Editorials & Other Articles

MADem

(135,425 posts)

17. In the world of people who are not partisan. Clapper ran 'round to the political talk shows,

Wed Jun 11, 2014, 02:34 PM

Jun 2014

sheepishly shrugging and admitting that he was between a rock and a hard place.

It's not cool to ask a person to either lie--because THEY, unlike the legislator, are NOT enjoying protected speech while on the floor of Congress--or to disclose classified material illegally. It's like asking the guy "Which crime would you like to commit, because I've given you two choices and you ARE gonna take one, like it or not."

This is not about chit-chat in the "halls of the surveillance state." It's about a legislator whose speech on the floor IS protected, telling a guy he's got to either lie or break the law by revealing classified information. And if he doesn't answer at all, he's in contempt.

It was an amateur hour move, playing to the crowd in the cheap seats. It accomplished nothing. Made the legislator look petty and did make that Mephistopheles Clapper look like he was being bullied.

Not his finest hour.

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Here's Why Snowden Plea Negotiations Are Going Nowhere [View all] struggle4progress Jun 2014 OP

please provide source for the notion.. grasswire Jun 2014 #1

It's a recent web-rumor. I have no reason to suspect there are any serious talks struggle4progress Jun 2014 #2

nothing but wild speculation, then nt grasswire Jun 2014 #14

Not exactly wild speculation: it points out where Snowden's difficulties struggle4progress Jun 2014 #16

Al Gore understands the value of Snowden's actions. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #3

"... he wasn�t fully aware of the facts ..." struggle4progress Jun 2014 #5

I doubt that the Chinese or Russians were at all surprised by Snowden't revelations. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #6

Here's what the Church Committee says early in its Volume V struggle4progress Jun 2014 #12

You are absolutely right fasttense Jun 2014 #13

IMO, the biggest obstacle is the verbiage on the SF 312 he signed...nt MADem Jun 2014 #4

Time and more information about who was placed under surveillance, what the criteria was for JDPriestly Jun 2014 #7

Good article--amazing how "surveilled" people are on a day-to-day basis without any NSA help. MADem Jun 2014 #8

There were whistleblowers before Snowden who told us what was going on. Gore points that out. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #9

Told "us." Didn't tell the Chinese, and the Russians. MADem Jun 2014 #10

Wyden made Clapper look sympathetic? Are you freaking lkidding me? grasswire Jun 2014 #15

In the world of people who are not partisan. Clapper ran 'round to the political talk shows, MADem Jun 2014 #17

as I asked, in what world? in whose world? grasswire Jun 2014 #19

In the real world, in the world where people aren't focused on political party preference MADem Jun 2014 #20

that is not true grasswire Jun 2014 #21

There were supposed to be TWO SESSIONS. MADem Jun 2014 #24

the notion that Wyden hurt himself is ridiculous grasswire Jun 2014 #22

No, it isn't ridiculous. It is accurate. MADem Jun 2014 #23

still making things up, I see grasswire Jun 2014 #25

Now you are starting to be rude, hurtful and disruptive and I don't like it. MADem Jun 2014 #28

....in YOUR mind, YOUR opinion. grasswire Jun 2014 #31

In the mind of anyone reading this exchange. nt MADem Jun 2014 #32

sure grasswire Jun 2014 #35

You first. You're the one who likes to make everything PERSONAL. nt MADem Jun 2014 #36

Uh, so we shouldn't ask any questions that might put wrongdoers in the awkward position of snot Jun 2014 #29

What does that sentence even mean? Who's "we?" I didn't see you at that hearing. MADem Jun 2014 #30

WOW !!! - Wyden Is The Jerk, Because Good Guy Clapper Was Forced To Lie ??? WillyT Jun 2014 #38

amazing, isn't it? grasswire Jun 2014 #40

You have misunderstood the Congressional immunity struggle4progress Jun 2014 #11

I can't do better than S4P's response at 11. They ARE allowed to talk freely, as are Reps, so long MADem Jun 2014 #18

you obviously don't know Ron Wyden. grasswire Jun 2014 #26

He disregarded the instructions of the committee chair and he asked a MADem Jun 2014 #27

Laughable. grasswire Jun 2014 #33

I've had enough of your snarky, personal comments and childish invective. MADem Jun 2014 #34

I AM going to defend Senator Wyden and Ed Snowden... grasswire Jun 2014 #37

You aren't doing that. You're engaging in personal insult and making yourself look MADem Jun 2014 #39