Nate Silver on Snowden:

[snot]

42. I have to agree that there are aspects that seem odd; what would help,

along with more facts, are some possibilities as to what could be gained if Snowden were some kind of plant.

E.g., it doesn't really make sense to say that progressives might be being Ratherized. Is there an alternative theory that makes sense, in light of the fact that the government has admitted the program? Is there going to be some false flag "terror" event that's solved using the data collected, so as to influence the outcome of litigation or Congressional action that might otherwise result in having PRISM shut down?

Another aspect that seems odd is that we've been in possession of a lot of info about this kind of governmental surveillance for some time, and couldn't get most of the media or others to pay much attention. Of course, the big reaction now seen has at least in part to do with the kind of confirmation we've now received; but still, the contrast in the size of the reaction now vs. then seems a bit disproportionate. And why aren't we seeing more of the kind of "We already knew this, it's not news, nothing to see here, move along" dismissal we've seen regarding other revelations in the past -- is it just because now it's happening under Obama, so conservatives are piling on?