. That's what I think everytime I see this deflection!

and that's what it is, a poorly veiled deflection by the same contingent that is defending the NSA just because the current admin happens to be ours.

[Drale]

17. I don't see this as attacking people but the media

they didn't report about it as a scandal when Bush they did it, then it was about "national security" but now that Obama's president its a "scandal"

[Journeyman]

21. I never thought a change of parties would make a difference. . .

I first commented on this in early 2004, and repeated my belief often over the years. So far, little has transpired to alleviate my fear while much has happened to enhance it . . .

Whoever takes over as President after George W., my hope is they will want to dismantle the illegal structure BushCo's erected.

Power is more easily grabbed than relinquished.

As recipients of a political reality altered beyond anything the wildest thinkers could have imagined just a few short years ago, it will take a remarkable will for anyone to revoke it, let alone strive to revert it to what it was before. Certainly, I see a quick return to some aspects of "normality," but the allure of unbridled power will remain and, despite readily accomplished cosmetic improvements, power's seduction will be a Siren song of indeterminate appeal.

Yet another reason for us all -- Democrats and Republicans -- to choose wisely in the coming elections.

And here we are today, five years into a new administration, debating the same issues, consumed by the same fears.

[randome]

10. FISA requests require Congressional approval.

Both parties have known this was going on for a long time so I doubt we'll see the GOP make it into much of a scandal.

I do expect Rand Paul to step in and pontificate about it, though.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Bluenorthwest]

27. The GOP is lining up to praise it, Lindsay Graham is stoked

and that alone should give reasonable people pause.

[boilerbabe]

11. unrec. pathetic. many of us were in DC and NYC in huge crowds protesting

this crap during Bush. this is intellectually dishonest. did this idiot meme come from the DNC?obama diaries.com?

[whatchamacallit]

13. Distract and dilute

Tools for tools.

[Drale]

18. I don't see this as attack people but the media

they didn't report about it as a scandal when Bush they did it, then it was about "national security" but now that Obama's president its a "scandal"

[Bluenorthwest]

25. I don't see anything in the post to suggest it is about 'the media'

in fact is shows an individual, which seems to suggest it is about individuals. I'd guess that if it was intended to be about the media that it would communicate that fact in some way.

[GoCubsGo]

20. The meme is not aimed at those who were protesting this crap under Bush.

It's aimed at the hypocrite Bushbots who were fine with it when Dumbya did it, but are in hysterics because Obama is doing it.

[Bluenorthwest]

26. So far the Congressional Bushbots like Graham are praising this

So the OP is pro Lindsay Graham because Graham is consistent and this is about consistency not our rights? Hard to follow.

[Lint Head]

16. There's gambling in Casablanca? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you!

[Fearless]

22. We always cared.

[L0oniX]

23. Piss poor attempt to frame anyone who is against this shit as being pro Issa.

Go away!

[Maven]

24. And who signed the extension of the Patriot Act, without any reforms whatsoever?

Oh, right.

[Mr Dixon]

28. SHM

I'm willing to bet this has been going on for decades, legal or illegal doesn't matter who was or is in office.

[Orrex]

30. Someone call Marty Bishop!

Or is that Marty Bryce?

[JoeyT]

31. Feh. There are just as many that opposed it when Bush did it,

that are burning up their keyboards explaining why everyone that opposes it now are whiners. Hypocrite is a blade that cuts both ways.

[brett_jv]

32. But they're not 'snooping in on phone calls' (at least not in this case).

They're doing bulk data-mining on massive quantities of phone records, supposedly looking for patterns that suggest terrorist activities.

That's not exactly great news, but it's not what I would call 'snooping in on phone calls'.

[Savannahmann]

35. And you believe that?

You believe that they installed huge facilities to copy all the data because all they wanted was the information to data mine? You believe that they aren't listening to phone calls and reading the messages because they said so? Seriously?

[RedCloud]

34. I was once paid by the NSA to snoop decades ago.

It's what they do. It was a huge drug case through the Medellin cartel and their friendly phone operator.

None of your calls are safe overseas. None of them.

[obxhead]

36. And some on DU don't care

because Obama is in office, so it's just fine.