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Marco Rubio on Edward Snowden: A 'Traitor' Who Sparked 'Conspiracy Theories'
The Atlantic ^ | November 22, 2013 | Conor Friedersdorf

Posted on 11/27/2013 10:24:35 AM PST by kobald

This week in Washington, Senator Marco Rubio accused a fellow American of treason. Edward Snowden drew the Republican's ire by informing hundreds of millions of innocent people that the NSA is spying on them...

Anyone familiar with the Snowden story will understand why Rubio's comments are misleading. Americans are concerned about their civil liberties because of the accurate information the former Booz Allen Hamilton contractor leaked. He isn't responsible for any conspiracy theories, except in the sense that a conspiracy is "an agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act," and he exposed NSA and GCHQ cooperation on such acts. Finally, Snowden didn't exactly choose Vladimir Putin's Russia. His plan was to pass through en route to a different country, but while he was there, the Obama Administration yanked his passport. As a result of that brilliant strategy, they stranded a man with lots of secrets in Russia rather than, say, Ecuador...

Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall, who are much, much better informed about NSA surveillance, insist that "we have yet to see any evidence that the bulk phone records collection program has provided any otherwise unobtainable intelligence," and believe much of what the NSA does is not necessary to protect our security.

One can agree or disagree with Snowden's actions. But it is mighty strange to label as a traitor someone who acted to inform his countrymen and protect their liberties.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: anonymous; bigbrother; criminalconspiracy; cultureofcorruption; espionage; fifthcolumnist; infiltrated; marcorubio; notawhistleblower; nsa; obamavoter; rubio; securityclearance; traitor; treason; wiretapping
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To: IbJensen
It’s not a theory you RINO, it’s a conspiracy!

It's not even a conspiracy. Snowden simply confirmed what anyone with half a brain already assumed was going on.

101 posted on 11/28/2013 12:15:09 AM PST by Drew68
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To: Forgotten Amendments

re: “ It’s horrible what’s happened to our nation.”

Agreed.

But, in spite of it all, hope you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.


102 posted on 11/28/2013 1:09:16 AM PST by rusty schucklefurd
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To: kobald

Go pick beans you backstabbing RINO coward. So-dim’s treason does not in the *faintest* excuse the list of anti-American activities you’ve engaged in that is now longer than your nose and heavier than your wife’s bottom.


103 posted on 11/28/2013 5:00:13 AM PST by EternalHope13
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To: kobald

Anyone who supports the government intrusion exposed by Edward Snowden has no concept of liberty as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.


104 posted on 11/28/2013 6:09:10 AM PST by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears ("There's always free cheese in a mousetrap." - Marine Col. Peter Martino)
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To: varyouga

“The guy effectively defected to Russia for gosh sakes. And some conservatives here are defending him? Amazing.”


I agree with Mark Levin, who said “I haven’t made up my mind about Edward Snowden. But I’m glad we now know the degree to which our government is spying on us.”

Do you agree?


105 posted on 11/28/2013 6:11:04 AM PST by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears ("There's always free cheese in a mousetrap." - Marine Col. Peter Martino)
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To: Buckeye McFrog
But it’s hard to believe Vlad Putin lets him stay without sharing.

There are at least a couple possibilities:

IIRC, Putin said Snowden did not reveal anything new to them. They may have simply concluded Snowden had nothing they did not already have. If Snowden was able to access the information relatively easily, then it's a near 100% probability that the Russians, and perhaps others, had moles inside who'd already extracted it. Meanwhile, Putin gets to thumb his nose at the USA, and watch as Obambi is embarrassed. If you recall Putin's comments about Dubya's dog vs. his (Putin's) dog, it's pretty clear that Putin enjoys such snubs quite a bit.

OR (less likely, but plausible):

Putin may fear or know that the NSA has something on him that by mutual (unspoken?) agreement NSA would not make publicly known. But Snowden has it too, and is, or at least was, not part of that agreement.

Or it could be something I've not thought of!

Also note that the file is most likely not in Snowden's possession -- that would be very dangerous to him. More likely, it simply gets released upon his demise, or shortly thereafter. (A cyber-age "dead man's switch".)

106 posted on 11/28/2013 6:56:59 AM PST by Paul R. (We are in a break in an Ice Age. A brief break at that...)
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To: kobald
With this ill-considered and unwarranted declaration Rubio has officially joined the Establishment, and thrown his allegiance to the Ruling Class. Ironic that the leftwing Atlantic should get it right and the so-called "conservative" wonder boy could be so wrong.
107 posted on 11/28/2013 7:21:08 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
You might try reading the article. It didn't happen the way you seem to think.
108 posted on 11/28/2013 7:23:11 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: drypowder
Blowing the whistle on tyranny is a patriotic act in a free country.
109 posted on 11/28/2013 7:24:57 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears

Eric Snowden is a far better human being than Marco Rubio, Barack Obama, John McCain, or any of the other beltway fascists.

Is Snowden perfect? No, but if I were in his shoes I would have taken life in Russia over a supermax hell or a shallow grave. Which is what our benevolent masters in DC probably would have offered.


110 posted on 11/28/2013 7:26:59 AM PST by RugerMini14
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To: vox_freedom
It's not blasphemy to use the only being who is trusted 100% to illustrate how impossible it is right this wrong.
111 posted on 11/28/2013 7:48:12 AM PST by WhoisAlanGreenspan?
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To: kobald

Keep dancing to the right Marco. We all know now that it is just an act.


112 posted on 11/28/2013 8:19:12 AM PST by Buckeye Battle Cry (Audentis Fortuna Iuvat)
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To: kobald; COUNTrecount; Nowhere Man; FightThePower!; C. Edmund Wright; jacob allen; Travis McGee; ...

Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping!

To get onto The Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping List you must threaten to report me to the Mods if I don't add you to the list...

113 posted on 11/28/2013 9:26:32 AM PST by null and void (I'm betting on an Obama Trifecta: A Nobel Peace Prize, an Impeachment, AND a War Crimes Trial...)
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To: kobald

He calls Snowden a traitor. What does he call those who are stomping on the constitution by spying on us?

Obviously, the NSA has been in touch with him.


114 posted on 11/28/2013 10:34:27 AM PST by VerySadAmerican (".....Barrack, and the horse Mohammed rode in on.")
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To: WhoisAlanGreenspan?

Christ is omnipotent and can do anything — and everything is within His power.
Believing this to be true is to be a Christian.
Have a good Thanksgiving.


115 posted on 11/28/2013 10:40:39 AM PST by vox_freedom (America is being tested as never before in its history. May God help us.)
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To: kobald

—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

http://www.usdebtclock.org

Look in the mirror to find the traitor, Marco. Ask your fellow elitists to do the same.


116 posted on 11/28/2013 11:00:45 AM PST by PGalt
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To: null and void

Thanks for the ping.

FUMR


117 posted on 11/28/2013 11:03:19 AM PST by PGalt
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Comment #118 Removed by Moderator

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119 posted on 11/28/2013 11:14:26 AM PST by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Trapped Behind Enemy Lines

I don’t view Snowden as a hero, either.

However..without his information about how bad the en-ey-ey has spied on Americans, no one would have known.


120 posted on 11/28/2013 11:15:08 AM PST by max americana (fired liberals in our company last election, and I laughed while they cried (true story))
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