Dear Mr President

[tiggymalvern]

It is interesting that the Amash amendment voted on by Congress last night, which aimed to stop you from spuriously collecting data on hundreds of millions of people with no justification whatsoever, was narrowly defeated by only 217 votes to 205. By taking the highly unusual step of publicly condemning an amendment, you just about managed to get your way.

But it becomes even more interesting when you break down the votes along party lines. Mr President, the majority of your own party opposed your wishes, by 111 to 83. You only got your way because the likes of Michele Bachmann voted with you, along with a majority of Republicans (134 to 94).

Perhaps, Mr President, when your own party feels that you are in the wrong, and it takes the hardline right-wingers to drag you through unscathed, you might like to reconsider your position on the issue.

Or perhaps you won't. I won't be holding my breath.


ETA: See also today's SMBC.

Comments

[bymyverytoes.livejournal.com]

Eh, the vote pissed off Glenn Beck, so that's a positive

http://wonkette.com/523695/glenn-beck-wants-letter-sweater-back-from-michele-bachmann

I simply can't get too worked up about this. It's been going on since Bush's day, it's being done in the UK and Aus too and everywhere else, I have no doubt, and people hand over much more personal and damaging information every time they use the internet.

You'll probably yell at me over this. I don't care. It's not like you or I can change what's going on because anyone who thinks the politicians are in control of this, hasn't been paying attention.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

It does go on everywhere; that doesn't mean it should. I'm all in favour of legislative efforts to continue publicising it, and to stop it. There's no reason to make it any easier for governments to stick their noses where they shouldn't be.