Author Topic: Edward Snowden- NSA leaker- hero or traitor? (Read 3430 times)

two-blocked · « **on:** June 11, 2013, 08:11:54 AM »

Who do you agree with?

"He's a traitor."
-- House Speaker John Boehner

"Hero of the Year."
-- Michael Moore

"Treason...Bring back the death penalty."
-- Fox News analyst Ralph Peters

"The man for which I have waited. Earmarks of a real hero."
-- Glenn Beck

"An act of treason."
-- Sen. Dianne Feinstein

"When you have a dictatorship or an authoritarian government, truth becomes treasonous...For somebody to tell the American people the truth is a heroic effort."
-- Ron Paul

I'm going with the team of Boehner and Feinstein

BBF · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2013, 08:40:04 AM »

I tend to go with the side the Govt. has their knickers in a knot.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2013, 08:41:41 AM »

If I had pick one of the above... I'd go with Ron Paul.

I am glad to learn of this program. It is not a huge surprise. It is something we should be aware of. Throw him in prison for that? HELL NO

fatercat · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2013, 08:46:15 AM »

there is a saying about evil will prevail unless one good man stands up. wish someone would reply with it. alot of good americans have died fighting men with higher morals than some people in our goverment. it is very sad to see the crooks and liers we have in office. that goes for both sides. we are going to fall if things don't change.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2013, 09:04:35 AM »

Quote from: fatercat on June 11, 2013, 08:46:15 AM

there is a saying about evil will prevail unless one good man stands up. wish someone would reply with it.

You're likely thinking of a quote sometimes attributed to Edmund Burke, Irishman & 18th century of house of commons member who supported our revolution - "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2013, 09:13:47 AM »

Really don't know . We know little about him or what he did/does for the govt. Is he being paid by another govt. to embarrass the US govt ? Is he really doing it to show the truth ? What is the truth ? Is he drawing fire to allow something else to slip under the radar ? Is he part of a plot to destroy the WH ? I really don't have a clue and really don't know if we will ever know the truth. But take the blinders off and pay attention.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2013, 11:09:52 AM »

If he did it for the reasons he stated he is a hero! cost him a 200g job and his life as he knew it. I dunno! if 2 blocked wants him executed I say he must be a hero!

powderman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2013, 12:48:54 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on June 11, 2013, 11:09:52 AM

If he did it for the reasons he stated he is a hero! cost him a 200g job and his life as he knew it. I dunno! if 2 blocked wants him executed I say he must be a hero!

OS. Agreed Sir. This man exposed husseins people for the lowlifes they really are. He also exposed a breach in security that might benefit an HONEST potus. POWDERMAN.

Dee · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2013, 01:20:47 PM »

Speakin up for what is right, is not always a popular thing. I say hero.

dwalk · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2013, 01:25:17 PM »

let it play out...only "Time will tell"

magooch · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2013, 01:36:40 PM »

I don't know if we'll ever know the whole truth, but I do know that none of us know enough right now to make a judgement.

What I really wonder is what our Congress has been doing for oversight in the area of electronic surveillance of all types. If Congress doesn't hold up their end, then they are every bit as culpable as the Executive branch, because they wrote and passed the authorization laws in the first place. If they had any doubts at all about the programs, they should have called for it to be curtailed until it passed muster with the Constitution.

I still say that only a fool would really think that your phone calls, emails, tweets, or whatever are private. Assume you're being watched and listened to and suit yourself what you share with others--and the guvmint spooks.

fatercat · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2013, 02:04:03 PM »

thanks yellowtail. gonna start a therad about that.

Flash · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2013, 03:10:05 PM »

I think he's a hero and its about time this happened. Snowden blew the cover off the BS coming from capitol hill. All those that are saying its treason in the OP are those that disregard our rights anyway so to hell with them. Now let the lies fly to cover this up.

Flash · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2013, 03:14:01 PM »

Quote from: dwalk on June 11, 2013, 01:25:17 PM

let it play out...only "Time will tell"

Are you serious? He's going to be hunted and killed and the story will read that he was armed and fired on authorities. I hope he gets asylum in Russia and sings like a canary.

thumper113 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2013, 03:16:52 PM »

I was leaning toward hero until I saw the part about the operatives he exposed because he didn't like their methods of turning informants. Now I'm in a wait and see mode.

Flash · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2013, 03:23:05 PM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on June 11, 2013, 09:13:47 AM

Really don't know . We know little about him or what he did/does for the govt. Is he being paid by another govt. to embarrass the US govt ? Is he really doing it to show the truth ? What is the truth ? Is he drawing fire to allow something else to slip under the radar ? Is he part of a plot to destroy the WH ? I really don't have a clue and really don't know if we will ever know the truth. But take the blinders off and pay attention.

He doesn't have to be part of a plot to destroy the white house, that happened when Obama was elected. What could slip under the radar that would be better than a spotlight on the big liberal ruse on capital hill? Life on Mars???

scootrd · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2013, 04:43:55 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on June 11, 2013, 11:09:52 AM

OS. Agreed Sir. This man exposed husseins people for the lowlifes they really are. He also exposed a breach in security that might benefit an HONEST potus. POWDERMAN.

Just so we are not rewriting history. For the record , These programs began under the previous administration. I'm also not surprised in the least they exist.

He is guilty of breech of security, and most certainly be prosecuted under espionage act.
Although I applaud his moral compass and conscience for leaking, it does not get him off the hook lawfully .
Hes seems to be a big boy , and understands he knows what he did was criminal, but felt morally he had too.

Those willing to give up liberty for security deserve neither and will lose both" -Ben Franklin.

twoshooter · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:00:52 PM »

We have all seen the size of the new complex being built in UTAH. Do you doubt that if the space is there that it will be filled ? What will it take to fill it ? Do you trust all the bureaucrats , contractors, IT staff to gather , store, categorize and keep all that data without using it ?
If any individual did that, they would classify it as "Stalking", a crime, even if there were no threats made or overt actions taken. Would you prosecute someone who pointed that out to you??

Dee · « **Reply #18 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:02:17 PM »

Quote from: scootrd on June 11, 2013, 04:43:55 PM

Quote from: Oldshooter on June 11, 2013, 11:09:52 AM
OS. Agreed Sir. This man exposed husseins people for the lowlifes they really are. He also exposed a breach in security that might benefit an HONEST potus. POWDERMAN.

Just so we are not rewriting history. For the record , These programs began under the previous administration. I'm also not surprised in the least they exist.

He is guilty of breech of security, and most certainly be prosecuted under espionage act.
Although I applaud his moral compass and conscience for leaking, it does not get him off the hook lawfully .
Hes seems to be a big boy , and understands he knows what he did was criminal, but felt morally he had too.

I agree scootrd. I think his intentions are to STEP UP cause no one else will. On the other hand, to try him, they will have to let him speak. Unless he has an "unfortunate accident".

powderman · « **Reply #19 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:20:29 PM »

DEE. Ron Paul believes the govt may try to kill Snowden. POWDERMAN.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/11/ron-paul-us-government-may-try-to-kill-whistleblower/

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:44:33 PM »

The 4th Amendment means what it says, this guy is a hero.

powderman · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:58:13 PM »

No doubt hussein has people looking for him to silence him. I don't believe I've ever seen so much corruption, lies and deceptions in my life as I have with obummer. When will people finally stand up and say NO MORE. Hussein and all around him are pure evil. POWDERMAN.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #22 on:** June 12, 2013, 03:08:05 AM »

Most likely the roots go back to the first Bush.

ChungDoQuan · « **Reply #23 on:** June 12, 2013, 04:54:28 AM »

Watch out, folks! Snowden himself is part of the smoke'n'mirrors. BOTH parties are involved here. They are going to point the media at this guy and deluge us with all kinds of information about his background, his personality, his friends, etc. Meanwhile, they're going to downplay the real story--- how the most secret agency in the world can justify paying $5.9 BILLION to a corpo-communist private company to do their job (while cutting food stamps by over $4 billion--- there, I got in my Left jab!

) --- all taxpayers' money, especially when that company consists mainly of ex-intelligence officials now making salaries in the high 6 figures, and sometimes 7 figures. Booz Allen is also in the portfolio of many sitting members of Congress and the Senate, so they are actually paying themselves--- with OUR money. Y'all wanted a scandal? Snowden just handed you one. I don't know if he's a villain or a hero, but he's about to become a scapegoat and a patsy. "Bipartisan consensus" is the same as "single party rule."

RevJim · « **Reply #24 on:** June 12, 2013, 05:04:41 AM »

According to the President, we can't be "100% secure and have 100% privacy". Anyone really feel you are 100% secure? I too would like more info on Snowden, but I don't know where I would get it...maybe I'm just cynical...or jaded. But honestly, no, I don't feel 100% secure, there is no such thing; an old saying is "Don't pee down my neck and tell me it's raining"! I also feel that we Americans have not HAD 100% privacy for decades...so for me, if all this NSA stuff is benign, they shouldn't expect me to 100% Trust until they 100% Verify its benign! Just my .02 (for complete Transcript go to www.youcantrustyourgovtwithallyourpersonaldata.com and ask for "Bob the Intern".

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #25 on:** June 12, 2013, 10:19:24 AM »

If every American was armed and could defend themselves when needed without worry of prosecution it would be better. But freedom has a cost , it's a matter of who controls the cost .

ChungDoQuan · « **Reply #26 on:** June 12, 2013, 11:56:33 AM »

Does that have anything to do with this topic?

scootrd · « **Reply #27 on:** June 12, 2013, 02:15:37 PM »

Snowden is not the issue. He was just the deliverer of the message.

Those willing to give up liberty for security deserve neither and will lose both" -Ben Franklin.

Not to stray too much from the topic.

The larger issue is the program(s) themselves.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Mike in Virginia · « **Reply #28 on:** June 12, 2013, 02:46:34 PM »

Leaking gov't secrets is nothing short of treason. If he is outside the U.S., I support taking him out with a drone.

Any person who betrays his country should have nothing in his future but execution.

I don't mean for this to degrade into another "drone" thread, but I fully support the use of drones to remove traitors IF they are outside the protection of the Constitution. And no one who flees or resides in a foreign nation is protected under the Constitution, regardless of nationality. I say remove him from among the living. He is a traitor.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 12, 2013, 02:51:56 PM »

Quote from: Mike in Virginia on June 12, 2013, 02:46:34 PM

Leaking gov't secrets is nothing short of treason. If he is outside the U.S., I support taking him out with a drone. ... I say remove him from among the living. He is a traitor.

What - no trial? Just a word from Obama's AG, and then kill one of our fellow citizens who sought to warn of of gov't abuse of power?

are you nuts?