• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

U.S. taps half-billion German phone, internet links in month:

And you thought the world hated Bush At least they feared him, Now the world will hate Obama and not fear him If you going to have some one hate you its better that they fear you also

Yup, George Bush kept the likes of Vladimir Putin up at night. :lol:
 
The relevant news report can be found at: NSA Spied on European Union Offices - SPIEGEL ONLINE

If this information is accurate, it is deeply troubling. It is difficult to imagine that bugging EU diplomatic offices serves any legitimate counterterrorism purpose. This is a matter that Congress should investigate thoroughly with the findings made public, as it involves possible activities directed against longstanding strategic U.S. allies. At the same time, should Congress find credible evidence of such activities, it might be useful for Congress to act to suspend the entire program until its scope, breadth, and targets are fully identified and adequate safeguards can be put in place.
 
I'd bet the US has active spying programs in every country on earth, and is tapping phones in same.

I'd also bet that every other country with the means to do so is...also doing so.

To one degree or another.
 
This is similar to other "scandals" surrounding the Obama administration at this time. In this case, it's not so much that the data mining is so pervasive, it's that the government hasn't been honest with the American people since this story broke.

The Obama administration has been blatantly dishonest about so many things that this doesn't seem as surprising as all these things pile up. This one is no longer just a national security issue, and it's no longer just an embarrassment to President Obama who appears powerless with his pronouncements that no one is listening too - this is now an embarrassment for the American people.
 
This is similar to other "scandals" surrounding the Obama administration at this time. In this case, it's not so much that the data mining is so pervasive, it's that the government hasn't been honest with the American people since this story broke.

The Obama administration has been blatantly dishonest about so many things that this doesn't seem as surprising as all these things pile up. This one is no longer just a national security issue, and it's no longer just an embarrassment to President Obama who appears powerless with his pronouncements that no one is listening too - this is now an embarrassment for the American people.

Now I am reading that several countries in Europe are also upset with this administration because this scandal also involves them! :afraid: :argue:
 
I'm not going to defend it, but I will point a few huge fingers at congress. It's not first or foremost a partisan issue. It's an issue, to me, of the checks and balances system not working. Congress should be able to put a stop to this, but they're not doing it. Well, maybe that isn't surprising because they're really the ones who got this ball rolling. Members of congress know (and already knew when we found out) what's happening and they're not putting a stop to it! Mr. Smith is nowhere to be found, apparently.

The most ardent supporter of this kind of garbage is McCain. McCain is the guy who, time and time again, does the whole "this is a war" schtick. What congress needs to do is repeal the entire authorization nonsense (the AUMF). Every time the White House or Congress wants to do something illegal, they justify it by pointing at the AUMF and showing that these kind of tactics were legal when used against the Axis during WWI and WWII, so it should be legal when used against terrorists now. I'm guessing we all know this, but there is no state called Terrorististan. Without an enemy defined by borders or a common language or even arguably a common cause, the government's powers are being applied to everyone.

We're not going to see change happen in the White House. Every president strives for more power. This change has to happen in congress, and if that's not happening, we need to get rid of 'em. Get rid of McCain, Arizona. Please.

How about not worry about Ariz. as you are in the land which gave us a comedian as a Senator. Have not seen his outrage. So let's get rid of Al the Clown!
 
The idiot part about this is, we (well, me at least, and probably a bunch of others) are pissed at the government for doing this.


And we want them to fix it.


Yeah, that's going to work well. But who else would do the "fixing"?
 
The idiot part about this is, we (well, me at least, and probably a bunch of others) are pissed at the government for doing this.


And we want them to fix it.


Yeah, that's going to work well. But who else would do the "fixing"?

We would by replacing them all at the polls. Every single one.
 
And you thought the world hated Bush At least they feared him, Now the world will hate Obama and not fear him If you going to have some one hate you its better that they fear you also

I guess you can hope ...
 
This is similar to other "scandals" surrounding the Obama administration at this time. In this case, it's not so much that the data mining is so pervasive, it's that the government hasn't been honest with the American people since this story broke.

The Obama administration has been blatantly dishonest about so many things that this doesn't seem as surprising as all these things pile up. This one is no longer just a national security issue, and it's no longer just an embarrassment to President Obama who appears powerless with his pronouncements that no one is listening too - this is now an embarrassment for the American people.


I still haven't forgiven Obama for the blatant lies that preceded the invasion of Iraq ... Mushroom clouds. WMDs. Only cons are embarrassed, but mainly for failing to win in 2008 and especially in 2012 ... You seem to know a lot about the "American People" ... Do you all study us in depth in Canada?
 
I still haven't forgiven Obama for the blatant lies that preceded the invasion of Iraq ... Mushroom clouds. WMDs. Only cons are embarrassed, but mainly for failing to win in 2008 and especially in 2012 ... You seem to know a lot about the "American People" ... Do you all study us in depth in Canada?

If you were Canadian, you'd know that American news and culture permeates our world daily and is unavoidable. However, I don't "study you in depth" - Obama's taking care of that for you.
 
If you were Canadian, you'd know that American news and culture permeates our world daily and is unavoidable. However, I don't "study you in depth" - Obama's taking care of that for you.

LOL ... but admit it, you're fascinated by us ... that's O.K. ... Anything else ya want to pin on Obama? The more you pin on him the more likely it is that you'll be made an honorary member of the Tea Party. BTW, are Canadians at all excited about having a Canadian in Congress and possibly running for President?
 
LOL ... but admit it, you're fascinated by us ... that's O.K. ... Anything else ya want to pin on Obama? The more you pin on him the more likely it is that you'll be made an honorary member of the Tea Party. BTW, are Canadians at all excited about having a Canadian in Congress and possibly running for President?

Hmmm. I'm the one usually accused of Tea Party membership, and I'm the one defending BHO. I'm not insulted by the Tea Party label either. You may need to revise your stereotypes.:cool:
 
The relevant news report can be found at: NSA Spied on European Union Offices - SPIEGEL ONLINE

If this information is accurate, it is deeply troubling. It is difficult to imagine that bugging EU diplomatic offices serves any legitimate counterterrorism purpose. This is a matter that Congress should investigate thoroughly with the findings made public, as it involves possible activities directed against longstanding strategic U.S. allies. At the same time, should Congress find credible evidence of such activities, it might be useful for Congress to act to suspend the entire program until its scope, breadth, and targets are fully identified and adequate safeguards can be put in place.

We would by replacing them all at the polls. Every single one.

:lamo

Thanks for the laugh.
 
Last edited:
We would by replacing them all at the polls. Every single one.
That wouldn't fix it.

The new guys just be corrupted by the REST of the government.

I'm being a bit cynical here, aren't I....
 
That wouldn't fix it.

The new guys just be corrupted by the REST of the government.

I'm being a bit cynical here, aren't I....

No, not really. Realistic is the appropriate word.
 
No, not really. Realistic is the appropriate word.
Only way to rid government of corruption for....perhaps a day or so, at most...

Step 1: Remove from office/job every single person elected to, employed by, or subcontracted to the government.

Step 2: In some completely random way, select new persons for the available positions from a pool consisting of every single person on the planet. Qualification tests could be corrupted.

But corruption would set in inside a day or so, so the whole exercise would be futile and an insane waste of money.

A much less lofty goal might be to rid the government of all corruption that that causes harm beyond some threshold...Still damned lofty goal though.
 
How about not worry about Ariz. as you are in the land which gave us a comedian as a Senator. Have not seen his outrage. So let's get rid of Al the Clown!

Franken was a vocal opponent of indefinite detention, and he is also a vocal supporter of more transparency. Let's be honest: you don't have a clue what Franken does and doesn't stand for.

Here's from the oft-quoted Huffington Post, in an article where Franken expressed opinions on both sides of the fence. But when it comes to actually doing something about it? Well, he is.

Franken is also advocating for increased transparency. He's part of a bipartisan group of senators now pushing a bill to declassify secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) surveillance rulings.

The bill, introduced on Tuesday, would declassify legal opinions that have been used to justify the NSA's broad surveillance programs.

During a Sunday appearance on WCCO, Franken called for more transparency in the programs, calling the public outrage over the surveillance "inevitable."

"As chairman of the Privacy, Technology and Law subcommittee, probably no one looks at the right to privacy more than me," Franken said. "We have to draw a balance between the government's responsibility to protect Americans and also Americans' right to privacy. I know very well that people looked at these reports and said, 'What in the world is going on?' They want to know how this data is used."

So there you go. I'm certainly not ashamed of my senator. McCain, however, is the absolute worst.
 
Only way to rid government of corruption for....perhaps a day or so, at most...

Step 1: Remove from office/job every single person elected to, employed by, or subcontracted to the government.

Step 2: In some completely random way, select new persons for the available positions from a pool consisting of every single person on the planet. Qualification tests could be corrupted.

But corruption would set in inside a day or so, so the whole exercise would be futile and an insane waste of money.

A much less lofty goal might be to rid the government of all corruption that that causes harm beyond some threshold...Still damned lofty goal though.

There is no escaping it. It is a people thing compounded by various systems, like the Intelligence Community, national security, vital interests, etc.
 
Hmmm. I'm the one usually accused of Tea Party membership, and I'm the one defending BHO. I'm not insulted by the Tea Party label either. You may need to revise your stereotypes.:cool:

If I had known that you were going to read my post to another poster, I would not have been as subtle and playful as I was ... but you defending BHO on what? Normally you're accusing him of one thing or another ...
 
The man who was to bring respect from the world to the US. Pfffft.
 
Back
Top Bottom