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In reply to the discussion: Al Gore: NSA Surveillance Violates The Constitution Updated [View all]DirkGently
(12,151 posts)49. Obama called that a "false choice."
So do I. The notion that we can be increasingly safe by increasingly giving up our principles of limited government police power has never been demonstrated to be true. Bush ignored a memo telling him Bin Laden was "determined to attack within the United States." The FBI then ignored warnings from its own people on the same account.
What we have seen, in fact, historically, is that domestic surveillance is turned not on foreign enemies, but on domestic dissidents, which, typically, means Democrats.
Even now, the FBI, which stalked and threatened Martin Luther King, John Lennon, and others, not a thousand years ago, but within our lifetimes, wants in on the game. Homeland Security was twaddling over OWS Facebook activities so hard it apparently didn't have time to worry too much about what Russia had to say about the Boston Bomber.
Secret, accountability-free domestic spying, as a thing, cannot be used responsibility. You can put Obama and Jesus and Ghandi in charge, and it will still be abused. It is simply a non-starter.
This is not new knowledge. If we could trust government with power like this, we wouldn't have a Bill of Rights in the first place. The Founders didn't say you needed "probable cause" if a Bush was in office. They sought to limit powers which are inherently abusive.
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Al Gore is not a real Democrat. He said he invented the internet & that is a proven lie.
Luminous Animal
Jun 2013
#1
Well, they trashed Alan Grayson and praised Peter 'we-count-the-votes) King, so you're probably
sabrina 1
Jun 2013
#5
It's a bunch of think tank whiz kids looking to usurp the site IMHO. Paid shills.
grahamhgreen
Jun 2013
#92
Yet, people trashed Bill Clinton yesterday. I guess it's selective, isn't it.
graham4anything
Jun 2013
#28
Bill Clinton was President for 8 years and took the same smears as President Obama.
graham4anything
Jun 2013
#44
1968 all the protesters accomplished was to elect Nixon once LBJ was tossed into the sea.
graham4anything
Jun 2013
#81
Hong Kong Al! It's very interesting that he said he invented the internet! Has anyone
sabrina 1
Jun 2013
#4
But but but we've been assured by latrine-educated Constitutional Experts here that that
Catherina
Jun 2013
#2
The same guy who took money from Buddhists at their temple, and then claimed that there was no
Major Hogwash
Jun 2013
#24
Well, it was much more than just those incidents that caused Gore to crash and burn.
Major Hogwash
Jun 2013
#35
Thank you Pres. Gore. But you'll remember the people falling all over themselves to....
Tarheel_Dem
Jun 2013
#10
All I remember about Al Gore is that he wore warm tones. What do you remember?
Luminous Animal
Jun 2013
#12
Kick for the OP, and Catherina and Sabrina - women who never shirk from keeping their
Luminous Animal
Jun 2013
#11
Thank you Luminous :) And kick for you and all the other fighters here who do the same
Catherina
Jun 2013
#50
I think Al needs to have a close door session with those who actually know the specifics.
DCBob
Jun 2013
#37
Surely you see the legitimate conflicting issues of personal rights and national security.
DCBob
Jun 2013
#48
It's got nothing to do with keeping American's safer - Perhaps you should try reading a bit
TakeALeftTurn
Jun 2013
#58
Im sure I could find dozens of other national security experts would disagree with that.
DCBob
Jun 2013
#88
The very same politicians that claim we need to give up our privacy for national security
cpwm17
Jun 2013
#65
You draw the line to always favor personal rights. It's really simple, really.
TransitJohn
Jun 2013
#109
How tragic it is to actually read a thread on DU and consider how much substance it contains.
Coyotl
Jun 2013
#103
How tragic it is to actually read a thread on DU and consider how much substance it contains.
Coyotl
Jun 2013
#105
babble bullshit. do learn how to write simple sentence that makes just a wee bit of sense.
cali
Jun 2013
#106
What's tragic is what New Dems, Blue Dogs, DLC-Third Wayers are doing to the party.
Fuddnik
Jun 2013
#116
If Gore really believes this then why isnt he challenging it before SCOTUS to put the whole thing to
cstanleytech
Jun 2013
#119