Do we citizens need to hear telephone conversations by the POTUS?

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:21:25 -0400

Someone with a "clearance" is violating the trust imbedded in that clearance! Would you? To what benefit?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 10:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:23:47 -0400

There are things that the average person does not need to know about, regardless of what they may think.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 10:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:24:56 -0400

Yes and no, but at same time it's tricky because if it's just the basic conversation between state officials then you really don't care but if they're talking about strategic partnership positions and things of that nature then no we don't need to listen to the conversation

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 10:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:46:34 -0400

There's no way that your average citizen needs to hear the Presidents phone calls. I'm shocked that someone would think it was ok to do, let alone to leak the content of the calls. But I guess that's the society we are in now. Where it's perfectly ok to take potentially top secret information and throw it to the masses. I think that I'll call it Manning Syndrome.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 3 at 2017 10:49 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 22:49:04 -0400

It has nothing to do with our feeling that we should know. It has everything to do with covertly eavesdropping on a sitting president and releasing it to the public. Someone should be prosecuted.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Aug 3 at 2017 11:31 PM

SFC William Farrell — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 23:31:50 -0400

I would not CSM Charles Hayden. This is being done to intentionally sabotage his presidency. They should be prosecuted.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 11:41 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 23:41:47 -0400

It's a good question. Let's go further though. There are several on the other political spectrum that are thoroughly enjoying the current treasonous acts being perpetrated against Mr. Trump. My question to them is what do you think will happen when a Democrat is elected President? Do they honestly think all will be forgotten and forgiven? It shall be paid back in spades. Was that really the intent?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 3 at 2017 11:52 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 23:52:30 -0400

If the current consensus is that people knowing what the president says makes him look bad, then doesn't that mean that what he's saying makes him look bad? One cannot look like a fool without first acting or saying something foolish.
If he were having eloquent, profound conversations containing vast amounts of wit and wisdom, those conversations would only be proof that he is a wise and competent man whose words should carry weight and they would be blasted from the mountain tops as evidence of his proficiency and intelligence.
If hearing his words makes you think" they just want him to look foolish", you have to acknowledge that you, yourself, find his words foolish.

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Aug 4 at 2017 12:09 AM

SSgt Gary Andrews — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 00:09:09 -0400

Those that gleefully welcomed the release of Hillary and the Dnc's emails, and Trump is included in that group, now cry about private conversations being released to the public. Bit of a double standard there? Do we like leaks or not? Trump "loved" wikileaks......

Response by SPC Charles Batchelor made Aug 4 at 2017 1:21 AM

SPC Charles Batchelor — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 01:21:13 -0400

Response by CPO Glenn Moss made Aug 4 at 2017 3:28 AM

CPO Glenn Moss — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 03:28:35 -0400

I'm presuming we're talking about the leaked transcripts of President Trump's phone calls with foreign leaders.

There's a lot more to this than a simple "yes" or "no" can answer.

First of all, there's the dual question concerning both the legality of the act and the classification of the information.

It's a given that all the President's phone conversations, and certainly those with foreign powers, will be recorded and transcribed. There are valid reasons for doing so on many levels. Releasing that information as a "leak" is tantamount to an illegal wire tap. This kind of act may subject one to criminal prosecution under the law.

Any given bit of information, in part or in whole, may also be classified (Confidential, Secret or Top Secret), or even just restricted in distribution (FOUO or NOFORN, for example). Releasing this information subjects one to criminal prosecution under the law.

Second, leaking information about the POTUS' phone calls does not fall under any kind of whistleblower protections. We're not talking about releasing information about misconduct or criminal activities here. We're talking about releasing information which is SOLELY to tarnish the image of the POTUS. To place him in a bad light. To undercut his credibility and authority.

And third...NO. No, there is no "need" for the citizens to hear telephone conversations by the POTUS in any such manner. If any given conversation becomes particularly relevant to something the public needs to know, then that portion may certainly fall under such public scrutiny under the proper circumstances. But until then...NO.

Quite frankly, what needs to happen within the political arena is a unified stance by everybody that this kind of behavior is NOT acceptable. The foot needs to be put down on BOTH sides of the political fence on this.

In fact, the news media ought to be putting their collective feet down on this, as well.

Figure the odds of that happening.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Aug 4 at 2017 5:14 AM

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 05:14:08 -0400

Response by AA Joseph Moody made Aug 4 at 2017 9:37 AM

AA Joseph Moody — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:37:43 -0400

First thing to keep in mind, well second thing aside from the obvious laws that were broken. Is that we don't know how much this leaked information was doctored and edited.

A Truth that's told with bad intent
beats all the lies you can invent
--William Blake

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 4 at 2017 9:45 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:45:55 -0400

Transparency is always a good thing, however some phone-calls are not meant for the ears of the citizens. Need to know basis.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 9:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:48:01 -0400

Does anyone not find it telling that he has so many people in his administration willing to leak things about him? Maybe instead of talking shit about Sessions and others he should just sit down and get a handle on it. Or at least get Kelly to tighten things up. If I was him I would be reevaluating a lot of the ways I handle myself and do business.

Is it okay that people are leaking classified information? No. Of course not. But he's been saying the entire time he's been in that he's going to get a handle on these leaks and they keep happening. So do something about it. Don't just be all talk.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Aug 4 at 2017 10:22 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 10:22:25 -0400

Do we need to hear telephone conversations of any citizen to include the POTUS? No. I think it might be wise for him to have others listen to some of those conversation as witnesses, but that would be another question. Would I, no.
To the fact that someone is listening is just a fact of life in the World we live in.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 4 at 2017 11:23 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:23:16 -0400

CSM Charles Hayden I Suspect You are Right this was an "Inside" Job and not the Presidents of these Other Countries Providing the Transcripts to the Post. As Far as Hearing Other Peoples Conversations. Part of what I did for 21 Years. Listened Into a Conversation between Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega. Listened into a Marine in Rota doing the Phone Sex thing with his better Half in the US. Listened into my OIC in DC while Tracing a Line for an Install. Listened into My CHENG when He Forgot Not to Stand so Close to My Antenna when using His Cell Phone. If it isn't an Encrypted Line Always Assume Someone is Listening.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Aug 4 at 2017 11:41 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:41:17 -0400

No - Someone is clearly violating a host of laws - The press will do everything in its power to topple Trump - this is beyond disagreeing politically with him, and everything to do with the press losing their power to shape and tune public opinion, and the power they have to basically choose our preisidents by how they present things to the public. I am sorry, these media outlets were Sooo out of touch with American people that in their Hubris, continually predicted HRC would win in a landslide - the resounding defeat of her has sent shockwaves through these entities.

Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made Aug 4 at 2017 11:51 AM

Cpl Benjamin Long — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 11:51:06 -0400

I think the FISA court should decide what conversations the public should hear

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2017 1:35 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 13:35:42 -0400

I think that the list of personnel with access to that information is very short, so finding the culprit should be a priority and not terribly difficult.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Aug 4 at 2017 2:20 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:20:44 -0400

I would say that it depends. If it's the smoking gun proving wrong doing, yes. Technically any phone call or email using government equipment is a government record per NARA regulation, so there is no right to privacy. There is however caviots regarding things of a classified nature. NARA has special exemptions for FOIA releases. For instance classified documents fall under exemption 1

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Aug 4 at 2017 7:00 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 19:00:27 -0400

We don't need to hear POTUS's phone conversations we just need to hear the truth .

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 4 at 2017 7:30 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 19:30:25 -0400

Unless it was cleared for released, no we don't need to hear the POTUS telephone conversations anymore than he needs to hear ours.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Aug 4 at 2017 11:59 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:59:50 -0400

They need to find the leaker. And prosecute to the fullest. They should go after the Wasington Compost.