Snowden To Call For End To Surveillance In U.K. Christmas Address

[ProSense]

Snowden To Call For End To Surveillance In U.K. Christmas Address

Although he's already declared "mission accomplished," Edward Snowden recorded an address calling for an end to mass government surveillance that is set to air Christmas day in the United Kingdom.

According to the Guardian, the former National Security Agency contractor cited George Orwell's novel "1984" in the address as a warning of "the danger of this kind of information."

He also used the address to highlight the political consequences of his disclosure of top-secret NSA documents, including a federal judge's ruling that the agency's phone records collection program likely violates the U.S. Constitution.

"The conversation occurring today will determine the amount of trust we can place both in the technology that surrounds us and the government that regulates it," Snowden said, as quoted by the Guardian. "Together we can find a better balance, end mass surveillance and remind the government that if it really wants to know how we feel, asking is always cheaper than spying."

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/snowden-to-call-for-end-to-surveillance-in-u-k-christmas-address

LOL!

“I am not trying to bring down the NSA, I am working to improve the NSA,” he said. “I am still working for the NSA right now. They are the only ones who don’t realize it.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024222756

[grasswire]

1. you know you only make the current administration look worse...

....by your attacks on those who defend the Constitution.

Every time I see you do this, I am reminded that Obama will not stand up for our bedrock liberties.

[ProSense]

2. I don't care.

I mean, a bogus correlation is not going to stop me from criticizing Snowden. LOL!

[treestar]

7. The Constitution contains a system which we are using

Eddie went astray from that system. Congress passes laws, not Eddie.

[MADem]

30. All he needs is a gold robe and a podium!

He's right up there with Osama when it comes to hubris!

He had a chance to do it the right way; he even had a buddy on the Intelligence subcomittee, his hero Rand.

Of course, he'd remain unknown, unheralded, and Rand would have gotten all the credit if he'd taken that route.

I hope he has a good supply of Thinsulate longjohns. Wouldn't want to get frostbite...!

[KittyWampus]

13. Won't say what you look like for not noting the obvious… why Snowden doesn't comment on Russia.

[grasswire]

22. where do youse guyz come up with all this crazy stuff?

Is this from the blogger who wants to be a princess more than anything else?

[Tarheel_Dem]

61. Actual "whistleblowers" are beginning to question this guy & his cohorts.

Glenn Greenwald, NSA Documents & Checkbook Journalism (Boiling Frogs Post-Sibel Edmonds)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017165892

[MADem]

63. How dare anyone question his eminence!!

Love the characterization of Edmonds in that thread as "emotional."

Under the bus with ya, Sibby!!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

65. While GG rakes in millions while sunning in his island paradise, Eddie sits here.....

A far cry from his balmy South American destination.

[MADem]

66. Where's Doctor Zhivago?

It looks like a still from that flick!

Some music for Ed...

I hope in addition to ordering his Thinsulate long johns, he ordered himself a few pairs of ballistic (bullet proof) drawers as well. After all, wasn't he the fellah that said leakers should be shot in their gonads?

[Lifelong Dem]

67. Eddie sits there waiting to reunite with GG's fortune in Brazil

Snowden isn't complaining about GG profiting off this and taking in millions. And why Eddie is in talks with Brazil. All this will come out.

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. I look forward to what he has to say.

You, not so much.

Merry Christmas DU! Happy Holidays!

[ProSense]

8. Interesting,

"I look forward to what he has to say.

You, not so much."

...since I don't know who you are. Thanks for commenting. LOL!

[840high]

52. +1 Merry Christmas

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. May his work continue and his wishes come true regarding "surveillance".

[BlueCaliDem]

16. Especially in his new homeland - Russia! eom

[treestar]

6. How did he get that gig away from Julian?

WTF we can't do ANY surveillance? Why doesn't he address his new country?

[Cha]

12. Good freaking point, treestar! Why doesn't Eddie address

Russia!? Oh that's right.. they'd put his ass in jail.

Mele Kalikimaka, treestar~

[treestar]

23. Mele Kalikimaka Cha!

As for Eddie, he'll have to hope Grandfather Frost thinks he behaved this year!

[Cha]

38. I'm sure Russian Grandfather Frost thinks

Ed behaved very well this year.. every Country is getting called out but Mother Russia.

[Luminous Animal]

15. He was invite by channel 4 to make the adrress after the queen

[stevenleser]

31. Yep, he should start with Russia since that is where he now lives. Then China since that was

his second most recent domicile.

Start ranting about the spying and human rights abuses in Russia and China, Snowie.

Let's see how good you can do with that.

[Cha]

40. Right! Where's China on Eddie's list of country's to call..

out on Christmas Day?

Mele Kalikimaka, Steven

[Tarheel_Dem]

62. +1. By the way, have you read any critiques of Mother Russia from GG?

There's an entire community under seige there, that would love to have the support of someone with his high profile.

[riderinthestorm]

9. I think this is excellent! Snowden's emergence as a vocal proponent for NASA checks is great news

I'm sure that's not what you meant in posting this ProSense but I'm glad you did!

Big K&R

[ProSense]

10. “A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all..."

“A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all. They’ll never know what it means to have a private moment to themselves an unrecorded, unanalysed thought. And that’s a problem because privacy matters, privacy is what allows us to determine who we are and who we want to be.”

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/edward-snowden-delivers-channel-4s-alternative-christmas-message

WTF?

LOL!

[ProSense]

11. Kick! n/t

[treestar]

24. Looney tunes, no?

Most of the privacy issues have nothing to do with government, like putting things on Facebook and always being available by phone or email, or having your information organized for convenience. Eddie is deranged. The government isn't "spying" on every single person. They know who you've called and who called you. Or not even that. But Verizon and Comcast do know!

And with single payer they'd know all about your health, too. Though Eddie's probably against that.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. He is such an idiot...he now thinks he knows everything about everything now? Not just

Internet networking?

OMG....

[MADem]

32. And facebook knows if you've been googling, say "sex toys" and can recommend that

you like the page of this Sex Shoppe or that! Never mind that Google searches your g-mail for keywords, and targets ads based on your "private" conversations with your pals!

And every time you pass a cell tower, Sprint or Verizon or even Tracfone can follow you, if they've a mind to so do. It's how the popo catch those murders, running from the scene of the crime....

[ProSense]

39. “A child born today..."

I'm still laughing.

[Lifelong Dem]

60. Wow!

[sheshe2]

68. So is eddie saying, this child's birth should go unrecorded...

“A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all. They’ll never know what it means to have a private moment to themselves an unrecorded..."

for privacy's sake? No birth certificate, nothing? Excuse me?



Is this where eddie picked up that line~

HANDEL GEORGE FRIDERIC – 12. CHORUS: FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN LYRICS

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government
Shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/handel_george_frideric/12_chorus_for_unto_us_a_child_is_born.html

[Cha]

14. As treestar asked.. why doesn't Eddie call for an end to surveillance in his

his adopted country? Instead of his big narcissistic mouth whining about all the other countries. Currying favor with daddy Putin? Just askin'

Mahalo ProSense.

[ProSense]

17. Another gem

Together we can find a better balance, end mass surveillance and remind the government that if it really wants to know how we feel asking is always cheaper than spying.

See comment 10.

[Cha]

19. Yeah, ask the evil sneaky assholes who'd love to have free reign to

plant their fu***** shit how they feel about America

Is the cold Russian winter messing with his brain cells? Tell that to Russia, Eddie.. see what they have to say about a "cheaper better balance".

[treestar]

25. We can speak up too

And tell the government without it asking. He sounds like he lost touch with reality, if he ever was familiar with it.

[BlueCaliDem]

18. Why won't Snowden and Greenwald fans answer the most obvious question posed here?

It's because they can't. They know Snowden is a raging hypocrite but they've been supporting him with passion for so long - while at the same time, excoriating Democrats on a Democratic Party MB - that they'd lose face for cheerleading this anti-America, anti-Democratic Party, pro-Libertarian (Koch bros are Libertarians, too!) tool.

[Cha]

20. "Yay

Putin"

BlueCali~

[ProSense]

21. .

[VanillaRhapsody]

29. Hear Hear!

Its truly disturbing that this is allowed to continue on a Democratic Forum...I just don't get it.

They call themselves democrats then worship Libertarians....

[MADem]

34. It's the most curious thing, isn't it?

They aren't even subtle.

[VanillaRhapsody]

35. definitely not subtle.

The only democrat you ever see supported on Democratic Underground these days is Elizabeth Warren...

But Libertarians are as my grandmother used to say "the bees knees" for them!

I don't know how many times I have just shook my head and looked at the site name to make sure I wasn't someplace else...

[MADem]

37. When EW campaigns for HRC, I think heads will explode! nt

[joshcryer]

53. I don't think they'll publicly denounce her though.

Warren will just get the silent objections.

[MADem]

55. Well, there's always the "She didn't really mean it" excuse - making.

"She was 'forced' by the 'PTB' to endorse and speechify against her will!"

Just like she was "forced" to sign a "Run, Hill, Run!" letter by that Gang of Female Democratic Senators!

[joshcryer]

56. Yeah, but they don't buy that 'excuse' when it comes to Obama.

So their only recourse is to shut the fuck up, which is what they'll do.

Oh don't worry I am sure that they will have plenty of fuel to use.

I do expect a few Vince Foster blowouts and other old Ken Starr investigations being thrown around here.

[BlueCaliDem]

54. Thanks, VanillaRhapsody!

I know what you mean. I read their posts everywhere but especially venerating and passionately defending known Libertarians like Snowden and Greenwald while ignoring or excusing their hypocrisy.

Every mistake they make is ignored or pooh-poohed away while every perceived mistake President Obama makes is blown out of proportion. And when they're ultimately proven wrong, they're too proud to admit that they were and move on to the next perceived boo-boo the Media are reporting and accusing President Obama of having made.

Then they claim to be Liberals. In their own little minds, they actually believe they're the true Liberals when in practice, they're nothing more than useful tools for the GOP and their billionaire puppet-masters, as was the case with Nader in 2000.

These wishy-washy "principled" voters will happily take away votes from Democrats and cast them for candidates who don't have a snowball's chance in Hades to win; candidates with little or zero political experience, and then gripe and moan when a Republican wins the elections and the vicious cycle starts anew.

[VanillaRhapsody]

59. It's been a really good day today...it's done this little democratic heart good

to see such great push back today. There are days when DU is Orwellian! Today is not one of those days. It actually made my night Merry...So thanks right back at you!

[MADem]

33. If he's so into freedom, how about the freedom of LGBT people in Russia to live free of fear?

I guess they can go to hell or something....? Why isn't their freedom and privacy important to fast Eddie?

Pootie is the Surveillance King.

I at first thought Snowden was a misguided lout, then I thought he was a hubris laden jerk, but when I saw that he'd visited HK when he worked in Japan, and the first place he ran to, like a rabbit, was the Russian consulate, I began to think he's an operative.

One of Pootie's crown jewels, certainly. Or family jewels....!

[Cha]

44. Exactly, MADem.. Why isn't he calling Putin out? Intstead of praising him?

Because he's a hypocritical asshole whose only allegiance is to himself and Putin.

[Tanuki]

26. Here are some videos of previous years' alternate addresses

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/alternative-christmas-message-watch-8-2941283

[politichew]

27. I remember when Bin Laden used to release videos during the holidays to taunt us as well.

All extremists operate from the same playbook.

[sagat]

36. I await his call to end Russia's anti-homosexual laws.

[whatchamacallit]

41. Ultimately, I believe history will remember him fondly

You, not so much. Happy Holidays.

[ProSense]

42. "History will remember"

you as "whatchamacallit"




Happy Holidays.

[whatchamacallit]

43. It's all I aspire to be

[Logical]

47. LOL, you were almost 100% wrong on this topic. Snowden exposed the NSA for the public...

to see. And you fought it daily for weeks before giving up. And give up your did.

Now the shit is hitting the fan and they are being exposed.

And you still will not admit he exposed stuff we needed to know about.

[ProSense]

49. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024202440#post20

Enjoy!

[Douglas Carpenter]

45. at the very least we should all be grateful this Christmas for the sacrifice he made so that we all

might be free

[ProSense]

46. Thanks for the laugh.

Happy Holidays.

[Douglas Carpenter]

48. go ahead and laugh - but it is your freedom too that he has given up much of his freedom for

[ProSense]

50. No, no, no,

"go ahead and laugh - but it is your freedom too that he has given up much of his freedom for"

...tell it to the "child born today"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024223859#post10

[treestar]

51. OMG, he is a modern day Paul Revere with a thumb drive that

tyranny is coming!

Really that's waxing way too poetical for me. He did not save us from tyranny, as we have never been close to that.

And he should have gone via the WPA, and he might not have charges pending at all. Or faced the charges, No matter what, he has not made us free! His "sacrifice" is really sketchy, too.

[Douglas Carpenter]

58. thank you

Edward Snowden is a modern day Paul Revere with a thumb drive full of the news that Tyranny is coming!

[JI7]

57. Does anyone have Snowden's comments on Pussy Riot ?

[baldguy]

64. Snowden wants to be the Pope now? I thought he wanted to be Paul Revere?

[SidDithers]

69. Snowden's Christmas Address...

what a fucking clown.

Sid

[anti partisan]

70. In response to all clowns who make claims of Snowden being a hypocrite

Snowden was a U.S. citizen all his life with special access to documents that he felt would make his home country a better place if he released them. He has already done so much to bring what many see as senseless spying into the mainstream political discussion, something that very few people would have the ability to do.

From his mind (and mine too may I add), he has the ability to influence U.S. policy for the better given his background, something that he's not able to do for Russia. He is using Russia and Putin's "hospitality" in order to continue his fight for what he and many others feel is a good cause. He would not be able to have the influence that he has now had he stayed in America, and he has little power to make things better in Russia.

For all you who care so much about Russia's oppressive government, why don't YOU do something to make Russia a better place. You have just as much power as Snowden does (none). Snowden knows where he can exert influence in a favorable direction (from his perspective), and he is doing it to such great success that it's caused an apoplectic reaction in the party-above-morality loyalists. Does anyone here actually support what the NSA is doing, or are you just upset that the revelations are making a Democratic administration look bad?

And just to set something straight, stop confusing civil libertarianism (think ACLU) with general libertarianism (think CATO Institute). Glen Greenwald is definitely NOT a libertarian, but rather a progressive. Snowden has not disclosed that he is a libertarian either from what I have seen, other than that he donated to Ron Paul. But for someone who feels passionately about an issue that the bipartisan Washington consensus opposes you on, it would make sense for someone like him to donate to Ron Paul just to bring some of his civil libertarian issues into mainstream national debate.