WikiLeaks PartyToday the President of the United States validated Edward Snowden’s role as a whistleblower by announcing plans to reform America’s global surveillance program. But rather than thank Edward Snowden, the President laughably attempted to criticize him while claiming that there was a plan all along, “before Edward Snowden.” The simple fact is that without Snowden’s disclosures, no one would know about the programs and no reforms could take place. As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently once stated, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” Luckily for the citizens of the world, Edward Snowden is one of those “people of good conscience” who did not “remain silent”, just as Pfc Bradley Manning and Daniel Ellsberg refused to remain silent.
Ironically, the Department of Justice is betraying two key principles that President Obama championed when he ran for office transparency and protection for whistleblowers. During his 2008 campaign, the President supported Whistleblowers, claiming their “acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled.” Yet his administration has prosecuted twice as many whistleblowers than all other administrations combined
Moreover, the US government’s hypocrisy over Snowden’s right to seek asylum has been stunning. America offers asylum to dissidents, whistleblowers and political refugees without regard to other governments opposition all the time. For example, the US has accepted 3,103 of their own asylees, 1,222 from Russia and 1,762 from Venezuela – http://www.dhs.gov/sites/
Today was a victory of sorts for Edward Snowden and his many supporters. As Snowden has stated, his biggest concern was if he blew the whistle and change did not occur. Well reforms are taking shape, and for that, the President and people of the United States and around the world owe Edward Snowden a debt of gratitude.
Well said
Maybe Obama should lead by example if he wants to stick his nose in everyone’s business. How about an anal probe to see what’s up his arse televised live on national TV. What an example of “transparency” he would set for all those future anal and vaginal exams the American people will be undergoing in the very near future to “keep us safe from the terrorists!”
Oh, sorry Smilardog, that was intended as a random comment.
Better yet how about all upper level govt employees submit all phone records and internet workings for public inspection. What goes around comes around and so therefore they should not have a problem with that. I would love to se what obamas kids and michelle does when they are texting and are doing on the internet, not even to mention all those in the senate and the house , the pentagon etc. etc. not to mention obama and holder, and oh well, ya`ll know what I mean.
If that happened digger, we would all need to get the “bile bucket” out!
That wouldn’t happen. They would be exempt, just like they are from obamacare. Because they are “special”.
I do like Millard’s idea though. The problem is, Obama would enjoy the probing.
I guess when burned out on drugs, sex, and rock and roll, the only thing left for these people is their sick desire to enjoy the sufferings of others, absent of any morality, they search through the elite’s exclusive library of torture videos to get their rocks off.
Yea Millard. Ya see, though, is that they have no morality because it is all about money and false power, and money IS false power, and money and power is all about superficial/psyop mind control, and that is what they want to b able to completly control people. They always use money and possesions to confuse and control people. Just look at those govt. buy outs and low interest loans. It was all based on greed. That is – where I think where they get most of their power because they buy off the F`in sheeples with possessions and money. Think about it and tell me that I am wrong.
So sad yet so true. When you have everything, I guess the game becomes what you can create others to do for you, just to see how far the sellouts will go.
I’d bet my farm that they get their jollies off knowing that the sheeple are being violated as they arre.
Yea James, the only way that I can survive today is because I worked my but off for my 5 beautiful acres, bought and payed for in full at time of purchase. If it wasn`t for that I would be screwed by now. I am very lucky – one of the luckiest people that I know – that I had enough fore thought to get my property 17 yr.s ago judging by my past being a so called criminal 🙂 of which I wasn`t. Now it is just a battle to keep it.
My family and I bought a five acre farm 3 years ago. We put everything we have into it, I still have 27 years worth of bankers to answer to which sucks. We are planning to put the farm on the market this month and move to a mountain property we have after the house sells. I’m giving up a business I worked my ass off building for the last 12 years. I’m changing to a lifestyle that would be better prepare my family whats to come. I’m a little nervous about the transition, but I know in my heart its what needs to be done. Its going to be the adventure of a lifetime and my kids are really excited about it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love it here in lower Delaware. I’m sad to give it up. Its everything I could ever ask for. I’m lucky and blessed to have all that I do. I just see the incoming storm and know that I need to get my family to a safer place.
I don’t know about this. As a general rule, whenever anything gets “reformed” the American people get lied to and screwed. (tax reform, immigration reform)
“Reform” just means they’re shoveling a different line of BS to cover their subversion of this nation.
Who is this “Wikileaks party” anyway? We already know that Wikileaks itself is nothing more than a controlled opposition group that exists to convince Americans that truth has an outlet, so can the “Wikileaks party” be any better?
This is a crock of shite:
“Well reforms are taking shape, and for that, the President and people of the United States and around the world owe Edward Snowden a debt of gratitude.”
What reforms are taking shape? How would we even know? Who would believe them?
The whole Snowden affair looks to me like one big charade orchestrated to get Americans accustomed to the idea that their every word is being recorded by their government (thereby silencing most dissent).
When have bureaucrats made reforms, repealed laws, rules and regulations.
Never, Zilch,Nada ……..
Bureaucrats are to lazy, arrogant and lack the power to make reforms or repeal anything. Basically once major laws are passed by Congress, Congress must repeal them and won’t unless paid and lobbied to do so.
Once anything is passed government will always stretch the meaning of law to their benefit.
There was no plan to reform the surveillance program. They got caught now saying they will put some candy back back in the cookie jar but we will never know since they are hiding the cookie jar from us.
Right as my grandmother used to say “Another Bird-dog Flew By”