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RedditThe revelation that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting Americans' emails and phone calls in what the New York Times terms a "significant and systemic" manner is hardly surprising.
Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, The Nation and the American Civil Liberties Union have been complaining for years about the lax federal regulation and oversight of the spying agency.
When Congress debated -- and ultimately endorsed -- the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (FAA), the handful of members of the House and Senate who actually take seriously their oaths to defend the Constitution expressed appropriate opposition.
Along with the The Nation, the ACLU and other privacy advocates, these dissenters warned that the supposed "fix" actually lent official legitimacy to the secret warrantless wiretapping program that President Bush illegally initiated in 2001.
They also warned that the dumbing down of privacy protections would lead to more spying on Americans.
And so it has.
The Times detailed "overcollection" of American' communications in its report Thursday.
The ACLU response is appropriate -- both as an "we-told-you-so" and as a call to action.
"Congress was repeatedly warned that this type of abuse would be the obvious outcome of passing the FISA Amendments Act," says Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Congressional leadership promised after this law's passage that it would be reexamined along with the Patriot Act. It's time to fulfill that promise and restore the checks and balances of our surveillance system. Warrantless surveillance has no place in an America we can be proud of. These revelations make it clear that Congress must now make a commitment to rein in government surveillance."
Feingold, the only member of the chamber to oppose the Patriot Act in 2001 and the most consistent critic of abuses of the Constitutionally-defined right to privacy that Americans are supposed to enjoy is on the case.
"Since 2001, I have spent a lot of time in the Intelligence Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and on the floor of the Senate bringing attention to both the possible and actual effects of legislation that has dangerously expanded the power of the executive branch to spy on innocent Americans," says Feingold, the chair of the Constitution Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Despite these efforts, Congress insisted on enacting several measures including the USA PATRIOT Act, the Protect America Act, and the FISA Amendments Act, embarking on a tragic retreat from the principles that had governed the sensitive area of government surveillance for the previous three decades. Congress must get to work fixing these laws that have eroded the privacy and civil liberties of law-abiding citizens. In addition, the administration should declassify certain aspects of how these authorities have been used so that the American people can better understand their scope and impact."
Feingold, who is also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been correct all along.
It is time for his colleagues to acknowledge this reality and join the senator in not merely restoring our right to privacy but in holding to account those who have abused it in so "significant and systemic" a way.
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John Nichols
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Who needs a right to privacy anyway? I mean aren't we SUPPOSED to give up our rights to stay safe?
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/16/2009 @ 10:22pm
Senator Feingold and Mr. Shiney Nickel worry that someone may hold them to account for their anti-Americanism. So just which "axis of evil" enemy of the state are you guys worried they will find you work for?
Posted by comancheamerican at 04/17/2009 @ 05:42am
What a fuckin' hypocrite.
Bush's NSA listened in on calls between one American in America and one terrorist is a foreign country and John Nichols said ...
IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!!!!!
BUSH IS THE MOST HENIOUS CRIMINAL IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND!!!!!
BUSH IS PERSONALLY REPSONSIBLE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION TO PRIVACY!!!!!
But Obama's NSA spies on Americans talking to Americans within America and John says...No biggee. Here are his quotes:
"hardly surprising"
The Nation ...[has] been complaining for years about the lax federal regulation and oversite of the spying agency.
(Well if it's only "lax oversight" and not a criminal violation of civil rights then merely "complaining" seems like an approriate response.)
detailed "overcollection" of American' communications
Further, President Obama's name doesn't even appear in the article because surely he bears no responsibility for this.
John, you should be embarassed.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 05:52am
Mornin' Rio
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 05:54am
It seems the administration, along with many in congress are looking to make this work while protecting privacy rights and civil liberties. It's yet to be determined what the outcome will be. Hopefully, the views of Sen. Feingold will win the day. He, at least, seems to understand the importance of protecting the liberties we cherish.
On the right, it seems incongruous that they find such intrusions by the government in this instance no problem. Yet, try reasonable regulations of financial institutions that benefit all people (or, god forbid, reasonable gun law enforcement) and the view inexplicably turns...one might call it 'Myopia.'
Before others go all ga-ga...I am a hunter and own all necessary hunting implements.
Posted by erazma at 04/17/2009 @ 07:52am
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 05:52am
Speaking of hypocrisies, Darin....
are you fer it or agin' it? Not quite sure here on your few on the NSA program.
First you say "Bush's NSA was listening to ONE American listening to ONE terrorist!" (not sure where you get that, BTW) which you seemed to approve of...
then you complain that Mr Nichols isn't taking to task Obama for doing it.
So are you opposed to it and WERE you opposed to it when it was Dubya? Archivists are standing by.
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 07:57am
FISA is there for a purpose. If you have evidence you present it to a FISA judge and you get a warrant if its good evidence. If not too bad! If you go around FISA and tap anyway you should go to jail. Simple enough?
Posted by notsleepy at 04/17/2009 @ 10:11am
Its a good thing that the government spies on us. That way we know the government still fears the people. When the stop caring what we think and do be scared. On a side note the partiot act is completely un patriotic same with fisa. It's like naming a puppy slaughter house Puppy Improvement House.
Posted by MplsStyme at 04/17/2009 @ 12:06pm
Posted by notsleepy at 04/17/2009 @ 10:11am
Go back to bed.
Posted by ACook at 04/17/2009 @ 12:13pm
Posted by ACook at 04/17/2009 @ 12:13pm
Are you just in a "Nuh-huh!" mood today, Cookie?
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 12:41pm
At least they'll be spying on REAL terrorists instead of those mis-understood members of the "religion of peace" who only want the freedom to strap bombs on their children, behead innocent civilians, or terrorize the entire world! Finally the gov't is going to focus on the real "terrorist" threat of anti-illegal-immigrant, anti-tax, anti-big-oppressive-gov't, pro-2nd amendment, pro-life, libertarian AMERICAN"S ...and returning US troops (also Americans )! Man, the deep-thinkers fresh out of the communist-re-reducation camps (otherwise known as academia) have finally set this country on a path to healing and unity! They are setting the standard for tolerance, and would never, under any circumstance, "show antipathy towards those who are not like them" ( see; DHS report ). Fucking scum, all of them!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:04pm
Hmmmmm... barry25 sounds a lot like Ann Coulter. (That's NOT a compliment)
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 1:20pm
Hey Barry-warry!
Did you find yourself a job yet? I'm sure your local McDonald's is looking for illiterate wingnuts just like yourself to work the fry station.
Don't worry buddy, something will turn up soon...might I suggest a WalCo job?
Posted by TexasFlood at 04/17/2009 @ 1:20pm
I am a very proud Liberal (BTW, the word has the same root as "liberty") and I am disgusted by the Orwellian tactics our government has used over the past 20 years to gain power over the people in the name of security. It hasn't just been the Republicans (although I will state they have been criminally incompetent at running a government), but Democrats, too. As long as we continue to believe that Capitalism without regulation is a good idea, we'll be continuing to go down the tube. Don't get me wrong, I think Capitalism is the best "ism" going for the continued fight towards equality for everyone according to his strengths. However, regulations are a must for Capitalism to work...just like regulations are a must for our government to work.
This is why the FISA/spying stuff gets me so steamed. All FISA requires is that the government seek out special court's approval for wiretapping (or whatever kind of secret surveillance). They can even do it AFTER they've already done the wiretapping! How difficult is it for the Executive branch to go out and get approval for something it's already done?? The Bushies just got lazy and arrogant (we don't need no stinkin' COURTS!), and rammed this thing through Congress (Patriot ACT and the FISA Amendment) due to the tragedy of 9/11 and the false Iraqi war. Russ Feingold, god bless his true patriotic heart, has been the ONLY person who has continually raised the alarm about this denigration of our liberties.
If we sink to the level where we no longer have true liberty (and we might already be there), then we are no better than our enemies and the America that my father fought for in WWII is truly dead. Maybe that's why Obama is having to apologize for American arrogance as he tours the world.
Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:29pm
Blackfrancis, I take it as one, because I have a lot of respect for Ann! She absolutely RIPS loser-liberals apart, using nothing more than extreme wit, sarcasm and FACT! Thanks again for the compliment, it made my day!!!!!!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:30pm
Global Warming is the greatest fraud ever perpetuated upon mankind- so now we'll call it CLIMATE CHANGE!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:31pm
barry25: I figured you would be a fan of "Adam".
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 1:35pm
Liberals like Nichols have never really had an issue with the gov't spying on / controlling it's citizens. They just don't want Republicans to have the power. Come on! Liberals loved Stalin, they fawn over Castro ( see congressional black caucus/ a true embarrassment to ALL African Americans ), hug and take pics with Hugo Chavez, Mao was awesome and Che' (see:left-wing TERRORIST)is their hero! Dictators are mis-understood, to them! Liberals love TOTAL control, and have no problem violating civil-rights to get it. History has shown this! Just the facts, folks!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:37pm
BTW, Coulter got his butt kicked by Maher.
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 1:37pm
I'm self-employed, son ( no need for the gov't nipple here / those who can, "DO" - those who can't, "teach/work for gov't" )! I just paid $6,000 in property taxes today, my litlle bitch! How much did you pay, texas-embarrassment?
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:42pm
Actually, Blackfrancis, that was pretty funny! That apple on her neck causes even some of us conservatives to wonder...hmmmmmm?
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:45pm
You ARE Ann Coulter aren't you? :)
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 1:46pm
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:04pm
Hey, barry, you got any problem spying on people who might blow up buildings, killing Americans?
like Tim McVeigh did?
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 1:46pm
"I'm self-employed, son ( no need for the gov't nipple here / those who can, "DO" - those who can't, "teach/work for gov't" )! I just paid $6,000 in property taxes today, my litlle bitch! How much did you pay, texas-embarrassment?"
Learn some history, junior. Your very existence in this country is due to the government nipple.
As to your list of dictators, the Republicans have had more than their share too--there is blame to go around as both parties have supported empire. Stop being a child.
Posted by onthehelm at 04/17/2009 @ 1:49pm
None whatsoever! As long as there is ample evidence to warrant the spying, not just based on an individual's political views! The problem here is, that you nuts use that psychopath to paint a broad brush of conservatives. One man, one time. We have radical islam doing what McViegh EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY< MORON, and you're stuck on McViegh. You little bitches want old ladies in wheelchairs searched for explosives, but don't dare profile middle-eastern men ( even though they are responsible for 99% of the terrorism going on today ) no matter how many acts of terrorism are created by them. You don't even call them TERRORISTS now, but act as though Timothy McViegh reprresents an growing threat of "TERRORISM"? Fuck you traitor!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:53pm
Speaking of hypocrisies, Darin....
are you fer it or agin' it? Not quite sure here on your few on the NSA program.
First you say "Bush's NSA was listening to ONE American listening to ONE terrorist!" (not sure where you get that, BTW) which you seemed to approve of...
then you complain that Mr Nichols isn't taking to task Obama for doing it.
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 07:57am
An eminently reasonable question.
I'm for it.
I am fully aware that I am far, far out of the mainstream of popular opinion on this question, but I wouldn't be upset if the Feds had the legal authority to spy on me anytime, anyplace– PROVIDED that what they collected was not admissable evidence in a court of law.
And where I got that was that was the whole issue. The feds were listening to calls where one of the participants was in a foriegn country. Because these calls are routed through other contries, those countries' governments have the ability to listen in so our government was doing the same thing.
The Bush NSA drew a distinction between that and spying on calls that were retained within the continental US.
But President Obama's NSA does the latter. And I support that. You will note not one iota of criticism directed at President Obama.
But Nichols is supremely hypocritical on this issue.
BUSH IS SHREDDING THE CONSTITUTION.
THESE ACTS ARE ILLEGAL
I PREDICT HE WILL BE IMPEACHED BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT
(You may recall that prediction being offered more than once.)
But when something arguably worse occurs, does Nichols call for Prsident Obama's impeachment?
Sha..
As if
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 1:53pm
I think far more leftists have black helicopter syndrome than conservatives.
This is such a yawner.
Posted by antisocialist at 04/17/2009 @ 1:55pm
Onthehelm, please give me the names of current day dictators that conservatives support, get money for hollywood films from ( see; Danny Glover loves Hugo Chavez ), or just pal around with? I know you're going to bring up the Saudi's and that's a wash, i agree that both bush and Obama are wrong to kiss his ass, and I condemn both of them for doing it. Now, go and get me that list, and i'll make mine. Come back on mon. and well see who's is blatantly longer!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:58pm
Do people that believe it's okay for the government to spy on us, also believe that it's okay if the information gets "accidentally shared"? Possibly made public? I prefer to keep my conversations private, thank you very much.
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 2:06pm
Have a nice weekend Ann. :)
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 2:08pm
I'm the grandson of a Immigrant who came here LEGALLY, could not speak the language, came here broke, learned the language ( HE assimilated to AMERICA, not the other way around which is what the left wants ), created a large sheep business through hard work, risk, and determination ( no Gov't help PERIOD )! My family and myself, 3 generations, have given FAR more to this country than we'll EVER get back because we have always been in that group of, now I believe %49, Americans who have ALWAYS actually PAID taxes, PAID for our healthcare, PAID for our food, PAID for our education ( through taxes/tuition ), PAID FOR EVERYTHING...only to be taxed again and again. The gov't is on OUR nipple, as are the vast majority of Democrats/inept,incompetent losers! Those are the FACTS! Anything else? How about a thank you for supporting sorry asses like yourself!
Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 2:08pm
Stop that! You're turning me on Ann. :)
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 2:11pm
Every telephone call is nothing more than a bunch of data packets going through the phone system - computer to computer via fiber optic channels. In other words, everything goes through computer memories and is "recorded", it just isn't retained BUT it could be. I would not be surprised if digitized voice is the same status of email - somewhere it is saved.
Posted by pyeatte at 04/17/2009 @ 2:24pm
pyeatte: any voice traffic that that travels any distance would likely be routed over the Internet. A local switch in North Podunk making a call to a switch in South Podunk probably would not traverse the internet.
The data packets do not need to be stored permanently, just buffered along the way. However they can be easily saved if someone has the access.
I encrypt my Internet traffic wherever possible.
Posted by BlackFrancis at 04/17/2009 @ 2:38pm
"I'm for it."-----Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 1:53pm
Cool....so to protect us against future Tim McVeighs, Terry Nichols, Eric Rudolphs, Paul Jennings Hills...
you aren't going to mind the NSA listening in on conversations with potential right-wing extremists, if say one right-wing extremist is in Canada or Mexico or a European country and the other is in....oh....say...
North Carolina?...right?
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 2:48pm
PAID for our education ( through taxes/tuition )----Posted by barry25 at 04/17/2009 @ 2:08pm
So barry if you pay for your healthcare via taxes....what's the difference????
LOL
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 2:53pm
Once you let the cat out of the bag, it's impossible to put it back. That's why we need to jealously guard our rights BEFORE we lose them. We should never approve a law involving our freedoms, borne of good intentions, which can be used for nefarious purposes down the road. It will inevitably be abused in such a way. This is one more case.
ageorge1
Posted by ageorge1 at 04/17/2009 @ 3:11pm
"I'm for it."-----Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 1:53pm
Cool....so to protect us against future Tim McVeighs, Terry Nichols, Eric Rudolphs, Paul Jennings Hills...
you aren't going to mind the NSA listening in on conversations with potential right-wing extremists, if say one right-wing extremist is in Canada or Mexico or a European country and the other is in....oh....say...
North Carolina?...right?
Posted by Mask at 04/17/2009 @ 2:48pm
Again, I know I'm out of the mainstream, But I'm definitely for it.
Spying on citizens has the potential to prevent an Oklahoma city bombing, or a 9/11, or a Columbine, or a successful ELF/ALF terrorist strike, or leads to the confiscation of illegal drugs, or leads to the liberation of illegally imported children held as slaves in the sex industry, or leads to the recovery of assets illegally stored off shore in illegal tax shelters. This is tremendously valuable.
IF (and I know it's a big "if")...
IF the information gathered is not disclosed or used in a court of law because it is not Constitutionally valid evidence, the cost is zero.
So tremendous potential value vs. a cost of zero is an easy cost/benefit analysis for me.
***************************************************************** Granted, I'm not stupid or naive. I realize that there is a massive potential for misuse, even corruption. So the cost is not zero. But I think it's worth it.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 4:12pm
Posted by ageorge1 at 04/17/2009 @ 3:11pm
You make a good point. I think that's what my final caveat was related to. It's probably best if spying remains illegal, but the government should do it anyway. They just have to be extra special cautious not to get caught. That will greatly cut down on the potential for curruption.
It's like my post on drugs yesterday. Human nature is to rebel against limits. So set the limits ridiculously low.
So pot is illegal, and people still do it, but they take extra care to do it responsibly.
And speeding is illegal, and people still do it, but they take extra care to do it responsibly.
So domestic spying should remain illegal, but the feds will take care not to do it in an irresponsible manner.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 4:17pm
Those that would sacrifice liberty for temporary safety deserve neither. - Ben Franklin
Posted by snowball666 at 04/17/2009 @ 4:15pm
You got the quote wrong. Wait a minute... Okay, got it.
Those who would sacrifice ESSENTIAL liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. --Benjamin Franklin
What constitutes "ESSENTIAL" liberty?
To be honest, I don't think privacy is essential to liberty. To me, "liberty" is the freedom to...
It is not the freedom from...
I want to be able to state my opinion. I do not want to be sheltered from opinions I find offensive.
I want the freedom to take risks. I do not desire the freedom from want.
I want the freedom to own a gun, I do not want the freedom from having to worry about my nieghbor's gun.
Privcy is the freedom from prying. That is not essential freedom to me.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 4:25pm
darin-the fact that something is illegal never means that people are going to do it more responsibly.Most use legal alcohol responsibly,but a fair number do not.Most smoke pot responsibly,but a fair number do not.You cannot speed or break any traffic laws responsibly.
Posted by i'm nobody at 04/17/2009 @ 4:27pm
I remembered where I read this: The concept if positive liberty and negative liberty:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ liberty-positive-negative/
Negative liberty is the absence of obstacles, barriers or constraints. One has negative liberty to the extent that actions are available to one in this negative sense. Positive liberty is the possibility of acting -- or the fact of acting -- in such a way as to take control of one's life and realize one's fundamental purposes. While negative liberty is usually attributed to individual agents, positive liberty is sometimes attributed to collectivities, or to individuals considered primarily as members of given collectivities.
The idea of distinguishing between a negative and a positive sense of the term ‘liberty' goes back at least to Kant, and was examined and defended in depth by Isaiah Berlin in the 1950s and '60s. Discussions about positive and negative liberty normally take place within the context of political and social philosophy. They are distinct from, though sometimes related to, philosophical discussions about free will. Work on the nature of positive liberty often overlaps, however, with work on the nature of autonomy.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/17/2009 @ 4:29pm
I say you keep your guns and I'll keep my privacy. I could care less if it's Bush, Obama, Coulter or Adam: mess with my liberties and you should fry--I don't care how cute your Adam's apple looks in a mini skirt.
And please get off the Castro thing. Both Dems and Republicans have just been pissed off that, after 50 years, they haven't been able to assassinate him.
If you think it's the leebrals that love Stalin, don't forget that our fine neoconservative fellows have had several moments of admiring his genius for totalitarianism.
I pay my taxes, you pay your taxes. Why can't corporations like Haliburton pay theirs? Especially after all the billions of dollars we've handed over to them with no-bid contracts. If they aint paying, that means we're paying their way.
Posted by ggglw at 04/17/2009 @ 5:57pm
I think far more leftists have black helicopter syndrome than conservatives.
This is such a yawner.
Posted by antisocialist at 04/17/2009 @ 1:55pm
Aren't rightists known for their paranoid militias in the south?
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/17/2009 @ 6:38pm
For the righties, on here saying "see look Obama did it not Bush" do you REALLY think this only started with Obama? It's Obama's government is a bit more transparent than Bush's.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/17/2009 @ 6:44pm
Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 04/17/2009 @ 1:29pm
Where do you get your information from? Is it some K-12 school newspaper? It sure isn't from a source with the facts.
Can you name anyone from the Republican Party, or any blogger here who has said that we should not have any regulations in capitalism?
Do you know that both the Supreme Court and FISA itself have stated that the President has inherent authority to wiretap for National Security purposes?
Who's responsibility is it to read a bill before voting on it?
Do you know that every amendment to the first passage of the Patriot Act submitted by Feingold was passed and included?
Are you aware that under International Law, the US was authorized and within it's rights to go to war with Iraq, even without the approval of the US Congress or the UN?
Name a single liberty you have lost. Please cite how due to these "lost liberties", you have had to change your life as a result?
Obama is an apologist because that is what leftists do. Ultimately the have no American pride and cower before Europe and 3rd world countries.
Every time Obama starts apologizing for the US, this veteran and many like me cringe that we have a president so disdainful of our country.
Posted by antisocialist at 04/17/2009 @ 8:50pm
Will Anne Coulters adams apple be preserved and put on display in the Smithsonian?
Will George Bush get his 'Whack-a-Mole' business off the ground?
Will Dick Cheney become the ruler of South America?
Will the black copters come and bring me some buffalo burgers?
I'm picking up the phone right now, I've got something subversive to say!
I labored through all these faux seriousness and heard a lot of nothing - might as well add to it.
And where was this barry25 guy before he landed on earth? He is truly amazing.
Posted by ficheye at 04/17/2009 @ 8:51pm
But think of the great strides that can be made against hate speech, racism, homophobia, and anti-environmentalism when the government will be able to catch citizens in the act by the millions. We will stamp out every hateful utterance and purify our republic!
Posted by sntauri at 04/17/2009 @ 9:43pm
Where do you get your information from? Is it some K-12 school newspaper? It sure isn't from a source with the facts.
Can you name anyone from the Republican Party, or any blogger here who has said that we should not have any regulations in capitalism?
Do you know that both the Supreme Court and FISA itself have stated that the President has inherent authority to wiretap for National Security purposes?
Who's responsibility is it to read a bill before voting on it?
Do you know that every amendment to the first passage of the Patriot Act submitted by Feingold was passed and included?
Are you aware that under International Law, the US was authorized and within it's rights to go to war with Iraq, even without the approval of the US Congress or the UN?
Name a single liberty you have lost. Please cite how due to these "lost liberties", you have had to change your life as a result?
Obama is an apologist because that is what leftists do. Ultimately the have no American pride and cower before Europe and 3rd world countries.
Every time Obama starts apologizing for the US, this veteran and many like me cringe that we have a president so disdainful of our country.
Posted by antisocialist at 04/17/2009 @ 8:50pm
The Supreme Court agreed abortion rights should be granted yet you still fight that. If you uphold that the Supreme Court is the end all be all you should back off on a lot of issues.
"Every time Obama starts apologizing for the US, this veteran and many like me cringe that we have a president so disdainful of our country."
Utterly ridiculous statement by the way. Yeah Obama hates our country, exactly.....
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/17/2009 @ 10:06pm
I pay my taxes, you pay your taxes. Why can't corporations like Haliburton pay theirs? Especially after all the billions of dollars we've handed over to them with no-bid contracts. If they aint paying, that means we're paying their way. Posted by ggglw at 04/17/2009 @ 5:57pm
I got news for you. whether their tax rate is 99 % or .001%, you're paying it. Where do you think corporations get their money from? Their customers. Us.
Posted by twillie at 04/17/2009 @ 10:07pm
Posted by snowball666 at 04/18/2009 @ 06:45am
I found your response very amusing. Thank you.
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 04/18/2009 @ 06:57am
Barry 25's family is in the sheep business, huh? Came over from the old country? Made it big, but coulda done better? Got screwed by taxes.
Had no problem for awhile hiring old Anglos, Basques & Mexicans to work close to 24/7 for "room" & board & maybe a few bills a month. Always on call.
Getting a little hard to find help.now, I understand. Even paying 750 a month.
Must be because of those high taxes.
Posted by Sorelish at 04/18/2009 @ 8:17pm
We've all heard the wingnuts comparing Obama to Hitler, as if Hitler's Nazism was actual socialism...
Here's my analogy: Cheney = Eichmann, Rove = Goebbels, and John Yoo = Klaus Barbie.
The most disheartening thing I have seen is that the Philadelphia Inquirer (once a bastion of journalistic integrity, but lately little more than the New York Post of the Delaware Valley) gave an entire half-page in its op-ed section today, to that liar, traitor and criminal, John Yoo. In his usually ignorant and sociopathic way, he spewed some sort of vitriol about how the little pirate rescue proves that Obama is exactly like Bush! I would tell that little $hit to go back where he came from, but I'm pretty sure that kennel won't take him back...
To the extent that Obama continues to follow the Cheney Doctrines regarding the War Crime of Torture, and the Constitutional Crime of Domestic Spying, the more he leaves his own legacy in jeopardy. He MUST distinguish himself as being on the side of Justice!
Posted by sjduskin at 04/18/2009 @ 10:57pm
and he has at least 45 months to do so. patience, my friends.
Posted by emile duBois at 04/19/2009 @ 09:13am
One hates to constantly have to call antisocialist on his faith-based history, but...
"Do you know that both the Supreme Court and FISA itself have stated that the President has inherent authority to wiretap for National Security purposes? "
Wrong. The FISA court never addressed intrinsic authority in the context of FISA restrictions. The recent opinion dealt with the new and unimproved FISA. You're also going to have to do better than cite the cases beginning with Reid v. Covert, because they do nothing of the kind.
"Are you aware that under International Law, the US was authorized and within it's rights to go to war with Iraq, even without the approval of the US Congress or the UN? "
Wrong again. The WMD restrictions existed ONLY in the cease-fire resolution passed by the UN Security Council, not in the agreements made with General Schwarzkopf.
Posted by brunowe at 04/20/2009 @ 11:50pm
There is PLENTY of evidence the the US has been routinely illegally spying on US citizens.
Google -
James Bamford -- The Shadow Factory
Adrienne Kinne, U.S. Army Arab linguist assigned to a special military program at the NSA's Back Hall at Fort Gordon from November 2001 to 2003.
David Murfee Faulk, Navy linguist NSA facility at Fort Gordon - routinely shared salacious or tantalizing phone calls that had been intercepted, alerting office mates to certain time codes of "cuts" that were available on each operator's computer.
Posted by Lillian at 04/21/2009 @ 09:22am