Michael Moore, left and John Cusack have both commented on the recent NSA scandal. (Reuters Photo)

By: Hollie McKay

LOS ANGELES –  Revelations that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been secretly logging the phone and Internet activity of millions of Americans has caused a rift between President Obama and several of his Hollywood supporters.

Actor and liberal activist John Cusack tweaked the administration, tweeting “Prism the name for electronic prison – all have to wear lojacks,” in reference to the PRISM data mining program revealed in leaks by former NSA employee Edward Snowden last week.

Cusack also re-tweeted “Obama is becoming the next Nixon.”

Prominent writer/director Judd Apatow of “Knocked Up” fame also took to Twitter to blast the administration: “What is this, North Korea? We are so inundated with so much info and so many problems – we have given up caring.”

Apatow also drew attention to reports on the scandal, calling it “an outrageous breach of the privacy and rights of American citizens.”

Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore also hopped on the bandwagon, tweeting “the administration has now lost all credibility” while spotlighting a 2007 Obama quote: “that means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens. No more (spying) on citizens… No more tracking citizens…”

Some media critics called the celebrities’ about face a welcome change.

“I am encouraged to see the Hollywood left is starting to dish out some bipartisan criticism. Now, the NSA scandal under the Obama administration has many feeling betrayed by a Democrat who promised more transparency and less intrusion,” political blogger and author Thomas Moyer told FOX411 Pop Tarts column. “Further, it hits a lot closer to home when you find out that your personal phone records are being monitored, something that scares a lot of people.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/06/11/hollywood-stars-turn-on-obama-over-nsa-phone-tapping-scandal/?intcmp=features#ixzz2W0KfZ5rk

By:  Richard Butrick

Senator McCain, has called Senator Ted Cruz and his ilk in Congress “wacko birds.” Ted Cruz’s reply?

WASHINGTON – Slammed by Sen. John McCain as one of his party’s “wacko birds,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is embracing the epithet. “It is wonderful to be among friends or, as some might say, fellow wacko birds,” Cruz said Wednesday night at Coalitions for America’s Weyrich Awards Dinner, named for the late conservative icon Paul Weyrich.

McCain’s slur seems to have backfired. The epithet “wacko bird” has now become honorific among those in Congress who honor the Constitution — especially the 1st Amendment (free speech) and the 4th Amendment (privacy, unlawful searches and seizures). Leading wacko birds include Cruz, Ron Paul, Mike Lee, and Justin Amash.

Elected over the past three years, Republican Sens. Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz have had a meteoric impact in Washington, soaring to grassroots stardom, crashing into the Democratic majority and raining down on the old bulls of the Republican Party. Dubbed “Wacko Birds” by top Republican John McCain, these three wear the senior Arizona senator’s scorn as a badge of honor. The wacko birds are crazy like a fox. Bad news for the dumb bunnies.

“How do you get something bad passed in Washington? You do it fast, you do it under cover of night, you do it when no one can look at it, and you force it through. What they do not want is scrutiny.” – Sen. Ted Cruz, April 26, 2013.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/06/mccain_vs_the_wacko_birds.html#ixzz2VqqFLiGJ Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook

By Alexander Bolton

Four influential Senate Republicans have sent a letter to colleagues voicing strong opposition to comprehensive immigration legislation headed to the Senate floor, warning it will not secure the nation’s borders.

Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Jeff Sessions (Ala.) and Mike Lee (Utah) said in a June 4 letter the immigration bill repeats the mistakes of the 1986 immigration reform law.

“In 1986, the American people were promised that, in exchange for granting legal status to illegal immigrants, the border would be secured and the law enforced. Washington broke these promises,” they wrote. “Unfortunately, the so-called ‘Gang of Eight’ immigration bill, S. 744, repeats these mistakes.”

Cruz is a fast-rising Tea Party star, Grassley is the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Sessions is the ranking Republican on the Budget Committee and Lee is another Tea Party favorite.

The group, all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the panel’s markup of the legislation last month made it worse.

Notably, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who voted against the bill in Judiciary, did not sign the letter. Some Democrats think he may ultimately support the legislation.

Four members of the Gang of Eight on Judiciary, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), often voted in unison to defeat changes Republicans proposed to strengthen enforcement provisions.

For example, the panel rejected an amendment sponsored by Lee to require illegal immigrants to pay back taxes before receiving legal status; a Grassley amendment to require the implementation of the new employment verification system within 18 months; and another Grassley proposal to require effective control over the southern border for six months before granting legal status to 11 million illegal immigrants.

“The bill’s already serious flaws were exacerbated by the adoption of several amendments that significantly weaken current law, hamstring law enforcement, and further complicate our legal immigration system,” Cruz, Grassley, Sessions and Lee wrote.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/303365-influential-senate-gop-group-weighs-in-against-immigration-reform-bill#ixzz2VIdZul9W

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Today’s figures include 24% who Strongly Approve of the way Obama is performing as president and 40% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -16 (see trends).

Results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update).

Just 41% of voters have a favorable opinion of the president’s health care law. Sixty percent (60%) believe increased free market competition will do more to reduce health care costs that having more government regulation. Only 22% see increased regulation as a better way to reduce costs.

Scott Rasmussen’s weekly newspaper column shows consumers are set to repeal a large part of the president’s health care law. “Advocates of the plan dramatically misread the public mood. Only 28 percent of voters believe the top priority should be guaranteeing comprehensive insurance coverage for all workers. Sixty-six percent think it’s more important to let workers pick their own mix of insurance coverage and take-home pay.” If they had the choice, 59% would opt for less expensive insurance and more take-home pay.