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I'm curous. Could someone tell me how the republicans feelings are towards all this? Are they doing something? They are in some way in a bad position. Much of t

by aluhut 13y ago

I'm curous. Could someone tell me how the republicans feelings are towards all this? Are they doing something? They are in some way in a bad position. Much of the stuff has been established under Bush but on the other hand they pretend to "protect the constitution" and of course they don't like Obama.

joelgrus 13y ago
It varies, the "national security Republicans" are all for the surveillance, e.g. http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/12/mike-rogers-defends-nsa-data-collection-180105.html http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/12/mike-rog... whereas the "libertarian Republicans" are just as strongly against it, e.g. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/12/amash-backed_bill_aimed_to_end.html http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/12/ama...
- ScottBurson 13y ago
  It really is an issue that cuts across party lines. I've found that people of a libertarian bent get offended when I suggest this. If they're Republicans, they think that the GOP is the bastion of liberty and the Democrats are the authoritarians. If they're Democrats, it's the converse. But it seems to me that the issue is pretty close to orthogonal to party affiliation. One example is California's two senators: both Democrats, but Feinstein is famously authoritarian, while Boxer AFAIK tends in the other direction.
dblarons 13y ago
I think this issue is causing real identity problems for many in the Republican party. As noted above, the libertarian wing is clearly against surveillance. However, IMO some of the most fundamental tenants of conservatism are anti-authoritarian, leaving pro-surveillance conservatives on the wrong side of the aisle in many respects. It is absolutely astonishing to me that so many conservatives defend mass surveillance. As for the laws being established under Bush, I don't actually see that as a factor in many people's minds. I find that many conservatives hardly consider Bush to be an exemplary Republican and thus aren't ashamed to criticize his presidency. Many of his policies were so contradictory to the core conservative philosophy (education reform, surveillance, Patriot Act). Of the conservatives in my area, I'm hearing everything from people who care a lot all the way to people who have no idea there were leaks. Which, it is important to note, is what makes this issue so strange. From what I can tell, the same has happened in the Democratic party. Crazy!
- aluhut 13y ago
  This sounds really crazy and paradox. Thank you all for the insight.

by aluhut 13y ago

joelgrus 13y ago

It varies, the "national security Republicans" are all for the surveillance, e.g. http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/12/mike-rogers-defends-nsa-data-collection-180105.html http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/12/mike-rog... whereas the "libertarian Republicans" are just as strongly against it, e.g. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/12/amash-backed_bill_aimed_to_end.html http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/12/ama...

ScottBurson 13y ago
It really is an issue that cuts across party lines. I've found that people of a libertarian bent get offended when I suggest this. If they're Republicans, they think that the GOP is the bastion of liberty and the Democrats are the authoritarians. If they're Democrats, it's the converse. But it seems to me that the issue is pretty close to orthogonal to party affiliation. One example is California's two senators: both Democrats, but Feinstein is famously authoritarian, while Boxer AFAIK tends in the other direction.

dblarons 13y ago

I think this issue is causing real identity problems for many in the Republican party. As noted above, the libertarian wing is clearly against surveillance. However, IMO some of the most fundamental tenants of conservatism are anti-authoritarian, leaving pro-surveillance conservatives on the wrong side of the aisle in many respects. It is absolutely astonishing to me that so many conservatives defend mass surveillance. As for the laws being established under Bush, I don't actually see that as a factor in many people's minds. I find that many conservatives hardly consider Bush to be an exemplary Republican and thus aren't ashamed to criticize his presidency. Many of his policies were so contradictory to the core conservative philosophy (education reform, surveillance, Patriot Act). Of the conservatives in my area, I'm hearing everything from people who care a lot all the way to people who have no idea there were leaks. Which, it is important to note, is what makes this issue so strange. From what I can tell, the same has happened in the Democratic party. Crazy!

aluhut 13y ago
This sounds really crazy and paradox. Thank you all for the insight.