Michael B. Mukasey, Steven G. Bradbury and David B. Rivkin Jr.--all Dubya-era stalwarts--have a new op-ed out about how the government should be allowed to collect data on us, pretty much without regard to constitutional limits, in order to "protect" us.
While they make a variety of technical/legal arguments, the real truth of their argument is that the American people are dolts and sheep.
The article is peppered with phrases like the following:
"the caterwaul of those seeking to dismantle vital U.S. counterterrorism capabilities."
"the metadata program intrudes on consumers’ infatuation with their smartphones ..."
"Most Americans willingly accept less privacy in exchange for the conveniences the Internet makes possible."
In other words, anybody who disagrees with them is simply a feeble-minded person willing to put America at risk over information that the government has an absolute right to have:
Americans know that many government agencies collect business records and information for lawful purposes and that this often includes personal data. What distinguishes the NSA is the importance of its national security mission and the extensive congressional and judicial oversight.
In fact, Mr. Mukasey et al, most Americans are finally coming to realize the extent to which you and others have betrayed your trust, that your ilk has consistently lied to Congress, the FISA courts, and the American people, and that you cannot be trusted with the brief to protect us while also respecting civil liberties.
The simple fact is that you don't have the ethical right, the Constitutional authority, or the public trust necessary to turn the NSA or any other government agency into the thought police.
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