President Obama says NSA program totally transparent.

[Savannahmann]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeedpolitics/president-obama-defends-nsa-spying

Transparent. It's so transparent, that Clapper had to tell the least untruthful lie that he could while under oath before congress. It's so transparent, that Snowden is a traitor who has betrayed this secret, and may in fact, start World War III by releasing information that is "transparent" according to some here. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023034235

First thing we have to do is send some Dictionaries to Washington, because I don't think these words mean what they think they mean.

[PSPS]

1. Yeah, that Obama says a lot of things, doesn't he?

[kentuck]

2. As if he would know...

huh?

[Savannahmann]

5. My point is this

The program may have been a lot of things, but transparent isn't one of those things.

We can argue the efficacy, and I have. We can argue the constitutionality, and I have. We can argue the morality, and I certainly have. But the one thing we can't do is pretend that a program so secret that Clapper had to tell the least untruthful lie (An artful term if I have ever heard one) while under oath to protect the program is in any way transparent.

[KittyWampus]

9. what program specifically are you talking about? Which one is Obama talking about? While I read what

he said and comprehended it in context, you did not.

[HubertHeaver]

3. Its so transparent that it is invisible!

[allin99]

14. lol. :D

[bvar22]

23. Oh man... Nailed It!

[midnight]

28. Very funny...

[Gravitycollapse]

31. ...

[L0oniX]

37. +1

[Coccydynia]

43. Ahh! I wrote the same comment before reading yours!

[HubertHeaver]

58. Great minds and all that.

Thanks!

[Mojorabbit]

55. LOL :) nt

[Swede Atlanta]

4. Hey Barack.....

We had your back....we funded your campaigns and now you fuck with us?

The payback from those of us that feel violated will be very straight-forward.

The payback will be in the form of pocketbook denial, public protest and never voting for any of the candidates in 2016 that will help you. You will be a lame duck president with no leverage in Congress. So sorry your legacy will be as a loser. You inspired us to great things and then betrayed us. You betrayed the American people. I hope you can live with yourself.

[avaistheone1]

6. So transparent that I can see right through him.

[Coccydynia]

44. I see what you did there. Well played.

[Art_from_Ark]

51. You're looking through him

[HardTimes99]

52. I am in total awe - "Love has a nasty habit

of disapearing overnight."

Bravo!

[avaistheone1]

53. That works!

Very apropos.

[KittyWampus]

7. He was very specifically talking about the program using FISA courts >>> and Congressional oversight

Barack Obama: It is transparent. That’s why we set up the FISA court…. The whole point of my concern, before I was president — because some people say, “Well, you know, Obama was this raving liberal before. Now he’s, you know, Dick Cheney.” Dick Cheney sometimes says, “Yeah, you know? He took it all lock, stock, and barrel.” My concern has always been not that we shouldn’t do intelligence gathering to prevent terrorism, but rather are we setting up a system of checks and balances? So, on this telephone program, you’ve got a federal court with independent federal judges overseeing the entire program. And you’ve got Congress overseeing the program, not just the intelligence committee and not just the judiciary committee — but all of Congress had available to it before the last reauthorization exactly how this program works.

[JoePhilly]

10. You are ruining perfectly good outrage by inserting meaningful details.

[rug]

11. The FISA Court is a model of transparency.

Because of the sensitive nature of its business, the court is a "secret court": its hearings are closed to the public, and, while records of the proceedings are kept, those records are also not available to the public. (Copies of those records with classified information redacted can and have been made public.) Due to the classified nature of its proceedings, only government attorneys are usually permitted to appear before the court. Due to the nature of the matters heard before it, court hearings may need to take place at any time of day or night, weekdays or weekends; thus, at least one judge must be "on call" at all times to hear evidence and decide whether or not to issue a warrant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Court

[marions ghost]

15. Not comforting

Somedays I don't even think Obama really understands how the massive data mining systems work, If he can say that congress and secret courts really protect us.

He had to support this whole Booshcheney policy up to this point. But beyond this he needs to call for investigation. Because there hasn't been enough over sight, obviously.

Obviously.

[Skittles]

16. ah, the FISA rubberstampers

[Major Hogwash]

18. They don't want the truth.

They want to post pad their post counts by whining, saying they are the "real liberals" or "real Democrats".

[TheKentuckian]

19. There is no such thing as transparency in a secret program, absurd by definition.

If you want to claim oversight, at least it is within the definition no matter how farcical and unaccountable to the people.

Everything isn't going to be transparent, there is no shame in that. By definition covert operations can't be transparent. The word usage is clumsy to the point of seeming to just be willful misinformation throwing a focus group favorite around to paint a logically false picture.

[rhett o rick]

24. I cant believe you fall for that crap. The FISA court is a joke. A rubber stamp for the NSA.

And Congressional oversight is also a joke. When Nadler tried to explain what he heard in a closed session, he was told to shut the fuck up. What the crap can the Congressional "oversight" do when everything is secret?? But as long as you feel secure, I guess our freedoms and liberty dont matter.

[Go Vols]

34. All of Congress?

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, disclosed on Thursday that during a secret briefing to members of Congress, he was told that the contents of a phone call could be accessed "simply based on an analyst deciding that."

If the NSA wants "to listen to the phone," an analyst's decision is sufficient, without any other legal authorization required, Nadler said he learned. "I was rather startled," said Nadler, an attorney and congressman who serves on the House Judiciary committee.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57589495-38/nsa-spying-flap-extends-to-contents-of-u.s-phone-calls/

[Th1onein]

54. The FISA warrant granted access to DOMESTIC targets. It has NO JURISDICTION.

It is a FOREIGN intelligence court. Why the fuck is it granting access to DOMESTIC targets? The whole of fucking Verizon's communications, FFS!

[Savannahmann]

56. That is not transparent

That is perhaps oversight, perhaps review, but transparent has a completely different meaning.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/transparent?s=t

adjective
1. having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

2. admitting the passage of light through interstices.

3. so sheer as to permit light to pass through; diaphanous.

4. easily seen through, recognized, or detected: transparent excuses.

5. manifest; obvious: a story with a transparent plot.

That is my point, words have meanings, and the word transparent would imply that everyone would have known, because it was conducted fully in the public eye. A transparent trial would be one in which everyone could see what is going on and form their own opinions. A transparent process is one in which everyone is informed of the goings on.

Transparent is not one where you lie under oath, although to his credit Clapper told the least untruthful lie he could. That is not transparent, that is the opposite of transparent, that would be the antonym of transparent.

[cali]

57. there's nothing transparent about a secret court. nothing. it's

just embarrassing to see someone claim that.

[JoePhilly]

8. President Obama hates America.

[rhett o rick]

25. No, he loves Penny Pritzker and her millions. nm

[Warren Stupidity]

12. Not intentionally.

[Hydra]

13. The White House, mangling language again...

How many decades does this make?

[Catherina]

17. So transparent that it's the tip of the iceberg

They must really think we're stupid. Don't they have someone reliable keeping a finger on the pulse of the people? Or are they relaying on their two-way propaganda machine for feedback?

[Daemonaquila]

20. Wait. What? Bwahahaha!

But.. But... no, bwahahahaha!

[Demo_Chris]

21. Amazingly, I have reached the point where I no long care what he says. I've lost count of the lies..

As a party we need to decide what it is that we believe in, what our core principles are, and what we will tolerate from our representatives. Speaking only for myself, he's so far gone as to no longer matter. Right now I am looking at the party to see what they will do. If they continue to march along with this guy or give him a pass then it is time for us to part ways.

[rhett o rick]

26. We are doomed. In 2016 we will have to decide between two centrists,

Clinton or Christie. They might as well run together.

[Demo_Chris]

30. Remember in Ghostbusters, "Choose the form of the Destructor!" nt

[rhett o rick]

33. If Clinton runs against Christie, I am voting for Nader. nm

[Dragonfli]

46. Does that mean I get to vote for the "stay puft marshmallow man"?

When he screws us at least I will have my smores....

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. As clear as mud. Unwittingly. n/t

[Union Scribe]

27. Obama is handling this really poorly. nt

[bvar22]

29. That is just sad.

....just fucking sad.
The only thing transparent are the Emperor's New Clothes.
The swarm will be here shortly commenting on the stylishness and radiant colors of his new clothes.

That is just sad too.


[font size=5]Obama's Army, Jan. 21, 2009[/font]

[font size=5]"Oh, What could have been."[/font]

[rhett o rick]

35. He sold his soul to be President. nm

[Coccydynia]

45. It only seemed like an army. It was a following

Much like members of a cult. Sure, some escaped. But most just drank the koolaid.

[ReRe]

36. Someone told him what to say....

.... after giving him an offer he couldn't refuse? He's either brainwashed or complicit. I say brainwashed. Can you imagine being surrounded on all sides by the MIC and the CORPORATION, who combined, really run OUR country? Inconceivable? Very conceivable! Thanks for the info, Savannahmann.

[delrem]

40. I say totally complicit.

[Coccydynia]

47. There is no evidence he was forced

Into his "new" positions, but much evidence that he always held these positions, and I merely a liar.

I freely admit to being duped the first time. But I learned from the evidence to not be duped a second time.

[Fire Walk With Me]

38. Nothing says "transparent" like something that has 2 b leaked 2 b known

Liz Mair ?@LizMair

Nothing says "transparent" like something that has 2 b leaked 2 b known

[kickysnana]

39. Oh Pinocchio what shall we do with you? n/t

[Puzzledtraveller]

41. Whatever Mr. President, whatever

[Coccydynia]

42. So transparent it is invisible

[SCUBANOW]

48. LOL, that is a good one.

[HooptieWagon]

49. Fighting the release of a court decision finding NSA acted illegally is transparent?

Is today backwards day? Transparent is giving Congressional oversight committee the "least untruthful" answer?

Some words of advice, Mr. President... If you find yourself in a hole, the first order of business is to stop digging.

[ohheckyeah]

50. What?

So, what happens is that the FBI — if, in fact, it now wants to get content; if, in fact, it wants to start tapping that phone — it’s got to go to the FISA court with probable cause and ask for a warrant.

The FISA court shouldn't have jurisdiction over domestic to domestic data.

[bobduca]

59. F = Foreign

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court