Obama administration overreaches in demand for personal data

This effort ought to be stopped dead in its tracks. The answer should be “NO,” “hell no,” or “No, and don’t you dare ask for it again”:

From The Washington Post:

The Obama administration is seeking to make it easier for the FBI to compel companies to turn over records of an individual’s Internet activity without a court order if agents deem the information relevant to a terrorism or intelligence investigation.

The administration wants to add just four words — “electronic communication transactional records” — to a list of items that the law says the FBI may demand without a judge’s approval. Government lawyers say this category of information includes the addresses to which an Internet user sends e-mail; the times and dates e-mail was sent and received; and possibly a user’s browser history. It does not include, the lawyers hasten to point out, the “content” of e-mail or other Internet communication.

But what officials portray as a technical clarification designed to remedy a legal ambiguity strikes industry lawyers and privacy advocates as an expansion of the power the government wields through so-called national security letters. These missives, which can be issued by an FBI field office on its own authority, require the recipient to provide the requested information and to keep the request secret. They are the mechanism the government would use to obtain the electronic records.

If the federal government has a good reason to need such information, it can explain those reasons to a judge. “National security letters” are already widely overused as a means of acquiring personal information without a judicial order. As the Post story points out, “The Justice Department issued 192,500 national security letters from 2003 to 2006, according to a 2008 inspector general report, which did not indicate how many were demands for Internet records. A 2007 IG report found numerous possible violations of FBI regulations, including the issuance of NSLs without having an approved investigation to justify the request.”

The type of authority sought by the Obama administration would allow it to conduct warrantless searches that are forbidden under the Fourth Amendment, and our Founding Fathers would clearly recognize it as an unacceptable encroachment of government power on the individual.

That is, once you explained to them about what a browser is, and what emails are.

288 comments Add your comment

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
7:58 am

Won’t our ‘conservative’ SCOTUS rule this abomination unconstitutional?

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:03 am

Bush/Cheney and “conservatives” opened this Pandora’s box with expanded Executive power and historical invasions into citizens privacy…did anyone really think that the evils would be restrained with the next administration?

Once power is bestowed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to contain it.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:05 am

“That is, once you explained to them about what a browser is, and what emails are.”

Good luck with that ;)

Grumpy

July 29th, 2010
8:08 am

Meanwhile, thanks to our new 2,000 page “financial reform” bill, the SEC won’t have to comply with any FOIA requests. Hope, change and transparency!

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:10 am

WTF, all they want to do is keep an eye on those pesky mosques… :roll:

Granny Godzilla

July 29th, 2010
8:10 am

I agree the answer should be NO, in fact it should be HELL NO, but playing devil’s advocate shouldn’t we be seeing some patriot act supporters saying they have nothing to hide and we ouught to know if Jay or Granny are cruising mean nasty ugly muslim sites trolling for bomb plans?

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:11 am

Well, I sure was pissed when Obama and his fellow (ha ha) “liberal” senators hung Dodd out to dry on telcom immunity, few years back.

This is just another piece of that sordid puzzle, methinks. A real disregard for reasonable expectations of privacy.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:11 am

Granny Godzilla,

“I agree the answer should be NO,”

Here is another “NO” answer:

http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/07/apparently-we-don-miss-you-at-all.html

Grumpy

July 29th, 2010
8:12 am

Actually, jewcowboy, a whole lot of naive, new Democrats thought Obama would bring restraint. They’ve got egg on their collective face, and might not show up in 2012 as strong as they did in 2008.

Donovan

July 29th, 2010
8:14 am

Kind of funny that a liberal journalist gets upset about his own people getting serious about fighting the war on terror. Tough measures like profiling, wire tapping, and the Patriot Act go hand-in-hand with rooting out the evil that is endangering our security. Liberal journalists and liberal lawyers have been around for ages weakening our nation with their naive interference. And yes…we were right in locking up Japanese and placing them in camps during WWII.

godless heathen

July 29th, 2010
8:15 am

Right on, Mr. Bookman.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:16 am

And yes…we were right in locking up Japanese and placing them in camps during WWII.

You’re deeply misguided. But then, you do have company…

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:16 am

Grumpy,

“Actually, jewcowboy, a whole lot of naive, new Democrats thought Obama would bring restraint.”

Valid point, but there were quite a few that took Bush at his word of being a “Compassionate Conservative” yet they still showed up at the polls in 2004.

Gale

July 29th, 2010
8:20 am

Our laws work fine. If they are investigating a real bad guy, they should have no reason not to explain it to a judge. This reminds me of Nixon’s subversives list.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:20 am

Donovan,

“Tough measures like profiling, wire tapping, and the Patriot Act go hand-in-hand with rooting out the evil that is endangering our security.”

Somehow I think b@st@rdizing our Constitution due to mis-guided fear is not what the signers of the Constitution envisioned for their efforts.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:21 am

Interesting note: Blog monster does not allow “b@st@rdizing” in it’s none b@st@rdized version.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:23 am

“Blog monster does not allow ”

The blog monster giveth, and the blog monster taketh away. At least we can say ridiculous now!

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:23 am

“Tough measures like profiling, wire tapping, and the Patriot Act go hand-in-hand with rooting out the evil that is endangering our security.”

they absolutely do – which is why the gummint should have NO PROBLEM going before a judge to justify a wiretap or access to e-mail

El Jefe

July 29th, 2010
8:24 am

Isn’t this to be expected from the most transparent administration? Good bye, 4th, 5th and 6th amendments.

In addition the SEC is no longer covered under the FOIA, yet have been given greater power.

Seems we are loosing that “Republican form of government” the Constitution-thingy talks about.

Peadawg

July 29th, 2010
8:24 am

“Bush/Cheney”

HaHa! It took all of 2 posts to blame someone else. Awesome!

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:25 am

Doggone – 8:23 – yeah – weeks ago, I tried to say that we had gone from the sublime to the ridiculous and was absolutely gobsmacked that it was moderated.

Okie Dokie

July 29th, 2010
8:25 am

jewcowboy,

And the Bush/Cheney bashing continues…. I am sure Barry is not responsible for any of the bad in this country. Also, Obama received a lot of votes from people in urban areas. These areas are notorious for getting behind a candidate the first time, but losing interest the second time. Not to mention the TP folks, many of whom admit to not showing up for the last election.

JohnnyReb

July 29th, 2010
8:27 am

Jay, you are on the money with this one.

Grumpy, you beat me to the FOIA issue. It also must not stand. Got to love that transparency.

This could mean a ray of hope for you lefties. Again I tell you, watch what he does, not what he says.

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
8:27 am

Just think of all the potential Timothy McVeighs we’ll catch. Besides, we must act in the name of preemption. Enemies of the state must be apprehended. They can then be tagged and released. It is as it should be as the end times draw nigh. By the way, where are Patriots Dusty, @@, NRB, et al, this fine morning. Donovan should not be left alone amidst all these fierce liberals.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it )

July 29th, 2010
8:28 am

Well, I already speak loud, slow, and clear when I talk on the phone so all the guvmint spies can hear me. I’d hate to have one speak up and ask me to talk more clear. I reckon turning over my innernet records and e-mails won’t hurt none. The only thing I ever go to is FoxNews.com and this blog. I don’t use e-mail except to hear from Joe Bill and Jim Earl about what kind of tee time we got at Countryland Golf Course. I just zap all the e-mail ads I get and stuff like that. If other people want to get in touch with me they can just ring me up at Simpsons Trailer Park.

If you ain’t got nothing to hide there’s no reason to be all secret about what you do on your PC. I know there’s a whole bunch of people on here that get all upset about privacy and that junk, but we got to deal with the Terrists. And the best way to do that is just turn over everything you do to the guvmint. Just clean up your act and stop looking at porn and going to librul web sites and you won’t have nothing to worry about. I figure alot of people here need to be watched by the guvmint spies. Some of them are downright dangerous with their wild-eyed politics.

Have a good day everybody.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:28 am

If they are investigating a real bad guy, they should have no reason not to explain it to a judge.

I’ve yet to hear compelling reasons as to why this represents an undue burden on our enforcement personnel. Particularly when previous regs actually allowed for these warrants to be issued retroactively.

Anyhow, I’m so old I can remember this:

“a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we’re talking about chasing down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order before we do so.”

good times, huh? Back when they cared enough to just flat-out lie about what they were up to.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:29 am

It took all of 2 posts to blame someone else.

so you’re ignoring those of us who aren’t, are you?

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:29 am

USinUK – Josef said it was because the 4 letters that start with c and end with o are Spanish (I think) for a particular part of the female anatomy (if I remember that correctlt)

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
8:30 am

Jay is indeed on his toes, in more ways than one, this fine morning.

jt

July 29th, 2010
8:30 am

FBI, IRS, HSA,,,,,it’s all the same. Here’s a rare “good” republican being thrown to the wolves.
You’ll only kidding yourselves and the other Obama supporters if you think they currently follow any laws……………………From Lew———-

“I read your book `Constitutional Income: Do You Have Any?’” Hart was notified in a letter from IRS agent Barbara Parks announcing that the state-sponsored terrorist clique employing her was beginning an “investigation” of the book. The purpose of that inquiry, she continued, was “to determine whether or not your statements are commercial speech and whether this activity causes harm to the government.”

With the help of the Center for Individual Rights, Hart successfully sued the IRS to interdict the agency’s demand that he turn over the names of everybody who had purchased his book. Four years later, the IRS retaliated against Hart by issuing a final audit report denying all of his business deductions for eight years, hitting him with an additional tax liability of roughly $125,000. When he protested his treatment to the IRS, an official with the agency gloatingly explained: “When you don’t give us everything we ask for, you get all of your deductions denied.”

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:30 am

Peadawg and Okie Dokie,

I am by no means making any excuse for the Obama Administration, but “conservatives” should not complain about this administration invading their privacy when they were complicit in allowing the previous administration to widely expand their power in this regard.

The time to complain was in 2001 with the passage of the Patriot Act. You’ve made your bed…so don’t complain that there is a camera in there watching you.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:31 am

I can just see it. Typing away on Jay’s site, preaching tolerance and all of a sudden, your monitor goes black. Suddenly Max Headroom appears in a Gastapo uniform. “Do not move, you will be collected shortly,” he says, then fades to black…then there is a knock on the door. Men in black suits rush in and take you to a waiting black SUV. “Where are we going”? “Stalag 17,” they say…and you know you will never blog again…

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:31 am

I am sure Barry is not responsible for any of the bad in this country.

Hey-Zeus, don’t any of you conservadroids know how to read?

What part of “did anyone really think that the evils would be restrained with the next administration?” and “just another piece of that sordid puzzle, methinks. A real disregard for reasonable expectations of privacy” do you not get?

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:32 am

Doggone – 8:29 – which leads to the philosophical question: is a cuss word a cuss word if we don’t speak that language?

JCB – 8:30 – (polite golf clap) … well said!

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
8:33 am

Well said jay. Spoken like a true “racist”.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:33 am

dB – 8:31 … my guess: they didn’t get any of it.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:34 am

stands for decibels @ 8.31,

Well evidently history began on Jany 21, 2009. Nothing of note happened before this date…

Elliot Garcia

July 29th, 2010
8:34 am

Stay off of those naughty sites jewcowboy and you shouldn’t have any problems….

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:37 am

Those who would give up Essential Liberty
to purchase a little Temporary Safety,
deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Ben Franklin

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:38 am

USinUK – good question! It’s sorta like something that comes up in my job. Since I do work involving managing access into the company applications, and since we have employees and contractors all over the world…I see some VERY odd names (to American eyes) and it’s hard to not laugh, and realize that to THEM the name simply doesn’t evoke the same amusement as it does in English.

Dave R.

July 29th, 2010
8:38 am

“Obama administration overreaches in virtually everything”

There, jay. Fixed your typo.

No thanks needed. :)

Scout

July 29th, 2010
8:38 am

Well, why don’t we just call for his IMPEACHMENT like we would if he was a Republican ?

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:38 am

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:34 am

Does this mean the Bible was wrong?

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
8:39 am

But, we ain’t had no more terrierist attacks since we done gone and got ourselves all re-patriotated.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:40 am

“Well, why don’t we just call for his IMPEACHMENT like we would if he was a Republican ?”

Too late, it’s already been done: http://www.obamaimpeachment.org

T Knight

July 29th, 2010
8:40 am

Meanwhile, thanks to our new 2,000 page “financial reform” bill, the SEC won’t have to comply with any FOIA requests. Hope, change and transparency!

well said

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
8:41 am

Scout is calling for the impeachment of BUSH! I don’t believe my eyes.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:41 am

“Well, why don’t we just call for his IMPEACHMENT like we would if he was a Republican ?”

:lol:

yeah – because the Dems drafted articles of Impeachment once they took the majority in 2007.

you funny man. you make (lame-a$$) joke.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:42 am

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
8:33 am

I know I’m a few fries short of a Happy Meal, but could you explain to me how Jay’s essay is racist, please?

ken R

July 29th, 2010
8:42 am

I will really be in trouble with the Government on my internet use as I only talk to Jay & Tucker.

they’re coming to get me aha aha, ( old song )

I have nothing to hide and if it helps catch crooks & terrorists good for them, you libs need to stop being so paranoid.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:43 am

Be nice to Scout, he just wants to hurt something….

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:44 am

“how Jay’s essay is racist, please?”

Normal…I believe it comes under the mantra “anyone who criticizes Obama is a racist”

Scout

July 29th, 2010
8:44 am

Doggone/GA :

Sorry, I meant why isn’t Jay calling for impeachment.

BTW: Don’t you people trust OBAMA ?

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:45 am

“I meant why isn’t Jay calling for impeachment”

Why should he? As I said, it’s already being done.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:47 am

Scout – “why isn’t Jay calling for impeachment”

why should he? he never called for Bush’s impeachment

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:47 am

Ken R,
Re-read my 8:37…and think a little.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:47 am

Doggone – your 8:44 was missing an eyeroll … here you go :roll:

Scout

July 29th, 2010
8:48 am

Taxpayer:

Sorry, but you miss my point.

I’m merely pointing out the standard liberal hypocrisy.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:48 am

because the Dems drafted articles of Impeachment once they took the majority in 2007.

Yep. Remember how Nancy Pelosi got right to work on that, in January?

Scout

July 29th, 2010
8:49 am

Doggone:

Don’t you trust someone you voted for ?

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:49 am

Normal,

“Does this mean the Bible was wrong?”

Not even going to go there :)

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
8:49 am

Hey, it’s not as though every corporation out there on the integrated web doesn’t already gather and use your most intimate surfing secrets to target ads and locally relevant political messages and what not already. So, why shouldn’t the government have the same rights as, say, BP or Exxon or Google or… After all, the government is just as much a person as any of them are and it has feelings too, dontcha know. Y’all should all apologize.

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
8:50 am

Normal,
Regarding your 8:42, Doggone took the words right off of my keyboard.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:53 am

TaxPayer,

“So, why shouldn’t the government have the same rights as, say, BP or Exxon or Google or… ”

Or your iPhone or Droid…

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jT8Ubyd-4KT6_6NQtYnThQvtEvGQD9H8EK8G0

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:53 am

Jewcowboy,

Not even going to go there

You’re no fun! :)

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:53 am

dB – 8:48 – JANUARY – heck, she started drafting them once she won in November so that they’d be ready to go with the new session …

oy. oy. oy. OY.

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
8:53 am

I’m merely pointing out the standard liberal hypocrisy.

So, you standin’ in front of a mirror.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:54 am

“Don’t you trust someone you voted for ?”

I don’t trust any politician…and as I’ve told you many times before, you REALLY need to get your crystal ball polished. It’s giving false readings. I didn’t vote for Obama.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:55 am

“I’m merely pointing out the standard liberal hypocrisy”

but considering you’re WRONG, the “hypocrisy” claim doesn’t hold water.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:56 am

“I have nothing to hide and if it helps catch crooks & terrorists good for them, you libs need to stop being so paranoid.”

That is missing the point entirely…this argument is one of the most simplistic and misguided ones put forward.

Scout

July 29th, 2010
8:57 am

Doggone: Could have fooled me.

USinUK: In your opinion dear …………… :o

Jay: Did you get Bob Barr’s permission to do this thread? You are stealing his thunder !

Normal

July 29th, 2010
8:57 am

Doggone,
Are you like me? If I don’t like the people running, I vote for myself in the write in column…

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:57 am

JCB – 8:56 – and yet they make it again … and again … and again … “if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about”

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:58 am

“Could have fooled me”

Apparently that’s not at all hard to do.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
8:59 am

“If I don’t like the people running, I vote for myself in the write in column…”

Never thought of that! I always write in Mickey Mouse. If you can’t trust a mouse, who CAN you trust? ;-)

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
8:59 am

So, why shouldn’t the government have the same rights as, say, BP or Exxon or Google or… After all, the government is just as much a person as any of them are and it has feelings too, dontcha know. Y’all should all apologize.

you exaggerate the implicit case being made by our Gubmint. by as much as 0.001%.

later, kids. Try not to spy on anyone without a warrant while I’m away.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
8:59 am

Scout –

no, not in my opinion. Jay never called for Bush’s impeachment – therefore, he isn’t a hypocrite for not calling for Obama’s impeachment.

that’s like calling me a hypocrite for criticizing someone for a DUI when I’ve never GOTTEN a DUI, making your “hypocrite” accusation false on its face.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
8:59 am

Normal,

“You’re no fun! ”

I know…I’m just sick of this column turning into a religious argument day in and day out.

G-Lion

July 29th, 2010
9:01 am

This governmental intrusion is EXACTLY the sort of thing the terrorists (anti-Americans) wanted to engender in the first place. They sought to destroy our way of government and living – and they have succeeded.

They have created an atmosphere where Americans are tearing the country apart from the inside – and we are complicit in their conspiracy.

Wire taps, un-warrant-ed searches and seizures, max of 3 stinking ounces of shampoo on an airplane, endless and mindless “security lines” at the airports — they clearly have changed our lives. And we allow them to continue to scare us into their way of living.

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:01 am

Methinks Obama doesn’t want to be standing at the helm if another 9/11 goes down and he hasn’t done all he could.

Funny, how you see things differently when the buck stops with you.

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
9:01 am

At least my thoughts are still my own. I think.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
9:01 am

Off topic for a little bit, but if Corporates are now concidered people, do they have to register for the draft?

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:02 am

Doggone/USinUK: In your opinion dears ………….. :o

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:03 am

Normal:

How about women first?

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:03 am

USinUK,

“making your “hypocrite” accusation false on its face.”

“Conservatives” are just tired of having to defend the hypocrisy in almost all that they do. Just like they try to equate every Bush fiasco with an event in the Obama administration, while at the same time saying what Bush did was not a fiasco.

The trouble is..they just can’t sell it…

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:04 am

Normal,

“Off topic for a little bit, but if Corporates are now concidered people, do they have to register for the draft?”

Or get the death penalty?

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
9:06 am

I’m gonna start writing in “Normal” when I don’t like the other options too.

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
9:06 am

Scout, ‘Doggone/USinUK: In your opinion dears…’

As are most of your posts…dear…

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:07 am

JCB – oh, they can sell it to the masses who like to leave their critical thinking in a jar by the door (not naming names or anything)

Bubba Bob

July 29th, 2010
9:08 am

I was a NO on the Patriot Act and I’m a NO on this.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:08 am

Normal and JCB – I’d just be happy if they paid taxes … but that’s just me. YMMV

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:08 am

USinUK,

“oh, they can sell it to the masses who like to leave their critical thinking in a jar by the door ”

How right you are….

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
9:08 am

“I’m gonna start writing in “Normal” when I don’t like the other options too.”

TaxPayer – OK, this reminds me of a story I heard about years ago. Seems that in some town I can’t at the moment recall, the parking cops would write “None” for any car that didn’t have a car license tag. Which was OK right up to the day some wag decided he wanted a vanity tag “None” and got flagged for thousands of dollars in parking fines!

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:09 am

TaxPayer – 9:06 – me, too!!

Normal – don’t be surprised if the secret service shows up at your door and escort you to take the oath of office …

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
9:11 am

UsinUK…left you a message/reply downstairs… one of my dogs came back muddy from running in our stream and then rolling all over the place in the dirt… guess who’s getting a bath now! ru ohhh!

See ya’s in a bit.

popeye

July 29th, 2010
9:11 am

Well, why don’t we just call for his IMPEACHMENT like we would if he was Bill Clinton?

Fixed your typo.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:11 am

oh … and by the way, good economic news this week …

today’s unemployment numbers are down by 11K
new home sales were up more than forecast
durable goods orders were up on the month after some monster numbers last month (making the hurdle even higher)

Jack

July 29th, 2010
9:12 am

I write letters using snail mail if I want it to be private.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:14 am

Saul – you just made me wish we had a “take your dog to work” policy … (I love my sweet wondermutt)

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:15 am

Lord Help Us :

That’s why we’re here ……… opinions …………. duh!

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:16 am

Scout – you can have the opinion that the earth is flat and the sun travels around the earth and lima beans taste good – doesn’t make you right.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:16 am

USinUK,

“don’t be surprised if the secret service shows up at your door and escort you to take the oath of office …”

Stranger things have happened:

Look up Leonard Peltier…he was convicted in 1977 to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment for the murder of 2 FBI agents in a shootout in 1975, yet was able to run for President in 2004 from prison and garnered 27k votes…

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
9:17 am

“I write letters using snail mail if I want it to be private.”

That’s not the issue. The issue is NO WARRANT. It doesn’t matter how private you WANT your snail mail to be, if the government has reason to believe your correspondence would assist an investigation, and they convince a judge of that…the judge will issue a warrant and your “private” correspondence CAN be read.

The issue HERE, is that they want the power to track your electronic communications WITHOUT A WARRANT.

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
9:19 am

Scout, ‘That’s why we’re here ……… opinions …………. duh!’

Then why did you need to tell others (twice), ‘ in your opinion…’

Methinks, thou knowest not the definition of the word, ‘hypocrite…’

Gammer

July 29th, 2010
9:20 am

They told me if I voted for McCain that warrantless wire tapping of innocent civilians by the government would be rampant and the status quo and they were right!!

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:20 am

Lord Help Us:

This is really about what Obama is thinking ……….. so what are you thoughts on that?

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
9:20 am

“Methinks, thou knowest not the definition of the word, ‘hypocrite…”

Hey! He makes up his own “facts” – why not his own definitions?

crackbaby

July 29th, 2010
9:21 am

“And yes…we were right in locking up Japanese and placing them in camps during WWII” – Donovan

Hey Donovan, those were Americans the government locked up in internment camps. You haven’t read the Bill of Rights, have you? Or is it just more convenient to ignore it when the folks effected aren’t “your kind”?

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:23 am

“Or is it just more convenient to ignore it when the folks effected aren’t “your kind”?”

BINGO!

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:23 am

USinUK:

Thanks a lot. You just ruined my day ……… I ate them for 13 months (when there was nothing else).

Ham and Muthas — More info on C-Rations Yes, the key to understanding the generation of the C-Ration munching GIs, … least liked ration was Ham and Lima Beans (referred to as “Ham and Muthas”)

17thdivision.tripod.com/thepeacethatwasnt/id20.html – Cached – Similar

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
9:23 am

Scout, ‘This is really about what Obama is thinking ……….. so what are you thoughts on that?’

I think he is wrong and worried that the specious ‘weak on terror’ squeal from the right is going to hurt the Dems more in the midterms and he is trying to get in front (and ironically, to the right) of that attach.

Very disappointing…but he was still a better choice than McCain/Palin…In my OPINION!

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:23 am

“which is why the gummint should have NO PROBLEM going before a judge to justify a wiretap or access to e-mail”

But, but, by THEN, the whole city of NY could be destroyed – haven’t you EVER seen 24? Geez.

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
9:24 am

“your kind”…shirley, is that you?

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:25 am

crackbaby :

And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was o.k. ……………. :o

Just like they did in Dred Scott and Roe vs. Wade.

Granny Godzilla

July 29th, 2010
9:25 am

Over and over again during and after the passage of the Patriot Act the left pointed out that this was not totally a good idea and that the powers given to the government were dangerous AND we pointed out that those powers would then be in the hands of future Presidents.

The right so blinded by the naive concept of a permanent Republican majority they just laid down and let it happen.

A great case for be careful what you wish for.

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:26 am

Lord Help Us:

Good first point.

Disagree on the second.

Now this is the kind of exchange we should have instead of personal vitriol.

Just sayin ……………

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:26 am

Bosch,

“But, but, by THEN, the whole city of NY could be destroyed – haven’t you EVER seen 24? Geez.”

Who cares when it will be destroyed in 2 years anyway along with the rest of the Earth…

JeffyW

July 29th, 2010
9:27 am

WOW, it took until the SECOND post to blame Bush! you’re slipping Atlanta. Look Obama is an A kisser on the international stage, and a real bully at home. I preferred it the other way around. Does anyone really think the Robin Hood/ get evenism tact this administration is taking betters Americas chances of survival in the end? Heck these policies will bankrupt the U.S., there’s no 2 ways about it. And the personal info? Yea, it’s beginning to smell a lot like Venezuela around here. Phonyism and paranoia will do that to a president.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:28 am

JCB – I’d just love for Normal to make the WTSherman speech, “If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve”

;-)

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
9:28 am

“I think he is wrong and worried that the specious ‘weak on terror’ squeal from the right is going to hurt the Dems more in the midterms and he is trying to get in front (and ironically, to the right) of that attach.”

ah yes…tis right on the mark. I distinctly remember Obama’s campaign slogan, “Hope…Change…Midterms”!

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:30 am

Scout – 9:23 – you missed yesterday’s discussion about gummint cheese, lima beans, black-eyed pea sammiches, and tuna casserole

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:30 am

Doggone/USinUK:

Would you like to take a shot at this?

“This is really about what Obama is thinking ……….. so what are you thoughts on that?”

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:30 am

USinUK:

Good !

MPercy

July 29th, 2010
9:31 am

Granny, I argue against the PATRIOT act, as did other libertarians like Bob Barr. But before you get all smug (oops, too late) you are certainly aware of the facts, right?

One of the most “Bushy” bills–at least in the minds of the left–the PATRIOT Act, passed 99-1 in the Senate and 357-66 in the House. The most recent renewal was passed just this Feb. The House passed a one-year reauthorization of the Patriot Act 315-97, just one day after the Senate moved the bill on a late-evening unanimous voice vote.

Get that? *Unanimous* voice vote in the Senate, overwhelming majority in the House. And who do you want to blame? Bush–who was President and who signed the original law, but it was Congress with huge Democrat support, that passed the original Bill, and a Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid Congress that has passed two renewals of same with nary a change to major provisions of the bill.

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
9:32 am

Scout, ‘Now this is the kind of exchange we should have instead of personal vitriol.’

Then stop being such a schmuck, acknowledge I am wiser, and kneel before my alter (’and then he bowed…) :)

Just kiddin’…

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:32 am

Scout – 9:30 – since I don’t know what Obama is thinking, I really can’t comment

mm

July 29th, 2010
9:33 am

Obama has some really bad advisors.

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
9:34 am

UsinUK,
(re: 9:32)Come on, didn’t you get the memo? When in doubt…”Inherited”.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:35 am

ty – you know, I gave up mindreading for Lent – since then, my mad mindreading skillz have been for crap.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
9:36 am

“Would you like to take a shot at this?”

No. I flunked mind reading in grade school

Scout

July 29th, 2010
9:37 am

USinUK:

Now, now ………. you know that most of our opinions on here are about what someone else thinks.

You’re no fun.

Remember ……… “actions speak louder than words”

Out for awhile ……….. everyone be nice.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
9:37 am

“And who do you want to blame? Bush–who was President and who signed the original law”

Nailed it in one. Yes, Bush signed it. If he’d vetoed it, and Congress then passed it over his vetoe – then the blame would be on Congress. But Bush signed it, he’s responsible for it’s becoming a law.

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
9:38 am

UsinUK,
no need to read obama’s mind, simply get the transcript off the teleprompter.(sorry, couldn’t resist)

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:38 am

JeffyW,

“WOW, it took until the SECOND post to blame Bush! ”

WOW, another person who seems to think history started on Jan. 21, 2009.

StJ

July 29th, 2010
9:39 am

This looks suspiciously like a Bob Barr op-ed. I think Bob needs to update his security software. ;)

As far as warrantless searches go….this surprises you? The goverment has been ignoring the Constitution for years.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:41 am

I’ve never big a huge fan of the Barr-ster, but I’ve always applauded his stand against gummint intrusion on our civil liberties

ken R

July 29th, 2010
9:41 am

Normal, Ben Franklin is dead and he lived in a totally different time than we do. I personally would like to see cameras posted on major corners looking for evil people.

I have thought and I will say it again, I have nothing to hide, do you?

When we travel to Mexico, Aruba England and other places we go thru customs as we do when we re-enter the US and we get asked for proof all the time, I don’t have a problem with the AZ law also.

There are good people from all over the World who have been waiting for years to come to this country and yet we have all kinda of MORONS who think only Mexicans should have a right to be here and that it’s ok for them to be here illegally.

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:41 am

“Now, now ………. you know that most of our opinions on here are about what someone else thinks.”

No, Scout – that’s just you.

El Jefe

July 29th, 2010
9:42 am

Face the facts. Progressives know better than the common man what they need and want. The Elite can do better for us than we can for ourselves.

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Power

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:43 am

USinUK,

“I’ve never big a huge fan of the Barr-ster, but I’ve always applauded his stand against gummint intrusion on our civil liberties”

Since he got out of the guvmint himself and championed his eight year campaign to impeach Clinton – I’ve found myself agreeing with him more and more and think to myself a shower is in order.

@@

July 29th, 2010
9:43 am

Well, jay, there’s necessary measures taken to prevent a real terrorist attack, and then there’s media wars launched to protect Obama.

Jonathan Zasloff, a law professor at UCLA, suggested that the federal government simply yank Fox off the air. “I hate to open this can of worms,” he wrote, “but is there any reason why the FCC couldn’t simply pull their broadcasting permit once it expires?”

And so a debate ensued. Time’s Scherer, who had seemed to express support for increased regulation of Fox, suddenly appeared to have qualms: “Do you really want the political parties/white house picking which media operations are news operations and which are a less respectable hybrid of news and political advocacy?”

But Zasloff stuck to his position. “I think that they are doing that anyway; they leak to whom they want to for political purposes,” he wrote. “If this means that some White House reporters don’t get a press pass for the press secretary’s daily briefing and that this means that they actually have to, you know, do some reporting and analysis instead of repeating press releases, then I’ll take that risk.”

Scherer seemed alarmed. “So we would have press briefings in which only media organizations that are deemed by the briefer to be acceptable are invited to attend?”

John Judis, a senior editor at the New Republic, came down on Zasloff’s side, the side of censorship. “Pre-Fox,” he wrote, “I’d say Scherer’s questions made sense as a question of principle. Now it is only tactical.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/07/21/liberal-journalists-suggest-government-shut-down-fox-news/2/#ixzz0v5auJ4fe

Maybe the Obama administration is taking measures to protect his left-wing terrorists within the media. Wouldn’t want their plan of attack getting out for all the voters to see.

I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you. You’re not among the left-wing media terrorists nor are you on their hit list. So what’re you afraid of?

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:44 am

“Progressives know better than the common man what they need and want. The Elite can do better for us than we can for ourselves.”

Glad to see you agree my friend.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:44 am

ken R,

“I personally would like to see cameras posted on major corners looking for evil people.”

How about having the webcam on your laptop tied into government surveillance since you’ve nothing to hide…your bedroom…your bathroom?

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:45 am

ken – “yet we have all kinda of MORONS who think only Mexicans should have a right to be here and that it’s ok for them to be here illegally”

you do realize a lot of those “morons” are in your party with the Guest Worker programs, don’t you?

“When we travel to Mexico, Aruba England and other places we go thru customs as we do when we re-enter the US and we get asked for proof all the time”

the AZ law wasn’t about that – the AZ law was about police stopping people at random and asking for their papers – and making it a criminal offense if you didn’t carry your papers with you at all times.

that doesn’t happen in Aruba, England or Mexico

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
9:45 am

‘WOW, another person who seems to think history started on Jan. 21, 2009.’

I give thee proof that history did not begin on Jan. 21, 2009…and that it repeats itself…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYqF_BtIwAU&feature=related

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:45 am

ElJefe,

“Progressives know better than the common man what they need and want. The Elite can do better for us than we can for ourselves.”

It seems as if you are a bit confused…May I introduce you to the Republican Party…

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
9:46 am

the only difference is that no warrant is required. why do we think that judges are
impartial. law enforcement routinely get warrants by telephone and even after
intrusions. A judge is part of the government just the same as the enforcers.
if it is a critical situation why delay.

Doggone/GA

July 29th, 2010
9:46 am

“I personally would like to see cameras posted on major corners looking for evil people”

But that’s not the issue. There is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public place. There IS a reasonable expectation of privacy in your home and in your communications.

Would you like to see call monitors installed that recorded every phone number you dialed?

Kamchak

July 29th, 2010
9:47 am

Bosch

Did you attend the Man. City/Club America game at the Dome last p.m.?

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:47 am

“looking for evil people.”

I wonder, do these cameras looking for evil people have some kind of “this is an evil person” program, or do they just look for people who look like Cheney?

Granny Godzilla

July 29th, 2010
9:47 am

MPercy

In all my smugiliciousness I never mentioned Bush.

I use the word naive and YOU thought Bush.

El Jefe

July 29th, 2010
9:48 am

sarcasm is so hard with a blog

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:48 am

Kamchak,

Nope, didn’t make it. Forgot all about it actually. I did watch Manchester United and the MLS Allstar game though.

Kevin

July 29th, 2010
9:48 am

Oh, Jay, it’s so cute and charming when you talk about the Fourth Amendment, and what our Founding Fathers would clearly recognize as an unacceptable encroachment of government power on the individual.

You generally favor said encroachments.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:48 am

@@ 9.43,

Just out of curiosity…did you read all of the email from that listserv thread or did you just read what that article?

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:50 am

Bosch – 9:41 – ON. THE. MONEY!!!

and I’ll never understand why people seem to think that “the elite” is some kind of slam. to me, that spoke volumes about what kind of person Gingrich was when he made the “cultural elite” an insult – what? he thinks the country will be a better place if we all watch wrestling, listen to Hank and line dance?

it’s people like that (and like a certain unnamed president who made fun of people who received a PhD) who lower the bar – who make underachievment a badge of success – that will be the death of the country. not the people who want to learn, who want to expand their horizons, who want to be inspired.

@@

July 29th, 2010
9:51 am

jay, not that I care about what happens in Atlanta, but I would think you and Cynthia would.

While you’ve got your squirrels pinned down over here, Kyle’s covering a story about how Atlanta’s city officials are either losing or stealing their nuts.

A left-wing battle strategy? Defensive or offensive?

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:53 am

USinUK @ 9:50 –

Yes, call me a snob, but I’d much rather my President being a Harvard grad than a beauty queen. Just saying.

Lord Help Us

July 29th, 2010
9:54 am

USinUK, ‘the country will be a better place if we all watch wrestling, listen to Hank and line dance?’

Uh Oh…In addition to these things, I am also kind of partial to tractor pulls, huntin’, fishin’, and working on the cars up on blocks in my front yard…

I know, I don’t fit the ideological stereotype…

@@

July 29th, 2010
9:55 am

cowboy:

Just out of curiosity…did you read all of the email from that listserv thread or did you just read what that article?

Is ^^^ that an unfinished sentence?

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:55 am

Bosch,

“Yes, call me a snob, but I’d much rather my President being a Harvard grad than a beauty queen. Just saying.”

Can’t we have both?

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:55 am

Bosch – 9:53 – I hear ya.

critical thinking skills beats baton twirling in the talent competition every time for me, too …

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
9:55 am

I believe the correct pronunciation is “rassling”…you elites just have no idea.

Don't forget

July 29th, 2010
9:55 am

I don’t think this would survive a court challenge and I don’t see a reasonable justification for it either.

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
9:56 am

all due respect, Bob Barr has been ranting (in his own wonderful way). but concerns about personal privacy (re: FBI) is at best moot, at worst, Quixotic. here’s a homework assignment for all Americans. go to amazon.com or your local library and pick up a copy of The Puzzle Palace by James Bamford (1983). the government has been snooping and listening and monitoring Americans since the 1950’s. as my lord and savior and other bloggers have said; “…power does what it wants…” that’s Bush, Obama, Nixon, Clinton, Kennedy… maybe the solution is for ALL Americans to put JIHAD or INFIDEL in the subject or text of every email sent. I bet some NSA analyst or CIA spook is checking me out right now.

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
9:56 am

ty,

I know, I know, it’s so beneath us.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
9:56 am

I didn’t know Republicans were progressive

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
9:57 am

USinUK 9:50 LET. THEM. EAT. CAKE.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:57 am

LHU – you are evidently on of Gingrich’s chosen ones while I am part of the “chaff” (sorry … I like BBC’s coverage of The Proms … and Edith Wharton … and the ballet)

American today, tomorrow who knows!

July 29th, 2010
9:57 am

What Constitution? Our Constitution is a joke to most in Washington who do what they want, when they want and how they want. If in November you dont vote them out then we will no longer be Americans but whatever country wants to take us over. Probably Mexico since they have a free rein into Arizona and California which the federal government (Constitution DEMANDS Border security) and Obama seem to want to make bigger.

I give up with the corruption and saying NO makes no difference. They do what they want. See all of you in November when I say NO NO NO.

The Thin Guy

July 29th, 2010
9:58 am

When I saw the teaser I thought this would be about Øbungle’s appearance on The View. Just think, he sat in the same chair Ashley Dupre´ sat. But when you give Ashley $ 5k you get something for your money. Don’t care about anyone tracking my visits to political, porn, science, history, art, etc web sites. But please leave my bank account alone. I need the money to buy arugula.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
9:59 am

barking – you’re sooooo not hip. Whoopie Pies and Macaroons are all the rage these days …

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
9:59 am

@@,

“Is ^^^ that an unfinished sentence?”

Apologies…trying to multitask…which means doing neither task very well…

“Just out of curiosity…did you read all of the emails from that listserv thread or did you just read that article you posted?”

Meaning, did you read every email from the listserv to garner their context, or did you just read the article you posted?

ken R

July 29th, 2010
9:59 am

Usink,
Please read the AZ law, the police cannot stop anyone and ask them for their papers, they can only do this if they are caught breaking the law. If you would watch Fox news you may learn the truth, this should bring some comments. lol

Jewcowboy,

I don’t think the Gov’t. asked for cameras in my bedroom or bathroom, please don’t go paranoid on us, also after watching my mellow life they would turn them off.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:00 am

ty – 9:55 – :lol:

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
10:00 am

Today’s quasi-fascists – in both the Tweedledee and Tweedledum Parties – are repulsive traitors in my view.

Illegal spying on Americans by the very corporate criminals who fund their toadies dirty campaigns.

Sanctioned torture from the pinnacle of our government and advocated by a thuggish and gutless little man with the last name of Cheney. Which for you willfully uninformed got the good old USA – for the first time EVER – added to the list of countries that do so, like Korea, Iran, etc. You should be proud.

The Nazi-like suspension of the most sacred of all American liberties – habeus corpus. And as josef noted last night, 99% of you cons don’t even know what it is nor the implications thereof.

Gitmo. George’s version of the Hanoi Hilton, kept open by his Republican nephew, Barry.

All culminated with morons who want to make the Patriot Act PERMANENT.

And Peadawg and JeffW want to, in ostrich-like fashion, give the criminal Bush administration a free pass for all of it.

Why I will never begin to fathom…

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:02 am

Just another reason why independents, whites, and some democrats will be voting differently in 2010 & 2012. And the polls support what I am saying. November ‘10 is sizing up to be a bloodbath for dems.

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:02 am

Palin-Bush 2012.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:02 am

ken R,

“I don’t think the Gov’t. asked for cameras in my bedroom or bathroom, please don’t go paranoid on us”

No, they did not…they want unwarranted intrusion into something more intimate…

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
10:02 am

What? no “neo con”?

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:04 am

Oh yeah, concerning the AZ Law, the WH won one battle yesterday but, will lose the war. When is goes to the high court AZ will win 5-4 and even Kagan can not stop it. Not to mention the political war that Obama will lose because of his administration ignoring the issue.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:04 am

ken – the judge struck down the provision that allowed a warrantless arrest of someone that they suspected of being illegal and the criminalization of failure to carry papers.

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:05 am

Barkin, that ticket looks a hell of alot better then what is running us into the ground now.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:05 am

Jose,

“And the polls support what I am saying. November ‘10 is sizing up to be a bloodbath for dems.”

Ummm…did I miss where the Republican Party came out against the Patriot Act and un-warranted spying on American citizens?

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:06 am

Jew, Ummmm, did I miss the Republicans coming out against the Patriot Act? There may have been fractions that did but, overall they supported it. My point is he is losing the base of his votes he can not afford to lose.

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:08 am

Jose; Jeb is denying it as we speak. that almost assures it to happen.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:09 am

Jose,

“My point is he is losing the base of his votes he can not afford to lose.”

I could be wrong, and quite often I am, but somehow I doubt seriously this is the issue that would cause Democrats to lose support.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:10 am

Palin-Bush 2012.

ohpleez-ohpleez-ohpleez-ohpleez-ohpleez

Normal

July 29th, 2010
10:11 am

peeing bush, 2012

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
10:12 am

There may have been fractions that did

And I’ve had it in for ½ and ¼ ever since. Filthy pigs.

/drive-by

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:12 am

if Jeb Bush runs, I’ve got 2 words for you:

Terry.

Schaivo.

buh-bye Bush.

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:14 am

With jay gone critical on Obama will CT follow? Kyle,Bob, and Jim are a sure thing.
could this issue unite the AJC opinionators?

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:15 am

Jew, I beg to differ, he is going to lose some dem votes just Like McCain lost some Republican votes due to Bush. Even if he loses the Independents he can not win in 2012. The Independents are needed for both sides and right now every poll has them at over 50% not voting democrat. Not good.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:15 am

“Palin-Bush 2012.”

Actually… I think Palin-Handel would be a better ticket. I mean if Handel can learn ANYTHING from Palin…. It’s how to QUIT and then cash in by being a rock filled head blowhard:

First Handel can become Governor… then a few months into it she can quit….then she can go and make millions by having someone else pen a book for her and become part of Fox.

Then she and Palin can go 24/7 about how the MSM was so cruel to them by asking them “tough” questions…like what Newspapers they read.

Funny thing is….if Handel is asked what Newspapers she reads… if she says the AJC…she’ll be condemned for that (since we all know that the AJC is a Communist Rag) ;-)
I think her best response should be; The “Weekly Reader”… it’s right on both of their comprehension levels… well I at least HOPE it is!

@@

July 29th, 2010
10:15 am

jewcowboy:

Meaning, did you read every email from the listserv to garner their context, or did you just read the article you posted?

It’s an exclusive club. I’m not allowed in. The fact that left-wingers would even suggest shutting down the opposition is what should have you worried. Obviously it doesn’t. It’s all in good fun, right?

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:16 am

barking frog,

“could this issue unite the AJC opinionators?”

The FIVE horsemen of the apocalypse?

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:16 am

CT will NEVER go negative on Obama. It is a “pride” thing. There I said it. Prove me wrong.

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
10:16 am

Jose, do you really know what the term bloodbath means?

You are aware of the past two, I presume.

A ZERO for 36 in 2006 by the GOP. Now that sir is a BLOODBATH. A kind of political reverse Joe Dimaggio record that will NEVER be broken.

But to their credit the neo-cons did have a huge rally in 2008 and only lost 35 out of 41 races. A slightly less embarrassing BLOODBATH.

So for you mathematically challenged that is a combines 93% LOSING RATIO.

And you cons are not remotely embarrassed.

Good times…

RW-(the original)

July 29th, 2010
10:17 am

if Jeb Bush runs, I’ve got 2 words for you:

Terry.

Schaivo.

Yes, because making sure the facts are all in before allowing someone to be forced into death by starvation is just so wrong.

/sarc

//drive by

Big D

July 29th, 2010
10:18 am

When the dust from the mushroom cloud settles and the body count from the Bio- attack has been tallied, the same people here”bitching”( I’m sorry giving their opinion) , with be the same ones that will be crying and demanding to know why” we didn’t do more to prevent this”. These will be the same people who said to hell with closing the border. As much as I can’t stand Obama I can’t say I disagree with him on this. I’m smart enough to know “what I don’t know”.

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:18 am

Saul Good, once again, Palin-Handel would be better then what we have. At this point, Pitt-Jolie would be better…now that is stating how bad a shape we are in.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:18 am

RW – “Yes, because making sure the facts are all in before allowing someone to be forced into death by starvation is just so wrong.”

you’re right – what would doctors know after 15 years of taking care of her …

RW-(the original)

July 29th, 2010
10:19 am

Just for giggles see if any of you can get amvet to tell you in advance which races will count in his phony numbers game for the 2010 elections.

Disgusted

July 29th, 2010
10:19 am

I think her best response should be; The “Weekly Reader”… it’s right on both of their comprehension levels… well I at least HOPE it is!

Oh, c’mon! A simple response of “The Bible” will lock up 96% of the redneck vote.

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:19 am

USinUK;I don’t think Terry Schiavo can help the democrats in 2012.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:19 am

@@,

“Obviously it doesn’t. It’s all in good fun, right?”

Considering there were thousands of emails in that listserv thread, cherry picking a dozen or so email without the context of the previous ones might lead one to a spurious conclusion…look at the meandering nature of this blog and threads created as an example.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:21 am

barking – “USinUK;I don’t think Terry Schiavo can help the democrats in 2012″

if Jebby is on the ticket, it sure as hell isn’t going to help the GOP

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
10:22 am

Kamchak,

Did you go to the game? How was it?

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
10:22 am

Easy ballerina, United States Congress, governorships and the White House.

This ain’t rocket science. But then again, considering the level of self imposed ignorance by the apologists…

ken R

July 29th, 2010
10:23 am

Usink, you still didn’t get it right, please read the law.

Jewcowboy, I just went to facebook and guess what, I got asked if I wanted to get a great deal on a product in Cumming Ga. are you worried about Facebook also? and if Facebook, Google, Yahoo and everyone else can looky look then why not the Feds?

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:23 am

I’m wondering how I get onto the “list” our government can read…

Perhaps I should send out a few emails later and instead of calling each of my friends by their names…I’ll start by saying:

Hello Accchhhkmed!
Hi Omar!
Abdul…I’ve not heard from you for a while!
Habib…dude where have you been?
Taj, thanks for those pics! Imagine what they look like when they take off their Burkas! ;-)
Mahboobullah, Glad to hear you had a nice time in Syria!

Hey…maybe I just got on the list!

Jay…let us know when the guys show up with their sun glasses and dark suits. Feel free to give them my IP!

TaxPayer

July 29th, 2010
10:23 am

What is it with that Bush klan. Do they run for office just to show how easy it is to buy an election by conning their constituency over the airwaves. Surely there is some sort of side bet with a Kennedy or a Murdoch or someone. Something to make it all worthwhile.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:24 am

Jose… yup…you’re right…that would be “BETTER”…because just WHAT was the plan either of them have said we need to do to create jobs again? I forgot…feel free to refresh us.

Thanks!

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
10:24 am

Regarding the con frauds who want to implemtn Ronnie’s dream of BIG, BIG, BIG government,15 years of direct doctor care means nothing compared to the vastly superior skills of Bill Frist and his remote diagnosis.

Geez…

You liberals sure are dumb.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
10:26 am

While I agree that the Independants are critical for the elections, a true Independant isn’t buying what the GOP is selling. Independant thinkers know that the mantra, “tax cuts are manna from Heaven” is a red flag and show a lack of common sense. I believe that the Independants will have no choice but to flock back to the Democrats, or not vote at all….and that will never happen.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:26 am

Ken R – you do realize that you signed a TOS agreement with facebook that said you ALLOW them access to all your info, don’t you?

did you sign the same agreement with the Feds?

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
10:27 am

Big D, do you have children or grandchildren? ever seen The Penguins of Madagascar? “I don’t want excuses; I want results!” as stated, this type of stuff has been going on for years, and it didn’t healp prevent the 9/11 attacks (remember the FBI “interest” in Mousai’s laptop? We had all kinds of data on the 9/11 hijackers; inlcluding several on Federal “watch” lists, and nobody “watched”? oh, and I am OK with “watching” foreign nationals, but how does snooping on Americans benefit “the war on terrorism”? Here’s the answer: IT DOESN’T. what it does is, help the government in it’s “war” on Americans.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
10:27 am

Ok, I’m back to this time-suck for a little while.

In case anyone’s forgotten what an utter public relations disaster the Schaivo case was for those trying to intervene:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollVault/story?id=599622&page=1

a lopsided 67 percent-19 percent, most think the elected officials trying to keep Schiavo alive are doing so more for political advantage than out of concern for her or for the principles involved.

it got worse:

Fifty-four percent of conservatives support removal of Schiavo’s feeding tube, compared with seven in 10 moderates and liberals.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:29 am

dB … 10:27 – Palin/Bush 2012, babbeeeee!!!

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:29 am

Taxpayer 10:23; Kennedy-1;Bush-2.

@@

July 29th, 2010
10:29 am

cowboy:

look at the meandering nature of this blog

It’s one of the reasons I don’t visit here as often. Mindless meanderings hold no interest for me.

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:30 am

Their plan is simple, you have to make sure small business can hire people like you and me with not regulating the sh*t out of them. You have to make sure that the tax cuts stay current and do NOT increse so that small business owners have money to hire. Now that is one small part of their plan to get the economy going and I can not list everything because there is not enough time. Now Saul, how is that Hope & Change going? 9.5% unemployment, trillions of dollars debt, a war that is not going well and the country devided more then ever. Great plan by the dems so far Saul Good….great plan.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:31 am

AmVet: “Bill Frist and his remote diagnosis.”

I forgot about that!

I was wondering if I can go to Med school by simply watching videos…blurry ones… I’m pretty sure that’s the way Broun got his medical degree.

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
10:31 am

as we speak, NJ governor Chris Christie is being unofficially vetted for a run in 2012. the key is, which GOP is doing the vetting (paleo-con wing, or neo-con wing). Christie’s track record as governor suggests he’s more paleo-con, but he made his bones in the GOP as a Karl Rove protege and “W” lackey; so the GOP needs to see if such connections are an asset or liability. ditto his “faith” (Catholic his whole life, not the Newt Gingerich variety).

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:33 am

ken R,

“I got asked if I wanted to get a great deal on a product in Cumming Ga. are you worried about Facebook also? and if Facebook, Google, Yahoo and everyone else can looky look then why not the Feds?”

And did you click “yes” when you were presented with their privacy policy? There is a difference from opting into having your information sent in exchange for using a product and the gov’t intruding without your permission…

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:33 am

AmVet and Saul – I had forgotten about that, too … but I did appreciate his humble acknowledgement of how wrong he was when they did the post-mortem and found that her brain had atrophied to 1/2 the size of a normal brain …

… oh. wait …

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:33 am

Jose…my wife owns a small business…care to explain the “regulations” that Obama has bestowed upon her?

By the way… Jose…feel free to explain JUST how many jobs those tax cuts created…

Danks

Kamchak

July 29th, 2010
10:34 am

Bosch

I didn’t go either as I was a the Beat game in Kennesaw last night.

Three game winning streak.

Wooooooooooo!

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:34 am

Jose,

“he is going to lose some dem votes ”

Of course he is…I just don’t think this is the issue that will send Ind pendents running into the closed ranks of the Republican Party.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
10:35 am

I did appreciate his humble acknowledgement of how wrong he was when they did the post-mortem and found that her brain had atrophied to 1/2 the size of a normal brain …

you had me going there for a moment.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
10:35 am

Jose, rhymes with “LA”. Coincidence?

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:36 am

Is Jay the new DEAL? demo to repub to maintain his integrity?

@@

July 29th, 2010
10:36 am

SOAB!!!!! They killed both of ‘em.

The body of a second U.S. sailor who went missing in Afghanistan last week has been recovered, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
10:36 am

Now Saul, how is that Hope & Change going? 9.5% unemployment

since you bring it up:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/business/economy/28bailout.html?_r=4&refsite=twitter

two leading economists wielding complex quantitative models say that assertion can be empirically proved.

In a new paper, the economists argue that without the Wall Street bailout, the bank stress tests, the emergency lending and asset purchases by the Federal Reserve, and the Obama administration’s fiscal stimulus program, the nation’s gross domestic product would be about 6.5 percent lower this year.

In addition, there would be about 8.5 million fewer jobs, on top of the more than 8 million already lost; and the economy would be experiencing deflation, instead of low inflation.

The paper, by Alan S. Blinder, a Princeton professor and former vice chairman of the Fed, and Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, represents a first stab at comprehensively estimating the effects of the economic policy responses of the last few years.

“While the effectiveness of any individual element certainly can be debated, there is little doubt that in total, the policy response was highly effective,” they write.

You’re welcome.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:36 am

neo-Carlinist … let’s not forget… he’s a NORTHEAST Republican… I just read something the other day talking about those “pesky” northeast republicans who are not REAL republicans…they’re not to be trusted… I mean look at Mitt and his Magic Underpants… he just can’t swing the votes needed in the talibangelical states.

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
10:37 am

BTW, Mr. Bookman for the umpteenth time, I’m canceling my subscription to the AJC, because all you do is tear down President Obama and liberals!

LOL.

But being fair and balanced, I must confess that I see far fewer of those moronic drive bys than I used to.

And from the Rhetorical Questions Department:

Did unemployed cons advocate against that legislation extending their unemployment benefits to 99 weeks?

Yeah, riiiight…

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:37 am

Decibels, if I didn’t know better I would say you are a racist democrat. I didn’t think there were any of you left after the ’60’s culture.

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
10:39 am

Kamchack and Bosch, please stop discussing that socialist sport, favored by Latinos (and lager-soused hooligans from across the pond). have you not been reading this blog? the ‘net has ears and your interest in said un-American passtime will compel someone from DHS to request “your papers”.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:39 am

neo-Carlinist,

“NJ governor Chris Christie is being unofficially vetted for a run in 2012.”

Sorry…in the age we live in…no overweight person will ever be elected to the highest office…

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:40 am

dB – they’re just book-learned economists … what do they know … they’ve never run a BIZNESS

:roll:

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
10:40 am

Is Jay the new DEAL? demo to repub to maintain his integrity?

Yeppers, and I’m giving Bookman a hand tossing that illegal alien mulatto under the bus. We’re soooo over the guy.

Chant along…GOPee is Good for Me!

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:41 am

stands….you’re posting something about “predictions”….how about the “prediction” that we’d be greeted with roses… and that oil would pay for the war in Iraq…not the Trillion dollars + we’ve spent there.

Obama and his team plugged the hole they were handed that was gushing a million times worse compared to the BP fiasco in the gulf. One can’t stop a leak until the plug the hole…

Yup….more and more tax cuts… hey… I mean…how would THAT add to the deficit?

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:41 am

Jew, the independents are leaving Obama for the reasons they voted for him. He promised an open administration. Remember, put bills on line first so the public could see them before they vote on them? The voted for him because he said unemployment would not go over 8.5%. They voted for him because he promised to bring the country together. They are leaving because he is doing the opposite of what he said. He needs them or it’s ballgame.

Big D

July 29th, 2010
10:42 am

Hey Neo,
Yes, I have both. To tell you the truth I am very torn with both philosophies, because I was on the other side of the intell fence many years ago in Central America. We can all now sit and play arm chair quarterback because it will not be our responsibility when the interception occurs. Believe me I don’t want the Feds having anymore power than they have , but I don’t want to get on a plane and feel it disintegrate around me either. I believe we should put time limits on any type of personal information gathering.

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
10:42 am

SFD,
a “hand tossing”? really?

RW-(the original)

July 29th, 2010
10:43 am

Well then name caller, the GOP had to have won at least 170 some odd races in 2008 House elections alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

you’re right – what would doctors know after 15 years of taking care of her

Of course the question in question was whether she had really made an end of life declaration, but don’t let the facts get in the way of a good yarn.

I wouldn’t be so quick to empower a death panel to make these decisions based on brain wave activity if I were you morning crew members though. Your numbers would shrink rapidly.

Later

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:43 am

So Saul, how does increasing taxes and not cut spending not add to the defecit? If you were broke, would a financial advisor tell you to spend your way out of your debt? It’s common sense and DC don’t have any and were are paying for it.

lynn ehrlicher

July 29th, 2010
10:44 am

I agree with Jay about this one. Just because the Bush administration gutted civil liberties and intruded on American’s privacy in the name of “fighting terror” doesn’t give Obama the freedom to do so. The administration is taking advantage of precedent set by Bush, and we elected Obama to be different in all respects from Bush.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:44 am

ty – I’m not laughing. I’m not. really I’m not.

ty webb

July 29th, 2010
10:46 am

UsinUK,
and don’t get me started with Saul’s “plugging of holes”.

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:47 am

“Of course the question in question was whether she had really made an end of life declaration, but don’t let the facts get in the way of a good yarn.”

RW – if she wasn’t in a vegetative state in the first place, the end of life declaraton would be moot – her parents argued that she wasn’t (thus, the video “evidence”)

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:47 am

USinUK @10:33 am

There was a NY times article about that whole fiasco not too long ago… it was mostly an interview with one of the nurses who cared for her for a long time. tragic… tragic in how the right “used” her.

One of Bush’s highlights in his 8 years… taking time off his vacation to go back to DC to sign that bill… yet during Katrina he took a few days before bothering to visit…

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
10:48 am

Saul, it is an interesting scenario. Christie was dismissed by the neos as RINO, but now that he’s won, and seems to be gaining traction, they want to claim him as their own (see: Tea Party). I think the bottom line will be whether or not he allows Rove et al to implant the micro chip in his brain, as W and Palin did. and therein lies the rub; as governor, Christie appears to be doing “what’s best for NJ” as opposed to “what’s best for the GOP” and as we know, the President of the United States cannot be bothered with “upholding and defending the Constitution” when said document contradicts the neo-con agenda. and before the neo-cons jump on my case, the neo-libs have an agenda as well, they just don’t use a microchip. neo-libs are categorically “organic” so they reject technology in favor or “feelings”.

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
10:48 am

US;ty; Excellent.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:49 am

Jose: “So Saul, how does increasing taxes and not cut spending not add to the defecit?”

Go read about the Great Depression and the spending that ended it…
Let me ask…have YOUR taxes increased? If so… show me/us here.

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:49 am

You are right Lynn, he was voted as the opposite of Bush. Usually the opposite of bad is good however, he has turned out to be worse and this is from a Republican who admits Bush was not the best. Obama is making him look better every week though. Amazing!

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
10:50 am

Neo: “Christie was dismissed by the neos as RINO, but now that he’s won, and seems to be gaining traction, they want to claim him as their own (see: Tea Party). I think the bottom line will be whether or not he allows Rove et al to implant the micro chip in his brain, as W and Palin did. and therein lies the rub; as governor, Christie appears to be doing “what’s best for NJ” as opposed to “what’s best for the GOP” and as we know, the President of the United States cannot be bothered with “upholding and defending the Constitution” when said document contradicts the neo-con agenda”

All great points…well said…Bravo!

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
10:50 am

Saul – I remember a video on the Daily Show that showed the host of GOP congress critters in the well talking about “Terry” this and “Terry” that, like they were all good friends with her and knew her well.

disGRACEful.

Jose

July 29th, 2010
10:52 am

Saul, we got out of the great depression because of WW II. Go study your history before you make observations like that. And yes, everyone working had tax increases for the last 20 years. Some were through federal, some through state. Damn, do you not look at your pay stub? Go back and study the great depression and ten get back to me about Roosevelt’s policies and how WW II was the fix all for the economy.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:54 am

Jose,

“He promised an open administration.”

It is open…It’s opening your email.

“Remember, put bills on line first so the public could see them before they vote on them?”

You can always see them…and they are posted online…he broke his promise by not allowing 5 full days of public comment before acting upon them.

“The voted for him because he said unemployment would not go over 8.5%.”

Please show me where he said that…

“hey voted for him because he promised to bring the country together.”

It takes two to dance unless you’re Billy Idol.

“They are leaving because he is doing the opposite of what he said.”

OR how much they read into what he said to fit what they wanted to hear.

“He needs them or it’s ballgame.”

I would certainly agree.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
10:55 am

@@
At least they are coming home now…how many more?

roughrider

July 29th, 2010
10:56 am

One of the reasons I voted for Obama was Bush’s ” Patriot Act.” Now it seems that Obama is wanting to expand that so he doesn’t get my vote next time.

jewcowboy

July 29th, 2010
10:57 am

neo-Carlinist,

“Christie appears to be doing “what’s best for NJ” ”

Then why hasn’t he made that Real Housewives of New Jersey show illegal?

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
11:01 am

Big D, I don’t want to die, either, but as I suspect your previous life has taught you, we the People don’t get to make that call. in addition, the very nature of intel work suggests that truly successful ops “never occurred”. ergo, the NSA, et al have always snooped and will continue to snoop. the real question is; why didn’t somebody act on the pre-9/11 intel? was it a case of not wanting the bad guys to know we were onto them, in search of a “bigger fish”, or, was it just institutional failure due to inter-agency turf wars, etc., OR was it ignored because we needed an excuse to invade Iraq? I freely admit I don’t know the answer, but any of these scenarios is plausible in my book. above all else we need “results” and accountability from our intel infrastructure, but as stated, to acheive it may comprimise the mission. so, I’ll keep my shoes on at the airport, and send whatever emails I like.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
11:03 am

“Then why hasn’t he made that Real Housewives of New Jersey show illegal?”

Funny!

Big D

July 29th, 2010
11:05 am

Jose,
I agree with your analysis of WWII and the reason we continued to prosper was that we had a manufacturing base…we sold products..not services. You can only sell services for so long to each other. We will will need to get back to a manufacturing base, cut spending and institute the consumption tax. Then we will know prosperity again.

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
11:06 am

lynn, great point, but….

I am quite amazed that anybody fell for the Hope & Change rhetoric. I’m no polisci major, no pundit, not even an uber-informed talking head, but seriously!

BHO was *clearly* just another very corporate-friendly Republican-lite.

During his campaign did he say anything about holding corporations to the rule of law? Even with the corporate destruction of capitalism that culminated in that September 2008 inevitable implosion raging on around him? (The one Dick Cheney said no one saw coming.)

Did he say he was going to implement widespread prosecutions of the banksters and casino capitalists? And seek economic justice and recompense for the innocent victims?

Did he say enough is enough, time to reign in the endless giveaways, handouts, bailouts and subsidies to the multi-nationals? To the tune of over $350,000,000,000.00 every single year?

Did he advocate for single payer health care, instead of the travesty that he signed into law that puts even more dirty money into the corrupt industries that kill Americans?

Did he promote a revenue-neutral carbon tax instead of the Big Oil & Coal giveaway called Cap & Trade?

Did he strenuously promote a real living wage?

Did he have ANY kind of plan for the bottom 100,000,000 Americans.

He did not.

And that is why I told my lib friends back in the fall of 08, prepare to be greatly disappointed. He is another GWB in sheep’s clothing. Sadly I was correct. And most of the more cogent would now agree.

And s for the myopic people who voted for the Bush Cabal because they thought he was a conservative (Good gawd, peeps! How dumb can you be?) were equally as uninformed and manipulatable regarding BHO’s “liberalism”…

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
11:06 am

jewcowboy, but he did pan “Jersey Shore” as “…a bunch of New Yorkers” and “not reflective of NJ”

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
11:06 am

Jose….YUP..WWII…and what happened? DID we CUT TAXES or SPEND A MASSIVE amount fighting the war? I mean who cuts taxes with two wars going on…BTW…the DEFICIT that came from WWII was HUGE… and every President after was working on paying it off…well until Reagan say “F” that…

Jose…show me how we CUT taxes during WWII.

Thanks again for playing.

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
11:06 am

neo-Carlinist

RE: Soccer/futbol

:-)

Me love me some socialist football!

HDB

July 29th, 2010
11:07 am

ken R July 29th, 2010
9:59 am
Usink,
Please read the AZ law, the police cannot stop anyone and ask them for their papers, they can only do this if they are caught breaking the law.

Not true…..here’s SB 1070:

B. For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of this state or a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person, except if the determination may hinder or obstruct an investigation.

Now…who determines “lawful contact”? THE COPS!! The police have unfettered power to fabricate ANY reason to create lawful contact!! The Arizona training tape that was shown last night on CNN stataed that some of the following reasons that someone could be “investigated”: 1) the way they are dressed; 2) an accent; 3) improper usage of the English language; 4) number of occupants in a car! This allows the police to pull up to someone waiting for a bus/sitting on a porch/pulling over to the side of the road to use the cell phone…whatever….make contact, and ask for identification!! Remember Amadou Diallo and Kathryn Johnston!!

Bosch

July 29th, 2010
11:08 am

Kamchak,

That’s good news! I have a hooligan nephew going to Kennesaw, and I’ve asked him several times about the team, but unfortunately, my poor departed mother knew more about the game than he.

Big D

July 29th, 2010
11:11 am

Neo,
Your right our problem then was obviously inter agency intel was the problem. It’s ancient history now, but you can thank Jima Cata for the total ruin of our in the field intel gathering and it has led to where we are now. he destroyed operations that had been in place since the 30’s.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

July 29th, 2010
11:12 am

Remember Amadou Diallo and Kathryn Johnston!!

Picky, picky, picky! Anybody can make a little mistake now and then.

Commie!

Scout

July 29th, 2010
11:16 am

Presidential:

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Attorney General:

‘I do solemnly swear that I will support and
defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to
the same; that I take this obligation freely without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully
discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So
help me God.’

Will someone please tell me based on the above two oaths how President Obama and Attorney General Holder get to pick and choose which federal laws are enforced ?

stands for decibels

July 29th, 2010
11:17 am

a “hand tossing”? really?

I tip my hat to you, sir.

ken R

July 29th, 2010
11:21 am

Jewcowboy,

I didn’t click yes, however they still knew where I shop and what products I look at. I don’t feel that it’s that much different than what the feds want, I am a conservative who has voted for both parties all my life and I still don’t like either one. If there are people on here or anywhere that think their party is Manna from Heaven then they must be drinking some of Jay’s LSD.

USinUK,
I expect the feds to do what’s right to keep me and our country safe, like all things overindulgence isn’t good for anyone.

David S

July 29th, 2010
11:22 am

NOW you are complaining about executive overreach! You have been asleep at the wheel for far too long. Too little too late Jay. Go back to sleep the constitution is dead. Nothing to see here now. Just a rotting totalitarian empire.

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
11:23 am

HDB…all the “experts” never read the bill…reminds me of the Health Care Bill… all the “know-it-alls” who never read any of it…but somehow know the “talking points” about ALL of it…the very one’s they heard on Foxy News and from Rush, etc….

USinUK

July 29th, 2010
11:24 am

ken – “I expect the feds to do what’s right to keep me and our country safe”

okay. i’ll bite: how on EARTH does going before a judge to justify rifling through one’s e-mail make us less safe?

HDB

July 29th, 2010
11:32 am

Saul Good July 29th, 2010
11:23 am

As soon as the law came out…I saved a copy of it, read it…and asked one simple question: What if it were me??? Too many here discount “driving while black”….but many know it’s a truism that if you don’t LOOK like the majority, the majority wants to look at YOU!!

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
11:34 am

O.K. I’m convinced. the mama grizzlies have eaten the bushes. Obama’s
only hope. Palin-Quayle 2012.

Normal

July 29th, 2010
11:37 am

AmVet

July 29th, 2010
11:06 am
lynn, great point, but….

I am quite amazed that anybody fell for the Hope & Change rhetoric. I’m no polisci major, no pundit, not even an uber-informed talking head, but seriously!

After the previous eight years, I was like a drowning man and I clutched the first straw I could find (hope and change)…but now that I’m on the shore, I’m beginning to wish I had drowned…

neo-Carlinist

July 29th, 2010
11:37 am

Big D, I don’t think you can lay all of this on Carter. as you note, the ’sibling rilvaries’ and outright distrust between the FBI and CIA and NSA and NSC and DIA, et al did far more damage than Carter. In retrospect, I think Carter’s mistake was that he thought it possible to gather intel or run ops with an eye toward the Constitution or ‘the law’. and as stated, the other side is, what I call the “Steven Segal” doomsday scenarion, in which intel assets and agencies use their covert status to operate “Above the Law” or they exploit the inherent secrecy of their work to futher personal financial or partisan political interests (Valerie Plame outing, Iran-Contra, etc.). so, to come full circle, I don’t see any difference between Obama and Bush in terms of personal privacy, because they represent the interests of the government, regardless of motvie or ideology.

barking frog

July 29th, 2010
11:41 am

When changing parties, does a mama grizzly defect in the woods?

laruen

July 29th, 2010
11:42 am

Well to paraphrase the logic of the last administration, if you’ve got nothing to hide what’s the big whoop…

Saul Good

July 29th, 2010
11:45 am

HDB
July 29th, 2010
11:32 am

HDB….head up north on 400…north to Dawson County and Lumpkin County… take a look at who gets pulled over… hispanics are targeted here… truly they are. It was much worse during the building boom when ever single day you’d see white vans with ladders on top pulled over (hispanics)….yet they would turn their blind eye to the “white” guy/gal driving an older model pickup that was simply not road worthy and was littering the road with stuff not tied down in the back.

Worst was… how many times I got pulled over when I had NY plates until I registered my car here in GA. I still owned a house up there and believe it or not…it was much cheaper to keep the car registered there (where you only pay a small fee compared to a TAX..and insurance was cheaper as well)… when I registered that same car here in GA… I’ve yet to get pulled over. True…sad…but true.

[...] in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jay Bookman observed: “If the federal government has a good reason to need such information, [...]