Did the Obama Administration’s Abuse of Foreign-Intelligence Collection Start Before Trump?

Tablet Magazine ^ | 05 April 2017 | Lee Smith

[Lorianne]

One clue: The Russia story is a replay of how the former White House smeared pro-Israel activists in the lead-up to the Iran Deal

The accusation that the Obama administration used information gleaned from classified foreign surveillance to smear and blackmail its political opponents at home has gained new traction in recent days, after reports that former National Security Adviser Susan Rice may have been rifling through classified transcripts for over a year that could have included information about Donald Trump and his associates. While using resources that are supposed to keep Americans safe from terrorism for other purposes may be a dereliction of duty, it is no more of a crime than spending all day on Twitter instead of doing your job. The crime here would be if she leaked the names of U.S. citizens to reporters. In the end, the seriousness of the accusation against Rice and other former administration officials who will be caught up in the “unmasking” scandal will rise or fall based on whether or not Donald Trump was actively engaged in a conspiracy to turn over the keys of the White House to the Kremlin. For true believers in the Trump-Kremlin conspiracy theories, the Obama “spying and lying” scandal isn’t a scandal at all; just public officials taking prudent steps to guard against an imminent threat to the republic.

But what if Donald Trump wasn’t the first or only target of an Obama White House campaign of spying and illegal leaks directed at domestic political opponents?

[Sacajaweau]

We know ABSOLUTELY that they were spying on American Citizens without a warrant or cause if you will. I believe Clapper lied to Congress about it.

[Cicero]

Of course. He’s been abusive since he was a little boy. And he certainly has been ever since he entered the White House—and after he left it.

[WENDLE]

I am speculating that this is what happened to Justice Roberts to destroy his credibility forever on approving obamacare in the face of absolute certainty that it was unconstitutional as hell. It was clear then that he was compromised and it is absolutely clear now. This is a sad day in our history and this spying must be punished severely. The Patriot Act is coming up for SunSET and I would Set the sun on that piece of crap.

[Eddie01]

It didn’t start with Obama, he just turned it up to 11 in 2007.

[TigersEye]

0bama weaponized everything!

[bigbob]

Oh hell yes. I think the better question is “did it start before Obama” and I’ll bet the answer is yes to that too. Probably started shortly after 9/11 as some former intel people have said, and having both parties culpable for conducting warrantless surveillance on US citizens would be a very good way of keeping it quiet. Mutually assured destruction - if either side blabs they both go down.

[pgkdan]

I believe this is how Justice Roberts got turned. Remember that before he did his 180 on the obamacare ruling he'd already decided to vote against it. I'd read that he'd already written the majority opinion. His fellow conservative justices were furious.

I also think this explains how the Iran Deal got approved. Before Corker's famous amendment GOP Senators and House Members were acting like their hair was on fire going on every news show condemning the deal. Then suddenly Corker introduces his amendment allowing the deal to pass on a simple majority vote. I believe the amendment was approved 99-1.

[GOPJ]

Since the DC cool kids assumed Jeb would be running against Hillary we can assume Jeb and his family were ‘surveilled’ - wiretapped - snooped on - whatever...

[TBP]

Yes.

James Rosen
Associated Press
Sharyl Atkisson
The Tea Party

And so on and so forth...