Mad about NSA’s overreach? Blame Congress

[DonViejo]

There’s plenty of fault to go around, from Bush to Obama to NSA itself. But the legislative branch truly failed us

BY JONATHAN BERNSTEIN

If you don’t like the revelations this week about what the NSA has been up to regarding your phone and Internet data, whom should you blame?

The NSA? Sure. But the nature of intelligence agencies is to gather intelligence. Yes, they should know and observe limits, but realistically don’t expect any more from them than staying within the law, which appears to have been the case here.

The courts? Judges approved what’s been going on. Did they stretch the law in favor of the government? Perhaps. And, generally, the courts could have found the entire process unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court hasn’t been interested in aggressively expanding the Fourth Amendment any time recently. Feel free to assign them some blame, and watch the reporting to discover how much.

George W. Bush? PRISM began while he was in the White House, and his overall record on civil liberties was abysmal. Barack Obama? He, at least as far as we know, stayed within the law. But, yes, if you don’t approve of what NSA has been doing, both Bush and Obama deserve some of the blame. The private companies that cooperated? Yeah, them too. The law pushed them, but they seem to have had options.

So, yes, blame all of them. But save plenty of your blame – perhaps most of your blame – for Congress.

Full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/08/blame_congress_for_the_nsas_overreach/

[Niceguy1]

1. blame every one

Except the administration who is actively defending it and claiming states secrets.

They have nothing to do with it

[DonViejo]

2. As Bernstein writes in the sub-title:

There’s plenty of fault to go around, from Bush to Obama to NSA itself

So, I don't know what you're complaining about. Maybe a complete reading of the article might help you out of the darkness.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Ok, but in terms of those who are elected by my votes, only the President is defending and

promoting Bushco policy with continued, secretive, furtive distrust of the American people. My entire Congressional delegation is opposed to these policies and the way they are carried out and both of my Senators have been vocal about this for years now.
So this idea that I should blame them for the very thing they are speaking against is flat out stupid. This pretense that Congressional Democrats are all on Obama's page and have not been warning and warning and asking him to do something is insulting to the entire State of Oregon, to Ron Wyden, to Jeff Merkely, to the others in Congress who have in fact been opposed to the policy under Bush and or Obama.
What do you think I should do, scream at Wyden for doing the right thing in order to give centrists who agree with Lidsay Graham a break? I'll pass on that activity, thanks. Lindsay and the 'moderates' are on their own.

[DonViejo]

5. Did I suggest you should scream at Wyden?...

In fact, was my response even addressed to you?

[davidpdx]

7. I think Wyden and Merkley are on the side who have been keeping up to date with stuff

It is other people in Congress that are screaming bloody murder who have been not been caring out their responsibilities.

[BenzoDia]

3. Read the article pehaps?

[treestar]

6. Why does Congress do what it does?

Who does Congress represent?

I am tired of this finding someone to blame crap. If we could just put if off of ourselves onto our chosen leaders, we don't have to be responsible for anything.