QOTD: Bob Corker
by digby
Let’s forget about all that oversight nonsense, shall we?
“To me, Congress having oversight certainly is important, but what is more important relative to these types of events is ensuring we don’t overly hamstring the NSA’s ability to collect this kind of information in advance and keep these kinds of activities from occurring,” Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, told National Journal.
Corker said that in recent months, public support for the NSA has been fading as national security risks increase, a dangerous prospect for stopping future terrorism plots. The only way public opinion changes, Corker says, is for the American people to be reminded that threats still exist.
“I think events like [the shooting in Paris] and people’s recognition that the only way to keep those from happening is through outstanding intelligence-gathering. That alone, unfortunately, does shape people’s opinions,” Corker said.
In other words, it’s really lucky there was a terrorist attack in Paris to scare people into letting the government collect all their information with no oversight.
Huckleberry Graham was predictably measured and mature:
“I fear our intelligence capabilities, those designed to prevent such an attack from taking place on our shores, are quickly eroding. I believe our national security infrastructure designed to prevent these types of attacks from occurring is under siege.”
Translation: Oh my dear God! Runferyerlives! They’re going to kill us all!!!!
Basically, these right wingers are stirring in defense of free speech — they just want to make sure the government collects it all so it can bring the hammer down on anyone who says something they don’t like.
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