Just wondering everyone's thoughts on this scandal. And why isn't this getting more attention? If this were Bush we would be calling for blood. In my opinion, I think whether or not Obama knew about this he needs to be held accountable. At some point, the NSA has to learn their lesson. Making the office of the president responsible might be a good starting point. Thoughts?
I don't think it's an impeachable offense, as I doubt it runs contrary to the President's constitutional powers. However, I am sure the Obama Administration would be in fits if we were to find out that Germany had been tapping Obama's phone. The US continues to act belligerently, and sows seeds of resentment the world over. Obama has failed to bring the change that he promised on the diplomatic front. If anything, he has only made the international reputation of the US worse. I'd feel pretty silly if I were a member of the Nobel Peace Prize committee.
Okay. Yeah. Why is this like, a minor media story? This is way, way, way bigger than the NSA spying on Americans. We've known about that for a long time and it's practically the NSA's job anyway. Spying on allied foreign ministers and officials is not anyone's job; that's why they're called allies (although it's comforting to know that presumably we can hear all of Putin's phone calls too). But, no, I don't think it can be an impeachable offense. For one thing, you'd have to prove that Obama actually had a direct hand in it (and if he didn't, it was almost certainly to protect him from potential calls for impeachment). Sometimes the President isn't told things for the sake of plausible deniability; maybe that happened here. For another, as mk points out, there's nothing in the Constitution about this really. Outdated document. For a third, if Obama is throwing the NSA under the bus, I can't blame him. The public hates it anyway, and the stuff about using resources to spy on personal acquaintances pretty much opened it up to taking all the heat here in my opinion. I'll leave you with this quote from a former French foreign minister:The magnitude of the eavesdropping is what shocked us. Let's be honest, we eavesdrop too. Everyone is listening to everyone else. But we don't have the same means as the United States, which makes us jealous.
If it were an impeachable offense, I think most all past presidents would be susceptible. They all do it, every nation that has this capability would try. Does this make it right? No, of course not. I don't think it's impeachable from a legal standpoint either. But if Obama were made to testify in front if a grand jury, my guess is that he'd lie like a rug and then, a la Clinton, the impeachment process could begin. What a disappointment this presidency has been.
I don't think it should/will be impeachable, because both parties support this type of spying, and these programs have gone through numerous presidencies covering both parties. I think protecting their own and realizing both parties do it would stop either party from getting impeachment proceedings rolling. Personally, I don't find it odd or surprising that we spy on foreign heads of state, be them allies or foes. It seems like kind of an obvious thing they would do if given the chance and the tools to do so.