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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#57601: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:56:52 AM

Well, obviously the planning committees need to be held at gunpoint until they can build more crosswalk space.

midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#57602: Jul 3rd 2013 at 10:01:49 AM

Pfft. Obviously the pedestrians and poor people need to climb up on their boostraps until they can afford cars like real americans.

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#57603: Jul 3rd 2013 at 10:09:04 AM

Having a car doesn't help when the parking lot is built across the street from the mall.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57604: Jul 3rd 2013 at 10:27:08 AM

White House rebukes online petitioners calling for presidential election recount

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#57605: Jul 3rd 2013 at 10:44:35 AM

I would assume that Cuba would be one of Snowden's safer bets. Relations aren't going to normalize any time soon as it is and the government loves thumbing its nose at the US.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57606: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:28:01 AM

The White House on Wednesday responded to online petitions over the Westboro Baptist Church

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#57607: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:32:59 AM

What I want to know is why everyone seems to be queueing up to call Snowden some sort of hero. I don't know about anyone else but I'm saving that accolade for someone who actually deserves it rather than the latest in a long line of people to throw an egg at the US Government.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#57608: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:42:57 AM

That's a bit simplistic. He didn't just throw an egg at a house, he threw his career, his girlfriend, essentially his entire life away when he had every personal incentive not to do so. Whether or not you agree with the call he made, you have to respect his willingness to sacrifice for what he believes in.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#57609: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:48:45 AM

Not really. It can still be a selfish act. He's certainly not behaving like a noble champion of some ideal of freedom; he's acting like a man who tattled on his boss in a fit of pique and is now running away from the consequences.

edited 3rd Jul '13 11:49:01 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#57610: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:55:37 AM

How can it be selfish if he had nothing to gain from it, only things to lose? He lived in Hawaii with a six digit salary. I'm not trying to justify what he did in a moral sense or put him on a pedestal, I just don't see the need to belittle him, either.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57611: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:56:29 AM

Rep. Gohmert: We Don’t Need Sex Ed Because ‘Mankind Has Existed For Long Time’ Without It

[up]

He's gained fame and notoriety. He can learn to cash in on that. '

edited 3rd Jul '13 11:59:24 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57612: Jul 3rd 2013 at 11:57:27 AM

It can be, but keep in mind we have recently seen someone who did that, and this doesn't really feel anything like it.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#57613: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:05:09 PM

He's acting like a man who is afraid of being returned to the United States, made to stand trial for espionage, and sentenced if found guilty. Which is exactly what the law says should happen to him. There are no "human rights" issues involved; he violated multiple laws, did so in full knowledge of the consequences, and the law will determine his fate.

Call him a hero, call him a traitor — it's really not relevant to the facts of the case. His only defense at trial would be his conscience, and if it turns out that he's taking money or selling secrets in exchange for asylum, it only weakens his case.

@Gohmert: And prehistoric man used to fight predatory animals for food and invade his neighboring villages to murder their children and rape their women. How far back shall we turn the clock? Shall we have Gladiator Games fought by slaves? Throw away our guns and wield spears? Huddle around cooking fires in fear of the night demons? Die at 30 of disease or starvation?

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:07:54 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#57614: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:07:43 PM

Gohmert... that was so stupid that I want to start drinking early.

Humanity also went without rule of law and democracy for tens of thousands of years as well, I guess we can just dump those to?

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:11:29 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
pagad Sneering Imperialist from perfidious Albion Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Sneering Imperialist
#57615: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:11:32 PM

I wouldn't want to put myself at the mercy of the infamously brutal US prison system, that's for damn sure, and I don't blame Snowden for not wanting to.

With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#57616: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:12:05 PM

Using Gohmert's logic I guess we should ban the use of electricity since humanity survived for thousands of years without it. Same thing with antibiotics, cars, electronics, etc.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#57617: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:17:15 PM

"Infamously brutal", huh? Whatever. Aren't conservatives always yakking about how we're too nice to our inmates?

Anyway, by that logic, anybody who commits any crime is justified in fleeing the country so as not to be subjected to our "infamously brutal prisons". Can we at least make rational excuses? Or shall we suspend the criminal justice system completely until our prisons are nice, cozy places to be incarcerated?

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:17:57 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57618: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:20:21 PM

Frankly I wouldn't want to be subjected to the US legal system even if I were innocent. It tends to not care all that much about details like that.

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:21:13 PM by Pykrete

pagad Sneering Imperialist from perfidious Albion Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Sneering Imperialist
#57619: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:20:24 PM

Yeah, no. Badly needed systematic reform to a system with a hilariously atrocious rate of recidivism =/= letting all prisoners roam free.

Anyway, that's not what I said. From Snowden's perspective, he has no incentive to throw himself upon the mercy of such a system.

With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57620: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:22:25 PM

Not to mention, if a whole hell of a lot of people in the world didn't agree with him, he'd already be back and in prison.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#57621: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:22:53 PM

[up][up]Neither does any criminal ever! Hell, even in a system with happy fun prisons, one still doesn't want to get thrown in one. Very few criminals are excited about going to jail. "Heeeeeeeyyyy there, police! Yep, I killed him. Now take me away, I'm looking forward to those swanky accommodations and awesome food!"

The only difference between them and Snowden is that the latter had the resources (and possibly the aid) to flee the country before being apprehended.

He's The One That Got Away! Go, little fishy! Evade that nasty hook! Now, for my yummy dinner of trout...

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:24:48 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#57622: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:24:55 PM

and it doesnt help the US that they and their allies just pissed Bolivia off something fierce because they forced the Bolivian presidential jet to land and be subject to a full search because the US had a rumor snowden MIGHT be on board.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/02/world/americas/bolivia-presidential-plane

because apparently having a rumor that someone might be onboard is now reason enough to deny you entry into french airspace, force you to divert for refueling, then comb your national plane.

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:28:38 PM by midgetsnowman

pagad Sneering Imperialist from perfidious Albion Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Sneering Imperialist
#57623: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:28:12 PM

[up][up] Point being the US might have had an easier time of getting Snowden to face trial in the States if the system was fairer and he had a chance of not being thrown in some hellhole for the rest of his life. If he was Swedish, for example, I really doubt he'd be so intent on avoiding extradition.

With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#57624: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:30:46 PM

And why are we so convinced that he wouldn't receive a fair trial? It's not like there's any chance that he's innocent.

I'll grant that the calls among certain high profile politicians for him to be tortured might be a bit off-putting.

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:31:35 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57625: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:33:37 PM

A fair trial would have at least a bare chance of recognizing the unconstitutionality of the law that he broke and handling the situation accordingly.

This one is going to be staffed with suits who have every incentive to shut him away instead of fixing the damn law.


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