"For months now, members of Congress and government officials have floated the idea of going after Glenn Greenwald for being an “accomplice” to Edward Snowden. Even members of the media have questioned whether Greenwald has been “aiding and abetting” Snowden. Well, Greenwald has had enough, and he told Salon that soon enough, he will be returning to the United States to “force the issue.”
Greenwald has been living in Rio de Janeiro with his partner David Miranda for years, and has not been in the United States for a while, because he has been very worried about all the heated rhetoric being used about him and his role in reporting on NSA surveillance programs. Greenwald even said he tried to get assurances from the government months prior that nothing would happen to him if he returned, and he received no such assurance.
And now he plans on returning to the U.S. at some point soon, saying, “I’m going to go back to the U.S. for many reasons, but just the f*cking principle is enough… On principle I’m going to force the issue.”
Greenwald is somewhat confident nothing will happen to him were he to return, but “everybody recognizes that there’s some risk.” Most recently, the head of the House Intelligence Committee called Greenwald a “thief” who is “selling stolen properties” that Snowden gave to him."
In light of this article, what one word would you use to describe Greenwald's frame of mind?
30 comments:
In light of this article, what one word would you use to describe Greenwald's frame of mind?
Principled and crazed. The US government is pretty much lawless now, so who knows what the Hell they'll do? In Brazil he can use his notoriety and Brazil's desire to not be the US's lapdog (a perfectly natural and understandable reaction for any nation-state) to insure some security for himself. Who knows what the Obama Administration would do to him if he leaves that security behind for the wilds of the US? Probably nothing, but he is at least facing a reaming from the IRS and a hostile Congress.
Yeah, I cheated and used two descriptors plus a conjunction. Couldn't think of how to do it otherwise.
"Ballsy".
I'd have thought it would have taken him a lot longer than this to run through all the rent boys in Rio.
May he be mugged, robbed and beaten senseless upon arrival as soon as he wanders in to Manhattan at night.
Ballsy?
Who really gives a shit?
The character of a hero is not always what you want because they are not all of a piece.
Sam Adams was a drunk and a philander.
Scott Carpenter couldn't keep it in his pants.
Abe Lincoln was a manic-depressive.
Richard the Lion Hearted was a homicidal homo.
Greenwald is an ultra-liberal douchenozzle of the first water. But standing up the Obama for his continual violations of the Constitution is heroic in my book. If he comes back to America to face the music then you have to have respect for him even if you totally disagree with his political views. As others have said who knows what the lawless administration might do to him. It takes a lot of balls to put yourself at his mercy.
I don't care much for Snowden. I think he endangered our agents with his data dump. But he is doing a good thing exposing the crimes of the Obama administration.
It takes a lot of balls to put yourself at his mercy.
1.) Putting on my tinfoil hat...it takes balls unless you've pre-arranged a deal before returning.
2.) How is Greenwald standing up to Obama for any violations other than the NSA stuff from Snowden?
The NSA crap occured as well under Bush 43 and the entire DHS fandango began under Bush 43 and was the worst decision to re-organize made in this century, and perhaps the last one to boot. It accomplished nothing, absolutely nothing positive and made harder the work of the agencies consolidated. Designed by men who never had done any of the work...politicians to the last one.
I acknowledge I have an extreme bias on this subject. I dislike liars .... of any administration. I am either nuts or dead right. Maybe both. I watched Fox News rant last night about how Congress hasn't pinned Panetta down and asked the question...did you tell POTUS. It's almost like Fox is not part of the conspiracy to liar like a rug.
This reminds me of the Pentagon Papers...folks puzzled me that thought it applied only to Nixon, not LBJ (and Robert f'ing Komer), and JFK, who expanded greatly what Eisenhower began as a very clandestine activities of Operation Hotfoot, which lead to continuation as Operation White Star. JFK was more than a little bit extra-legal in his authorized and sponsored coup against President Diem, let alone his execution, in Vietnam. Diem's brother's wife, Madame, was touring the USA at the time of Diems and Nhu's death. Three weeks later JFK was also dead.
Damn...my tinfoil hat is getting tight. Need Cognac. Going out to buy a bottle of Kelt now :-))
"Greenwald plans to retire soon in US"
Headlines I read w/o my glasses*
____________________
*A Michael Haz invention, sent hoping he picks it up again.
Greenwald is coming back? If you're a 14 year old boy in NYC or DC, watch out for a man with candy who wants to talk about Snowden back at his apartment.
I don't care much for Snowden. I think he endangered our agents with his data dump. But he is doing a good thing exposing the crimes of the Obama administration.
I'm surprised by you Trooper. Nevertheless this is pretty much how I feel. Personally conflicted.
Ari, Greenwald has been a harsh critic of Obama on many issues for quite some time. He's damned near the only critic Obama has on the left.
Maybe he has cut a deal, maybe not. I doubt that he has, although I would be shocked if they weren't working on one.
And yes, I know this started under Bush, and find that bad. I find it worse that this Administration has apparently increased the scope of the programs, and that this Administration in particular likes to us everything at its disposal to go after its enemies.
Perfidy
I feel if there was any law breaking under the Bush administration they should be pursued and subject to whatever criminal penalties' are indicated to the fullest extent of the law.
The point is that the Obama administration does not obey the law and has consistently flouted the laws in a way that is unprecedented since the Nixon administration. They have burned the Constitution and violated our privacy in a manner that is unprecedented. If invasion of privacy was an Olympic event than Obama would beat Putin hands down in every category.
I don't know why you are surprised. Bad men can do good things.
I am not a fan of Greenwald's politics but he just about the only liberal who is honest about what Obama is and what he has done.
Incepick said ...
... this Administration has apparently increased the scope of the programs, ...
These programs are institutionalized now, they increase their scope(s) regardless of administration. It is what senior government executives do...grow their little patch. This particular batch of inexperienced management dolts and politicians in Obama's little covey are easy marks and get manipulated every day, day in and day out. So in that respect, Obama is worse than Bush, but it is merely shoveled sand against a rising tide in both cases...best example I can think of off hand is just who is no Director of CIA and how he got there. Obama had no choice.
There is a reason I nicknamed him "Jackhammer John" after his predecessor "Blowtorch Bob."
Bush went after terrorists.
Obama went after conservatives and his political enemies.
That's the difference.
Trooper York said...
...he [Greenwald] [is] just about the only liberal who is honest about what Obama is and what he has done ...
I will give you that. Now let's see just how much impact he has and how much change actually occurs. Greenwald is a talker, the political doers will have his lunch...IMO. We'll see.
I anticipate "crickets."
Oh I agree with you 100% Ari. But you know what. If we don't give credit where credit is due then it will happen even less.
There will be no impact. Obama can break any law and will never be brought to justice. He could gut, skin and eat Honey Boo Boo on National Television and nothing would happen to him. He is immune.
The only possible way that the crime that is the Obama Administration will come to light is in the memoires and tell-all's of his minions. The Gates book was just the first. I bet Panetta will throw him under the bus. Obama is notable for throwing his people under the bus so I think they will not be loyal to him once he is out of office. They just will not say anything now when he can still punish them.
Trooper, I have taught my children what our current culture has forgotten. That is, there are no super heroes or super villains. They get that from all venues of our culture. NO ONE understood the complexity of heroes and villains like Shakespeare. He is no longer taught in most schools. He's sexist, don't you know. A FUCKING SACRILEGE!
"Obama can break any law and will never be brought to justice."
Its the "Bill Clinton Rule" - only Republican Presidents can be kicked out of office for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Its part of the unwritten constitution copyright 1998.
One-word description of Greenwald's state of mind, thinking of returning to the US?
"Insane."
Ah, Greenwald's gay so naturally we have commenters insinuating that he's a child molester and that he frequents "rent boys" in Rio. Stay classy, Levitatians!
Give Snowden the highest civilian medal we can award and then put a bullet in his neck. That takes care of my ambivalence. As for Greenwald clap him in irons!
As for Greenwald clap him in irons!
It is customary to wait until after someone has committed a crime before doing that.
As for his frame of mind — opportunistic.
Obama is the criminal here. He is the one listening to your phone calls and reading you emails without a warrant.
He needs to be frog marched out of the White House and put in irons.
But that would never happened. He can commit any crime or misdemeanor without trepidation.
Obama is the one raping the Constitution every day. Writing laws with the stroke of pen without reference to Congress.
He is a tyrant.
But it is all fine with the lap dog media and the liberal civil liberty watchdogs.
I wonder why that is?
I think Valentine @12:34 may have nailed it..."opportunistic." But Greenwald may be in for a big surprise if all the politically motivated audits are any indication. Besides, Greenwald is a whistle blower. They may consider it politic to shut him down.
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