re: Edward Snowden requests asylum from Russia. Have you changed your mind?

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Do you think the Gov't spying on citizen phone calls have really stopped terrorist attacks

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I have no idea. If forced to guess, I'd say it's likely some plans to take American lives have been thwarted.

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or do you think it's as likely they have gathered information for political purposes in as many instances?

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Again, no idea, and again if forced to guess I'd saying probably. Without letting you off easy though, I'd like to know exactly what dramatic swing of the political pendulum could be performed by listening to random cell phone conversations?

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Do you think the Gov't is capable of misusing and abusing power given to it?

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Absolutely, interstate commerce being the most obvious example.

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Do you think the Gov't has ever infringed on the rights of its citizens covertly or planned to do so covertly, to reach a political end?

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Probably, but your implication of covert operations and political ends are not what I have in mind.

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Do you think those in Gov't have the American citizens' best interests in hand?

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Some do, some don't. Political office requires a certain level of personal ambition, and inherent in that are people who take it too far.