:evil:
Well, yes. Doing something the law disallows is illegal while doing something the law allows is legal.
Now, the spying may or may not be constitutional (I don't think any court has ruled on the issue, but I certainly hope this gets major court attention soon), it may or may not be effective, necessary, wise or any other number of adjectives, but if the law allows it it IS legal. At the absolute minimum I hope all the attention will force more oversight of the program, but seeing as how a bunch of members of congress flew home for an extra day of vacation instead of attending a NSA briefing, I'm not optimistic.
The law is never right simply because it is the law; the law is only right when it is fair, protects all people equally and works.
If murder was legalized tomorrow, would murder become "right"?
So to me, saying that just because something has become legal is not a compelling argument to if it is "right". And these practices do not seem to have much practical application or effectiveness, nor do they protect the American people's rights, safety or privacy. It is just as bad when Obama does it as Bush, regardless of what the courts decide.
It's not different, but I didn't care much either way anyway so I guess it doesn't matter. I'll criticize Bush on a lot of shit, but this isn't one of them.
Quote from: "title"[s:1rwh773q]How Is Obama Different Then Bush Spying?[/s:1rwh773q] Is NSA spying under W Bush different than NSA spying under Obama?
FIFY for clarity.
It isn't.
If Obama is telling the truth about the NSA only monitoring the records of foreigners then how is this a breach of the fourth amendment?
:-k Good point! Solitary
I haven't heard that before...
Obama on NSA surveillance scandal: nobody is listening to your phone calls (//http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/10106919/Obama-on-NSA-surveillance-scandal-nobody-is-listening-to-your-phone-calls.html)
IF he's telling the truth then this whole scandal is nothing more than a gross overreaction to a huge misunderstanding.
What makes you think he's telling the truth?
Quote from: "Rejak"What makes you think he's telling the truth?
Given he has lied time and time again, the corruption within the NSA, the corruption within the intelligence community and the corruption within the government in general... you are an idiot if you take Obama on his word.
QuoteGiven he has lied time and time again, the corruption within the NSA, the corruption within the intelligence community and the corruption within the government in general... you are an idiot if you take Obama on his word
Exactly! and then there is this //http://pwtenny.newsvine.com/_news/2010/03/31/4097266-obama-administration-loses-bush-era-nsa-warrantless-wiretapping-lawsuit-it-was-illegal-federal-court-rules
Still the NSA claims what it's doing is perfectly legal.
Quote from: "Rejak"What makes you think he's telling the truth?
Notice that I put the word "if" in bold capital letters. I don't trust the government as far as I could comfortably spit a rat but there's no harm in playing devil's advocate.
As long as you understand you are advocating for a devil...............
Because spying on foreigners is perfectly acceptable, it's only american citizens that should have their privacy respected?
It's no more ethical than when Bush did it...they all just got a bit smarter up on Capitol Hill and made it legal. I find it all rather detestable, but you have to admire the cunning of making formerly illegal things legal when it suits your purposes. And using all the doublespeak to make it so.....Freedom is wiretapping! Patriotism is shutting up whistleblowers! Hooray, America!
The real reason it is different is that Obama is a nice guy who would never misuse the data, unlike Bush whose policies he continued but is the opposite anyway.
Quote from: "Smartmarzipan"And using all the doublespeak to make it so.....Freedom is wiretapping! Patriotism is shutting up whistleblowers! Hooray, America!
(//http://hammeroftruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/anti-patriot-act-propaganda.jpg)