Jon Stewart tears apart Obama’s speech on NSA reforms:
We already have plenty of evidence that without strict oversight, America’s spying agencies will always overstep their authority and violate the law. But we don’t seem to be able to learn from history, so I suppose we are doomed to repeat it.
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I’m glad you made the distinction, “America’s spying agencies” because its important for people to know that law enforcement agencies do not and cannot operate under the same rules as their covert cousins. They must use legal process in obtaining all evidentiary data. The main reason for that is it will be used at trial and needs to e given to the defense team.
My colleagues often joke when someone says if only there was a way to get this or that information, and the response is just call the NSA they’ll have it. Rest assured there is no conduit between cousins that I have ever heard of or seen, although it would make some jobs easier to do.
Specifically to the post, I believe that the 4th amendment should be enforced domestically at all times. Outside the boundaries there is no 4th amendment and international law should prevail. Countries have spied on each other forever and always will.
At times, even Obama looks like he knows he is offering weak “solutions”.
Obama is at least as intelligent as those of us who hang out here. I’m sure he sees the weakness of his administration’s arguments and the clever manner in which they were worded to allow plenty of wiggle room. “National security” is a cover for just about anything the “intelligence” community wants to do and there remains no viable way to check out what that is.
And don’t forget that J Edgar Hoover managed to gain enough power to threaten sitting presidents. I’m not saying that is what is happening now, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
EFF’s rating of recent administrations actions/statements.
https://www.eff.org/files/2014/01/17/obamascorecard35.jpg
I posted the wrong link. Here’s the evaluation which includes the table.