Speaking just now before the Center for American Progress, Senator Ron Wyden forcefully ripped into both the NSA's spying and our government's misinformation campaign to keep such spying secret.
During his speech, one particular moment stood out starkly, for Wyden said:
"We will fail every brave man and woman who has fought to protect American democracy [if we destroy] the firewall against tyranny."
It was a single, salient point among many Wyden made during his speech (the video for which I will post when it becomes available).
Notably, he warned that the surveillance state that has been established is dangerously close to becoming permanent, unless Congress either acts or is compelled by the American people to act.
To my mind, he is the first national politician to publicly make such a pronouncement – a warning we would do well to heed.
The House will vote tomorrow on a bi-partisan bill intended to de-fund the NSA's bulk spying. Tell your lawmakers to support it by clicking here or here.