[benmcnelly]

Why would Obama pardon Snowden, it is obvious he is in agreement on the whole "he is a traitor" thing. Also, why is Trump inheriting thing a motivating factor for anyone?

"Oh God! Please give us back the situation where government overreach is back in the hands of career politicians!"

How about you instead focus on petitioning to the new President who might actually be swayed into doing something about it if conservative and liberals come together and push for it. He's a populist, make it the cool thing to do...

[llamataboot]

Because the President-Elect has shown himself to be dangerously autocratic, almost comically (if it wasn't so tragic) unprepared for governance up to and including things known by 8th grade civics students, grudge-holding and vendetta-seeking, not a fan of freedom of the press, again almost comically (if it wasn't so tragic) sensitive to insults and slights, and shows no sense of even understanding, much less respecting, the institutions that we have built to rein in this sort of thing.

Like I get it, I was in the streets during Clinton's terms and during Bush's terms and I strongly opposed the expansion of the shadow surveillance state under Obama.

But pretending that handing it over to Trump is a normal handover to a Republican administration is whistling past the graveyard.

[cylinder]

Looks like that's what America wants in a leader as he was elected democratically.

Either enact the powers or don't. Assume anyone can become President.

Curious how Trump is "autocratic" and Obama is not. Was Obama not autocratic when he drone-killed US citizens without due process? I'm not even sure what the word means. Obviously the President is entrusted with some powers that are autocratic and some that are checked by the other branches.