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From Barack Obama’s defenders you’ll hear a common refrain that, paraphrases, essentially that he really is the same person that ran for office, but it’s just the realities of the office that have created the recent backtracks from the rhetoric of candidate Obama. With the scandals piling up at a rate almost difficult to keep up with, we get the most recent and perhaps most damning scandal, the use of the NSA to spy on Americans at a level well beyond anyone ever imagined.
At the crux of it all is the abundant fact that the Obama administration has an absolute inability to be straight with the American people. Whether it’s Benghazi, using the IRS to target conservatives, targeting journalists, or the use of NSA to spy on Americans, it’s the same old pattern. Deny, kind of admit, minimize, admit it’s a little bit bigger than they admitted before, deny, and change the talking points, repeat. Working in tandem with a loyal press corps that has essentially given up their journalistic integrity for “the good of the state,” the administration continues to get away with falsehood after falsehood. The arrogance is shocking.
The bigger issue is the fact that the Obama administration wants it both ways. They want to both declare the “war on terror” over while at the same time increasing the powers of the government to eavesdrop on ordinary Americans to a new level. In an amazing turn of events, it’s not the liberals who are exposing extraordinary NSA program; it’s essentially the libertarian wing of American politics. Flash back to the George W. Bush administration when judge authorized wiretapping of foreigners was the biggest issue on the mind of liberals. There was no end to the claims of abuse of power and what Bush and Cheney were doing to our civil liberties. Ten years later, and it’s impossible to find a mainstream liberal that will question a much bigger and more clandestine program. In their overwhelming need to defend the failed presidency of Obama they can’t muster the courage to speak up against issues that bothered them so much not so long ago. While they fall over themselves attempting to defend their president, the Obama administration continues to get away with claiming the War on Terror is over while nibbling away at our personal freedom every single day.
For those penning articles with the pathetic argument that if you have nothing to hide you shouldn’t worry about being monitored, take a look at the recent IRS scandal. The IRS scandal is Big Government using their power to target individuals for their personal beliefs. The fact that such a practice was able to go on unchecked, disrupting the lives of ordinary Americans, should make everyone reconsider giving the federal government such unchecked powers. Liberals in the federal government have shown a willingness to target those they disagree with. It’s a scary proposition.
Obama and the NSA are reaching well beyond the limits of the Patriot Act to monitor the communication of ordinary Americans. Obama’s argument that this practice was originally authorized by Congress is categorically false and another example of the arrogance of the Administration. The Patriot Act was not intended to allow the daily spying the NSA is conducting. The Patriot Act requires the government prove to a specific court (known as FISA Court) that the information sought is relevant to an authorized investigation. The intentional targeting of US citizens is prohibited. The government did seek approval from the FISA court but then used an open interpretation of the law at a level that was never intended. They are essentially saying, via the FISA order, that every call made by every American is relevant to a specific investigation. This is well beyond the intent and spirit of the law.
It’s Big Brother, folks, and it’s time that Americans wake up and realize what is happening. To all the liberals who have protested for years about the government trampling on your civil liberties— now is the time to stand up and make your voice heard. Some toeing the company (Democrat) line and make a real stand. Unbounded surveillance of every American is un-American.
*Tempest in a tea cup….? Sorry Charlie….your arguments are not flying so well. Today the biggest story is whether Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin with impunity.
The oldest dumb story is about Jodie Arias. The third oldest dumb story is about Lindsay Lohan. Are you getting the idea that folks have written off the stupid rhetorical agruments of Crony 1% Republicans. We know where the attacks are coming from: Issa, McCain, Graham, McConnell. If you like these guys right now
you are the one with problems. We love Darrell Issa…..but as the designated hitter he certainly has lost much of his intrinct likeability factor. Right now, we are going with Duncan Hunter Jr. – a real guy! Even though he is a Marine….he did do some Army time and he has a great track record.
435 folks in Congress. Name 10 that you admire and fully agree with. Any party…any age…any etnicity….any gender. Sad really. The wheels have come off our society and we have people clinging to the old days. We get accused all the time of living in the past. The reality is that people like Zimmerman, Snowden and Arias have a far different view of reality than most…..hopefully. If not, this society needs a life long supply of Perkidem and Viagra to survive much more.
See, we believe in Old Time Hockey……Bobby Orr…..days with a little clarity. Today we have a steady stream of misinformation. Our job: Separate the Bull from the Bull Droppings. It is a tough job. We get led astray by so-called pundits, experts, paid consultants, lobbyist, grandstanding activists, paid off politicians and news people…even maybe people that are simply led astray by phony rumors and innendo. We get it why you might thing that the President is hiding something. Who isn’t?
Takes one to know one …..they say. Demonizing any group or individual is easy enough to do……you just stick out your foot when that little old lady tries to get off the bus…..and you get to watch her fall……all on her own. Blame age, blame bad eye sight..blame the Bus Driver. All nonsense….all the time. Truly, it is about time that people start to speak up about very bad news people of either persuasion. You know who they are…….they lie consistently and expect people to continue to believe them.
Don’t do it……please!
We love the reaction when someone asks: Who would you rather have as President of the United States? Those so inclined always say: ANYONE ELSE! Well, that is just fine…..but don’t forget…..whoever that might be – they still have to get elected by a majority. The last two choices of the Republican failed miserably. They keep up their stonewalling and they will never win another national election EVER!
To the Tea Party and all their supporters: Send some money to Native American Tribes that are suffering. Send some money to the Negro College Fund. Send some money to the Red Cross for the Homeless or victims of recent national disasters. Do something for someone else….before you stick your hand out and ask others to stop seeking help for healthcare or education or food stamps for the 48 million folks out there that are still working and can’t quite make a living.
But then again……….
LOL. How long’s it been since our last “Comment Like the Winships” day? Is it time yet for the 2013 edition? You weren’t here to enjoy the last one, Katherine…
That’s gotta be one of the all-time great pieces of Winshipian gibberish.
It was the Open Thread for November 30 of last year. I kind of like it as a post-Thanksgiving tradition! Gives us all the holidays to come up with something!
As for this one, I understood every word. Not necessarily every sentence … definitely not every paragraph … but EVERY WORD!
Bobby Orr? Bob Cousy!
Every word? I had a little trouble with “intrinct.”
It’s the opposite of “extricnt.”
Where to begin?
Firstly, show us where the President said that the “war on terror” is “over.”
Secondly, it’s not “impossible” to find mainstream liberals who question the NSA surveillance program. Do I really need to provide those links for you, or would you prefer to stick with “hypocrisy” meme? There are plenty of liberals who have been consistent on the issue of government overreach and the erosion of civil liberties.
Thirdly, the NSA metadata collection program IS operating under court approval. Whether or not suits against the program will end up finding it operating outside the bounds of The Patriot Act is yet to be determined. Just because you say it is doesn’t make it so.
Fourthly, let us see you come back on here and criticize the overreach of The Patriot Act itself, as many liberals have done. You conveniently fail to do that. Talk about hypocrisy.
*We will stand by that……as well. Concise enough? Or enough gibberish for you?