tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post115137801003777603..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: More Bush SpyingAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1151533464698896252006-06-28T16:24:00.000-06:002006-06-28T16:24:00.000-06:00Alonzo,I've followed your blog long enough to know...Alonzo,<BR/>I've followed your blog long enough to know that was what you meant. I did not mean to imply otherwise, and I certainly find it objectionable when persons characterize objections to such programs as opposing fighting terrorism.<BR/><BR/>Actually, the level of vitriol being directed at the Times I feel (to borrow a phrase from Peter Daou) may represent a dangerous inflection point in American politics. Never in my life time have I seen such an open attack on the press. And at the same time as a substantial portion of media figures and pundits are advocating for prosecution of Times journalists, accusing the Times of treason, and declaring the paper to be at war with America the Senate failed to pass an amendment that would turn the Flag into a symbol of censorship by 1 single vote.<BR/><BR/>Earlier today I remarked to a friend that if Sinclair Lewis were alive today he might write a book titled <I>It's Happening Here</I>Hume's Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13551684109760430351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1151496434444865442006-06-28T06:07:00.000-06:002006-06-28T06:07:00.000-06:00Hume's GhostAs I wrote, my objection to the progra...<B>Hume's Ghost</B><BR/><BR/>As I wrote, my objection to the program is not that it is used to hunt terrorists. I have no problem with that.<BR/><BR/>I simply want to make sure that it is used to hunt terrorists, and that the government is not using this power for other ends, such as hunting campaign contributors to political rivals or providing corporate sponsors with intelligence on how their competitors are spending money.<BR/><BR/>I want them to present their arguments to a neutral third party who will say, "Yes, this is an instance of using these tools to hunt terrorists," or "No, I think you are after these people because they have said unkind things about your administration and hurt your feelings (and threatened your hold on political power). You have not shown me that you have good reason to think they are actually terrorists."Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1151434438598253932006-06-27T12:53:00.000-06:002006-06-27T12:53:00.000-06:00I have a feeling that this will someday be viewed ...I have a feeling that this will someday be viewed with the same contempt with which we now regard J. Edgar Hoover's FBI.vjackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05868095335395368227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1151392432241099882006-06-27T01:13:00.000-06:002006-06-27T01:13:00.000-06:00I've found the coverage of the NYT's story to be v...I've found the coverage of the NYT's story to be very troubling. Watching NBC's national news coverage tonight as an example, there was 5 min devoted to discussing Bush and Cheney's outrage that someone would have the gall to publish this story. NBC pointed out that this was the second major story that the NYT has published, giving the impression of increased wrongdoing by the reporters. As well as focusing on Cheney’s statement that the idea that the reporters had received the Pulitzer for their work was reprehensible. All of this added up to an endorsement of the White House's belief in wrongdoing by the NYT.<BR/><BR/>There was zero coverage of the reason that I and many others have been upset about what these stories have revealed about our government. That there is absolutely no oversight in these programs from agencies outside of the control of the White House. There is complete agreement on both sides of the ideological divide that we should be tracking down terrorists, through phone taps, wire transfers, and other means. But, we need to keep the system of checks and balances in place to make sure this is done properly. <BR/><BR/>Bush has still not made a credible case as to why the NSA or any of these other programs need to operate without FISA or other oversite and he’s getting away with it. <BR/><BR/>The solution, from what I see, is to educate those around me when and where I am able. I’ve taken to sending copies of Greenwald’s book to people that I know with the request that they share what they learn with others. I also regularly send email highlights of blog postings to those that haven’t quite taken to finding them on their own yet. Finallly, to make sure that everyone I know is as prepared as possible to vote, left or right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1151387297024527832006-06-26T23:48:00.000-06:002006-06-26T23:48:00.000-06:00To be fair, this program does seem to have had sev...To be fair, this program does seem to have had several successes at tracking/capturing terrorists. But what bothers me about it is that it began as a temporary emergency act, but has taken on permanent status. I'm not comfortable with the idea of the gov't taking on permanent emergency powers.<BR/><BR/>But what troubles me even more is all the people who are ratcheting up the rhetoric against the times while demanding criminal prosecution of its journalists, going so far as to state that the paper "is at war with America."Hume's Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13551684109760430351noreply@blogger.com