President Obama invited nine members of Congress to a closed-door meeting today to secretly discuss details of the NSA surveillance program, in an attempt to placate growing outrage and sell on idea of a “dialogue” on reforms as a replacement for Congressional efforts at getting real oversight.
Though presented as including “some of the programs’ most prominent critics,” the list conspicuously leaves out most of the high profile opponents of the surveillance state, including only Sens. Ron Wyden (D – OR) and Mark Udall (D – CO), who have positions that mean they would’ve already had access to any disclosures made today.
The driving forces behind bills aimed to end the worst excesses of the surveillance, Rep. Justin Amash (R – MI) and Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY) were both left out, and even Sen. Wyden appeared unimpressed by the presentation, saying he warned Obama that real reforms need to happen immediately.
The huge levels of public opposition to surveillance has driven a quick shift against the administration in the House, with Rep. Amash almost passing an amendment ending phone surveillance despite loud lobbying from the Obama Administration and both parties’ leadership. Though publicly the administration seems to be ruling out anything but trivial changes to “transparency,” they seem increasingly resigned to the fact that this opposition is going to force change eventually.
Selected entity of the government wrong doing, those who can vote for continues of whatever for whoever and then some.
"Dialogue" That seems to be the standard fallback for this Administration… Gun Control – Let's have a "dialogue" and nothing will get done…ACA (Obamacare) – Let's have a "dialogue"… Surveillance State – Let's have a "dialogue" and nothing will get done… Jobs – Let's have a "dialogue" and nothing will get done… Drones – Let's NOT have a "dialogue"… Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden – Let's NOT have a "dialogue"… Pakistani sovereignty – Let's NOT have a "dialogue"… Palestinian Genocide – Let's have a "dialogue" and nothing will get done… Holding the previous Administration responsible for a War of Aggression – a war crime – Let's NOT have a "dialogue" – better to move Forward (so the current administration can continue the same policies.
All this Administration wants to do is talk about "it" – unless of course, they don't want to talk about "it."
To forever remove the NSA scandal from the news and from people's minds, we can expect another scandal to emerge or, better yet, a major false flag attack. Anything on the order of Sandy Hook or the Boston Marathon Bombing attack would work.
Never, never, ever fire any of these wrongdoers as long as they are wrongdoing for the US govt.
That's the way to go…secret meetings to come to secret conclusions about secret programs while the suckers stand in line to pay the bill.
It's put up and shut up – while we tap your phones and read your mail.