Pucks
I was in the US just after the story broken and have just returned to the US (hooray).
The Snowden story is not that big over here. The way the story is being portrayed is that the US Government, whilst being secretive, has used all the correct the procedures. All he initially leaked was that the US Government had gained access to Verizon's phone records and all they could see was what phone number or email account had been contacted. The contents of the phonecalls and emails remained private. Civil Libertarians initally jumped on this and tried to portray it as an Orwellian plot.
In response, the US Government released evidence that the phone records were obtained in strict accordance with US Law and for reasons I believe are wholly justified, the granting of this access remained secret. Snowden's "whistle-blowing" changed that and they have been forced to disclose in detail how a part of their Intelligence Operations work.
Whilst the US may be divided on many issues it would seem that the overwhelming bulk of Polticians and Media Outlets have supported Obama and are now condemning Snowden without restraint. Snowden, now desperate to save his own skin is divulging information that can only be described as "salacious" and "embarrassing", as opposed to a drive for civil liberties.
One question Snowden needs to be asked, if he was that concerned about his Government's actions, why did he not report it to the relevant authorities in the US or those Congressmen who oppose Obama? Could it be that he did report it and was told it was a non-issue and releasing he would not get the fame and fortune he seeks, he has undertaken this charade?