3 ms·

Eh, cheer up. Sure, the intelligence agencies will do their best to lie and hide from Congress, but every time they do so, it is one step closer to the hammer c

Eh, cheer up. Sure, the intelligence agencies will do their best to lie and hide from Congress, but every time they do so, it is one step closer to the hammer coming down onto them and their funding being slashed.

MrZongle2 12y ago
Sorry to add to the downer chorus, but I think that would require a majority in both houses to exhibit some integrity and a desire to wield Congressional power. I don't see that happening. Obstructionism, pandering, lobbying and abdication of responsibility? Oh, we've got that in spades.
- ericcumbee 12y ago
  Not to be a double downer, I don't see the current president signing anything that would limit executive power so it would take 2/3rds of both houses to override a veto.
  - gknoy 12y ago
    I concur, with the slight modification: s/current/any/; Not only that, but any bill that successfully passed could, given past history by several presidents, be effectively ignored via executive order.
  - AnimalMuppet 12y ago
    That one's easy to get around. Congress does budgets. If Congress has backbone (but not 2/3 majority backbone), they can pass a budget that de-funds NSA to whatever degree desired. The president can veto it. But then there's no budget, so there's still no money for the NSA...
    - ericcumbee 12y ago
      The easy part is that would take only 1/2 of one chamber. the hard part is forcing a government shutdown is risky business, and maintaining the resolve of the caucus becomes more difficult the longer one drags on.
      - deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
      - Karunamon 12y ago
        And whoever's opposed to it can easily spin the action as a reckless disregard for America's security. (Nevermind I think the NSA could disappear tomorrow in a puff of logic and nobody would be the worse..)
maze-le 12y ago
I wouldn't be so optimistic. A bit of fearmongering here and there. Some idiots from the middle east (or wherever) spreading fear and terror... et viola: New justification for more funds.
- gergles 12y ago
  I'm sure you heard that ISIS has suddenly appeared in the US coincidentally just a few days before the reauthorization of the worst parts of the "Patriot" act came due.
- im3w1l 12y ago
  It's funny because the head of ISIS came from Saddam's intelligence services. I wonder if they have a man or two in NSA...
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]

MrZongle2 12y ago

Sorry to add to the downer chorus, but I think that would require a majority in both houses to exhibit some integrity and a desire to wield Congressional power. I don't see that happening. Obstructionism, pandering, lobbying and abdication of responsibility? Oh, we've got that in spades.

ericcumbee 12y ago
Not to be a double downer, I don't see the current president signing anything that would limit executive power so it would take 2/3rds of both houses to override a veto.
- gknoy 12y ago
  I concur, with the slight modification: s/current/any/; Not only that, but any bill that successfully passed could, given past history by several presidents, be effectively ignored via executive order.
- AnimalMuppet 12y ago
  That one's easy to get around. Congress does budgets. If Congress has backbone (but not 2/3 majority backbone), they can pass a budget that de-funds NSA to whatever degree desired. The president can veto it. But then there's no budget, so there's still no money for the NSA...
  - ericcumbee 12y ago
    The easy part is that would take only 1/2 of one chamber. the hard part is forcing a government shutdown is risky business, and maintaining the resolve of the caucus becomes more difficult the longer one drags on.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
    - Karunamon 12y ago
      And whoever's opposed to it can easily spin the action as a reckless disregard for America's security. (Nevermind I think the NSA could disappear tomorrow in a puff of logic and nobody would be the worse..)

maze-le 12y ago

I wouldn't be so optimistic. A bit of fearmongering here and there. Some idiots from the middle east (or wherever) spreading fear and terror... et viola: New justification for more funds.

gergles 12y ago
I'm sure you heard that ISIS has suddenly appeared in the US coincidentally just a few days before the reauthorization of the worst parts of the "Patriot" act came due.
im3w1l 12y ago
It's funny because the head of ISIS came from Saddam's intelligence services. I wonder if they have a man or two in NSA...
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]