Al Franken Defends NSA Surveillance: It’s Not Spying, They’re Protecting Us

[arely staircase]

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) emerged as one of the most notable progressive defenders of the National Security Agency's sweeping surveillance programs on Monday when he expressed a "high level of confidence" that the federal government's collection of phone and Internet data has been effective in thwarting terrorism.

“I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people,” Franken told Minneapolis-based CBS affiliate WCCO. The junior Minnesota senator, who's only been in the Senate since 2009, said he was “was very well aware of" the surveillance programs and was not surprised by a recent slate of bombshell reports by both The Guardian and The Washington Post.

“I have a high level of confidence that this is used to protect us and I know that it has been successful in preventing terrorism,” Franken said.

Watch WCCO's interview with Franken:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/al-franken-defends-nsa-surveillance-this-is-not?ref=fpa

[darkangel218]

1. How dissapointing of him

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Didn't the Tsarnaev (sp?) brothers frequent jihadist websites?

Sen. Franken might want to reconsider whether the juice is worth the squeeze.

[leveymg]

9. The Tsarnaevs were well known to US intelligence, as are most terrorists who have "succeeded"

in their attacks back to WTC '93. The common denominator is CIA sponsorship of exile groups and double-agents.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. If the NSA wanted to keep us safe they should leave us the hell alone

and tap the CIA.

[leveymg]

23. The second part of that is not unprecedented. oem

[FSogol]

3. K & R. n/t

[onehandle]

4. Just another DINO!!!!

Kidding.

[kentuck]

5. It's like the taxpayers are paying the Mafia collector...

to keep from having their kneecaps busted? Pay the money and you are protected. Don't pay and they will pay you a visit. Millions of them. Well, maybe not millions but thousands of them. Well, maybe not thousands but hundreds. Well, maybe not hundreds but 2 or 3...

[DJ13]

6. I was hoping Franken would be another Sen. Sanders

Instead he is another DiFi.

[Marr]

10. I don't think he's as bad as Feinstein, but he's always had a very... DLC approach.

I remember listening to his show and being annoyed by many of the points he took for granted. He has a lot more faith in authority than I.

[DJ13]

13. Thats a fair assessment

I'm still disappointed by him more often than not.

[Marr]

14. Oh, I'm with you there. /nt

[RandiFan1290]

7. I trust Sen. Sanders. nt

[frylock]

28. me too

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. He's a comedian. This is part of a comedy sketch, correct?

[indepat]

12. Does Senator Franken actually believe every future President will be as assiduously protective of our

constitutional rights as BHO is and has been if given unlimited power? Surely not!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

19. I think he ran on a platform of healthy skepticism and distrust.

[kelliekat44]

15. WOW, I just can't believe my eyes on DU now. Panic about something we knew nothing about that

really has not caused as much damage to people as ENRON! The stupid police are really doing a great job. And a lot of themi work for the MSM. Just think, the government has all that information and hasn't even started to pick up all our guns yet!

[cali]

31. gonna accuse Senator Leahy of panic too?

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. Et tu, Franken?

[MFM008]

17. whats up Al?

voting against food stamps, now this.

[polichick]

20. Al's not as funny as he used to be.

[Cali_Democrat]

21. Hear that? That's the sound of Al being thrown under the bus by DU

And run over.

Twice.

bump....bump...

[frylock]

29. that's your imagination

[Malik Agar]

22. I am sick and tired of the ruling class

They really need to GTFO ...

[cali]

24. gee, who to trust on this? Franken the IWR supporter or my Senators, Leahy and Sanders?

both Leahy and Sanders have far, far, far better records, more experience and more knowledge.

[Cali_Democrat]

25. Franken said he was briefed on the program

Was Sanders ever briefed?

[cali]

26. Don't know about Sanders but Leahy was briefed beyond what junior Franken was

The Judiciary was briefed. Leahy got a supposedly more in depth brief as Chair and as 3rd in line to the Presidency. He is very critical.

Face it, Senator Leahy trumps Franken on, well, everything.

[RC]

27. And hinted to about possible consequences of bucking the 'system'?

[frylock]

30. disappointing to be sure

[bike man]

32. In Dec., a mere 6 months ago, there was a multitude of OPs suggesting he run

for president in 2016, and many of those OPs had a lot of favorable responses.

Does this episode suggest all those OPs were a bit premature?

Maybe it's time he returns to stand-up comedy. We have enough weasels in Congress without having to put with comedians too.