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Today's Poll: Should Congress curb NSA's domestic spying programs?

By Howard B. Owens
david spaulding

is saying spineless to the no voters name calling? ok I won't say it...there are at least 145 of you, please tell me what you are so afraid of that you are willing to give up your rights......looks like uncle sam has you right where he wants.....

Jul 29, 2013, 6:29pm Permalink
John Stone

Are we getting 'votes' from other countries?!? That's one of only 3 possible explanations for such a high number of "no" votes. The second possibility is that a LOT of them didn't understand the question.
The third option is the truly SCARY one: That there is actually such a high percentage of ignorant, fearful little people.
If any so-called "American" is going to try saying that if I "have nothing to hide, why does it bother me", I will offer you this in response: Whether I have something to hide or not, it in NO WAY negates my constitutional rights. I have the right to privacy. (This right, as well as all the others, were granted to us in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Granted by God, NOT government! (Yeah... true even if you don't believe in Him!))
Benjamin Franklin (I think) said (paraphrased): "Anyone who is willing to give up their Liberty (aka constitutional rights) in return for temporary safety, deserves neither, and will lose both..."
Look at the TSA: the whole program is a farce! Our government should be looking intently at any Moslem who wishes to fly, as (sans political correctness) they are the ones who endanger Americans the most: That woman (maybe?) in the burka could have a suicide-vest on her. She declines the porn-scanner, so has to be "searched" along with your grandmother and your daughter. When your people get searched, that TSA guy is going to feel both of their 'privates'. Yet when that burka-clad woman with the bomb-vest gets "The Pat-Down", the TSA agents can ONLY feel her head and neck! (So, obviously, they are gonna miss the real problem.) I need to ask: You have willingly surrendered your right to not have your genitals fondled (and the genitals of your wife and daughter) Moslems have not. You get groped, and the person you really need to be worried about gets a "pass" on the groping AND the porn-shot. So, since you have given up that right (no, you will NEVER get it back, either!) How much safer do you feel?
If your answer was anything other than "I don't", it means that you are actually part of what's wrong with America today... And such fools are likely to answer this poll with a "No" vote.

Jul 29, 2013, 10:37pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

Snowden should be tried for being a traitor. That being said the government should end this program immediately.

But Dictator Obama will never do anything to lose some of his control. So this will be swept aside when we realize that Penelope Cruz had a baby the same day as Future King George.

Jul 29, 2013, 11:56pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The day a whistle blower gets tried as a traitor is the day this country has officially gone completely all to hell and ceases to be the nation so many fought and died to protect.

Of course, the fact that this NSA program even exists proves we're already more than half way there.

Jul 30, 2013, 11:51am Permalink
Peter O'Brien

He willfully violated a sacred trust. As a person who handled secret information, this type of person needs to eliminated.

What he revealed has no bearing on the crime committed.

Jul 30, 2013, 2:39pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Sorry, Peter, you know I like you, but "sacred trust"? That has been sold down the river many years ago. People have divulged sensitive information for political purposes for years and years now. The elites who run the government will expose whatever will give themselves a push. Innocent people along with brave & noble American military are killed all the time for political or financial gain. Snowden, in my always humble opinion did what he thought was right. His main crime is pulling back the curtain, the wizard doesn't like that. I worry less about Snowden and far far more about the NSA and big brother invading everyone's privacy and personal business. Let him go live wherever he can and stop trying to force other countries to do our bidding all the damn time.

Jul 30, 2013, 3:43pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

A person has no moral obligation to keep secret that which is wrong. Our Constitution means nothing if there won't be citizens who are willing to act when they see government officials violating the rights of Americans.

The sacred trust is to the Constitution and the American people, not the criminals who run the NSA or Congress.

The oath I took when I joined the military was to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath means nothing if you're not willing to expose wrongdoing when and where you find it.

Jul 30, 2013, 4:17pm Permalink
John Stone

Right, Howard!
That oath also does not have an expiration date... I (and millions of others have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.) Unfortunately, the most significant assault against it comes from a (supposedly) domestic enemy... The current administration!

Jul 30, 2013, 4:36pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

And the previous administration ... and the one before that, and the one before that, and ... well, you get the picture.

Jul 30, 2013, 4:37pm Permalink

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