tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post3066790961581950754..comments2024-03-28T10:49:14.510-05:00Comments on Horizons: Let's Be Clear About Who Does/Doesn't Support Ending the NSA Metadata ProgramNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-20052213350859940892015-05-15T15:24:53.419-05:002015-05-15T15:24:53.419-05:00This is representative of a bigger problem that is...This is representative of a bigger problem that is widespread throughout the media/academia axis: a paranoid obsession with the First Amendment and first amendment concerns. The NYT recently reported that the current rate of police murders has been going on for decades. Remarkably, the story did not point out that the NYT has been ignoring said murders for decades. Want they haven't ignored is the sad parade of arrogant stenographers from Judith Miller to James Risen, portraying everyone as a First Amendment martyr.<br /><br />If you talk to elite white people in the two institutions that control our national discourse, the press and the academy, you find that the right to freedom of speech is far more important that the right not to be murdered by your own government.<br /><br />The problem is magnified by the persistent press bias in favor of the individual and against all institutions (except, of course, the great free press).<br /><br />This double bias means that government is always moving closer to 1984, no matter what the facts might be.Thornton Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402495641975262697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-27046171304131861672015-05-15T06:01:10.743-05:002015-05-15T06:01:10.743-05:00Probably better to keep this quiet - you know what...Probably better to keep this quiet - you know what would happen if the Republicans found out that Obama agreed with them...<br />DanielCoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08039166395830228394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-12906688894647111452015-05-14T22:04:52.425-05:002015-05-14T22:04:52.425-05:00I experienced Bush intrusions - a private email ha...I experienced Bush intrusions - a private email hacked, questions to me about it followed by a demand for the participants' names and addresses that I refused to provide. Followed then by 3 years of odd interactions with the FBI. After 2007 and through this administration, NOTHING happened to intrude on my life, my individual or organizational privacy. Metadata is anonymous data. A wall of numbers to which NOTHING happens unless one lights up, so to speak, as the target of a known terrorist from overseas. I am less anonymous in the phone book (paper OR online). I am no longer stalked by the government - I'm stalked by Bed, Bath & Beyond. The government knows far less - and cares far less - about any of us unless we come to require a warranted search. So fine we get MORE protection, but the time to yelp and scream was the Bush years before court cases ended the warrantless invasions that I experienced. Why is everyone so upset NOW rather than THEN? Oh - right - Bush was targeting Muslims, Muslim supporters (even domestic ones), and nobody gave a damn. Got it.Churchlady320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-51631600368300755802015-05-14T21:43:34.162-05:002015-05-14T21:43:34.162-05:00Pfft. I quit reading Steve Benen a long time ago. ...Pfft. I quit reading Steve Benen a long time ago. He's just not worth the time.Tien Lenoreply@blogger.com