I was never crazy about Greenwald, and don't care for Snowden. But some of you make me a fanboy

[karynnj]

189. Personalized on both sides

I KNEW Kerry would be attacked here when he was the one sent out before the Snowden interview was broadcast. I also know that his comments would be the Obama administration's position. They might work for some deal, but that would be done by Holder and they certainly would not signal any willingness. (I also think Kerry was a good choice as he has felt the brunt of the reaction - and it likely has made things harder. -- not to mention the damage is NOT from the "spying on America" stuff.) What has shocked me is that many people went to far right smears - even to idiocy such as saying he only married Teresa because he wanted what the money could buy.

It is not personalizing things to say - even point blank - that he almost certainly broke the law. It is also fair to link to comments where he has praised totalitarian countries over the US on issues like spying and personal rights.

I think there was a much better discussion of the issue of a data base of all the phone records in the US being used as a tool to find networks AFTER you find one confirmed terrorist in the 2005 - 2008 period. I also think that James Risen and his unnamed source deserve far more credit. They are the ones that REALLY made this public. At this point, there is more than I ever would want to watch on CSPAN.org or read in the Congressional record on what was done. (I think many of the politicians were being disingenuous when they seemed surprised by some of Snowden's leaks -- although most of those comments refer to the international documents. )

I think the main reason I do not see him as a hero, is that I do see that there were alternatives that he does not seem to have seriously tried before he indiscriminately leaked a huge amount of classified info to journalists, relying on their honesty and judgment. He seriously is not in control of his legacy at this point - they are.