David Simon, Creator of “The Wire,” on the NSA Story: We Are Shocked, Shocked…

One of the smartest pieces you’ll read on the NSA surveillance story
Opinion • Views: 22,376

Creator and head writer of “The Wire” David Simon has a very good post on the NSA story today: We Are Shocked, Shocked…

You would think that the government was listening in to the secrets of 200 million Americans from the reaction and the hyperbole being tossed about. And you would think that rather than a legal court order which is an inevitable consequence of legislation that we drafted and passed, something illegal had been discovered to the government’s shame.

Nope. Nothing of the kind. Though apparently, the U.K.’s Guardian, which broke this faux-scandal, is unrelenting in its desire to scale the heights of self-congratulatory hyperbole. Consider this from Glenn Greenwald, the author of the piece: “What this court order does that makes it so striking is that it’s not directed at any individual…it’s collecting the phone records of every single customer of Verizon business and finding out every single call they’ve made…it’s indiscriminate and it’s sweeping.”

Having labored as a police reporter in the days before the Patriot Act, I can assure all there has always been a stage before the wiretap, a preliminary process involving the capture, retention and analysis of raw data. It has been so for decades now in this country. The only thing new here, from a legal standpoint, is the scale on which the FBI and NSA are apparently attempting to cull anti-terrorism leads from that data. But the legal and moral principles? Same old stuff.

Read the whole thing…

Jump to bottom

108 comments
1 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 11:48:29am

Why does David Simon hate Amercia?

//

2 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 11:49:16am

tl;dr

No actually RTWT, it’s worth it.

3 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 11:51:18am

David Simon’s blog just went down. WTF NSA!

4 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 11:55:36am

The thing is, I don’t think it’s wrong to be concerned about the government doing this kind of surveillance of American citizens on such a massive scale. There really are serious issues about privacy with programs this enormous, even if they’re only gathering metadata. There’s a LOT that can be learned from data like this, even without having the content of the calls.

But the way the media has hyped this story, they’re giving people completely false impressions about what’s going on, and making them think the government is listening to everybody’s phone calls and reading everybody’s emails. Which they’re not.

5 GunstarGreen  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:02:29pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

The thing is, I don’t think it’s actually wrong to be concerned about the government doing this kind of surveillance of American citizens on such a massive scale. There really are serious issues about privacy with programs this enormous, even if they’re only gathering metadata. There’s a LOT that can be learned from data like this, even without having the content of the calls.

But the way the media has hyped this story, they’re giving people completely false impressions about what’s going on, and making them think the government is listening to everybody’s phone calls and reading everybody’s emails. Which they’re not.

Who cares? There are ratings and clicks to be had, and that’s all that matters. We have to keep the outrage machine fed.

6 Mattand  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:05:39pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

Logically, I get all of what you and David Simon are saying. I hate to tap my inner Tea Party, but there is just something really creepy about any government conducting this kind of surveillance on a massive scale.

I kind of liken it to the recent SCOTUS decision where basically you have to give your DNA if you get grabbed by the cops, regardless of whether you’ve even been charged with anything. Once that data is recorded, it ain’t going anywhere.

There’s too much potential for abuse for my liking.

7 Lidane  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:07:50pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

The thing is, I don’t think it’s actually wrong to be concerned about the government doing this kind of surveillance of American citizens on such a massive scale. There really are serious issues about privacy with programs this enormous, even if they’re only gathering metadata. There’s a LOT that can be learned from data like this, even without having the content of the calls.

EXACTLY.

I think everyone understands that terrorists need to be found and caught, and that there are valid reasons for surveillance. It’s the expansion of the scale and scope since 9/11 that’s the issue.

8 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:15:21pm

My first reaction on hearing about this massive data collection was not ZOMG THEY’RE LISTENING IN ON ALL MY PHONE CALLS AND READING ALL MY INTERNETS!!111!! it was How in the fucking fuck are they going to find that pin they’re looking for in this planet-sized haystack?

9 euphgeek  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:18:26pm

The website went down. Here’s the Google cache: webcache.googleusercontent.com

10 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:18:28pm
11 Jack Burton  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:22:27pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

But the way the media has hyped this story, they’re giving people completely false impressions about what’s going on, and making them think the government is listening to everybody’s phone calls and reading everybody’s emails. Which they’re not.

The media blows everything out of proportion now and critical analysis is ‘some manner of sorcery’ to the average American (and European apparently).

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the hype on this couldn’t possibly be reality just on the amount of data and time involved, but no one wants to think and the media needs ratings.

12 Lidane  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:23:07pm
13 A Mom Anon  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:24:53pm

re: #12 Lidane

We’re all gonna DIE!!!!!eleventyzomgkillmenow!!!!

Seriously if you’re that determined to be miserable, why bother getting up in the morning?

14 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:25:31pm

re: #11 Jack Burton

They were also doing it all for 20 million.

15 piratedan  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:27:33pm

Well none of these other faux outrages/scandals that we’ve attempted to promote have worked so now we’re going to play the ebil gubmint is spying on you card. Them nasty minority gubmint workers now knows of your illicit obsession with Danica and all things NASCAR plus those Dancin’ with the Starz videos and OMG!!!! BLACK HEWLICOPTERS!!!!!!!

16 jaunte  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:27:41pm
“There is a massive apparatus within the United States government that with complete secrecy has been building this enormous structure that has only one goal, and that is to destroy privacy and anonymity, not just in the United States but around the world,” charged Glenn Greenwald, a reporter for the British newspaper “The Guardian,” speaking on CNN. “That is not hyperbole. That is their objective.” politico.com

No, that is hyperbole.

17 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:29:59pm

I still have a big problem with the program as it exists, but the program as it exists is nothing like what the media has flubbered about.

18 steve_davis  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:31:30pm

Let me just point out something that has not been at all obvious from the reportage: the metadata the government was gathering was for Verizon Business Network, which is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than Verizon Wireless. The reason I am having to point this out is because I have now read at least a dozen different breathless write-ups about this, and I have not seen a SINGLE REPORTER who has bothered to read the warrant ONLINE, and who figured out that Verizon Business Network is run by a guy who is completely different than the guy who runs Verizon Wireless. In fact, I’m going to make a wild guess here and assume that the two entities are stovepiped in some way so that the international portion of Verizon can avoid having to pay any U.S. taxes.

19 wrenchwench  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:35:51pm

re: #6 Mattand

Logically, I get all of what you and David Simon are saying. I hate to tap my inner Tea Party, but there is just something really creepy about any government conducting this kind of surveillance on a massive scale.

I kind of liken it to the recent SCOTUS decision where basically you have to give your DNA if you get grabbed by the cops, regardless of whether you’ve even been charged with anything. Once that data is recorded, it ain’t going anywhere.

There’s too much potential for abuse for my liking.

Unhatched registrant disapproves.

-1 Comment rated by: Barrista#1

Posted by: mattand in article: David Simon, Creator of “The Wire,” on the NSA Story: We Are Shocked, Shocked…

20 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:37:51pm

re: #17 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

I still have a big problem with the program as it exists, but the program as it exists is nothing like what the media has flubbered about.

Any breaking news event which depends on precise reporting of critical facts is an opportunity for the media to disgrace itself that most in the media will not miss.

21 [deleted]  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:39:25pm
22 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:40:18pm

Yup, I thought so.

23 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:41:25pm

re: #18 steve_davis

Let me just point out something that has not been at all obvious from the reportage: the metadata the government was gathering was for Verizon Business Network, which is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than Verizon Wireless. The reason I am having to point this out is because I have now read at least a dozen different breathless write-ups about this, and I have not seen a SINGLE REPORTER who has bothered to read the warrant ONLINE, and who figured out that Verizon Business Network is run by a guy who is completely different than the guy who runs Verizon Wireless. In fact, I’m going to make a wild guess here and assume that the two entities are stovepiped in some way so that the international portion of Verizon can avoid having to pay any U.S. taxes.

But realistically, this has to be in place for all the telcos, or it would be meaningless. There is no reason at all to assume that the Verizon Business Network court order is the only one.

24 bratwurst  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:42:40pm

Limbaugh: “We Are In The Midst Of A Coup Taking Place”

25 iossarian  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:42:58pm

Charles Johnson, harnessing metadata to identify suspected trolls and exercise executive privilege with regard to their civil liberties.

26 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:43:55pm
27 wrenchwench  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:44:45pm

If it’s such a crappy blog, why do they register over and over to be a part of it? Mattand must have REALLY pissed it off with that HORRIBLE comment.

28 Kragar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:44:56pm

The most shocking revelation about this story is the number of Republicans crawling out of the wood work who suddenly give a shit about civil liberties after a decade + of nothing.

29 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:45:10pm

re: #24 bratwurst

Limbaugh: “We Are In The Midst Of A Coup Taking Place”

Dear Rush, what happened in the election of 2000 was a hell of a lot closer to a coup than anything that has happened since 2008.

30 iossarian  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:47:03pm

re: #28 Kragar

The most shocking revelation about this story is the number of Republicans crawling out of the wood work who suddenly give a shit about civil liberties after a decade + of nothing.

It’s fucked up. A lot of the right-wing internet chatter is based around how great Ron Paul is for opposing the Patriot Act. Guess what, wingnuts, a vote for your local Republican mouth-breather is not a vote for Ron Paul*.

It’s a bit like the Sex Pistols concerts. There are millions of Ron Paul voters, all over the country, apparently.

* Not that a vote for Ron Paul is a good thing either.

31 Jack Burton  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:49:13pm

re: #28 Kragar

The most shocking revelation about this story is the number of Republicans crawling out of the wood work who suddenly give a shit about civil liberties after a decade + of nothing.

The President is a ni*DING*

So they can now safely join the libertarian kooks in hand-wringing, over-exaggerating, crying wolf, and/or concern trolling in regards to these issues.

32 steve_davis  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:49:35pm

re: #23 EPR-radar

But realistically, this has to be in place for all the telcos, or it would be meaningless. There is no reason at all to assume that the Verizon Business Network court order is the only one.

Well, maybe. You make a good point. But it may also be the case that there is something specific about the business network—like for instance, subscribing to Verizon Business Network as a foreigner living in the U.S.—that just really helps filter the data down to people who might actually be terrorists. It’s like if you’re going to get a broad warrant to hunt for pedophiles online, I certainly wouldn’t bother trying to filter through all bits and bytes on the standard internet. I’d get a warrant to specifically look for people that are using the “shadow” net, where photos and videos can go peer to peer, anonymously (unless somebody is actually looking at the information that would give away locations).

33 iossarian  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:49:42pm

The initial Patriot Act was opposed by, what, 50-odd Democratic Representatives, Ron Paul, and Russ Feingold.

The extensions I believe were opposed by significant majorities of Democrats in the House, and a couple of additional Democratic senators.

34 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:50:56pm

re: #24 bratwurst

You mean people who lost the last election are trying to take over the government?

/

35 bratwurst  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:51:38pm

Glenn Beck went a step FURTHER than Rush today:

Beck: America Becoming Worse Than Nazi Germany

36 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:52:39pm

re: #35 bratwurst

Guess he’s not sorry for dividing the country.

37 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:55:44pm

re: #35 bratwurst

Glenn Beck went a step FURTHER than Rush today:

Beck: America Becoming Worse Than Nazi Germany

Right, because in Nazi Germany, you could totally go on the radio every goddam day and whinge endlessly about how horrible the Government is, and nobody would, for example, toss you in jail, or take you out to a quiet corner of the woods and shoot you.

38 jaunte  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:56:55pm
39 Gus  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:57:58pm
40 bratwurst  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:58:03pm

re: #36 Bulworth

Guess he’s not sorry for dividing the country.

Yeah, I read that too…of course, in that article he refused to apologize for or take back anything he said, he is only sorry for how people reacted!

Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald and The Guardian have ramped things up here in the last hour yet again:

Obama orders US to draw up overseas target list for cyber-attacks

41 Occam's Guillotine  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:58:57pm

re: #35 bratwurst

Glenn Beck went a step FURTHER than Rush today:

Beck: America Becoming Worse Than Nazi Germany

If so, why is Beck still breathing free air, or air of any kind for that matter?

42 Gus  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:59:32pm

“Hello, is this Mr. Adolf Hitler? Well, yes. This is a courtesy call from SHAEF and we’re calling to let you know that we’ll be invading the beaches of Normandy on June 5th. If the weather is bad expect us on the next day. Oh, we’ll also be sending in pathfinders on the evening before our invasion. If you have any questions give us a call. OK, have yourself a good night Mr. Hitler.”

Because.

No secrets.

//

43 Ian G.  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 12:59:50pm

re: #37 GeneJockey

Remember when the right used to howl about Noam Chomsky saying such things? Oh right, that was back when W was in power.

44 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:00:04pm

re: #32 steve_davis

Well, maybe. You make a good point. But it may also be the case that there is something specific about the business network—like for instance, subscribing to Verizon Business Network as a foreigner living in the U.S.—that just really helps filter the data down to people who might actually be terrorists. It’s like if you’re going to get a broad warrant to hunt for pedophiles online, I certainly wouldn’t bother trying to filter through all bits and bytes on the standard internet. I’d get a warrant to specifically look for people that are using the “shadow” net, where photos and videos can go peer to peer, anonymously (unless somebody is actually looking at the information that would give away locations).

On its face, the Verizon court order make no attempt to be selective at all. All of their metadata is to be provided to the government.

For that kind of thing, it doesn’t seem to make sense to single out Verizon Business Network as the only service provider that needs to provide metadata to the government. I may not think much of Verizon, but they (and their corporate customers) are hardly Al Qaida Inc.

45 jaunte  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:00:05pm

re: #40 bratwurst

The aim of the document was “to put in place tools and a framework to enable government to make decisions” on cyber actions, a senior administration official told the Guardian.
guardian.co.uk

Dramatic Squirrel!

46 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:02:27pm

Wow, the front page of Right Wing Watch is totally fucking berserk right now. It’s like somebody opened one of those snakes in a can, full of bad craziness.

47 Ian G.  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:02:54pm

re: #40 bratwurst

Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald and The Guardian have ramped things up here in the last hour yet again:

Obama orders US to draw up overseas target list for cyber-attacks

Because….having a military plan ready is the same thing as actually executing said plan?

I’m guessing the Pentagon has plans for invading Iran and North Korea, and for a naval confrontation with China. It doesn’t mean these things are going to happen.

48 abolitionist  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:03:26pm

About 1980, I was having some problems with multiple charges to my landline phone for unauthorized calls (mostly local) to and from numbers other than mine. I was also having problems with my mail being stolen before I could get home from work to retrieve it. Typically, the missing mail was my phone bill.

Using meta-data info (call logs) from several of the phone bills that didn’t get stolen, I was able to construct a “map” of about 20 local phone numbers, with hand-drawn lines connecting them to indicate the direction(s) of the calls.

I was subsequently able to locate a small number of public pay phones that were commonly the source, but sometimes the destination, of calls improperly charged to my own #. And by calling some of the other numbers, I was able to learn the names of some of the people on my map, and the degrees of association between several of the numbers, based on call frequency, call duration, and time of day.

My database was tiny and very limited. Now imagine the kinds of map(s) that could be easily constructed with far larger databases. Essentially everyone would be in most such map(s), even if using only primary and secondary associations for their construction. Hell, even if using only primary associations. Of course, the probability may be (and perhaps remain) very small that innocents would be “targeted” for investigation.

This does not mean that you won’t be mapped N ways from sunday, sooner or later. If not by government/law enforcement, then certainly by advertisers, social websites, email and text messaging services, and most current or future employers.

Joe Friday’s LA cop show was Dragnet. Strange meaning that word. Regrettable that it was offical US policy over much of the VietNam era, both there and domestically. And that it used to be standard operating procedure for local law enforcement. Hence the name. Lessons might be drawn from that.

49 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:04:13pm

re: #46 Charles Johnson

Wow, the front page of Right Wing Watch is totally fucking berserk right now. It’s like somebody opened one of those snakes in a can, full of bad craziness.

I just scanned their front page. If I didn’t know better I’d swear it was a parody site.

50 jaunte  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:04:17pm

Birther Investigator Reports Rep. Stockman ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Obama Birth Certificate, Has Requested ‘Lengthy’ Meeting
rightwingwatch.org

51 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:04:26pm

re: #47 Ian G.

Because….having a military plan ready is the same thing as actually executing said plan?

I’m guessing the Pentagon has plans for invading Iran and North Korea, and for a naval confrontation with China. It doesn’t mean these things are going to happen.

Activate War Plan Red!

en.wikipedia.org

52 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:05:08pm

Every right wing nutjob in the country decided to let ‘er rip today.

53 erik_t  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:05:30pm

re: #47 Ian G.

Because….having a military plan ready is the same thing as actually executing said plan?

I’m guessing the Pentagon has plans for invading Iran and North Korea, and for a naval confrontation with China. It doesn’t mean these things are going to happen.

Planning is bad. It’s much better to invade a country and then stand their with your dick in your hands waiting for freedom and democracy to spring up around you like fucking flowers in April.

54 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:05:39pm

re: #52 Charles Johnson

The wingularity may be approaching.

55 Gus  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:06:38pm

re: #54 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

The wingularity may be approaching.

It’s a circle of derp!

56 darthstar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:08:33pm

Pretty cool…a C-130 landing and leaving an aircraft carrier.

military.com

57 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:08:36pm

re: #53 erik_t

Planning is bad. It’s much better to invade a country and then stand their with your dick in your hands waiting for freedom and democracy to spring up around you like fucking flowers in April.

Belgium and the Netherlands patently refused to even plan with France and Britain for defense in the event of a Nazi invasion in 1939/40, hoping to somehow maintain their neutrality. Whilch allwed the Wehrmacht to knock them off one by one.

58 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:08:42pm

re: #55 Gus

It’s a circle of derp!

Whirlpool is more apt. It seems to suck things in and get bigger and deeper.

59 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:08:51pm

re: #55 Gus

It’s a circle of derp!

A circle jerk derp.

60 darthstar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:08:58pm

re: #52 Charles Johnson

Every right wing nutjob in the country decided to let ‘er rip today.

I thought those farts smelled like paranoia.

61 piratedan  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:09:10pm

re: #55 Gus

It’s a circle of derp!

That’s no circle, that’s a surveyor’s symbol - Snowflake Snooki

62 jaunte  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:09:59pm

Authorities: Texas actress arrested in ricin case

…A pregnant Texas actress who told FBI agents her husband had sent ricin-tainted letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been arrested for orchestrating the scheme herself, a law enforcement official said Friday.

It was not immediately clear what charges would be filed against Shannon Guess Richardson of New Boston, Texas, a mother of five who has played bit roles in television shows. She was arrested around noon Friday, said Davilyn Walston, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in the eastern district of Texas.

63 Gus  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:10:21pm
64 Occam's Guillotine  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:10:45pm

It’s all part of a massive program to identify likely candidates for Michelle Obama’s innovative new food program. The Beta version is already out.

65 darthstar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:11:44pm

re: #63 Gus

What the hell? They’re acting like she’s a Senator from a competitive blue state.

66 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:12:09pm

re: #63 Gus

RINO!

67 bratwurst  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:12:36pm

Oddly, the libertarian left seems to agree with Beck, that America really is morphing into Nazi Germany and their hero is in danger of being rounded up or worse!

68 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:12:44pm

re: #65 darthstar

What the hell? They’re acting like she’s a Senator from a competitive blue state.

Probably wants to maintain a laser-like focus on jobs Susan Rice.

69 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:13:05pm

re: #63 Gus

I predict this will not last.

70 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:13:10pm

re: #11 Vicious Babushka

Swanson: So uh Dave I said to myself we’re not gonna go see that movie. So, you know, you gotta draw the line somewhere don’t ya? I mean, ay yay yay. And how many Christians asked that question? I actually did a survey, I mean I went on to Google and kind of goggled, you know, Christian sites, I mean I try not to put the wrong kind of wording into the Google search, cause if you do that, you can be in a heap of trouble. So I did a little search, turns out there was a Catholic site, had a little forum discussion on the issue. And nobody brought up Leviticus 18 Dave, and of course the whole premise of this is that within an evolutionary construct there is no real problem with speciation and cross-species mating, there’s no problem with that at all, in fact that’s how you evolve,

Yeah, we don’t base our society anymore on the rules and commands of Leviticus. Aren’t these the same people bitching about Sharia law?

71 Gus  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:13:37pm
72 Gus  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:13:45pm
73 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:14:03pm

re: #67 bratwurst

things have bent in a curve so far that the far left and far right are on a collision course.

74 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:14:18pm

re: #72 Gus

That’s it. Graham’s twitter account’s been hacked.

75 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:14:25pm

Hoo boy. Ol’ Lindsey is going to be raked over the coals for those comments.

76 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:15:38pm

Maybe his staff forgot to let him know how much the Teabag Right hates Samantha Power?

77 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:16:35pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

Maybe his staff forgot to tell him about how much the Teabag Right hates Samantha Power?

The teabag right also hates Lindsey Graham…

78 darthstar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:17:42pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Hoo boy. Ol’ Lindsey is going to be raked over the coals for those comments.

It must be because of her ‘monster’ comment about Hillary in 2008.

79 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:17:58pm

re: #70 Bulworth

And nobody brought up Leviticus 18 Dave, and of course the whole premise of this is that within an evolutionary construct there is no real problem with speciation and cross-species mating, there’s no problem with that at all, in fact that’s how you evolve,

Nobody better tell this guy about Larry Niven’s Ringworld and rishathra. He’ll have a coronary.

80 funky chicken  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:19:10pm

re: #67 bratwurst

Oddly, the libertarian left seems to agree with Beck, that America really is morphing into Nazi Germany and their hero is in danger of being rounded up or worse!

Yeah, the Glen Greenwald fangirls are some strange folks.

As a Verizon customer, I gladly submit to having the FBI and NSA review my family’s phone usage. Try to not die of boredom sifting through all that crap. Please let me know if my son’s dramatic GF begins to edge into something frightening.

81 darthstar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:19:44pm
82 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:20:19pm

re: #79 GeneJockey

Gun Owners of America Warns ‘You Could Lose All Your Guns Before 2035’ If Immigration Reform Passes

2035? I thought Amercia was going to be destroyed by 2012 2016. /

83 wrenchwench  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:20:31pm

re: #64 Occam’s Guillotine

It’s all part of a massive program to identify likely candidates for Michelle Obama’s innovative new food program. The Beta version is already out.

A review:

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Well… March 16, 2012
By Damon W.
They taste just like grandmas. Actually, the flavor varies from person to person, but I think they’re wonderful. A must buy!

84 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:21:22pm

re: #82 Bulworth

2035? I thought Amercia was going to be destroyed by 2012 2016. /

?

85 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:24:17pm

re: #84 GeneJockey


From the Right Wing Watch site

rightwingwatch.org

86 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:24:25pm

re: #81 darthstar

Romney_whine_process outline:

Let X = Total net worth of the people that died because of Sandy

Let Y = Romney net worth

Let Z >> 1 be the aggravation factor that someone else is in Romney’s white house.

If Z*Y > X, then of course Romney’s loss is sadder than the lives lost.

He might even have done this spreadsheet himself…

87 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:25:26pm

Face, meet palm.

88 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:25:57pm

re: #85 Bulworth

From the Right Wing Watch site

rightwingwatch.org

Yeah. I was actually commenting on your linking to my post and blockquoting a different post. Very talented!
//
WRT the issue you raised, yeah - I thought the Rapture was supposed to happen before then anyway. Maybe they’re starting to think they might NOT get Raptured up?

89 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:26:58pm

re: #87 Charles Johnson

Face, meet palm.

Cripes, did we dodge a fucking bullet there!

90 wrenchwench  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:28:35pm

re: #87 Charles Johnson

Face, meet palm.

And this was the best the Republicans could come up with. Geez.

91 darthstar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:28:47pm
92 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:29:00pm

re: #87 Charles Johnson

“TeamCavuto”

Happy to say I’m not on that team.

93 wrenchwench  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:29:53pm
94 funky chicken  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:29:56pm

re: #87 Charles Johnson

Face, meet palm.

I actually saw a commercial on prime-time CNN yesterday or the day before run by some idiot “conservative” group calling for Obama to be impeached because of the “lies” told about Benghazi. 800 number, web address, whole banana. I’m not sure why they targeted the AC 360 audience, but whatever.

95 Bulworth  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:32:24pm

re: #87 Charles Johnson

Because the whole thing was a botched kidnapping plot with weapons from fastnfurious but the IRS botched the whole tea party harrasing thing so it didn’t work.

//

96 EPR-radar  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:32:58pm

re: #90 wrenchwench

And this was the best the Republicans could come up with. Geez.

If Romney is feeling particularly self-indulgent, he might even run again in 2016. After all, in 2012 no real harm was done, since he flushed other people’s money down the toilet rather than any of his own.

97 Charles Johnson  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:33:23pm
98 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:33:42pm

What do you get when you combine a tractor-trailer, fireworks and a moose?

99 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:36:03pm

re: #98 Walking Spanish Down the Hall

What do you get when you combine a tractor-trailer, fireworks and a moose?

Best line in the article:

Grundt makes clear that the moose threat is not over.

100 GeneJockey  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:37:39pm

re: #96 EPR-radar

If Romney is feeling particularly self-indulgent, he might even run again in 2016. After all, in 2012 no real harm was done, since he flushed other people’s money down the toilet rather than any of his own.

Isn’t that the whole basis of his business?

101 Political Atheist  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:42:18pm

Oh no here we go again…

At least 3 hurt in shooting at Southern California college, authorities say
cnn.com

102 wrenchwench  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:47:16pm

re: #101 Political Atheist

Oh no here we go again…

At least 3 hurt in shooting at Southern California college, authorities say
cnn.com

Last sentence:

President Barack Obama was in Santa Monica for a fundraiser just a 10-minute drive from where students have been locked down, KCAL/KCBS reported.

Maybe it’s a 10-minute drive ordinarily, but if the Secret Service is around, that’s going to make it at least half an hour.

Is it just So. Cal. that measures distance in minutes?

103 jaunte  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:48:07pm

re: #98 Walking Spanish Down the Hall

What do you get when you combine a tractor-trailer, fireworks and a moose?

Team Cavuto?

104 Lidane  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:49:41pm

re: #81 darthstar

105 Ian G.  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:52:03pm

re: #81 darthstar

As a resident of Brooklyn, I have to say, there is/was a part of me that was spooked by Tropical Storm Andrea. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to look at a radar image of a hurricane or tropical storm the same way again after Sandy.

And mind you, I didn’t lose my house. I didn’t even lose power. But the devastation in and around NYC will be something I will never forget. Nor will I forget the way the windows in my 5th floor apartment rattled. Or when the entire sky lit up bright blue when the power station on the east river exploded when the flood waters overtook it.

Oh, and as if this post didn’t make it clear, Romney can go fuck himself in the ear.

106 Lidane  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:55:56pm

Shorter GOP:

107 Mattand  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 1:59:49pm

re: #27 wrenchwench

If it’s such a crappy blog, why do they register over and over to be a part of it? Mattand must have REALLY pissed it off with that HORRIBLE comment.

Yeah, that’s me, the dangerous rabble rouser…

108 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Jun 7, 2013 6:54:55pm

Your winnings, Capt. Simon.

/DF stock reply to ‘shocked, shocked’.


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Once Praised, the Settlement to Help Sickened BP Oil Spill Workers Leaves Most With Nearly Nothing When a deadly explosion destroyed BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 134 million gallons of crude erupted into the sea over the next three months — and tens of thousands of ordinary people were hired ...
Cheechako
Yesterday
Views: 71 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 0
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
4 days ago
Views: 169 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1