What's your basic view of Edward Snowden and his actions?

[Ken Burch]

It's early days yet, but based on what you've heard as of now, what's your take on this guy?
Feel free to elaborate in your posts if you feel the polling options aren't sufficient.

8 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Totally Negative
	4 (50%)
	Totally Positive
	2 (25%)
	Somewhat Negative
	0 (0%)
	Somewhat Positive
	0 (0%)
	Not sure
	1 (13%)
	No Opinion
	0 (0%)
	Other
	1 (13%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Thinkingabout]

1. He did the crime now do the time and not run like a coward

[Egalitarian Thug]

7. We've come back th this?

[Ken Burch]

15. "...And dat's da name o' DAT tune!".

[RobertEarl]

2. What he saw scared him

What he saw in the NSA files was not something he, as an American citizen, made him feel secure.

Hi, NSA, folks, love yall. Peace.

[sadbear]

10. Most libertarians I know think the government is out to get them, too.

Especially with that "communist" in charge.

[geek tragedy]

3. Mostly positive, pending verification of what he claims and how the story unfolds, nt

[Scuba]

4. I'm glad the spying on Americans is finally getting some attention. I have no opinion on the rest.

[HappyMe]

5. I'm not sure.

There are a couple of things that bother me about this guy. I'm sure that in the days ahead more info will come out.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Not sure, at this point. n/t

[longship]

8. I don't know how anybody can draw a conclusion with what we know.

Plus, there are some troubling inconsistencies in his story which, I feel strongly, makes it suspect (however, not entirely discounted -- these things can be messy).

I need more facts to make any determination on the matter. And I may have to admit that a future lack of facts may keep me in a real quandary on this.

I don't like the situation, but I have to admit that I may have to live with that fact too.

Only time will tell. The journalists better damned well step up now. Now we need a fourth estate, maybe more than ever.

That's my hope.

[Igel]

9. Somewhat negative.

Possibly mostly negative.

Basic story, okay. But not earthshaking unless you weren't paying attention 8-9 years ago because you weren't all that into intelligence scandals when you were in your early 20s. In other words, Snowden.

Embellished story, over the top. He assumed the worst and ran with his assumptions. The possible became the probable, and that was taken as the actual.

Then I think he cast himself in the role of a savior and is now stuck with it. Every challenge leads to further claims and further self-stroking of his ego. In more than one case, you'd have expected those "further claims" to have been in the initial dump, they were so egregious. They weren't. I suspect they hadn't come to mind yet.

In one interview he described how he had violated a number of federal laws and was, well, scum in his behavior. He all but preened on the radio as he boasted of it. He wasn't outraged that he had done it. He was trying to elicit outrage that he was allowed to do it--even as he denied that he was authorized to do it. Very strange and internally inconsistent interview by a generally supportive reporter.

[H2O Man]

11. Other.

My impressions of him and his actions are distinct.

[Jamastiene]

12. Not sure until there is more information.

I usually do not form opinions really fast anyhow though. I take my time and mull things over after most of the facts are out. I only form my final* opinion after I've had time to process it all.

*there are exceptions for my "final" opinions. I reserve the right to change my opinion based on how things go.

[Recursion]

13. I'll come to a decision when we've separated fact from bullshit

So, in about 10 years probably.

[ecstatic]

14. I'm still trying to sort through what's going on

in between work, etc. Maybe I'm really tired, but the story is kind of confusing. Right now I'm watching Hardball, and one of the guests is a journalist who interviewed Snowden. What I took away from his segment was the irony of a "security state" that's so massive that it requires a lot of employees, some of whom have access to confidential data that could be abused or sold to enemies. At a bare minimum, Snowden definitely revealed that the NSA, in conducting its work, is actually creating security gaps.

I'm confused about what Snowden's documents actually show. Did he expose what the NSA has the potential to do, or did he reveal specific acts that broke the law? Is Snowden worried about the technology falling into the wrong hands, or is he worried about the NSA inadvertently collecting data on innocent Americans?

Is there a good article that is very specific in breaking this information down? These shows are almost useless and I don't have time to waste on superficial articles.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

16. I wish we weren't distracted by the personal drama - very predictable - and focused on the message

[AsahinaKimi]

17. I really don't know..

looks like I have homework to do.. (And I thought that was finished after High School!!...kidding.)

[limpyhobbler]

18. A true hero. nt