President Obama’s Dragnet • Hacker News Board

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#11

Post by dkulchenko » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:29 PM UTC

jpdoctor wrote: post #8

sillysaurus wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the significance of this?

> What's the significance of this? I cannot remember (I'm 49yo) the NYT ever going from endorsing a candidate [1] to " The administration has now lost all credibility. " That's quite a fall politically. [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/barack-obam... Edit: I have to agree with them, but I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration.

> I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration.

Why would it? It's pretty obvious Obama's complicit in this - why would he fire those who are implementing policies that he's supporting?

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#12

Post by philwelch » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:38 PM UTC

dkulchenko wrote: post #11

jpdoctor wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's the significance of this? I cannot remember (I'm 49yo) the NYT ever going from endorsing a candidate [1] to " The administration has now lost all credibility. " That's quite a fall politically. [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/barack-obam... Edit: I have to agree with them, but I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration.

> I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration. Why would it? It's pretty obvious Obama's complicit in this - why would he fire those who are implementing policies that he's supporting?

In politics, you fire those below you to save yourself. Even if they did right by you.

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#13

Post by emin_gun_sirer » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:45 PM UTC

This article would have been stronger if it had contained a bit of introspection. Why did it require a UK paper to uncover this operation?

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#14

Post by jpdoctor » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:45 PM UTC

dkulchenko wrote: post #11

jpdoctor wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's the significance of this? I cannot remember (I'm 49yo) the NYT ever going from endorsing a candidate [1] to " The administration has now lost all credibility. " That's quite a fall politically. [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/barack-obam... Edit: I have to agree with them, but I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration.

> I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration. Why would it? It's pretty obvious Obama's complicit in this - why would he fire those who are implementing policies that he's supporting?

When presented with new data, some people change course. I am hoping Obama falls into that class.

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#15

Post by jlgreco » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:46 PM UTC

dkulchenko wrote: post #11

jpdoctor wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's the significance of this? I cannot remember (I'm 49yo) the NYT ever going from endorsing a candidate [1] to " The administration has now lost all credibility. " That's quite a fall politically. [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/barack-obam... Edit: I have to agree with them, but I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration.

> I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration. Why would it? It's pretty obvious Obama's complicit in this - why would he fire those who are implementing policies that he's supporting?

Rule number one of plumbing: Shit flows downhill.

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#16

Post by sneak » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:54 PM UTC

Keep paying US taxes and voting. That should work.

(But seriously. It's time. Pack your belongings and leave. Vote with your tax dollars, please.)

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#17

Post by tsotha » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:57 PM UTC

jpdoctor wrote: post #14

dkulchenko wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I hold out hope that this will cause several high-profile firings in the administration. Why would it? It's pretty obvious Obama's complicit in this - why would he fire those who are implementing policies that he's supporting?

When presented with new data, some people change course. I am hoping Obama falls into that class.

New data? Do you really think this is news to Obama?

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#18

Post by merraksh » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 10:58 PM UTC

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal says it well:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2961#c...

but also:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2974#c...

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#19

Post by dkulchenko » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 11:05 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #16

Keep paying US taxes and voting. That should work. (But seriously. It's time. Pack your belongings and leave. Vote with your tax dollars, please.)

Leave where? Everyone always says that, but where would be better (mainly in terms of civil liberties)?

Re: President Obama’s Dragnet

#20

Post by jlgreco » Thu, Jun 06, 2013, 11:11 PM UTC

dkulchenko wrote: post #19

sneak wrote: post #16

Keep paying US taxes and voting. That should work. (But seriously. It's time. Pack your belongings and leave. Vote with your tax dollars, please.)

Leave where? Everyone always says that, but where would be better (mainly in terms of civil liberties)?

Yeah, leaving doesn't work. The solution is sadly not that simple.

But neither does voting. How could voting work when the public is not even suppose to be aware of this sort of thing? This sort of secrecy is incompatible with democracy. Without being able to make an informed decision the best you can do is vote for the candidate that assures you that they will have a transparent administration.... oh wait.