We have previously discussed the rage of powerful politicians embarrassed by the disclosures of Edward Snowden. The President and the Congress suddenly found themselves having to explain years of false statements and an unprecedented attack on privacy in America because of Snowden. Our governing class had long ago adopted a type of dismissive paternalism toward the public as shepherds to so many sheep. Then one sheep goes and spooks the flock. The response has been bipartisan rage that has included demands to cut off aid to entire nations if they grant sanctuary to this whistleblower. As usual, however, Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will not be outdone. After hearing that Snowden has asked Russia for sanctuary, Graham has suggested boycotting the Olympics. That’s right, he is taking one of Jimmy Carter’s most controversial ideas and suggesting a repeat — thereby ruining the ambitions and tossing out years of preparations for hundreds of athletes. Why? To punish a country for protecting someone most people in the world view as either a hero or a whistleblower.
The hilarious thing about this suggestion is that it would more likely encourage Russia to grant asylum. Russia would love to see a U.S. boycott. It would result in a windfall of medals and make the United States look like an arrogant, privacy-hating, dissident-hunting thug nation. Graham insists that the Russians were “outrageous” in considering the request — outrage that neither he nor his colleagues feel about eviscerating privacy or perjury by high ranking officials. The shepherds want Snowden made into mutton for stampeding the flock and no measure appears too extreme.
Boycotting the Olympic would in his view “send the Russians the most unequivocal signal.” It would indeed. It could send them the unequivocal signal that we are self-defeating unhinged morons.
Just for those on blog who were too young to witness our last boycott, Carter barred our participation in the Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union over the invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later the Soviets responded by boycotting the Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. At least Carter had a compelling reason for his actions. A nation had been invaded and other countries joined us in the boycott. Ultimately of course the Russians were trapped in a disastrous quagmire and left defeated. We then followed suit and invaded the country with equally disastrous results.
But back to the Olympics. I was highly sympathetic to Carter who I liked. However, this gesture did little to truly punish the Russians and it was a nightmare for athletes. The whole point of the games is for countries to transcend their differences to meet every four years on a common field of competition. There are always such divisions, some like Afghanistan, quite serious. However, the beauty of the games is that they force nations to come together in open and fair competition. I also felt a terrible unfairness even in the Summer 1980 games for our athletes who became pawns in a global power struggle (and equal sympathy for the Russia athletes four years later). These athletes represent not only their nations but humanity in achieving greater and greater perfection and considerable personal cost and sacrifice. It is highly obnoxious to see a politicians just tossing out such a ban on hundreds of such athletes as a cheap expression of anger that countries are not turning over a single individual.
Even if such a boycott is ever justified, and Carter made the strongest case, this would be a boycott in a controversy where most of the world views us as the abusing nation. To put it in 1980s Olympic terms, we are Russia in this situation. Rather than invading Russia, our country invaded privacy and lied to the public and our allies. We now want to stop the games because our politicians are peeved at being forced to admit to these abuses.
For that, Graham gets a perfect ten for a manuever we can call the double klutz with a Carter split.
Source: NBC
But Professor, the whole reality of the Olympics is political groundstanding; The US being one of the dominators with over-the-top displays by its athletes. Constant effort to remind others that we will conquer them and
they must learn to like it. This under the pretense of an even playing field. Utterly vile and demeaning.
BarkinDog
it’s “cracka”
ok nick, gene and ay im laughing to hard to even respond about the “joke” smh thanks for ruining my vanilla ice cream treat rofl
@ barkindog here’s 4 big t bones for you your post about making the po lie trickers wear the logos of their owners is brilliant.
@ eric obama never had any intention on keeping any promises. i’ve been trying to tell the people the reason obama is allowed into the devil house is. the intention is for him to be the last single potus. after him its the one world corporation. what better way to institute it then saying listen we even gave the black man a chance to change things and he ruined them even worse the best way to get the world back together is for it to be run by ” drum roll please” the corporations!!!!! claps to their bows please. which of course is bs all the way around.
@ anon they have been tracking credit,debit,metro cards. that was the whole purpose of the cards its exactly why they are trying to make it mandatory now. pretty soon they are going to stop making paper money. because they cant track it. about 6 months back i was watching some old mannix, rockford files and hawaii five-o and i noticed that in a couple of episodes of rockford files . that rockford in breaking into offices or homes used a card he carried on him. well paying attention one night i noticed the bright yellow card he pulled out his pocket and on the card in big black letters it said ” CREDIT CARD”….
now if im not mistaken credit cards were no where near even thought of back then. i mean i was a child when the rockford files was on tv so of course i didnt pay it much mind then. but now that i know the elites are at the least 40 yrs ahead of us in technology im now locked in la la old movie land to see what technology we were being shown back then and we had no idea it was coming our way.
It has been said the elites who own and run the corporations love throwing the truth in our face knowing we will say ” thats hollywood its not happening in real life’. its a movie of course its not happening right now. enemy of the state , the matrix, deja vu, and all other movies back then we said was only tv. or only in the movies. we’re finding out just how truthful those movies were. and just how brainwashed they had us.. HAD BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD
news.yahoo.com/nsa-spying-under-fire-youve-got-problem
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a heated confrontation over domestic spying, members of Congress said Wednesday they never intended to allow the National Security Agency to build a database of every phone call in America. And they threatened to curtail the government’s surveillance authority.
Top Obama administration officials countered that the once-secret program was legal and necessary to keep America safe. And they left open the possibility that they could build similar databases of people’s credit card transactions, hotel records and Internet searches.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/17/vehicle-records-_n_3610770.html
Vehicle Records Taken By Law Enforcement Agencies Across America: ACLU
A rapidly growing network of police cameras is capturing, storing and sharing data on license plates, making it possible to stitch together people’s movements whether they are stuck in a commute, making tracks to the beach or up to no good.
For the first time, the number of license tag captures has reached the millions, according to a study published Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union based on information from hundreds of law enforcement agencies. Departments keep the records for weeks or years, sometimes indefinitely, saying they can be crucial in tracking suspicious cars, aiding drug busts, finding abducted children and more.
Attached to police cars, bridges or buildings – and sometimes merely as an app on a police officer’s smartphone – scanners capture images of passing or parked vehicles and pinpoint their locations, uploading that information into police databases.
Over time, it’s unlikely many vehicles in a covered area escape notice. And with some of the information going into regional databases encompassing multiple jurisdictions, it’s becoming easier to build a record of where someone has been and when, over a large area.
Rodney was great. And, he was one of the few comedians who was secure enough[they’re an insecure group] to help up and comers. So many comedians owe their start to Rodney and his Comedy Club. I’ve seen Lewis Black and Brad Garrett perform, and both mentioned Dangerfield fondly.
How about a plate of Freedom Crackers, Senator?
Ahhh, Gotcha, nick. And thanks for the compliment. I think both Woody and Dennis are personally creeps now, albeit for different reasons, but I can’t deny they can craft a good joke. However, still the King of Comedy Craftsmen?
Rodney Dangerfield.
That guy could write a precision joke and he wrote a lot of them. Watching his act is like a doctorate level course on comedy writing. My favorite? “I told my son about the birds and the bees. He told me about my wife and the mailman. I tell ya, I get no respect!”
Gene, I wasn’t saying that was Woody’s joke, I know it’s yours. My wording was bad. I’m just saying some of Woody’s jokes tend to go over people’s heads. Sort of like Dennis Miller back before he got into politics. And I think not everyone got your joke on Graham. However, I am very pleased someone I’m not familiar w/, Mary Halverson Wagner got it, and contributed to the theme. Way to go!
Barkingdog – I agree completely with Lexmanifesta. Requiring members to sport the logos of their owners on their suits is a wonderful idea.
Prof. Turley, Thanks for this insightful and well written article.
I think we need to push the concept that Dir. of National Intelligence James Clapper lied under oath before Congress and he needs to be held accountable to the full extent of the law for perjury.
over and over and over and over again…
nick,
Woody Allen? Nope. Thought of that on my own, although Woody has written a lot of jokes. Some overlap is not surprising. Where did the joke you are thinking of come from?
Barkingdog,
This idea of yours to cloth members of congress in those NASCAR shirts so we citizens can know who owns em and runs em. That sir, is a great idea.