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In reply to the discussion: 'Obama's new NSA proposal and Democratic partisan hackery,' by Glenn Greenwald [View all]Maedhros
(10,007 posts)43. I applaud President Obama's efforts to curtail the NSA, and urge him to take even stronger measures.
It's funny how the cloud of ODS lifts from my vision when he actually follows through on policies I support. If he keeps it up, my ODS may disappear forever.
However, Greenwald's prediction is likely to come true:
If they had even an iota of integrity or intellectual honesty, they would instantly and aggressively condemn Obama. After all, hes now claiming to want to end a program that they have been arguing for months is vital in Keeping Us Safe. Wouldnt every rational person, by definition, criticize a political leader who wants to abolish a program that they believe is necessary to stop terrorism and preserve national security?
But thats not what will happen. After spending months praising the NSA for responsibly overseeing this critical program, they will now hail Obama for trying to end it. When he secretly bulk collects the calling data on all Americans, it shows hes a pragmatic and strong leader who Keeps Us Safe; when he tries to end the very same program, it shows hes flexible and devoted to our civil liberties just as he was right to release the torture photos and also right to suppress them. The Leader is right when he does X, and hes equally right when he does Not X. Thats the defining attribute of the mindset of a partisan hack, an authoritarian, and the standard MSNBC host.
But thats not what will happen. After spending months praising the NSA for responsibly overseeing this critical program, they will now hail Obama for trying to end it. When he secretly bulk collects the calling data on all Americans, it shows hes a pragmatic and strong leader who Keeps Us Safe; when he tries to end the very same program, it shows hes flexible and devoted to our civil liberties just as he was right to release the torture photos and also right to suppress them. The Leader is right when he does X, and hes equally right when he does Not X. Thats the defining attribute of the mindset of a partisan hack, an authoritarian, and the standard MSNBC host.
We've seen this exact behavior recently with respect to the conflict in Syria: those of us calling for a diplomatic response were jeered as "Assad lovers" who cared nothing for the suffering of children, right up until the White House abandoned its banging of the war drums and decided to take the diplomatic approach. Then diplomacy magically became the solution - in fact, it had been the solution all along, despite the intense advocacy for armed intervention.
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'Obama's new NSA proposal and Democratic partisan hackery,' by Glenn Greenwald [View all]
Newsjock
Mar 2014
OP
We haven't seen the coverage on MSNBC yet (if at all) and BOGers are busy attacking Greenwald
NOVA_Dem
Mar 2014
#33
We haven't seen the Democratic reaction, either, and Greenwald is telling us their reactions!
randome
Mar 2014
#38
Unless you know that local police serve warrants to every telecom in the USA you have no information
NOVA_Dem
Mar 2014
#40
So what do you think about Obama's decision to end the meta data program altogether?
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#21
If the shoe fits, wear it! The very individuals who attack Greenwald's blog piece are the ones
JDPriestly
Mar 2014
#67
this article is about people like you, so it's understandable why you'd be so defensive
frylock
Mar 2014
#78
I'm guessing the news that PBO is pushing NSA reforms that are exactly what GG wanted will be news.
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#10
You've got to read the whole article...it's the funniest thing GG's ever written. nt
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#8
Snowden isn't getting immunity...but may get a federal plea, after he talks. You know...the federal
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#65
I can't make it out. He spends the first (feels like) 20 paragraphs going on about another issue
Number23
Mar 2014
#88
Because it is an acknowledgement of what WE have been saying all along. That these invasions
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#61
Precisely...Glenn's pissed because PBO is doing exactly what Glenn called for him to do!
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#6
as we have seen for several years, "talk" of reform is not evidence of actual reform.
2banon
Mar 2014
#16
President Obama cannot override Section 215, nor the FISA legislation with a stroke of a pen.
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#63
On the contrary, Glenn appears to be thrilled that the president is now in agreement with him.
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#85
3/25 was the original date...it's now pushed to 5/13. Why? Rumor has it that it needed rewrites
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#95
i see it more as pitting "Democrats" against traditional democratic principles..
frylock
Mar 2014
#80
So Glenn is throwing a tantrum because Obama's proposed reform does exactly what Glenn wanted?
msanthrope
Mar 2014
#5
I'm thrilled with the President's decision, and support it fully. How about you?
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#27
It's hard to know. Several people in the thread have not addressed the President's decision.
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#37
NO because then they cannot use it as a wedge issue to "Divide and Conquer" the Democrats...
VanillaRhapsody
Mar 2014
#35
So, do you support meta data collection, airc you did defend it, or do you support the President's
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#39
There is no nuance to this. Either our constitutional rights mean something or they don't.
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#64
I applaud President Obama's efforts to curtail the NSA, and urge him to take even stronger measures.
Maedhros
Mar 2014
#43
What's outrageous is your decision to relay your inability to properly process that sentence into
Number23
Mar 2014
#107
"Frankly, the only people whose moral assessments of Obama resemble Greenwald's are the Taliban and
Cha
Mar 2014
#113
Oh, you asked earlier. He's got no links, then. Love a fact-based conversation, lol. n/t
Skip Intro
Mar 2014
#99
MORE PROOF it was about Obama and NOT... NOT the 4th freakin amendment!!! Obama is a smart cookie
uponit7771
Mar 2014
#60
Exactly. And Greenwald hasn't done anything but prove his (many) detractors correct
Number23
Mar 2014
#102
Greenwald is one of those loons who thinks just because something is wrong under a Republican
Douglas Carpenter
Mar 2014
#103