Ché Pasa, January 24, 2008 04:51 PM"

"Glenn the Revolutionary?

"Egads.

"What hath Reid and Rockefeller wrought?

"Forgive them, I suppose, for clearly they know not what they do.

"Aux armes, citoyens!

"Formez vos bataillons!

"Marchons! Marchons!

"Etc."

Perhaps there are left to us some options other than manning the barricades, just yet, n'est pas?

Personally, I want to first explore, for example, the potential efficacy of a nation-wide boycott of certain companies who seem more interested in their bottom lines than in preserving US citizens' rights under the Constitution and the rule of law.

They and we know who they are.

KR

Glenn has referred a few times to US Code 18. What is the relationship between US Code 18 and the actual FISA law, which is part of Code 50? Does code 18 define how violations of Code 50 are prosecuted or something to that effect?

The vast majority of FISA's substantive provisions are in Title 50, but Title 18 includes the provision that makes criminal wiretap warrants (also in Title 18) or FISA foreign intelligence court orders "the exclusive means" for conducting most electronic surveillance. [18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(f)]

The section making it a felony to conduct electronic surveillance in a manner not provided by FISA or criminal warrant procedures is in Title 50 [50 U.S.C. § 1809], not Title 18 where most criminal provisions are located.

If you think that's complicated, the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) makes the U.S. Code look like a Curious George book.

In case anyone still does not know, (this happened around 4 hours ago) Edwards formally announced his opposition to retroactive immunity, and for the Judiciary Committee bill, with its reasonable civil rights safeguards! He was the first to do so, so he will get my vote on February 5th. One can only hope that he will get some MSM press on this. I watched C SPAN almost the entire day, and was as perplexed as Glenn was at the Republican obstructionism. Maybe, just maybe, there's hope! (Reid's comments about joining Dodd's filibuster)

Scott Horton has an excellent discussion about the role of the media and Congress @ Harper's. In "935 Lies on the Way to a War," he concludes that the risk of exposure of sloth and error over the past years may have something to do with the continuing lack of oversight and accountability on a number of issues, including retroactive immunity.

-- http://harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002235

Sorry if this was posted before.

J.

Personally, I want to first explore, for example, the potential efficacy of a nation-wide boycott of certain companies who seem more interested in their bottom lines than in preserving US citizens' rights under the Constitution and the rule of law.

Not necessary.

The Ruling Classes have inadvertently arranged to bankrupt the Consumer Classes, who have no more money to support the financial scams of the Ruling Classes.

They need more money. There isn't any. No organized boycott is necessary. The failure to increase revenues is alone enough to wreck their structural debt obligations, even without the expected natural decrease due to having compromised their customer base.

What goes around, comes around, economically speaking. Or not, as the case may be.

Some people in the Ruling Classes are so terrified of this prospect that their minions in the federal government are tripping over each other with proposals to throw money at the Consumer Classes they've inadvertently impoverished before the whole house of cards comes crashing down.

Others are looking forward to foreclosing on the US government and the global economy entirely. Those people are, in fact, counting on it.

Noch weiz ich an im mêre | Daz mir ist bekant,
Einen lintrachen | Sluoc des heldes hant,
Er badet sich in dem bluote: | Sîn hût wart hurnîn,
Des snîdet in kein wâfen: | Daz ist dicke worden schîn.

Das Nibelungenlied

It would be ironic if we had the Republicans to thank for the maintenance of the filibuster. Fitting, but ironic.

Of course, who knows what tomorrow or the weekend will bring.

Glenn has referred a few times to US Code 18. What is the relationship between US Code 18 and the actual FISA law, which is part of Code 50? Does code 18 define how violations of Code 50 are prosecuted or something to that effect?

Title 18 of the U.S. Code is the Criminal Code:

"TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"

Title 50 is the War and National Defense code (but not the stuff in Title 10):

"TITLE 50 - WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE"

Title 10 is the Armed Forces specific stuff:

"TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES"

The title numbers are the first part of the usual cites to a code section, i.e., "18 USC § 1621" is the perjury law, Title 18, section 1621.

Cheers,

Absolutely.

Stop paying these people; we and they know who they are. Don't buy their product if you're considering it.

It may be, as walter_map suggests, a little late, as we're already bankrupt and won't be able to pay them soon enough anyway, so refusing to pay is something of a redundancy, but still. The more they feel our economic wrath -- which they haven't -- the better. Sow the wind, as they say.

Meanwhile that Pizza Moon Mr. Celery pointed to needs a nod of acknowledgement. Cheese indeed. I welcome the description since we've been under rain-clouds for days-and-days, expecting more. Can't see any celestial phenomena. Drat. But a few of the cedar waxwings were back this afternoon. Dripping wet, but chirping merrily.

Not everyone is cranky!

"It [the maladministration] also contends that the companies could be bankrupted if the lawsuits are successful."

Because the fines are on a per-violation basis, this means, in English:

"The telecoms did a whole sh*tload of illegal wiretapping....."

Cheers,

It would be ironic if we had the Republicans to thank for the maintenance of the filibuster. Fitting, but ironic.

You should savor the irony that the arrogant and greedy Capitalists are being bailed out by, of all people, those hated Mooslims and the dreaded Communists.

Savor it. Savor it.

Finer wine cannot be had.

"Egads.

What hath Reid and Rockefeller wrought?

Forgive them, I suppose, for clearly they know not what they do.

Aux armes, citoyens!

Formez vos bataillons!

Marchons! Marchons!

Etc."

to which I can only add....

Laissez le Bon Temps Roulet!!!!

Huh?