It would be interesting to trace the true lineage of this (or any) legislative edit.
It has a smell if an outside source, as though our laws are not written by our lawmakers.
It has a smell if an outside source, as though our laws are not written by our lawmakers.
"[A]fter moving through the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, where it saw some changes but retained the support of privacy advocates, last minute negotiations between House leadership and the Obama administration have left the bill with weakened language when it comes to banning mass surveillance, advocates say."
Disappointing on many levels.
According to the EFF (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/05/eff-dismayed-houses-gu...):
"Many members of Congress, the President's own review group on NSA activities, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board all agree that the use of Section 215 to collect Americans' calling records must stop."
It could be possible that the President overruled his own policy review group. But I find it unlikely given his propensity for consensus.
If you're completely unaware of how the Republican establishment has been at war with its base LONG before the "Tea Party" (e.g. at least as far back as Goldwater in 1964), you need to read up on the relevant history before making such unproductive accusations.
Heck, how about brushing up on basic human psychology, since the concept of ingratitude (in this case, of the Republican establishment) would appear to be beyond your imagination.