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0 pointshypeatei2mo ago0 comments

> Because it distracts from the point I'm making

No it doesn't. If you're saying Obama did <bad thing> then explaining how the things Trump is doing are related is helpful. In this case, I don't see how them going after Snowden for stealing classified info (to be clear I support what he did) is the same as DHS going after meanies on Reddit for speaking out against ICE. One is using the intelligence apparatus for a plausible national security threat and the other is using them to crush dissent. Very big difference.

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giancarlostoro2mo ago

Did I ever said it was helpful or are you just putting words in my mouth? When I was 18 I emptied my bank account to fly my cousins to the US from Venezuela. I was making scraps per hour at the time mind you. But by all means put words in my mouth.

All this goes back before Obama, but my point was that literally the president in charge is irrelevant, they should not have this type of power to bypass the other branches of government, neither should other branches.

Nobody remembers Bush doing anything specific the way we all here remember Lavabit. Lavabit and Snowden were very deeply discussed here on HN.

hypeateiOP2mo ago

> Did I ever said it was helpful or are you just putting words in my mouth?

No, I think you're misreading. I said it would be helpful instead of distracting.

> Nobody remembers Bush doing anything specific the way we all here remember Lavabit

Yes, that's what I'm saying: you're extremely biased and it shows. In one stroke, you simultaneously say that unchecked intelligence apparatus is too powerful (true) and that Obama, specifically, did a bad thing that the goverment (hand wavey deflection) is merely taking advantage of now with no criticism of the current admin. It comes across like you're just a partisan hack who wants to dunk on Obama. There's no substance here. At least this time you mentioned Bush who started all of this, but still no mention of he who shall not be named.

> When I was 18 I emptied my bank account to fly my cousins to the US from Venezuela

What does that have to do with anything we're talking about now?

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