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PBC News & Comment: Obama’s NSA Reforms Fall Short of Lowered Expectations; Gary Chew Comments on Oscar Nominees

Obama’s long-awaited speech on reforming domestic surveillance is all talk, no substance, demonstrated serious lack of leadership; Chew on Oscars….Click here for free audiobook download from Audible that generates $15 to PBC Podcast!

Note for Bay Area listeners: PBC will be speaking to San Francsco chapter of Progressive Democrats of America on Thursday, January 23 at 7:00pm.  Unitarian/Universalist Center, 1187 Franklin at Geary. Topic: I want my damn Fourth Amendment back!

Today’s podcast is focused on President Obama’s speech at the “Justice” Department today, where he used his oratorical skills to attempt to make some cosmetic changes he is proposing to NSA surveillance look like major reforms.

PBC notes that the President did not fire a single person for the wrongdoing exposed by many whistleblowers and confirmed by Ed Snowden’s revelations.  Obama skilfully served up lines like “our liberty can’t be sacrificed at the altar of national security” –and proceeded to toss the Fourth Amendment on the burning pyre.

Using the approved NSA talking points about 9/11 and the need to prevent the next terrorist plot, Obama ignored the clear findings of his hand-picked review panel that the dragnet collection of phone metadata is a major over-reach that has not stopped a single plot.  He did not embrace that panel’s recommendations or those we have highlighted here from former top NSA officials who know the real story.

You’ll here some lengthy excerpts from Obama’s speech, interspersed with comments from your humble host.

At 42:38, Gary Chew offers his comments on the Oscar nominees.