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Franken ‘Very Well Aware Of’ NSA Tracking Phone Records
cbs ^ | 6/10 | cbs

Posted on 06/11/2013 7:19:11 AM PDT by RummyChick

ST. PAUL (WCCO) — US Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., says he’s not surprised by revelations that federal security agencies collect phone and computer data on American citizens.

The National Security Agency secretly gathered personal data on Americans since 2007, including their internet use and cell phone service. It’s something Franken says he “was very well aware of.”

“I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people,” Franken said.

Franken, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he got secret security briefings on the program and he says it prevented unspecified terrorist acts.

“I have a high level of confidence that this is used to protect us and I know that it has been successful in preventing terrorism,” Franken said.

Franken’s comments come one day after a former U.S. government intelligence worker, named Edward Snowden, identified himself as the person responsible for leaking documents about the program to a British Newspaper.

Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison told ABC News he has deep concerns and that very few members of Congress knew the extent of the secret surveillance.

“We need to peel it back and we need to make sure congress is considering the constitution when we write these laws,” Ellison said.

But Franken defends the secrecy of the program, saying the government is trying to strike a delicate balance between public right to safety and the public right to privacy.

“There are certain things that are appropriate for me to know that is not appropriate for the bad guys to know,” Franken said.

Franken said he believes it’s proper for the Justice Department to investigate the government worker who leaked the existence of the NSA program.

However, Franken did not answer our question on whether he thought the leaker should be extradited from Hong Kong and prosecuted.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: franken; nsa; obama; spying
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To: RummyChick

Pathetic liberal idiot and moron. And believe me, I would say that to his face. Respectfully of course!


21 posted on 06/11/2013 7:32:50 AM PDT by BibleGunClinger
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To: RummyChick

I think Greenwald is planning to lie low until they all stick their feet in their mouths and then produce the evidence.


22 posted on 06/11/2013 7:32:52 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: RummyChick
“I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people . . . There are certain things that are appropriate for me to know that is not appropriate for the bad guys to know,” Franken said.

The assurances of a buffoon in the ruling class do not assure me - certainly not when our God-given constitutional rights are admittedly being violated by what is supposed to be our government. More important than what might be appropriate for Franken to know, there are certain things that are not appropriate for Franken or any of the other bad guys to know. The federal government should not have these data on everyone under any circumstances, and they should not have these data on any individual without a warrant based on probable cause to suspect that individual, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the data to be seized.

23 posted on 06/11/2013 7:33:35 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: RummyChick
“While I believe that law enforcement must have the tools it needs to do its job, I don’t believe those powers should go without adequate oversight, which is why I could not support this version of the PATRIOT Act.”

-- Al Franken, May 25, 2011

24 posted on 06/11/2013 7:34:46 AM PDT by alancarp (Obama will grab your guns and ship them to Mexican drug mobs.)
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To: RummyChick
AL FRANKEN: ‘There Are Certain Things Appropriate For Me To Know That Is Not Appropriate For Bad Guys To Know’...

"I'm good enough, but you're not!" Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

25 posted on 06/11/2013 7:35:52 AM PDT by Jess Kitting
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To: RummyChick

I can’t believe the morons in that state elected AN ACTUAL CLOWN to the Senate.


26 posted on 06/11/2013 7:36:02 AM PDT by Mr. K (There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and democrat talking points.)
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To: dirtboy

“What about the 4th Amendment, you moron? “

Exactly. This “striking the delicate balance” bullsh— never considers the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Hey Franken, Stein this: the founding fathers already did the whole delicate balance thing. They decided the individuals right to privacy trumps a building full of yazoos laughing it up in Bluffdale over my private conversations.


27 posted on 06/11/2013 7:37:13 AM PDT by at bay ("no warrant shall be issued except upon probable cause")
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To: Mr. K

We didn’t. Unless you count 107% of registered voters of certain precincts as legit...


28 posted on 06/11/2013 7:38:18 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
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To: RummyChick

I thought the war was over?


29 posted on 06/11/2013 7:39:29 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: laweeks
“unspecified terrorist acts”

i.e. someone other than a Democrat getting "elected".

30 posted on 06/11/2013 7:43:16 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: RummyChick
it prevented unspecified terrorist acts.

It's also prevented:


31 posted on 06/11/2013 7:43:53 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: driftdiver

What happens if Snowden leaks the the NSA is watching and listening to Tea Party members. Totally possible.


32 posted on 06/11/2013 7:47:23 AM PDT by magua
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To: magua

totally probable.

Obama has shown he will not respect any boundaries. Chicago politics all the way.


33 posted on 06/11/2013 7:50:42 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: RummyChick

It’s not about spying on Democrats.

Franken knows.


34 posted on 06/11/2013 7:53:28 AM PDT by Hardraade (http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Obama equals Osama))
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To: RummyChick

I wonder if Franken said that when W was Prez......


35 posted on 06/11/2013 7:55:39 AM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: driftdiver

I feel Snowden is a very smart and careful guy. This feels like a Bourne movie. He didn’t leave the building empty handed. I feel he cherry picked what would have the maximum impact for his cause. The beauty thing about this is that lying can bite you. Who knows what emails he has. This will take weeks to play out.


36 posted on 06/11/2013 7:58:26 AM PDT by magua
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To: seeker41

I am paranoid. I wonder if that Hustler guy (the porno king) got access to “the data” and used his plea for info from the people as a way to divert where he got all his info on Republican politicians.


37 posted on 06/11/2013 8:00:34 AM PDT by ncpatriot
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To: RummyChick
“I have a high level of confidence that this is used to protect us and I know that it has been successful in preventing terrorism,” Franken said.

Well, then the LAW as expressed in the Bill of Rights doesn't matter, does it? As long as we have Nazi Franken's assurance that breaking the LAW was to PROTECT us?

How wonderful to be able to break the LAW with impunity!

How wonderful to be above the LAW!

How wonderful that the LAW applies differently to high-handed, sanctimonious, hypocritical government hacks than it does to upstanding, patriotic, productive citizens!

Long live the aristocracy!

38 posted on 06/11/2013 8:02:15 AM PDT by LucianOfSamasota (Tanstaafl - its not just for breakfast anymore...)
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To: dirtboy
> But Franken defends the secrecy of the program, saying the government is trying to strike a delicate balance between public right to safety and the public right to privacy.

What about the 4th Amendment, you moron?

I believe this answers your question.

39 posted on 06/11/2013 8:02:53 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: RummyChick
says he got secret security briefings on the program and he says it prevented unspecified terrorist acts

I guess this village idiot didn't get the briefings on the IRS interfering with conservative orgs. I'm sure the progressives have dipped into this wealth of information (NSA) as well.

40 posted on 06/11/2013 8:03:19 AM PDT by ThomasMore (Islam is the Whore of Babylon!)
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