Yes, this is going to be Big. So will the IRS story. This is Orwellian.

The real damage to our country from 9/11 was self inflicted. We voluntarily gave the government spy power over us. Both parties agreed to it.

At the time of its passage, only the liberal fringe seemed to be concerned, and groups like the ACLU. The answer of the day was that good, decent American had nothing to fear. Now, one Democratic President later, some of the right has started to get the idea that yes in fact good, decent Americans can be hurt.

We need to all wake up and recognize this principle. The best way to defend our freedoms is to defend the freedoms for all Americans, even those we disagree with. Anything less just opens the door to wider and wider violations of our rights.

Anonymous wrote:
Let's see Benghazi is a drummed up controversy, the dumb Repubs can't even find Libya on the map. The IRS scandal again nothing much, just a bunch of middle aged white men acting like drama queens over two low level IRS employees who were probably just doing their jobs anyway (patterns -- looking for patterns).

The government secretly obtained the AP's phone records? Red alert. All hands on deck. Sound the alarms! We have a serious issue here!

The press is the watch dog that ostensibly keeps our government honest. Yes I find the idea of the Administration J. Edgar Hoovering them very disturbing.

And yes, Benghazi feels like a drummed up controversy.
The IRS scandal to me is much more serious, but I'm not yet convinced that the Administration has any real responsibility for that. If it's shown that those investigations happened with the encouragement or tacit acceptance of the Administration, that would be very, very alarming as well.

On the topic of government eavesdropping on citizens, the government also intercepts your text messages. But, don't worry, they have a 15 page document of guidelines. You can read it here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/141222327/Totally-Redacted-FOIA-response

Anonymous wrote:

Umm. I believe that the AP Phone Records story, warrantless wiretapping, drones, etc. is big and important. Why did you assume otherwise?

Your sarcasm suggested that those were not serious issues to you. What other purpose did your sarcasm serve?

Yes, that's about it. Even if you think Benghazi and the IRS are important stories, I don't know why you wouldn't get excited about the Government spying on news agencies. More importantly, the AP story is part of a bigger story of government spying on Americans. The government believes it can access your email without a warrant. All kinds of warrantless wiretapping has gone on.

Just from a strategic viewpoint, if you actually want to create change, why not choose and issue on which the left and right can agree? On the other hand, if you just want to scream and yell and at the end of the day maintain the status quo, continue as you have been.

Umm. I believe that the AP Phone Records story, warrantless wiretapping, drones, etc. is big and important. Why did you assume otherwise?

Someone who refers to conservatives who care about the IRS story as middle aged white male drama queens probably shouldn't really be lecturing about screaming and yelling (or racial stereotypes either).

Anonymous wrote:
Let's see Benghazi is a drummed up controversy, the dumb Repubs can't even find Libya on the map. The IRS scandal again nothing much, just a bunch of middle aged white men acting like drama queens over two low level IRS employees who were probably just doing their jobs anyway (patterns -- looking for patterns).

The government secretly obtained the AP's phone records? Red alert. All hands on deck. Sound the alarms! We have a serious issue here!

Yes, that's about it. Even if you think Benghazi and the IRS are important stories, I don't know why you wouldn't get excited about the Government spying on news agencies. More importantly, the AP story is part of a bigger story of government spying on Americans. The government believes it can access your email without a warrant. All kinds of warrantless wiretapping has gone on.

Just from a strategic viewpoint, if you actually want to create change, why not choose and issue on which the left and right can agree? On the other hand, if you just want to scream and yell and at the end of the day maintain the status quo, continue as you have been.

Let's see Benghazi is a drummed up controversy, the dumb Repubs can't even find Libya on the map. The IRS scandal again nothing much, just a bunch of middle aged white men acting like drama queens over two low level IRS employees who were probably just doing their jobs anyway (patterns -- looking for patterns).

The government secretly obtained the AP's phone records? Red alert. All hands on deck. Sound the alarms! We have a serious issue here!