Saturday, June 8, 2013

Problem with the Republican Phone Sweep Timeline

Much recent news time has been given over to the revelation that the federal government is watching phone records and e-mails both abroad and domestically.

what eye thynk:    I don't like it.  I didn't like it when Bush did it and I don't like it now.  Yes, I can see that there MAY be advantages...though it would help if the government could offer one example of a terrorist plot that was foiled by this method.

But, my dislike is not the point of this article.  I really want to point out some simple facts that show the Republican outrage at the Obama administration's phone and e-mail sweeping is really self-serving and ludicrous.
  • The sweeping of domestic phone records has been going on for 7 years.  
  • The collection of information on foreigners in other countries has been going on for 6 years.
President Obama has only been in office for 4 years and 7 months.  Does anyone else see a problem with the timeline here?

What makes this congressional outrage even more ridiculous is that Congress authorized the practice under the foreign intelligence law that they just recently renewed!!!  Did they not read it first?

So, phone/e-mail sweeping was going on long before President Obama took office and Congress, (including these same out-raged Republicans) just passed a bill that approves its continuation.

Of course, Republicans, never let facts get in the way.  They just put on their best shocked faces and rant away.   On this issue, I'd agree with them, if only they would admit their own culpability.

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