General Discussion

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

78. "When the President does it, that means it's not illegal."

Sun Jun 23, 2013, 02:47 PM

Jun 2013

That IS the issue, and that is a direct quote. Moreover, it's the precise position taken by the Obama fundamentalists trying to deflect on every basis from Snowden's girlfriend's pole dancing to racism to Republican plants.

Don't you FUCKING talk about stupidity to this OP, when you're shouting from that side of the goddamned fence.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

138 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

You want "Nixonian"? This, right here, this is Nixonian, if Nixon had grown up in East Germany [View all] nashville_brook Jun 2013 OP

Telling us there are whistleblower protections while instituting this program is insulting. dkf Jun 2013 #1

for reals. nashville_brook Jun 2013 #3

Just a fucking minute. This is spinning into another quantum level of pure stupidity. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #2

whistleblowing vs leaking -- how does this dynamic not smack of the loyalty trope? nashville_brook Jun 2013 #5

You got that right pscot Jun 2013 #11

Are you sure -- Hell Hath No Fury Jun 2013 #12

"When the President does it, that means it's not illegal." DirkGently Jun 2013 #78

+1 nashville_brook Jun 2013 #91

+2 ReRe Jun 2013 #104

That was a quote from the David Frost interviews a couple of years after resignation. Zen Democrat Jun 2013 #118

It's the actual actions we should be most concerned about... deurbano Jun 2013 #88

It's a line so thin as to be invisible. JDPriestly Jun 2013 #96

I do. 100%. ReRe Jun 2013 #105

yes, totally NoMoreWarNow Jun 2013 #127

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2013 #4

But, "I'm not a crook" Dick Nixon was a crook, and this is all entirely legal IDemo Jun 2013 #6

we're all shiny happy people in our panopticon of love nashville_brook Jun 2013 #8

"The Insider Threat Program." DirkGently Jun 2013 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author DirkGently Jun 2013 #14

An online tutorial titled "Treason 101" teaches Administration employees to recognize... spies nashville_brook Jun 2013 #17

What information, when disclosed, constitutes a crime against "The United States?" DirkGently Jun 2013 #19

Where I work, the training ID'd a risky behavior as... rwsanders Jun 2013 #68

this is beyond creepy and the worst part is it makes me want to agree with republicans when they see NoMoreWarNow Jun 2013 #121

Well the government is too big, but I wouldn't jump on their bandwagon too soon... rwsanders Jun 2013 #135

I think that is partly true NoMoreWarNow Jun 2013 #137

Link please. NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #75

It would appear that this is wide spread pscot Jun 2013 #100

I finally found a possible source. NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #101

That's right... ReRe Jun 2013 #107

conveniently undermines government functions while funding sequestration does its job nashville_brook Jun 2013 #117

Happy to K&R Hell Hath No Fury Jun 2013 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author Maven Jun 2013 #10

Oh joy, Obama is Nixon and Obama is Stalin, all on the same day! ucrdem Jun 2013 #13

More truthful than "critics are racists" anyway, eh? DirkGently Jun 2013 #15

You'd think they'd coordinate their efforts ucrdem Jun 2013 #18

The knee-jerk NSA apologists certainly seem more uniform. DirkGently Jun 2013 #21

It's fun to think that this is about some kind of courageous act of whistleblowing. ucrdem Jun 2013 #31

Proof? ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2013 #35

Look up BAH. nt ucrdem Jun 2013 #38

what a lame response! there's either a connection or there isn't. nashville_brook Jun 2013 #44

There are connections aplenty for anyone with eyes. Here's a few to get you started: ucrdem Jun 2013 #48

This doesn't prove anything. ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2013 #52

Isn't it strange how requests for evidence Maedhros Jun 2013 #130

OMG -- that deserves it's own Alex Jones forum! nashville_brook Jun 2013 #58

Oh that's rich. nt ucrdem Jun 2013 #60

Please explain the ACLU's GOP "magic racism dust" to us. DirkGently Jun 2013 #36

I'm not the ACLU. You need to ask them what their motives are. nt ucrdem Jun 2013 #39

No, you need to support your argument with factual information. DirkGently Jun 2013 #51

Here are some facts and this is my last kick of this delightful specimen: ucrdem Jun 2013 #54

So sorry to see you go. Thanks for your support! DirkGently Jun 2013 #55

No, you definitely are NOT about civil liberties at all, are you? k&r, n/t appal_jack Jun 2013 #112

partisanship over principles is definitely not an ACLU value nashville_brook Jun 2013 #115

talk about adding to the hilarity. got a link for that? nashville_brook Jun 2013 #40

It's been plastered all over DU since WaPo Guardian launched this baloney. Start here: ucrdem Jun 2013 #47

Nothing in your linked post Maedhros Jun 2013 #131

it's fun to think being a true partisan believer is some kind of courageous nashville_brook Jun 2013 #56

if not for true believers, there would be neither Stalin nor Nixon nashville_brook Jun 2013 #22

Thank you for adding to the hilarity. nt ucrdem Jun 2013 #24

and to you. nashville_brook Jun 2013 #37

Hilariously impossible to refute, you mean. DirkGently Jun 2013 #42

Refute this: ucrdem Jun 2013 #49

I'm not fetching your links. Make an argument here, if you have one. DirkGently Jun 2013 #53

Okay, you want facts, but you won't read them. Fail. Gotta go, have fun. nt. ucrdem Jun 2013 #57

Once again, if you have an argument, feel free to MAKE IT. DirkGently Jun 2013 #62

DG, I did check out his link and all it is.... ReRe Jun 2013 #108

Thus the declined invitation to argue here. Thanks. DirkGently Jun 2013 #110

I think this is the argument: Maedhros Jun 2013 #132

it's whitehouse.gov copy+paste.. frylock Jun 2013 #123

more Alex Jones tinfoilery. nashville_brook Jun 2013 #61

Oh? And what would you call this noble effort? ucrdem Jun 2013 #63

"A citation to a thoughtful article containing actual information?" DirkGently Jun 2013 #73

K&R cantbeserious Jun 2013 #16

It's reminding me more and more of the film Brazil suffragette Jun 2013 #20

i keep thinking of the office setting in that movie nashville_brook Jun 2013 #25

Yes, and the ongoing surveillance suffragette Jun 2013 #64

We've even got the same governmental agencies now: IDemo Jun 2013 #30

Scary to emulate such a dystopia suffragette Jun 2013 #66

this grabbed my attention: steve2470 Jun 2013 #23

In other words, dissidents. Boat rockers. Democrats. DirkGently Jun 2013 #26

yes steve2470 Jun 2013 #29

I don't get how Dems can suddenly identify with secretive power structures. DirkGently Jun 2013 #33

totally agree steve2470 Jun 2013 #41

They're not even trying to justify it. They're screaming "racists!" DirkGently Jun 2013 #45

Department of Ag and NOAA? Treason? WTH? dkf Jun 2013 #32

That's always been the danger in the U.S. DirkGently Jun 2013 #65

Looking for a link to any page more than a month old.. NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #74

my excerpt is from the article steve2470 Jun 2013 #77

Yes, but... NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #81

oh, maybe it's on an intra-office LAN steve2470 Jun 2013 #82

I did find this: NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #85

The following quote says a lot. A Simple Game Jun 2013 #95

the enforcers are actually always those in the hottest seat: a self-consuming system can produce MisterP Jun 2013 #97

Right. Kind of double-edged to argue Snowden's a RW ideologue. DirkGently Jun 2013 #129

K&R forestpath Jun 2013 #27

Yep. Complete with lies, CYA statements, and the pursuit of the whistle blower. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2013 #28

have you noticed global media refers to Snowden as "whistleblower" nashville_brook Jun 2013 #34

I believe an extension of Godwin's Law is warranted shawn703 Jun 2013 #43

It wouldn't apply where there is an actual parallel. DirkGently Jun 2013 #70

Ask President Kennedy. Oh yeah, he was murdered in the street at midday for opposing war power. Zen Democrat Jun 2013 #93

and they thought they had a new internet meme! nashville_brook Jun 2013 #94

Good point. I think Godwin's law is really implied anytime one compares someone to a stevenleser Jun 2013 #102

The problem with Godwin's Law Maedhros Jun 2013 #133

We have met the enemy and it is . . . us (Pogo) - nt HardTimes99 Jun 2013 #46

GOPer propaganda at its finest Iliyah Jun 2013 #50

Yes. nt ucrdem Jun 2013 #59

As opposed to your thoughtful and incisive comment. JoeyT Jun 2013 #67

they must be 11th-dimensional chess masters as well frylock Jun 2013 #124

Do you have a response to the substance of the OP? DirkGently Jun 2013 #72

but...it's racism! it's a GOP plot! it's a bird it's a plane...it's Super Strawman! nashville_brook Jun 2013 #89

If there's a GOP plot, it would be to keep all this going DirkGently Jun 2013 #92

the inconvenient truth about civil liberties is that while folks might trust Obama like a brother nashville_brook Jun 2013 #116

Charles Pierce? deurbano Jun 2013 #80

what the true believers will always fail to recognize, nashville_brook Jun 2013 #84

So, you don't actually refute it. sibelian Jun 2013 #138

HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jun 2013 #69

kick ..didn't see this post Ichingcarpenter Jun 2013 #71

wtf indeed. nashville_brook Jun 2013 #114

Hilarious hyperbole. The only thing this will achieve is to scuttle dialogue on this issue. stevenleser Jun 2013 #76

I take it seriously. So, you're wrong. n/t DirkGently Jun 2013 #87

Hey speaking of hyperbole did your coworker Rachel ever come up with that Bluenorthwest Jun 2013 #98

I posted it. It's up to you to decide. I'm not responsible for other journalists' claims or what you stevenleser Jun 2013 #99

If we have a free press, that only helps the enemy. Octafish Jun 2013 #79

down with the tyranny of a free press! nashville_brook Jun 2013 #83

The broad-brush smearing of journalism is a rightwing idea. DirkGently Jun 2013 #86

K&R. nt DLevine Jun 2013 #90

this is strange stuff hfojvt Jun 2013 #103

Pierce has written a lot on Obama, and I don't think he has been uniformly positive at all NoMoreWarNow Jun 2013 #122

I was thinking of this nonsense hfojvt Jun 2013 #125

well, I really doubt (at this point) that Obama is doing anything just to anger his liberal base NoMoreWarNow Jun 2013 #128

Kick !!! WillyT Jun 2013 #106

K&R ReRe Jun 2013 #109

:) nashville_brook Jun 2013 #113

Great article jsr Jun 2013 #111

i thought 1984 would be fully implemented under a republican president but i was wrong madrchsod Jun 2013 #119

if this is allowed to continue, it will be "fully implemented" beyond imagination nashville_brook Jun 2013 #120

In Frank Herbert's "Dune" Maedhros Jun 2013 #134

but I learned here on DU that Obama was not conducting any "war on whistleblowers"? NoMoreWarNow Jun 2013 #126

Pretty damned scary. TheKentuckian Jun 2013 #136