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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRon Wyden: The Lonely Hero of the Battle Against the Surveillance State
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/10/ron-wyden-the-lonely-hero-of-the-battle-against-the-surveillance-state/280782/When historians write about the civil-liberties crisis of this decade, the story will be full of vivid figuresBradley, now Chelsea, Manning, the fragile soldier who broke in a battle zone and has paid a high price; Edward Snowden, the high-school dropout who did a data-dump of the government's deepest secrets and ended up cowering in Sheremetyevo Airport; Julian Assange, the flawed prophet of global leaks seeking refuge from sex-abuse charges in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
But if there is any good outcome to the current miserable situation, it will also be the work of a figure a who is a good deal less colorful but much more durable: Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon.
For years before the Snowden leaks, the Democratic lawmaker had been carefully balancing two imperatives: his own oath as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee to keep the secrets conveyed in confidence to the committee; and his larger commitment to the American people, who were being fed a diet of soothing lies.
Ideally, the committee would represent the people, advocating their interests behind closed doors. But, Wyden says, Congress can't do vigorous oversight if they can't get straight answers.
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Ron Wyden: The Lonely Hero of the Battle Against the Surveillance State (Original Post)
xchrom
Oct 2013
OP
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)1. The man who has said the most
whilst saying as little as possible and no more than allowed, but still tried to give a clear warning.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)3. We have the two coolest fucking senators anyone could want
Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley. Wyden has finally gotten way up there on the seniority list which is great.
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)7. uppity