Opponents of NSA surveillance emboldened by close House vote (thehill.com)

From one of the security hawks:

>"The good news is that we were able to prevail, but that doesn't mean that it's over. If anything it's sending a message that we have to ... let the American public know that we're there to protect them and we're going to protect their civil rights and liberties," Ruppersberger added.

This argument is really starting to sound like "I'm going to beat you to death with my protection stick"

    "...we're going to protect their civil rights and liberties,"

Never underestimate the power of information, or Booz Allen and the rest of the Spy Industrial Complex will do whatever they can to keep the gravy train rolling.

Something tells me that after this incident - the NSA is pulling the records of all congressmen and lobbyists looking for dirt (blackmail). For love of country and patriotism they will not let congress cut their funding.

I imagine that the supporters are equally emboldened. If they can get away with this, what else can they get away with?

This will be a difficult fight to win if those they are working against happen to be intercepting phone calls and other communication. Here lies the whole problem with mass surveillance and could be a different way to help explain why the NSA and other agencies capabilities need to be curtailed.

Technically, the spying was just legitimized by that voting. The issue is non-existent, NSA programs are legal and mandated by Congress. Case closed. Disperse.