Politicians’ Political Posturing Over NSA’s Violations of the Constitution

Freedom Outpost ^ | Aug 17, 2013 | Suzanne Hamner

[EXCH54FE]

As it has been said by some, “Wish in one hand and spit in the other; then, see which one fills up the fastest.” This saying has come true with every Obama administration scandal where the American public request answers but get nothing but a handful of spit. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), stated “the intelligence community is still not being truthful about its snooping activities and how they may be picking up communications from Americans, and vowed to hold hearings when Congress returns from summer vacation,” according to the Washington Times.

Leahy said, “The American people rely on the intelligence community to provide forthright and complete information so that Congress and the courts can properly conduct oversight. I remain concerned that we are still not getting straightforward answers from the NSA.”

Seriously? Really? It took this long for Sen. Leahy to figure out the NSA was not giving straightforward answers or forthcoming with the complete truth. Many Americans figured that out with the first revelations of NSA spying and the denials that circulated afterward. Many Americans feared this type of abuse with the rushed enactment of the PATRIOT Act under then President George Bush in 2001. Sen. Leahy will now be spitting in one hand while wishing in the other for answers from the NSA. Maybe, Sen. Leahy just needs a good, strong crowbar.

The Washington Times reports:

His comments came after The Washington Post reported that the National Security Agency broke privacy rules or overstepped their legal authority thousands of times each year by collecting information on Americans or other protected foreign nationals in the U.S.

[EXCH54FE]

The initiation of this program under Bush violated the Fourth Amendment then; it violates the Fourth Amendment now. Regardless of the current sitting president or members of Congress, a violation is a violation and a usurping of power is the same no matter who commits the act.

[mylife]

While many of us feared expansion of Gov powers could result in abuse under the patriot act, do not make the mistake of laying this at Bush’s feet.

Obama owns this.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah I was no fan of the Patriot act because I couldn’t find any real protections for the American people. Obama has taken it and ran with it beyond our wildest dreams.

[OneWingedShark]

While many of us feared expansion of Gov powers could result in abuse under the patriot act, do not make the mistake of laying this at Bush’s feet.
Obama owns this.

No! Don't make the mistake of blaming one person: this is evidence of failure of whole branches of the government to behave or operate in a lawful manner. It didn't get this bad because of one person, it didn't get put in place because of one person: there are many who deserve nothing less than jail-time for this affront (some would argue that [public] hangings are warranted).

Because there are so many involved in this mess, it's not going to go away because we elect the right person; but we do need to make it clear to our government that this is utterly unacceptable, that this evil is not sufferable.

[mylife]

A lot of it was brought on by a willing public.

[bunkerhill7]

Yeah, even New York mountain hicks across the lake know Leahy is a commie.

[mylife]

We need to make it clear to citizens.

[EXCH54FE]

“While many of us feared expansion of Gov powers could result in abuse under the patriot act, do not make the mistake of laying this at Bush’s feet.

Obama owns this.”

You are 100% correct. Obama owns this. My point was that this should never have been started and should be stopped NOW!!

[Bernard Marx]

even New York mountain hicks across the lake know Leahy is a commie.

It took a while to get to this most important point.

[mylife]

I concur.
There is plenty of blame to go around but I say make the music stop NOW.