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Full disclosure: I am not an American citizen. Having said that, isn't it out of place for PR people from the NSA be asking that the president show a form of p

by walid 13y ago

Full disclosure: I am not an American citizen. Having said that, isn't it out of place for PR people from the NSA be asking that the president show a form of political endorsement for NSA actions while the NSA is just an agency that does what it is told to do. I mean they are not policy makers and all the noise about NSA surveillance expects Congress and the White House to instigate policy change rather than to "show the love" or hate. The NSA in effect is just an employee, not a policy maker. Am I missing something?

philwelch 13y ago
Officially, federal agencies are accountable to the elected government and only do as they are tasked. I invite you to study the history of these agencies and determine for yourself whether or not that's really true.
poof131 13y ago
The NSA did what the President asked them to do. Now the President is distancing himself from them for his own political reasons. Americans loathe to blame the leaders they elect, for then they would have to blame themselves. It is easier to blame a rouge Agency. But the only rouge actions of the NSA is the PR you are talking about.
- alan_cx 13y ago
  Hang on, didnt this start with Clinton, then get widened with each president? If so, then the NSA have been doing what the political establishments wanted, backed by the democratic votes of American people. What I don't like about this is the voters pretending they had nothing to do with it, when their votes endorse each president, and both houses. You cant run from responsibility in a democracy. Americans need to wake up and smell the BS. If grass roots money was enough to get Obama to the top job, which we are led to believe, then grass roots can create a new party. But frankly, I know this will never happen, because when you get down to it, most people are safe enough, employed enough, fed enough and distracted enough, and will there for never risk losing that for a sort of political revolution. Why risk it? UK wise, on one gives a toss in any way shape or form really. The apathy is stunning. Yeah, it gets a mention in the press, and there has been a bit of tokenistic questioning in parliament, but basically, its a non issue. Personally, I find the whole thing depressing. What scares me is wondering how far things do have to go until people revolt, and how many have to suffer before that happens. I think one of the cynical calculations in all this is that these governments have worked out that if only a few people, preferably foreigners, suffer as a result, they will get away with it. So be as bad as you like, just keep the numbers down and try not to make it effect the voters much.
- walid 13y ago
  > Now the President is distancing himself from them for his own political reasons. But whether the President distances himself or not is irrelevant. The agency is still nothing more than a tasked employee. So when people object to the NSA's actions they are essentially objecting to the policy and the choices the policy makers set in place. Also when the NSA is blamed with overreach, it is blamed for not following orders within the boundaries of the law. So if it was the first point that is the center of this debacle then both the President and Congress are responsible for the NSA's actions. If it is the second point then the NSA, the President and Congress shoulder the blame. Either way, this has nothing to do with the President distancing himself.

by walid 13y ago

philwelch 13y ago

Officially, federal agencies are accountable to the elected government and only do as they are tasked. I invite you to study the history of these agencies and determine for yourself whether or not that's really true.

poof131 13y ago

The NSA did what the President asked them to do. Now the President is distancing himself from them for his own political reasons. Americans loathe to blame the leaders they elect, for then they would have to blame themselves. It is easier to blame a rouge Agency. But the only rouge actions of the NSA is the PR you are talking about.

alan_cx 13y ago
Hang on, didnt this start with Clinton, then get widened with each president? If so, then the NSA have been doing what the political establishments wanted, backed by the democratic votes of American people. What I don't like about this is the voters pretending they had nothing to do with it, when their votes endorse each president, and both houses. You cant run from responsibility in a democracy. Americans need to wake up and smell the BS. If grass roots money was enough to get Obama to the top job, which we are led to believe, then grass roots can create a new party. But frankly, I know this will never happen, because when you get down to it, most people are safe enough, employed enough, fed enough and distracted enough, and will there for never risk losing that for a sort of political revolution. Why risk it? UK wise, on one gives a toss in any way shape or form really. The apathy is stunning. Yeah, it gets a mention in the press, and there has been a bit of tokenistic questioning in parliament, but basically, its a non issue. Personally, I find the whole thing depressing. What scares me is wondering how far things do have to go until people revolt, and how many have to suffer before that happens. I think one of the cynical calculations in all this is that these governments have worked out that if only a few people, preferably foreigners, suffer as a result, they will get away with it. So be as bad as you like, just keep the numbers down and try not to make it effect the voters much.
walid 13y ago
> Now the President is distancing himself from them for his own political reasons. But whether the President distances himself or not is irrelevant. The agency is still nothing more than a tasked employee. So when people object to the NSA's actions they are essentially objecting to the policy and the choices the policy makers set in place. Also when the NSA is blamed with overreach, it is blamed for not following orders within the boundaries of the law. So if it was the first point that is the center of this debacle then both the President and Congress are responsible for the NSA's actions. If it is the second point then the NSA, the President and Congress shoulder the blame. Either way, this has nothing to do with the President distancing himself.