re: Snowden and Putin really throwing it down on us now.

no of course they don't, why would they just welcome people to do it? they are going to have a use for anyone that they welcome. They have something Snowden seeks which is legit protection and he has something to them that makes him worthy of it. Any other country and Snowden puts himself at risk of the US gov just rolling in and taking him despite what the other country wants.

I honestly don't give a shite either way with Snowden, he looks like an arse clown but the NSA was doing shady things. I just find the argument of just go ahead and turn yourself in as something foolish. I also think it is foolish to assume any countries except Russia and China could offer true protection. The protection comes at a cost.

I don't buy into some Snowden is the downfall of America theory. We have lost plenty of other big secrets and we are rolling along. I also don't think Snowden exposing the NSA will change or even slow down the erosion of American freedoms. In the grand scheme of things this is just a story to take minds off other things.