CIA spies on Senate, yet Obama has "full confidence" in its leader?

[glenn1]

WTF is Obama's problem? This is the ultimate nightmare scenario anyone who cares about keeping our spy agencies in check, and the President doesn't seem to care, just shrugs his shoulder at what may be the worst breach of trust in the nation's history? If this doesn't bother him then what would the CIA need to do to get Obama mad, say they won't pay for birth control pills for women?


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/01/obama-john-brennan-cia_n_5642534.html

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said Friday that he has "full confidence" in Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan, despite calls for his resignation over a damning report that found employees snooped on computers used by U.S. Senate staff to investigate the agency.

"Keep in mind that John Brennan was the person who called for the [inspector general] report," the president said.

According to a CIA Inspector General’s Office report, agency employees in 2009 hacked Senate computers being used to compile a report on the agency’s infamous detention and interrogation program -- a move that critics have characterized as a significant breach of the separation of powers.

Despite issuing an apology to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Brennan's vocal defense of the agency earlier this year has infuriated lawmakers, some of whom who are now calling for the director's resignation.

On Thursday, Sens. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) all slammed the CIA on the matter. Udall and Heinrich called on Brennan to resign.

At a news conference Friday, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the agency's conduct was especially troubling and could possibly even be "worse than criminal."

Brennan has convened an accountability board -- chaired by former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), who was previously a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee -- to investigate the matter.

In a softly worded statement Thursday, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called the effort to conduct a review a "positive first step." The report "corrects the record and it is my understanding that a declassified report will be made available to the public shortly," she added.

 

[ivwshane]

I'm sure he is the only one who has confidence in that guy. The CIA needs an overhaul from top to bottom. Too bad only one guy in congress thinks this and it so happens to be one of the crazy ones, thanks rand.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Obama has no choice. He doesn't have any control over the intelligence agencies, and Congress ordered the CIA to spy on themselves and if Obama says anything not nice about the CIA then Republicans might say bad things about him. That should cover most of the apologist's arguments.

Wake up people, this is what O wants.

 

[irishScott]

Obama is and always has been a charismatic bureaucrat. He has "full confidence" in anyone who doesn't ruffle his feathers and is subservient to him. That seems to be his only compass politically speaking.

But at this point he's a lame duck and he knows it. His apparent acceptance of this status is indicative of his lack of leadership. The last time he showed an ounce of actual leadership was Obamacare, and that's only because the Republicans were so brazenly butthurt a sea cucumber would look like an effective leader opposite them.

 

[marincounty]

Remember the Republicans didn't even want to investigate this. Everything's fine, put your fingers in your ears so you hear nothing.
Where are all the righties bashing Feinstein for pushing this? Hello?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Remember the Republicans didn't even want to investigate this. Everything's fine, put your fingers in your ears so you hear nothing.
Where are all the righties bashing Feinstein for pushing this? Hello?

Well I've beaten both sides for this crap so no one can say I've played favorites. You mention the Republicans, well House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers is one and he's on Obama's side. He doubts the CIA spied on the Senate. And Feinstein is all for spying as long as it is anyone but her. Her 4th Amendment rights violated she says. Screw ours of course.

Get this one thing right regarding all this. The Republicans are scoundrels here, but so are the Democrats. Are you going to put your fingers in your ears and hold one side accountable and forgive your own? If not you how about the others? How many Republicans will do this? How many Democrats? Too, too many and that lets our common enemies (and I do view them that way) use their faithful as the fools they are. What a shame.

 

[marincounty]

You are a fool if you think governments don't spy on their citizens. They are going too far when they are spying on our elected representatives. They are our last hope for any chance at justice.
And Republicans don't even want to know if they are being spied on . That's just pathetic.
Feinstein was one of the few that even raised a question, I'll give her credit for that.
Where were all of your tea bag Senators like Ted Cruz on this one? MIA

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You are a fool if you think governments don't spy on their citizens. They are going too far when they are spying on our elected representatives. They are our last hope for any chance at justice.
And Republicans don't even want to know if they are being spied on . That's just pathetic.
Feinstein was one of the few that even raised a question, I'll give her credit for that.
Where were all of your tea bag Senators like Ted Cruz on this one? MIA

Ahh, so Feinstein has constitutional rights, but you or I don't. Feinstein has constantly supported suppressing investigation of abuse, but yeah, you'll give her credit for being upset for her royal personage being violated. Justice? At the hands of the criminal? Seriously? You want pathetic? That would be hacks who protect their own who do evil. All too glad to point in out in others, but yours? Oh they are our last hope. Bullshit. Ted Cruz? Well if he wants to spy on citizens and rip up the Constitution but cries when it happens to him I'll give him the same crap I gave Bush and his kin. I don't care for him any more than any of the others. Damn hacks.

 

[Attic]

Whatever Obama really thinks, given the current environment he has to come out in support of this guy. Whatever the leader of the CIA prioritizes, it is not telling the truth. This causes him to sound like a real asshole when he's caught lying.

Its politics, not morals.

 

[ivwshane]

Ahh, so Feinstein has constitutional rights, but you or I don't. Feinstein has constantly supported suppressing investigation of abuse, but yeah, you'll give her credit for being upset for her royal personage being violated. Justice? At the hands of the criminal? Seriously? You want pathetic? That would be hacks who protect their own who do evil. All too glad to point in out in others, but yours? Oh they are our last hope. Bullshit. Ted Cruz? Well if he wants to spy on citizens and rip up the Constitution but cries when it happens to him I'll give him the same crap I gave Bush and his kin. I don't care for him any more than any of the others. Damn hacks.

I'll take a link to back that claim up. Thanks.

 

[alzan]

WTF is Obama's problem? This is the ultimate nightmare scenario anyone who cares about keeping our spy agencies in check, and the President doesn't seem to care, just shrugs his shoulder at what may be the worst breach of trust in the nation's history? If this doesn't bother him then what would the CIA need to do to get Obama mad, say they won't pay for birth control pills for women?


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/01/obama-john-brennan-cia_n_5642534.html

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said Friday that he has "full confidence" in Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan, despite calls for his resignation over a damning report that found employees snooped on computers used by U.S. Senate staff to investigate the agency.

"Keep in mind that John Brennan was the person who called for the [inspector general] report," the president said.

According to a CIA Inspector General’s Office report, agency employees in 2009 hacked Senate computers being used to compile a report on the agency’s infamous detention and interrogation program -- a move that critics have characterized as a significant breach of the separation of powers.

Despite issuing an apology to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Brennan's vocal defense of the agency earlier this year has infuriated lawmakers, some of whom who are now calling for the director's resignation.

On Thursday, Sens. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) all slammed the CIA on the matter. Udall and Heinrich called on Brennan to resign.

At a news conference Friday, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the agency's conduct was especially troubling and could possibly even be "worse than criminal."

Brennan has convened an accountability board -- chaired by former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), who was previously a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee -- to investigate the matter.

In a softly worded statement Thursday, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called the effort to conduct a review a "positive first step." The report "corrects the record and it is my understanding that a declassified report will be made available to the public shortly," she added.

You're new to this whole politics thing aren't you?

Pro-tip: All presidents publically express confidence in the heads of the various depts. and agencies, no matter the scandal du jour.

 

[Victorian Gray]

I'll take a link to back that claim up. Thanks.

"So if you had to pick a senator who would be especially attuned to Silicon Valley's fear of how the NSA revelations harm business, a front-runner should be Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco. Yet as chairwoman of the secretive and powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, Feinstein has not only vocally defended NSA's dragnet surveillance programs, but she also introduced legislation -- cynically dubbed a reform measure -- that would entrench and expand the NSA's surveillance powers"

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_24665551/aclu-diane-feinsteins-nsa-reforms-bad-privacy-bad

and, not suppression, per se, but certainly defending/diverting

"On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers expressed immediate alarm to news that a FISA court had granted a request for an "ongoing, daily basis" collection of call data, as reported by The Guardian. But those with the authority to take action moved first to vigorously defend the program, calling it routine.

"I read intelligence carefully, and I know that people are trying to get to us," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "This is to ferret this out before it happens. It's called protecting America."

She handed out letters she and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the top Republican on the committee, wrote to their colleagues in 2010 and 2011 explaining how the program worked, and urging that they support it. Congress did so"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/verizon-phone-records-nsa_n_3397058.html

 

[marincounty]

The difference is the Bush administration was doing things illegally. At least now they are supposedly following some law. The Bush cowboys were doing whatever they wanted, and Republicans were perfectly fine with it.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The difference is the Bush administration was doing things illegally. At least now they are supposedly following some law. The Bush cowboys were doing whatever they wanted, and Republicans were perfectly fine with it.

Well I'm going to sleep better at night knowing that laws were constructed to make wrong things legal. Maybe you have an idea that could catch on. One personality here always posts threads about police brutality. Just think how a stroke of the pen would make it all better. Just make it legal. Problem solved. I get it. You don't care what's done if you can protect the Democrats and excoriate Republicans. Circle up the wagons. It worked for the Neocons.

If one party does a wrong there is no excuse for the other. Let them shoot each other if it comes to it, but leave us peasants alone.

 

[marincounty]

They're spying on our elected representatives. This should bother you. It's not legal under any laws. I don't even like Feinstein, she's too right wing for me. But she is one of the very few standing up against the spying. It's not a partisan issue except for the fact that the Republicans don't care when the govt breaks the law. That is a problem.
When is Darrel Issa going to hold hearings on this? Likely never.

 

[ivwshane]

"So if you had to pick a senator who would be especially attuned to Silicon Valley's fear of how the NSA revelations harm business, a front-runner should be Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco. Yet as chairwoman of the secretive and powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, Feinstein has not only vocally defended NSA's dragnet surveillance programs, but she also introduced legislation -- cynically dubbed a reform measure -- that would entrench and expand the NSA's surveillance powers"

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_24665551/aclu-diane-feinsteins-nsa-reforms-bad-privacy-bad

and, not suppression, per se, but certainly defending/diverting

"On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers expressed immediate alarm to news that a FISA court had granted a request for an "ongoing, daily basis" collection of call data, as reported by The Guardian. But those with the authority to take action moved first to vigorously defend the program, calling it routine.

"I read intelligence carefully, and I know that people are trying to get to us," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "This is to ferret this out before it happens. It's called protecting America."

She handed out letters she and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the top Republican on the committee, wrote to their colleagues in 2010 and 2011 explaining how the program worked, and urging that they support it. Congress did so"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/verizon-phone-records-nsa_n_3397058.html

Yes there is a difference, as I noted earlier, I'm only aware of one guy completely against this kind of stuff. Pretty much all of congress condones this action, and therein lies the problem, you can't change things in government if those we elect have no desire to make those changes.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

we live in a police state, you cant put anything important into electronic format cuz the gov or corporations will abuse their access to it. google just arrested a dude for sending kiddie stuff through email:

http://jezebel.com/google-reports-man-to-authorities-after-spotting-child-1615579792

imagine google arresting u when they find evidence of tax evasion or insurance fraud in your emails, im sure 10 years from now that will be an accepted thing to do, since after all you did commit a crime, right?

 

[FerrelGeek]

Whatever Obama really thinks, given the current environment he has to come out in support of this guy. Whatever the leader of the CIA prioritizes, it is not telling the truth. This causes him to sound like a real asshole when he's caught lying.

Its politics, not morals.

And this is why politics very often leads to immoral behavior. We reap the government that we sew.

 

[Genx87]

The difference is the Bush administration was doing things illegally. At least now they are supposedly following some law. The Bush cowboys were doing whatever they wanted, and Republicans were perfectly fine with it.

Is this supposed to be funny? So the govt passes a law that allows it to spy and that makes it ok with you?

 

[Genx87]

They're spying on our elected representatives. This should bother you. It's not legal under any laws. I don't even like Feinstein, she's too right wing for me. But she is one of the very few standing up against the spying. It's not a partisan issue except for the fact that the Republicans don't care when the govt breaks the law. That is a problem.
When is Darrel Issa going to hold hearings on this? Likely never.

If legislators pass a law would you sleep better at night when the CIA spies on Feinstein?

 

[Genx87]

Thought of this when seeing this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9p1ivjT-0c

 

[werepossum]

Government is operating in accordance with Obama's wishes, so of course he has full confidence in its leaders.

Although Alzan also makes a good point. Obama had "full confidence" in Shinseki publicly up until the day he asked for and received his resignation.

 

[HTFOff]

Well I'm going to sleep better at night knowing that laws were constructed to make wrong things legal.

:thumbsup: