President Obama to grant full pardon, and award Medal of Freedom to Snowden.

On the anniversary of a much better speech, by a much better President, about the dangers of ongoing war and the intrusiveness of government that would result from the overgrowth of the military-industrial complex; the President today gave a rousing speech about the need to limit the scope of NSA authority.  Included was this gem:  "Our system of government is built on the premise that our liberty cannot depend on the good intentions of those in power. It depends on the law to constrain those in power." Funny how he doesn't see that also applies to firearms... but that is another post.

Since he gave such a well thought-out, and obviously earnest (can you hear the sarcasm drip?) speech calling on the NSA, and any other agency, to get permission to spy on us, he obviously has changed his mind about Ed Snowden.

Of course all of the details are left up to congress, and the agencies themselves, but clearly he feels that the unwarranted spying (which he authorized) on the American public (and foreign diplomats, and foreign nationals here and abroad) should immediately (or soon, maybe later, whenever, really) be stopped.  (unless we are talking about national security letters, demanding information from companies about anyone and everyone.  Those are OK)

Since he now feels that such comprehensive data-collection is reprehensible, he is obviously about to pardon the man who blew the whistle on the practice in the first place.  Given the insurmountable obstacles faced by Mr. Snowden, to come out to the media about such practices is tantamount to jumping on a grenade.

For this the President must, of course, be ready to give him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  We should accept nothing less.  After all Ed Snowden has certainly done a damn-sight more for American freedom than Oprah Winfrey.

All kidding aside today's speech was long on vague promises and assurances, short on detail or action.  

53 years ago...

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”

-President Dwight D. Eisenhower-

Today...

"Effective immediately, we will only pursue phone calls that are two steps removed from a number associated with a terrorist organization, instead of the current three, and I have directed the attorney general to work with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court so that during this transition period, the database can be queried only after a judicial finding or in the case of a true emergency."

-President Obama-

NSA and other violations

       I know many of you have been waiting to see my take on the NSA spying on Americans.  There is only one take, and that is it cannot, in any way, be accepted.  Right now it looks like at least the senate also knew about this, and not one of them, even the ones voting against, broke ranks to tell the people that their government was spying on them.  That means they all have to go.  Every last senator needs to be voted out.

       It got me thinking though, what other rights are being trampled by our government.  Let's look at the Bill of Rights.  (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html)  The preamble to the Bill of Rights states that it exists as a limit to government power, to prevent abuses.  So let's see if government has been exceeding those limits, and we have been allowing abuses.

 1.  Google has been ordered to not report on what the NSA has been requesting from them, or about whom.  (http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/06/18/google-nsa-fisa-petition/2435499/)  Clear violation of the first amendment.  

2.  Anyone who has been awake the last 6 months knows they have been trying to violate the hell out of this.  Also, since the limits on the federal government apply to the states, as per amendment 10, any state laws prohibiting access to firearms is a violation of this amendment, by extension.

3.  Not quartering soldiers in homes yet, so OK here.

4.  Unreasonable searches and seizures.  Since random, or even 100 percent "traffic safety check points" have been ruled as unreasonable; why is this current NSA nonsense tolerated.  This is violated so bad the NSA should be brought up on sexual assault charges.

5.  Addresses due process.  Funny thing, the NSA has been recording everything, then getting a warrant if it finds something.  That is the opposite of due process.  Like having the police search your home, then if they find something, getting a warrant.  This also states that property may not be taken without just compensation.  What is the value of intellectual property?  Ever e-mail a story idea?

6.  Speedy trial by jury of peers.  So far this is mostly in tact.

7.  Right to trail for civil suits.  Ok.

8.  Excessive fines, bail, cruel and unusual punishment not allowed.  I'll give them this, only because that would be another whole post.

9.  The presence of these rights being named, does not imply they are the only ones.  Such as privacy, which I would say is also covered by the language in the 4th amendment.  Violated here as well.

10.  Powers not listed here, and NOT DENIED here, are for the states and the people.  SO states can clearly not regulate the 2nd amendment either.  Clearly violated.  

So how did we score?  4 rights left intact.  ONLY 4.  U.S.A. you have failed a test that you wrote, and you know the answers to.  Other countries are rioting over far less.  We have a means of evicting bad government without violence.  We can vote the rats out of the house.  Unless they take that from us next.  We have given lawyers their chance; instead of electing them, maybe we should start electing working stiffs.  They certainly could not do a worse job.

NOTE TO THE NSA:  Every one of you know what you are doing is wrong, even if, especially if, it is ordered by the President, and the whole of congress.  We should not have to ask you to stop.