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One Last Dance with Snowden
Author: BobR    Date: 2013-12-18 11:55:01

Back at the beginning of this year, the news cycles were exploding with the exploits of a then-unknown government contractor who stole a bunch of documentation that purported to show extensive illegal data collection by the NSA and/or CIA. The charge was that the government was collecting the metadata (send/receive address and subject) of every email sent by everyone in the United States, as well as phone records. There was initially false reporting that the government was listening to calls or reading emails or other deeper intrusions, but these turned out not to be true.

The man behind these leaks was revealed to be Edward Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong with documents in tow. As the pieces started to come together, it became clear that he was working with self-styled journalist Glenn Greenwald before he ever took the job. It became apparent that he took the job for the singular purpose of stealing the documents.

As the story erupted, the media coverage focused on Edward Snowden and - to a lesser extent - Glenn Greenwald. That irritated Greenwald to no end, as he felt the real story was the government surveilance, not he nor Snowden. He blasted the media for their coverage and their less than flattering evaluations of him and Snowden. The problem with the story, was that it was old news for those on the left. Most of us had known this was going on since 2006. That didn't mean we liked it or that we supported it, but we had raised hell 7 years prior, and nothing was done, so we moved on to things we could change, like the party of the president occupying the White House. So when the story broke, it didn't feel as earth-shattering as Greenwald had hoped.

That's why it was a bit odd when Time magazine chose to name Pope Francis as their Person of the Year, rather than Snowden, and Greenwald got upset. He was so upset, that he simultaneously complained that Snowden didn't get the nod while dissing the award itself:
"It's a meaningless award from a meaningless magazine, designed to achieve the impossible: to make TIME relevant and interesting for a few fleeting moments," Greenwald told TPM.

In the vernacular, I believe that is known as "sour grapes".

In an odd turn of events, the story itself does indeed appear to be the story after all. A federal court in DC ruled on Monday that the mass collection of data likely violates the 4th Amendment:
The ruling, by the US district court for the District of Columbia, is a blow to the Obama administration, and sets up a legal battle that will drag on for months, almost certainly destined to end up in the supreme court. It was welcomed by campaigners pressing to rein in the NSA, and by Snowden, who issued a rare public statement saying it had vindicated his disclosures. It is also likely to influence other legal challenges to the NSA, currently working their way through federal courts.

The case was brought by Larry Klayman, a conservative lawyer, and Charles Strange, father of a cryptologist killed in Afghanistan when his helicopter was shot down in 2011. His son worked for the NSA and carried out support work for Navy Seal Team Six, the elite force that killed Osama bin Laden.

In Monday’s ruling, the judge concluded that the pair's constitutional challenge was likely to be successful. In what was the only comfort to the NSA in a stinging judgment, Leon put the ruling on hold, pending an appeal by the government.

So after all this time, someone gets a case before a judge who decides it's unconstitutional. Why didn't this happen 7 years ago? It's unfortunate, because it seems to validate espionage as a means to an end.

Meanwhile, Snowden is trying to work a deal with Brazil, which just happens to be where Glenn Greenwald lives:
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden offered to help Brazil defeat US spying Tuesday but, in an open letter, said he needs permanent political asylum to do so.
[..]
Snowden does not request asylum from Brazil in the letter, but notes Brazilian senators “have asked for my assistance with their investigations of suspected crimes against Brazilian citizens.”

Snowden says he is willing to help “wherever appropriate and lawful” but adds that “unfortunately the United States government has worked very hard to limit my ability to do so.”

“Until a country grants permanent political asylum, the US government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak,” he says.

So perhaps he and Greenwald can nibble on their sour grapes together, while we in the United States try to find a balance between safety and privacy, and keep our networks safe from hackers and malcontents like Snowden who might feel righteously entitled to do more than just steal some files.
 

81 comments (Latest Comment: 12/19/2013 02:46:08 by Raine)
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Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 13:39:39
Good morning!

Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 13:40:31
Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 13:41:30
Mornin' all..

A-fuckin-men, Bobber. We did raise hell about this when Dubya was doing it, and while electing Obama didn't go far enough to eliminate the policies and reverse the damage (shit we still have the PATRIOT Act!) he DID issue executive orders to dial back a lot of the more serious shit that Dubya had in place.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 13:46:47
Oh man..
STATEMENT OF HERRING LEGAL TEAM ON RECOUNT STATUS
Marc Elias, the lead counsel for Attorney General-elect Mark Herring, released the following statement tonight:

“As of 6:30 p.m., Attorney General-elect Mark Herring is now up 866 votes overall, with 73% of the votes recounted statewide.

“Today, as recounting began statewide, and continued in Alexandria, Chesapeake, and Fairfax, both candidates continued to pick up votes. Over the course of the recount, there have been 1,133 more votes for Herring and 432 more for Obenshain, for a net gain for the two days for Herring of 701. Fewer than 120 ballots have been challenged for court review. This methodology assumes every ballot challenge fails. If you assumed every ballot challenge succeeded, Herring’s margin of victory would be 811 as of 6:30 p.m.

“This enormous undertaking has been conducted with great diligence by local election officials and with careful monitoring by hundreds of volunteers from both parties. It is our expectation that the recount court will take up this matter in the morning, begin the process of resolving ballot challenges, and ultimately declare Mark Herring the winner, for a third time in this historic race.”


Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 13:50:51
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh man..
STATEMENT OF HERRING LEGAL TEAM ON RECOUNT STATUS
Marc Elias, the lead counsel for Attorney General-elect Mark Herring, released the following statement tonight:

“As of 6:30 p.m., Attorney General-elect Mark Herring is now up 866 votes overall, with 73% of the votes recounted statewide.

“Today, as recounting began statewide, and continued in Alexandria, Chesapeake, and Fairfax, both candidates continued to pick up votes. Over the course of the recount, there have been 1,133 more votes for Herring and 432 more for Obenshain, for a net gain for the two days for Herring of 701. Fewer than 120 ballots have been challenged for court review. This methodology assumes every ballot challenge fails. If you assumed every ballot challenge succeeded, Herring’s margin of victory would be 811 as of 6:30 p.m.

“This enormous undertaking has been conducted with great diligence by local election officials and with careful monitoring by hundreds of volunteers from both parties. It is our expectation that the recount court will take up this matter in the morning, begin the process of resolving ballot challenges, and ultimately declare Mark Herring the winner, for a third time in this historic race.”
BOOM!

I was just looking at Lowkell twitter feed and saw that Herring did indeed gain votes last night.

@fairfaxvotes 12h
Our unofficial recount results: Herring 572; Obenshain 206; 13 challenges. See this spreadsheet. http://bit.ly/1cyXhRd #vaag


‏@notlarrysabato 15h
1158/2558 in- margin is 632. Mark Herring 1,104,510-- Mark Obenshain 1,103,878. This one's over folks: http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/doh/2013/12/latest-count-in-ag-


Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 13:54:32
Now, my only concern is what Obenshain's campaign said.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 14:18:07
Quote by Raine:
Now, my only concern is what Obenshain's campaign said.



You have gotten a recount, you are losing. Act like a mature grown up not a crying, pouting entitled brat, Mr. Obenshain.

Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 14:25:21
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Now, my only concern is what Obenshain's campaign said.



You have gotten a recount, you are losing. Act like a mature grown up not a crying, pouting entitled brat, Mr. Obenshain.
Did I mention he's a tea bagger that makes the Cooch look moderate?


Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 14:25:30

I absolutely love this series. They capture the hacktastic writing style of every single one so brilliantly!

Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 14:26:43
Morning

Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 14:27:10
Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 14:30:18
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Now, my only concern is what Obenshain's campaign said.



You have gotten a recount, you are losing. Act like a mature grown up not a crying, pouting entitled brat, Mr. Obenshain.
Did I mention he's a tea bagger that makes the Cooch look moderate?


and a whiney cry baby


Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 14:33:23
I still say Snowden is a coward for running.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 14:39:15

This is fucking hilarious to me.. : 'A Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said Brazil has never received a formal application for asylum from Snowden and thus had nothing to consider.'

Does he seriously think just any government is gonna bend over and give him what he wants just because he's Edward Snowden? The whole traitor thing aside.. if you're so fucking lazy that you can't even file a formal request, or so pigheaded that you don't think you NEED to, how do you expect to be taken seriously?!

Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 14:41:41
Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 14:42:43
Quote by Scoopster:

This is fucking hilarious to me.. : 'A Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said Brazil has never received a formal application for asylum from Snowden and thus had nothing to consider.'

Does he seriously think just any government is gonna bend over and give him what he wants just because he's Edward Snowden? The whole traitor thing aside.. if you're so fucking lazy that you can't even file a formal request, or so pigheaded that you don't think you NEED to, how do you expect to be taken seriously?!


I'm glad you noticed that as well. As much as the NSA pisses me off, this entire Snowden thing is just a phucking joke.

HE really truly has a sense of arrogant entitlement, huh?


Comment by TriSec on 12/18/2013 14:55:37
For the record, Lipton "tea" is a ghastly aberration.



I used up the last of my private stash of coffee the other day, and since I find the office brew to be repugnant, I have moved on to (wait for it) Teabagging!!



Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 14:56:54
Quote by Scoopster:

I absolutely love this series. They capture the hacktastic writing style of every single one so brilliantly!



The David Brook one is perfect!

Comment by BobR on 12/18/2013 14:57:05
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:

This is fucking hilarious to me.. : 'A Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said Brazil has never received a formal application for asylum from Snowden and thus had nothing to consider.'

Does he seriously think just any government is gonna bend over and give him what he wants just because he's Edward Snowden? The whole traitor thing aside.. if you're so fucking lazy that you can't even file a formal request, or so pigheaded that you don't think you NEED to, how do you expect to be taken seriously?!


I'm glad you noticed that as well. As much as the NSA pisses me off, this entire Snowden thing is just a phucking joke.

HE really truly has a sense of arrogant entitlement, huh?

I wonder how Greenwald will spin this?

Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:03:37
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:

This is fucking hilarious to me.. : 'A Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said Brazil has never received a formal application for asylum from Snowden and thus had nothing to consider.'

Does he seriously think just any government is gonna bend over and give him what he wants just because he's Edward Snowden? The whole traitor thing aside.. if you're so fucking lazy that you can't even file a formal request, or so pigheaded that you don't think you NEED to, how do you expect to be taken seriously?!


I'm glad you noticed that as well. As much as the NSA pisses me off, this entire Snowden thing is just a phucking joke.

HE really truly has a sense of arrogant entitlement, huh?

I wonder how Greenwald will spin this?

Good question... let me go see what he's got to say!

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 15:04:25



Hey, Bloomberg what about affordable housing? Douche

Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 15:05:22
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:

I absolutely love this series. They capture the hacktastic writing style of every single one so brilliantly!


The David Brook one is perfect!

Oh wow I completely missed that one!

Comment by TriSec on 12/18/2013 15:06:24
Say folks, the retail guy says we're T-7 days to Holiday.

Unfortunately, NORAD doesn't track Blogger Joe. Anybody heard from the guy?



Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 15:06:58
I just did an image search for douche bag, but couldn't find an actual douche bag. The only thing that was close was an enema bag. I have a feeling that this is somehow POTUS' fault.


Thanks, Obama!

Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:07:13
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:

I absolutely love this series. They capture the hacktastic writing style of every single one so brilliantly!



The David Brook one is perfect!
Speaking of Brooks... I read his column Monday -- it was strange and a bit haughty.... Then today, Matthew Yglesias has this AWESOME counter. (read the brook one first, then read this)

Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:08:49
Quote by TriSec:
Say folks, the retail guy says we're T-7 days to Holiday.

Unfortunately, NORAD doesn't track Blogger Joe. Anybody heard from the guy?

We have had 2 touchdowns at Casa de Bobnraine.

Our lift off's happened yesterday.


Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:11:46
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:

This is fucking hilarious to me.. : 'A Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said Brazil has never received a formal application for asylum from Snowden and thus had nothing to consider.'

Does he seriously think just any government is gonna bend over and give him what he wants just because he's Edward Snowden? The whole traitor thing aside.. if you're so fucking lazy that you can't even file a formal request, or so pigheaded that you don't think you NEED to, how do you expect to be taken seriously?!


I'm glad you noticed that as well. As much as the NSA pisses me off, this entire Snowden thing is just a phucking joke.

HE really truly has a sense of arrogant entitlement, huh?

I wonder how Greenwald will spin this?

Good question... let me go see what he's got to say!
Greenwald is purposefully misleading.

Glenn Greenwald ‏@ggreenwald 2h
Amnesty International calls on Brazil to "seriously consider" asylum for Edward Snowden http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/brazil-must-seriously-consider-snowden-asylum-request-2013-12-17 …

Mike Shortt ‏@mike_shortt 2h
@ggreenwald So his letter in which he intimates that he would like asylum, which you said was not a request for asylum, was a request?

Glenn Greenwald ‏@ggreenwald 1h
@mike_shortt Amnesty: "Snowden's request for asylum in Brazil , made in July, has not yet been answered."


Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:19:36
I love Al Franken.

"You know, there's been a lot of controversy about the ethnicity of Santa lately," the former "Saturday Night Live" comedian joked Wednesday on NPR's "Morning Edition." "Maybe, you know, he's Jewish."

Senate lawmakers on Tuesday night celebrated a third year of their gift exchange, which Franken came up with to bring colleagues from both sides of the aisle together for the holidays.

Among this year's quirky gifts were presidential Pez dispensers, buffalo jerky, and an elephant statue carved from coal. That last one was a present from West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).


Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 15:23:06
Quote by TriSec:
For the record, Lipton "tea" is a ghastly aberration.



I used up the last of my private stash of coffee the other day, and since I find the office brew to be repugnant, I have moved on to (wait for it) Teabagging!!




agreed!


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 15:36:46
Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 15:43:17
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I baked last night.


are you having a Browncoat Christmas? So how'd they turn out?


Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:44:45
Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 15:45:48
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I baked last night.

Ooooh those look yummeh! I should make 'em!

Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 15:47:34



are you in the Gawker gifs again?

Comment by Scoopster on 12/18/2013 15:50:45
Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 15:51:59
Quote by wickedpam:



are you in the Gawker gifs again?
Uhm.... I'll never tell.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 15:54:11
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:



are you in the Gawker gifs again?
Uhm.... I'll never tell.



Don't be Gawker, Jezebel and io9 have some of the best gifs

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 15:57:50
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I baked last night.

Ooooh those look yummeh! I should make 'em!



They are. Super easy for the fruity part I used dried cherries and craisins. Yummeh! And vaguely health what with the whole wheat flour, wheatgerm, oats and fruity bits.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 16:03:28



Didn't Neal Stephenson write a book about this?

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 16:10:16
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I baked last night.


are you having a Browncoat Christmas? So how'd they turn out?



Not as such, but my fellow Browncoat co-worker and I decided to contribute them to the department pot luck. Those who get it will, those who don't will have yummy desert. With a commercial.




And a corporate logo

http://www.gmkfreelogos.com/logos/B/img/Blue_Sun.gif


Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 16:14:13
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I baked last night.


are you having a Browncoat Christmas? So how'd they turn out?



Not as such, but my fellow Browncoat co-worker and I decided to contribute them to the department pot luck. Those who get it will, those who don't will have yummy desert. With a commercial.




And a corporate logo

http://www.gmkfreelogos.com/logos/B/img/Blue_Sun.gif



Nice!

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 16:33:44
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Mala, I baked last night.


are you having a Browncoat Christmas? So how'd they turn out?



Not as such, but my fellow Browncoat co-worker and I decided to contribute them to the department pot luck. Those who get it will, those who don't will have yummy desert. With a commercial.




And a corporate logo

http://www.gmkfreelogos.com/logos/B/img/Blue_Sun.gif



Nice!



I just hope none of my coworkers turn out to be programmed assassins who's subliminal cue is the Fruity Oaty bar commercial. That would be...bad.

Comment by TriSec on 12/18/2013 16:40:02
You better watch out. You better not cry.
You better not pout....I'm telling you why.

SANTA CLAUS IS FOLLOWING YOU.



Comment by BobR on 12/18/2013 16:58:42
Quote by TriSec:
You better watch out. You better not cry.
You better not pout....I'm telling you why.

SANTA CLAUS IS FOLLOWING YOU.




Comment by Raine on 12/18/2013 17:11:48
I've tried to understand this thing -- and it just seems like Monopoly Money to me.


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 17:44:29
Quote by Raine:
I've tried to understand this thing -- and it just seems like Monopoly Money to me.



Pretty much, but you can by drugs and hit men with them.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/18/2013 17:57:47
Comment by Mondobubba on 12/18/2013 17:58:39
Hey Mala, you might want to rethink that whole Duck Dynasty thing.

Robertson goes on to note that homosexuality is the sin that begat all others as America lost its way from its foundation as a Christian nation: “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.” He also says that mass murder is a direct result of ignoring the teachings of Jesus, citing Nazis, “Shintos,” Communists, and “Islamists.”