If Obama's speech today was just a "pretty speech," what did Snowden change?

[ProSense]

Is the goal to prove that Snowden is a hero because the government had to respond, even if the response changes nothing?

What do you think will change?

[Purveyor]

1. You are running of shit to post anti-snowden, eh? LOL! eom

[DontTreadOnMe]

3. Another DUer against the guvermint... and Obama now.

Snowden Hero... Obama Liar

so sad to see Democrats take it hook, line and sinker. We know what P.T. Barnum said...

[liberal N proud]

6. I don't think they were Democrats to begin with

And they will prove my point by jumping on this post!

[uponit7771]

10. +1, freeper memes are stinkin up the joint

[mindwalker_i]

11. So people who don't agree the government or Obama

should be collecting all the data on our calls aren't Democrats?

That's sounds very much like "love it or leave it" applied to a political party - you're either with the party or against it.

[PowerToThePeople]

17. This is what they all sound like

[ProSense]

19. Who is "they"? n/t

[Mojorabbit]

40. Yes it IS sad and maddening to see Democrats

defend the surveillance state.

[ProSense]

5. No,

"You are running of shit to post anti-snowden, eh? LOL!"

...I'm genuinely trying to understand the goal. I never believed Snowden's goal was change, and I'm sure I'll be posting more about him.

Did Obama propose reforms or not, and do you think Obama and Congress are going to work to make them happen?

[Control-Z]

16. I'm afraid you won't get an answer.

It would be too much like admitting the president is really trying to right to do the right thing.

[Cha]

12. You are personally attacking Your post has nothing to do with the question asked in the OP.

Your post has no merit.

[arely staircase]

2. you clearly lack the ability

to hold contradictory opinions. the correct answer is always OBAMA BAD.

[uponit7771]

4. Paulians Obama bashing meme will change and most Americans will ignore them too

[PowerToThePeople]

7. OBAMA BAD

[mindwalker_i]

8. "What did Snowden change?"

How about the fact that, before Snowden, there was no need for the government to talk about its surveillance or to try to calm people down about it? Obama's speech was an attempt to do just that - to calm people down and to try to convince them that the NSA/government wasn't doing anything that we should be concerned about. Without Snowden, there would be no need.

[msongs]

30. when one is getting away with stuff it's bad having your secrets exposed for all to seent

[millennialmax]

9. This would be good if anyone were brave enough to answer truthfully. eom

[PowerToThePeople]

13. If nothing changes it shows OUR faults, not Snowden's

If nothing changes that is on us now.

I think nothing will change from the Gov't side for the better. They will just try to plug any potential leaks better.

It is up to the people to secure our communications. To pressure vendors to supply means of communicating securely. Or, we just accept that we live in an Oceana type of survailance state sometime in the near future (possibly currently.)

[CakeGrrl]

14. It's conflicting memes

The President never says anything important, you see, or if he does, it's a lie.

But heroic Snowden FORCED him to start having the dialogue (even though it's meaningless because he's just empty words and all he does is lie).

Oh, and never mind that he was talking about having this dialogue WELL before Snowden stole data and fled the country.

[ProSense]

18. That's about right.

It's bizarre.

[BenzoDia]

15. He changed nada. Obama came out and defended the data collection.

And he provided the justification for having the programs in place.

[JaneyVee]

20. Bueller? Bueller?

[burnodo]

21. So you're saying Obama is ineffectual?

Or that he says things for political purpose but not actually to change anything?

[ProSense]

22. Those are questions in the OP. Care to respond? n/t

[burnodo]

23. I asked a question of you based on the OP

Care to respond?

[ProSense]

24. No, to your question because I made no statement in the OP.

You evidently misunderstood the OP. I made no assessment of the President. I asked a few questions of those who hold those views.

Now, care to respond?

[burnodo]

25. "even if the response changes nothing?"

You're the one who floated it out there. Is Obama ineffectual or is he saying things for political purpose?

[ProSense]

28. Yes, it was a question. n/t

[burnodo]

29. another no answer non-answer

Quite what I've come to expect, but I was hoping for more

[ProSense]

32. I more than happy to help you with your deflection. n/t

[burnodo]

33. My deflection?

YOU said that what Obama said today didn't mean anything. What am I deflecting?

[ProSense]

36. No, I didn't, and yes, your deflection. n/t

[burnodo]

37. here's one o' them blue links for ya

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023437226

[ProSense]

38. "Blue links" have nothing to do with the questions in the OP. n/t

[burnodo]

39. my questions are in direct relation to what you asked in the OP

Care to answer?

[Marr]

26. Domestic surveillance has become a prominent national issue.

Obama's insistence that we'd have arrived at this point today even if Snowden hadn't exposed anything is rather absurd, since his own Director of National Intelligence was lying to Congress about the mere existence of these programs just a few months ago.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. At a minimum we are having a national discourse about the limits of state power

in a constitutional republic, and the right of the citizens of that republic to know what their government is doing.

This did not happen without the efforts of Snowden and Greenwald.

[msongs]

31. a discussion that obama and his cohorts didn't want but are forced to have now nt

[ProSense]

34. It's certainly being discussed, but so is prosecuting Snowden.

His actions are are being criticized.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023437384

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023427908

[Amonester]

35. If his own Director of National Intelligence was lying to Congress, would that same shark

lie to him?

Edited to specify: No offense to any real sharks.

[Scurrilous]

41. Heh!

[millennialmax]

42. While people tell scary stories about Obama and the big, scary government...

He's going away for a much-deserved vacation after squashing the bugs at the proverbial picnic during his press conference yesterday.

Beautiful, Kennedyesque photo of them on their way to Martha's Vineyard.