Letters to the Editor
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@ Lupercus
This constant call for increased security is just too weird for me. As a nation we have been in a civil war, two world wars and a long cold war. We survived with our democracy intact.
You seem to think this is the first time American citizens have had to fight this battle. It is not. The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_and_Sedition_Acts
Then there was the Espionage Act of 1917.
A year after the Act's passage, Eugene V. Debs, Socialist Party presidential candidate in 1904, 1908, and 1912 was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for making a speech that "obstructed recruiting". He ran for president again in 1920 from prison. He was pardoned by President Warren G. Harding after serving nearly 3 years. Publications which the Wilson Administration determined were guilty of violating the Act "were subject to being deprived of mailing privilege, a blow to most periodicals," according to Sidney Kobre's book Development of American Journalism. A section of the Act allowed the Postmaster General to declare all letters, circulars, newspapers, pamphlets, and other materials that violated the Act to be unmailable. As a result, about 75 newspapers either lost their mailing privileges or were pressured to print nothing more about World War I between June 1917 and May 1918. Among the publications which were censored as a result of the Act were two Socialist Party daily newspapers New York Call and Milwaukee Leader. The editor of the latter, Victor Berger, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being convicted on a charge of conspiracy to violate the Act. This was later appealed on a technicality. Other publications banned from the mails were the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) journal Solidarity, American Socialist, bohemian radical magazine The Masses, German-American or German-language newspapers, pacifist publications, and Irish nationalist publications (such as Jeremiah O'Leary's Bull).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917
What do you suppose caused the creation of FISA? This is nothing new.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Committee
The only thing that has changed, and changed drastically, is the technology.
We used to have to worry about them opening and reading the mail or just the envelopes:
Mail cover is the process by which a nonconsensual record is made of any data appearing on the outside cover of sealed or unsealed mail; or by which a record is made of the contents of any unsealed mail, as allowed by law, to obtain information to protect national security; locate a fugitive; obtain evidence of the commission or attempted commission of a crime; obtain evidence of a violation or attempted violation of a postal statute; or assist in the identification of property, proceeds, or assets forfeitable under law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_cover
Now it's data mining of every electronic communication we make.
I'm not suggesting the Unabomber had a point but in a very real sense the new enemy is technology. In the hands of government or corporations, our lives have forever changed and the constitution doesn't interpose itself between us and corporations. Freak them out and only communicate via snail mail. I bet AQ is already doing that.
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sorry: nick @ 8:03., not 8:30.
Most of my words get spelled wrong. I will still not blame my kindergarten teacher, shrink, or physician for lack of heath or skills.
How to act in the 21 st century is befuddling, especially if ya can't spell well.
In the 1800's people would say, "It is hot and ya can get whilt or 'kilt' in DC." I'd wear a cool kilt but no want to look too confused in public. I am having a struggle deciding what to wear. The new pants are full of a 'feel' (feed parking meter) of nonsense. I have in mind to wear old comfortable clothes. I FEAR standing out like a field pumpkin or a hill-billy-dolt from Arizona?
woe to all humanity. The expression, "My eye" was an expletive when people saw a non-conformist. Tiger. I not a neo-con, either.
Cons are in every major city and them reside in the rural hick lands too?
"My eye!" yes. A "whilt" was a idle person. Glossary of Country Words. 1825.
Ya whilt on a muggy day?
Ya wilt best be biting a lip.
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a few thoughts
I believe Feinstein said that this is only a temporary bill. I seem to remember the Patriot act was only temporary too, until they reauthorized it without the sunset clauses. Anyone doubt that this bill won't become permanent? Got to love the title too, The Protect America Act. Should of called it Warrants? We don't need no stinking warrants Act. Of course this bill seems on it's face to be unconstitutional, but anyone know how can it be challenged? How will anyone establish standing if we don't know who's being wiretapped? Same catch-22 the Bush admin has exploited this whole time. Even if someone establishes standing, with Bush packing the courts with right-wing extremists I doubt it will be found unconstitutional. Right wingers hate rights and bend over backwards in deference to goverment power. Especially when it comes to "national security". I hate to be a pessimist but I think this law is here to stay. Bye bye 4th amendment, it was nice while it lasted. One last thought, is the Anonymous poster really shooter in disguise? It definetly sounds like him.
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Ding
Go back to your rubber room where you belong. You give everyone here a bad name.
-- Titus Pullo
Lawdy, Lawdy, That's a contest winner in the category of Ironical coming from the likes this TP character.
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This is a bait and switch.
In six months time the AG will be under impeachment, off the review of this, coupled with his Attorney Firings.
In no way does that make this good, two wrongs do not make a right.
That corporations have been removed liability should be challenged. Equal Protection issue. Hearing that it is part of this plan appears to be a way to background new corporate growth and insulate them from coming scandals in the communication sector.
I'll try and read more of this during your appearance on CSpan. They've blocked me from making comments there since I called out Laurie Mylroi on the program. Strangely enough their archives do not list he Washington Journal appearance anymore...
Mr.Murder
-Chris H.