Gov't collecting millions of phone records under top secret order

[MikeyKahr]

Re: Gov't collecting millions of phone records under top secret order

You cannot plead the 5th after you have started to testify. You can only claim the 5th at the start of testimony. By testifying you waive your 5th amendment rights. While I accept the need for data mining I do not support the abuse of the data mined. That is unconstitutional and a violation of the law. Early on I asked everyone to name just one innocent person who had been harmed by data mining. Not one of you did. I can point to three thousand Americans who lost their lives on 9/11, because we weren't data mining. The government consists of the President, Vice President, 100 members of the Senate, 535 members of congress and nine Supreme Court Justices. There are 230 million adult Americans. The government claims that it doesn't have the resources or man power to handle 12 million illegal immigrants. What in the hell are you afraid of? All of you please try to think before you reply.

Who has been harmed by data mining?

The fourth amendment rights of every American. You point to 3,000 and i point to about 300,000,000 depending on how one counts them.

What in the hell am I afraid of?

My loss of liberty and freedom. The direction of our country. The abuses of power.

And yes, I thought before I replied.

[Bawanna]

I started to think but then I started to get a headache so I thought better of it.

[deadeye]

I think we should all give up the Constitution for a little safety. (except the 2nd amendment of course, of course). I personally don't need Big Brother to protect me from the Boogie man. I can do just fine by myself. As I said before. The government couldn't successfully run a lemonade stand. So we are supposed to give up our liberty for - what? If you feel more secure, bless you.

[JohnR]

Well now, here's a twist. A guy is asking for his NSA surveillance data to defend himself against bank robbery charges. http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...er-NSA-records

[muggsy]

I think we should all give up the Constitution for a little safety. (except the 2nd amendment of course, of course). I personally don't need Big Brother to protect me from the Boogie man. I can do just fine by myself. As I said before. The government couldn't successfully run a lemonade stand. So we are supposed to give up our liberty for - what? If you feel more secure, bless you.

Since 9/11 several dozen terrorist attacks have been thwarted by data mining. The last member of a terrorist cell that was attempting to blow up a bridge on Rt. 82 in Ohio is on trial as I write. There is no telling how many people would have plunged off of that bridge to their deaths if that plot hadn't been foiled. The Sears Tower in Chicago was slated for an attack. All of you home grown Rambos need to reflect on that. I'm not concerned about what if. I'm concerned about what is. What is is the Islamic Jehad.

[deadeye]

Heard today the mentioned attempted attacks as well as the thwarted subway bombing was foiled by police and FBI work - not data mining. They got info from friends and neighbors, got a court order to tap the suspects lines (per the Constitution) and did their jobs. NSA was quick to take credit. Who knows. Gotta admit this discussion is interesting. Thank goodness we are in America and can do it. So far. Sure wish I had more faith. But as in the IRS scandal, too much power breeds tyranny. Just don't want to loose my liberty because some bureaucrat (the same ones trying to take our guns) says he will "protect me".

[muggsy]

Heard today the mentioned attempted attacks as well as the thwarted subway bombing was foiled by police and FBI work - not data mining. They got info from friends and neighbors, got a court order to tap the suspects lines (per the Constitution) and did their jobs. NSA was quick to take credit. Who knows. Gotta admit this discussion is interesting. Thank goodness we are in America and can do it. So far. Sure wish I had more faith. But as in the IRS scandal, too much power breeds tyranny. Just don't want to loose my liberty because some bureaucrat (the same ones trying to take our guns) says he will "protect me".

I don't plan on losing my liberty. I may lose my life with a gun in my hands. The IRS and Data Mining are two separate and distinct issues. I say that the people involved in the IRS scandal should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law regardless as to how far up the chain of command the abuses go. I'm saying do not blind the forces who would protect you because of the potential for abuse. If that's your thinking we may as well stand down the Army, because some day it may be turned against the people. That's the same logic used by the liberals who would disarm you.

[deadeye]

Do you know what I like most about all of this? The data mining is keeping us safe? I guess the terrorists are too dumb to know this has been happening. I'll just bet they are stunned to find out they are being listened to. Surprise, surprise. My logic is as follows: our data is being mined by clowns who let a mid 20's high school dropout have access to our most secret documents and mine them himself. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Do you actually believe this same group of bureaucrats want our gun to protect the "wee kiddies" from harm? Really? OK, gotcha. I think I understand.

[MikeyKahr]

Re: Gov't collecting millions of phone records under top secret order

No worries, our humble and fearless leader has put Mr. Clapper in charge of the commission to review the NSA. Nothing to see here, it's all in good hands. Or wait, now he won't. Can we just make up our minds already?