Senator Rand Paul files Lawsuit against Obama and the NSA

Feuer Frei! · 01-04-14, 08:31 PM

Good luck with that, sir:

Quote:

Republican Sen. Rand Paul says he is filing a class-action lawsuit against the Obama administration over the data-collection policies of the National Security Agency. And on his campaign website, he’s urging Americans to join the lawsuit, in his words, “to stop Barack Obama’s NSA from snooping on the American people.”

SOURCE

Oberon · 01-04-14, 08:39 PM

Admiral Halsey · 01-04-14, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Less then I thought we had.

Oberon · 01-04-14, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Halsey

Less then I thought we had.

That's only over a period of two months....

Admiral Halsey · 01-04-14, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

That's only over a period of two months....

Oh...

Oberon · 01-04-14, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Halsey

Oh...

Yah...

Admiral Halsey · 01-04-14, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Yah...

Well it is an important topic...

Oberon · 01-04-14, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Halsey

Well it is an important topic...

I agree, and so is gun control, which is why we had an all purpose 'gun control thread', but as soon as that fell off the front page most people forgot about it. Really, we could do with having several all-purpose threads, we had one for admiring guns, and yet we still get 'look at x gun doing y' stories appear, like so:

Guns:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210303
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210021
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210020
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209461

So, in theory what should happen is that any new threads on the subject get merged into the all purpose thread, but unfortunately that's pretty labour intensive, it got pretty bad a while ago when Neal had to step in a merge all the 2nd Amendment Gun control threads (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show....php?p=2043294).

The primary problem that we face here in this forum is that there are a handful of people on one side of the debate and a handful of people on the other, neither side are going to move from their entrenched positions and so when a topic like this comes up, all that happens is a vicious back and forth that ends with either someone getting a warning or both sides entrenching even deeper into their respective beliefs.

By definition a forum is - "a meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged".
We have gone past the point that ideas and views have been exchanged, there is nothing new to discuss, we know Skybirds position on the NSA, we know how August feels about the 2nd Amendment, because these positions have been made abundantly clear in previous threads on these topics, and neither side have any form of arguement that is going to change the opinion of the other. So what do we end up with? The sort of thing we saw in this thread: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210304 where there's just a circle of viciousness until the moderators are forced to step in.

To be fair, I must stress it doesn't always go this way, thankfully there are a lot of rational minds on this forum, but sometimes people just let their emotions get the better of them, particularly on an emotive subject...which seems to be the only sort of subject that certain people post news stories about...

Wolferz · 01-05-14, 01:01 PM

The honorable Mister Paul should also include the architects of the Patriot Act as co-defendants in his suit, though prying Mister Bush off his ranch may prove to be problematic and Mister Cheney has already proven that he's above the law, the constitution and the stratosphere.

Catfish · 01-05-14, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolferz

... prying Mister Bush off his ranch may prove to be problematic and Mister Cheney has already proven that he's above the law, the constitution and the stratosphere.

but not so funny if you really think about it -

Ducimus · 01-05-14, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Good luck with that, sir:

That about sum's it up. Filing a lawsuit i think is a token gesture, meant to say, "I'm on the side of the people", something that people will remember at the voting booth. Or perhaps, he knows the outcome is dismal, but he's following through with his convictions anyway, as a matter of principle. Or perhaps, both. In any event, I would be greatly surprised if the lawsuit actually went anywhere.

Platapus · 01-05-14, 06:09 PM

As long as it is a legitimate lawsuit and not some cheap political ploy of someone who is wanting to make a political name for themselves in preparation of a future presidential candidacy....

oh

TarJak · 01-05-14, 06:20 PM

Like all lawsuits the only winners will be the lawyers.

Wolferz · 01-05-14, 07:42 PM

No matter the outcome of said lawsuit, the main thing is it drags the whole mess into the light of day. Let's see how many roaches scatter.

The liberal interpretations of the constitution as of late have gotten way out of hand. Since when does an act of Congress trump the founding document and the Bill of Rights? Which, by the way, was expertly designed to prevent such nonsense. Those who think those documents don't mean squat in this day and age have another think coming. Karma is a bitch when she comes back around and slaps you.

vienna · 01-06-14, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

That about sum's it up. Filing a lawsuit i think is a token gesture, meant to say, "I'm on the side of the people", something that people will remember at the voting booth. Or perhaps, he knows the outcome is dismal, but he's following through with his convictions anyway, as a matter of principle. Or perhaps, both. In any event, I would be greatly surprised if the lawsuit actually went anywhere.

More or less my take on Rand Paul's lawsuit, also. It's an election year for him and, like all politicians, he needs to keep his name and face in the public's (read: his constituent's) ears and eyes. Most probably, the lawsuit will go nowhere, Paul will get the votes to keep his seat, and nothing more will be heard of the issue in relation to Paul. And so goes another political ploy...

<O>

01-05-14, 01:01 PM	#9
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	The honorable Mister Paul should also include the architects of the Patriot Act as co-defendants in his suit, though prying Mister Bush off his ranch may prove to be problematic and Mister Cheney has already proven that he's above the law, the constitution and the stratosphere. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

01-05-14, 06:09 PM	#12
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,373 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	As long as it is a legitimate lawsuit and not some cheap political ploy of someone who is wanting to make a political name for themselves in preparation of a future presidential candidacy.... oh __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

01-05-14, 07:42 PM	#14
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	No matter the outcome of said lawsuit, the main thing is it drags the whole mess into the light of day. Let's see how many roaches scatter. The liberal interpretations of the constitution as of late have gotten way out of hand. Since when does an act of Congress trump the founding document and the Bill of Rights? Which, by the way, was expertly designed to prevent such nonsense. Those who think those documents don't mean squat in this day and age have another think coming. Karma is a bitch when she comes back around and slaps you. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

01-04-14, 08:39 PM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	NSA/government snooping: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210305 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210265 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210218 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210229 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210012 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209991 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209984 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209906 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209757 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209321 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209394 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=209353 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=208944

01-05-14, 06:20 PM	#13
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Like all lawsuits the only winners will be the lawyers.