Author Archives: pgeddington
How The Terrorists Are Winning
In the wake of the February 2015 terrorist attacks in Copenhagen, the Danish parliament is considering legislation that would allow the country’s intelligence service to spy on Danes overseas without a warrant. Australia’s federal police want the nation’s lawmakers to … Continue reading
In Defense Of ‘Jupiter Ascending’
To date, I’ve read at least two-dozen reviews of this movie–some before I saw it, some after. I think the Wachowski’s nailed it in an interview with CSM: “There’s directors like John Ford and Christopher Nolan who find a tone … Continue reading
Obama, The Prayer Breakfast And The Burden Of History
Moral introspection and critical self-examination are not exactly American strengths. The latest National Prayer Breakfast “controversy” over President Obama’s remarks about religiously-inspired violence have hightlighted, yet again, those national character flaws. The headlines tell the story in part: Obama Trolls … Continue reading
Intelligence Community Oversight: The “Reforming Congress” Angle
The Sunlight Foundation and dozens of other groups today issued a letter to House leadership and a proposal with dozens of suggested/needed reforms to how Congress conducts oversight of the Intelligence Community. The proposed reforms are thoughtful, eminently reasonable, well … Continue reading
The Dark Night Of The American Soul
It was inevitable. Polling on the Senate torture report, that is, in this case from Pew. Here’s the key graphic: Just a reminder to everyone: torture is a crime under U.S. law. No exceptions, period. Would have loved to see Pew … Continue reading
Intel Authorization Bill Would EXPAND Surveillance Against Americans
Below is the full text of the Dear Colleague circulated this afternoon by Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI): Block New Spying on U.S. Citizens: Vote “NO” on H.R. 4681 Dear Colleague: The intelligence reauthorization bill, which the House will vote on … Continue reading
NSA Reform: When 293 Votes Is Not A Majority
Late this afternoon, I was informed that the only NSA reform measure to pass either chamber of Congress this year–the Lofgren/Massie amendment to the FY15 DoD approps bill–is being stripped out of that bill as part of the House-Senate deal … Continue reading
Udall, The Torture Report and The Pentagon Papers Option
Shortly after Colorado Senator Mark Udall lost his reelection bid to Rep. Cory Gardner, it began–first as conversations among civil liberties activists, then in media outlets, and finally Udall himself raised the possibility: on his way out of the Senate, … Continue reading
Surveillance Reform: House Mid-term Election Impact Update
While seven House races remain undecided, what we do know is that seven House members who voted for the Massie/Lofgren/Holt NSA surveillance reform amendment to the FY15 DoD appropriations bill were defeated on election night. They are Shea-Porter (NH-1), Garcia … Continue reading
A Change of Seasons and Careers
October 24th marks my final day as senior policy advisor to Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. When I joined his staff during the first week of August 2004, my first crisis as his communications director was … Continue reading
Long Strange Journey 