I truly don't believe this. If Wesley Clark REALLY did say that, then he deserves to get lampooned. I'll go look it up on MSNBC's site -- but my God, this is getting damn serious now. An internment camp -- unbelievable -- and frightening.
The First Amendment is supposed to means it's protected from the FBI, and every other watchdog, but it simply is not. I think a police state is right on -- and unless we're going to actually do something to stop it, we are powerless to stop it. It's very elementary -- do you want to DO SOMETHING about it, or don't you care?
I so much agree with you that it really does not make logical sense... I hate to say it, but I think at least the senate is just plain blind or else worse -- it's either they're completely oblivious to their obligation to uphold the constitution, or their even worse, thinking that it's fine if they do well, and forget about the working people. Either way, it's a crime.
Are locked in horns, so to speak, and it's ONLY because the NSA has 80,000 people and is conducting a literal war against Edward Snowden that's it's even close... It's incredibly comical that Edward Snowden is a genuine hero, and many people are fully apprised of that fact, but the vast unwashed population couldn't care less -- which is a great misfortune.
And when the year is up, and Barrett finally get's out of prison eventually, someone will write a very short note explaining that actually, it turns out he was badly treated, and next time it will be ok... Just incredible, when you're in prison, how much it means to you.
Here is what I said about it as "ideasware" on Reddit. It's frightening, and no one seems to think it matters. It dies indeed matter, very much -- but too few people, apparently care.
"Well, aside from the grandstanding, which is thick today, it plainly says exactly what Justin Amash says: virtually unlimited access for five long years to the NSA, under an simple executive order. No courts need to approve it, and every American can have his metadata examined. This is a criminal activity, but apparently the NSA is going to get it's way. Amazing."
That's their secret weapon unfortunately, and they are going to use it very effectively I'm afraid. Bottleneck, delay -- they can use it years, always have. Suddenly 10 or 12 years have gone by, and no one can remember what it was for in the first place.
He's just saying it like it is -- unqualified baloney as far as educated people like you and me are concerned, but to the ordinary everyday people who listen to his upcoming talk radio, he is a winner baby. That's the sad but unfortunate truth.
You know, I continue to believe (although the evidence is against me at this point) that the MSM is TRYING to do it's job as well as it can. But then this obvious lie (which Froomkin has done a good job of exposing as a blatant lie) as well as a mountain of others, goes completely unreported. It boggles my mind -- I almost cannot get my head around it. It almost seems like the MSM, all of them, are purposely lying at this point.
I just want to echo that comment toward the end, that "You must be doing something wrong if you invoke your rights."
Sad, but all too true. And I don't know if there's anything we can do about it -- we can fight, and we certainly will, but the other side is much stronger.
It's truly amazing how LITTLE good reporting there is anymore, but you're certainly one of the good guys (and that's saying much too little) and it shows in spades. I just want to say thank you; it's shows in all kinds of ways that you're probably not aware of. Thank God for Techdirt, and all the rest too.
Because the police are involved, I'd say it was a very serious problem. If other people were involved at least I could see the issue, but because the police are involved, I think it's guaranteed that there's going to be criminal acts, but no one will complain -- BECAUSE it's the police.
Unfortunately I really don't see how it can be fixed -- it'll just come up in a different form somewhere else, probably in many other places. I only hope (which is very unlikely) that it's get's addressed at the Supreme Court level very soon and very swiftly, so there can be a little bit of reason left.
I completely agree with you -- I just hope most people do. Obama's making a giant mistake, but there is still time to fix it if he chose. He just has to be brave, which it turns out is not one of his stronger qualities. But who knows -- sometimes he will have a revelation and really change.
I just want to comment that every one of you is correct, but you do not realize yet how scary and frightening and Orwellian it is. This is the real deal -- it's amazingly scary, and you have to do WHATEVER it takes to stop it now, while there's still time. The Executive Branch is having it's way right now, completely unconstitutional, and it's up to us to stop it -- and it's ALREADY too late.
I just want to remind you that Mike Masnick is doing an absolutely fabulous job, and I encourage him to keep uncovering the truth -- about the vote a couple of days ago, and anything else. He's doing an extraordinary good job, and deserves any credit we can give him.
Sorrykb makes insightful and thoughtful points, and in another world, they would serve as fuel for legislation, and we would be making progress... But the problem is that the NSA and CIA and other agencies are just not listening. There proceeding ahead with their terrorism (that's not too strong a word, if only the agencies understood) without paying attention in the slightest to what commentators are dreaming up. And that's what ids wrong with this picture -- is there ANYTHING that we can do?
That the NSA doesn't work, and has never worked, because the 4th Amendment forbids it... That's why it has to be called spying right? I think it ought to be disbanded completely. Simply disbanded.
You are entirely correct here, and it's very important to understand -- it's exactly like J. Edgar Hoover would have done a generation ago, and what the NSA does today -- and they are BOTH wrong. What's private really is what's private, but until THEY are caught with their pants down, I don't think they realize that.
That's the plain truth... It's all about nothing, but it's wasted resources, and it's not just a little -- it's a gigantic amount. That's the real crime, and it'll only get worse.
Wow...
Simply unbelievable...
Yes, exactly..
Edward Snowden and the NSA..
Incredible...
(untitled comment)
"Well, aside from the grandstanding, which is thick today, it plainly says exactly what Justin Amash says: virtually unlimited access for five long years to the NSA, under an simple executive order. No courts need to approve it, and every American can have his metadata examined. This is a criminal activity, but apparently the NSA is going to get it's way. Amazing."
They've got time though...
Yeah, unfortunately, in the mass of people...
Wow...
It's a good question...
Sad...
Sad, but all too true. And I don't know if there's anything we can do about it -- we can fight, and we certainly will, but the other side is much stronger.
Excellent reporting as always -- keep up the good fight!
That's wonderful...
Unfortunately I really don't see how it can be fixed -- it'll just come up in a different form somewhere else, probably in many other places. I only hope (which is very unlikely) that it's get's addressed at the Supreme Court level very soon and very swiftly, so there can be a little bit of reason left.
Your right, of course..
That's right...
Yet again...
The problem...
That's the basic point....
(untitled comment)
Yeah, unfortunately it just doesn't work...
More comments from Peter >>
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Peter.
Submit a story now.
Tools & Services
TwitterFacebook
RSS
Podcast
Research & Reports
Company
About UsAdvertising Policies
Privacy
Contact
Help & FeedbackMedia Kit
Sponsor/Advertise
Submit a Story
More
Copia InstituteInsider Shop
Support Techdirt