5 ms·

What about ex president Obama who actually used the tech? So much outrage for Thiel, but where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? Ps. I think T

What about ex president Obama who actually used the tech? So much outrage for Thiel, but where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? Ps. I think Thiel is a hypocrite if he really thinks himself as libertarian. Also, despite having money and power I think he has big balls to go against SV where he made himself. I also don't understand how did he became so powerful, every time he talks.. He has charisma of an old rag.

alphonsegaston 10y ago
The Intercept has written about Obama's abuse of the surveillance state and executive power since its inception. This kind of whataboutism adds little to the discussion.
zzzeek 10y ago
> but where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? right here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/26/nsa-rally-stop-watching-washington-snowden https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/26/nsa-rally-stop... now stop derailing. Thiel is the one in power right now.
- ygaf 10y ago
  "Yes We Scan", I remember that.
- gnipgnip 10y ago
  The guy also chairs the steering committee of Bildeberg.
otalp 10y ago
There were numerous pieces on The Guardian, Intercept, NYT and Vox decrying Obama's mass surveillance as a huge blot on his administration and his biggest stain alongside illegal drone strikes. It was literally one of the biggest reasons people aside from Republicans disliked his tenure. There were a ton of protests against mass surveillance around the time of the whole Snowden fiasco, and even the Oscars recognized Citizenfour, which critisised Obama for massively expanding mass surveillance.
- rickdale 10y ago
  Exactly. It really reminds me of the boy who cried wolf. Republicans made a point to question Obama's faith and whether he is a secret muslim or if he was born here. Meanwhile abhorrent policies are being enacted, but we did get the birth certificate. In the sense of using a distraction to further another agenda I feel like Obama and Trump are the best of the best.
  - mattnewton 10y ago
    I really don't think their methods are the same here, are you suggesting Obama created distractions like the birthed movement? I think he just went for it. Trump certainly is creating distractions, actively fostering fatigue.
    - elastic_church 10y ago
      Created? That's not the point All distractions are favorable when you are accountable to people. All.
mayneack 10y ago
The Intercept started as an outlet that primarily reported on Snowden documents during the Obama administration.
burkaman 10y ago
What do you mean where were the protests? Where have you been?
disantlor 10y ago
the thing about Obama is that even if he ultimately made a bad decision you got the feeling (a feeling that i would say is backed up by evidence) that he put thought and care and consideration into decisions. i'm not trying to apologize for any particular failing of his but i think that explains the huge difference in protest reaction between him and trump
- humanrebar 10y ago
  I think there's truth in that, but how reliable are peoples' feelings? I think the "what about Obama?" questions are getting at this underlying point. Also, it's hard to accommodate protesters when the demands are nebulous concepts of "make me feel better about this". Post Tea Party politics and protests have been rife with this problem.
  - disantlor 10y ago
    It's not really about people's feelings. It's a fact that Obama is intellectually curious, more educated in the constitution, more experienced in government, more honest (by any fact checking metric), and on and on. Again, that doesn't mean he always makes the right decisions. As for the protests, having participated in some, I think the demands are generally clear "cancel the muslim ban", "release your taxes", "dont take away our healthcare", "stand up for the rights of the disenfranchised". I'm sure you can find examples that are less focused but that doesn't prove anything. They aren't all going to be effective, but it's important to show that we're watching and listening and ready to mobilize.
u_wot_m8 10y ago
> I also don't understand how did he became so powerful, every time he talks.. He has charisma of an old rag. Because he's a legitimate genius who has helped create and invested in great businesses.
visakanv 10y ago
> Where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? There were protests in over 80 cities in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_global_surveillance_disclosures https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_global_surveillan...

alphonsegaston 10y ago

The Intercept has written about Obama's abuse of the surveillance state and executive power since its inception. This kind of whataboutism adds little to the discussion.

zzzeek 10y ago

> but where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? right here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/26/nsa-rally-stop-watching-washington-snowden https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/26/nsa-rally-stop... now stop derailing. Thiel is the one in power right now.

ygaf 10y ago
"Yes We Scan", I remember that.
gnipgnip 10y ago
The guy also chairs the steering committee of Bildeberg.

otalp 10y ago

There were numerous pieces on The Guardian, Intercept, NYT and Vox decrying Obama's mass surveillance as a huge blot on his administration and his biggest stain alongside illegal drone strikes. It was literally one of the biggest reasons people aside from Republicans disliked his tenure. There were a ton of protests against mass surveillance around the time of the whole Snowden fiasco, and even the Oscars recognized Citizenfour, which critisised Obama for massively expanding mass surveillance.

rickdale 10y ago
Exactly. It really reminds me of the boy who cried wolf. Republicans made a point to question Obama's faith and whether he is a secret muslim or if he was born here. Meanwhile abhorrent policies are being enacted, but we did get the birth certificate. In the sense of using a distraction to further another agenda I feel like Obama and Trump are the best of the best.
- mattnewton 10y ago
  I really don't think their methods are the same here, are you suggesting Obama created distractions like the birthed movement? I think he just went for it. Trump certainly is creating distractions, actively fostering fatigue.
  - elastic_church 10y ago
    Created? That's not the point All distractions are favorable when you are accountable to people. All.

mayneack 10y ago

The Intercept started as an outlet that primarily reported on Snowden documents during the Obama administration.

burkaman 10y ago

What do you mean where were the protests? Where have you been?

disantlor 10y ago

the thing about Obama is that even if he ultimately made a bad decision you got the feeling (a feeling that i would say is backed up by evidence) that he put thought and care and consideration into decisions. i'm not trying to apologize for any particular failing of his but i think that explains the huge difference in protest reaction between him and trump

humanrebar 10y ago
I think there's truth in that, but how reliable are peoples' feelings? I think the "what about Obama?" questions are getting at this underlying point. Also, it's hard to accommodate protesters when the demands are nebulous concepts of "make me feel better about this". Post Tea Party politics and protests have been rife with this problem.
- disantlor 10y ago
  It's not really about people's feelings. It's a fact that Obama is intellectually curious, more educated in the constitution, more experienced in government, more honest (by any fact checking metric), and on and on. Again, that doesn't mean he always makes the right decisions. As for the protests, having participated in some, I think the demands are generally clear "cancel the muslim ban", "release your taxes", "dont take away our healthcare", "stand up for the rights of the disenfranchised". I'm sure you can find examples that are less focused but that doesn't prove anything. They aren't all going to be effective, but it's important to show that we're watching and listening and ready to mobilize.

u_wot_m8 10y ago

> I also don't understand how did he became so powerful, every time he talks.. He has charisma of an old rag. Because he's a legitimate genius who has helped create and invested in great businesses.

visakanv 10y ago

> Where were the protests when Obama wiretapped the world? There were protests in over 80 cities in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_global_surveillance_disclosures https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_global_surveillan...