A Little Too Convenient?

[Minimalist]

Part of the problem with being a skeptic is that one is a skeptic about everything.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-r...nsa-debate

A handful of lawmakers – most of them long-time national security hawks -- took to the Sunday news shows to declare the NSA programs a success, and credit the controversial surveillance methods, first uncovered when former contractor Edward Snowden divulged details to The Guardian, as directly responsible for uncovering a potential terrorist attack.

“These programs are controversial, we understand that,” Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said on NBC's “Meet the Press.” “But they are also very important… If we did not have these programs, then we simply would not be able to listen in on the bad guys.”

[NoraBrimstone]

Gah.... I hate these people.

[Anomalocaris]

I certainly don't think it is beyond the realm of reasonable probability that the US would equal, at least in intent if not necessarily in success, the late Soviet Union as an ideologically expansionist security state.

[My imaginary friend is GOD]

Yeah, because checking in on my gay porn habit is totally going to help with national security.

[Anomalocaris]

Yeah, because checking in on my gay porn habit is totally going to help with national security.

Of course. That you have a gay porn habit makes you a potential threat to national security because the lebian operatives of Al Queda could use them to blackmail you into revealing the contents of racy texts that our esteemed elected officials might have sent you.

Can I have a glass of water with lots of ice?

[Faith No More]

The senator is saying “If we did not have these programs, then we simply would not be able to listen in on the bad guys.”

But what I hear is "If we did not have these programs, I wouldn't be able to reap the benefits of ensuring these security companies receive lucrative government contracts."

If they truly want the public to accept that these programs are necessary, they need to come out with a cost benefit analysis of liberty given up versus security gained, but I have a feeling they won't do that...

[Doubting Thomas]

The major problem I have is that if this NSA spying program was instituted during the Obama administration, conservatives from all across the country would be having a total shit fit. In fact, some of them are because Obama hasn't ended the program, but fail to mention that the spying began under Bush and his ironically-named PATRIOT act*. I'm sorry, but allowing the government to spy on every single American is totally unconstitutional. About 20 years ago they had to have a warrant, but I guess we need to give up our rights to protect us from the bad guys. Ben Franklin would be proud.


*Because nothing screams patriotism by subverting the U.S. constitution and trampling on Americans' rights.