I know this will, forever, brand me the NSA Defending, lackey of authoritarianism; but ...

[Swede Atlanta]

116. I couldn't disagree with you more.......

It is not the "perceived" failure of appropriate oversight. It is the reality that Congress has virtually zero oversight of the secret government. The head of the NSA comes before Congress and when asked if the NSA is collecting data on American citizens says no. We now know that was a lie and he knew it was a lie.

The secret government has it sewn up. Members of Congress are told all manners of lies and are likely threatened with all kinds of things that wouldn't surprise me include death to themselves and their families if they utter a single word about what they learn in classified briefings.

I have no doubt that even if Congress eliminated the NSA and the other spy agencies and that legislation got a Presidential signature, things would continue as they are today. They wouldn't skip a beat. They are a government unto themselves. They will have whatever funding they want and they will continue to threaten Americans unless they get their way.

I understand a country needs to have clandestine services. But in our country the body that is constitutionally bound to provide oversight is not able to exercise that oversight for fear of threats from the very agencies they are supposed to oversee.

Sorry, I'm not buying your argument. I want sunshine on the vermin that are the clandestine agencies of this country. I want to see them scampering away with their tails between their legs. If we are a nation consumed by fear we are a nation of cowards.