Please don't let this get lost - Spy Probe in doubt!!!!!!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/14/AR2006021401812.html

Congressional Probe of NSA Spying Is in Doubt
White House Sways Some GOP Lawmakers

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 15, 2006; Page A03

Congress appeared ready to launch an investigation into the Bush administration's warrantless domestic surveillance program last week, but an all-out White House lobbying campaign has dramatically slowed the effort and may kill it, key Republican and Democratic sources said yesterday.

The Senate intelligence committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a Democratic-sponsored motion to start an inquiry into the recently revealed program in which the National Security Agency eavesdrops on an undisclosed number of phone calls and e-mails involving U.S. residents without obtaining warrants from a secret court. Two committee Democrats said the panel -- made up of eight Republicans and seven Democrats -- was clearly leaning in favor of the motion last week but now is closely divided and possibly inclined against it.

[annabanana]

1. So..ILLEGAL spying on Americans is OK with Republicans...

I sure hope that everyone understands this. Not spying, not spying on terrorists, but what is clearly ILLEGAL spying on AMERICANS is OK with REPUBLICANS...

Jesus H. Christ..

[Just Me]

37. Republicans support lyin' and spyin'!!!

They support the commission of crimes against the people!

Sick, corrupt, crap-heads!!! :grr:

[atommom]

2. Don't get lost, little thread. This is important!

Has someone been twisting arms and making threats? I think we can count on that.

[wtbymark]

3. Sweep treason under the rug - velcome to Amerika

we really need to blitz them on this

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Maybe it's time to start a campaign to push them to have one

[Pachamama]

11. Anybody got a list of the committee members on this one?

:shrug:

Holy sh*t....now I know why I'm up and can't sleep!

Also, in addition, anyone know what is happening to the Patriot Act Bill Renewal while America is distracted by the bright shiny Cheney hunting story? :eyes:

:kick: for the morning crowd....

[Lasher]

19. Here's a list of the members

Hit this link http://intelligence.senate.gov/members.htm

[Pachamama]

21. Thanks! We should all be calling them today!

:kick:

[Donailin]

79. call the republicans

the democrats already know what to do and don't require pressure from us.

aalso call their dc offices AND their district offices

[Citrene]

98. Call them all and then tomorrow we can all gather to lick our wounds

once again.

Treason, plain and simple.

Facism is here, alive and well. We have 50+ years of it being put in place. What else could anyone possibly expect? Ever hear of Project Paperclip?

The voting machines are in place, the propaganda is in place. Facism is here. Divide and conquer the least among you and you will succeed in your endeavors.

[LaurenG]

5. Kicked and recommended nt

[laylah]

6. K & R!

[shaniqua6392]

7. Fascism is alive and well in America.

The Dems should be kicking and screaming on this one. Where are they? Why are they not fighting for this?

[Moosepoop]

8. What the hell???

Senate intelligence committee member Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) said in an interview that he supports the NSA program and would oppose a congressional investigation. He said he is drafting legislation that would "specifically authorize this program" by excluding it from the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which established a secret court to consider government requests for wiretap warrants in anti-terrorist investigations.

How do we stop this??

[Hubert Flottz]

12. Mike DeWine is losing his race in Ohio and Karl got to him!

What a fucking pig!

[Road Scholar]

14. I don't think people realize how important this is. It might be

the most important issue of the whole Bush regime. I honestly believe that the spying is about political opposition and very little to do with fighting terrorism.I think terrorism is just a front. IMHO

[Dr.Phool]

24. Connect the dots...Political Opposition = Terrorism

K&R

[Road Scholar]

26. Call me crazy, but in light of everything else, It's pretty simple. nt

[worldgonekrazy]

69. I think you are right

Why else would the Bush Administration have felt the need to circumvent FISA? Clearly, terrorism is not the real target here.

[femrap]

92. Yep! Hit the nail on the head.

And allows for arrest of all people who dissent....deja vu to the 1960's and 70's. The regime will refer to us as 'domestic terrorists.'

Shit.

[Hubert Flottz]

100. I believe you are exactly right!

It's politically motivated spying! Just like Iraq was politically motivated. Just like everything Bush and KKKarl have done since 2000 has been 100% politically motivated. The dog and pony show NEVER STOPS!

I wrote my congressmen!

[acmejack]

9. Why doesn't this surprise me in this least?

It does give me a chill that has nothing to do with the early morning temperature though...my god

[Hubert Flottz]

10. Karl knows how to turn the political screws! Mob Style Pressure...

This is just more proof how unpatriotic and anti-American the GOP REALLY IS!

None of them have any morals whatsoever! Putting their job security before their country's freedom. Don't ever let people forget what these traitors have done...

[midnight]

20. No investigation ?

Profit over patriotism. I guess making a profit is more important than the laws that are suppose to govern this country. The movie, Fun with Dick and Jane, gave one a good idea how corporate greed is destroying the delicate balance in our day to day lifes.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. !

:kick:

[druidity33]

15. K&R n/t

[bud E. holly]

16. Under no circumstances, do they want this investigated any further

I think they'd rather take a daily beating on Katrina, than have any more light shown on Domestic Spying. They'll take an incompetent label over a deliberate criminal conduct label anytime.
Keeping kicked!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

17. How about this little sentence?

"Sources close to Rockefeller say he is frustrated by what he sees as heavy-handed White House efforts to dissuade Republicans from supporting his measure. They noted that Cheney conducted a Republicans-only meeting on intelligence matters in the Capitol yesterday."

Yesterday! Proving that Dick Cheney can walk and chew gum at the same time (or, cover-up a shooting AND squash a Congressional investigation into White House law breaking simultaneously!)

We CANNOT let this happen. The American people deserve and should DEMAND an investigation. If it does not occur, then the White House just got a pass to openly and indiscriminately break any damn law they want, anytime they want.

[The2ndWheel]

25. Unless they rewrite the law

I know, it would be after the fact, but...

I always enjoy how the law is there for the powerful, and to be used against the powerless. Seems the powerful always get to write the law. It's amazing how that happens. It's as though they have some right to write them.

As we all know, rules are made to be broken, and they all are. Then they're rewritten, and broken again, rewriten, broken again, rewritten, broken again...

It's just like the military weapons that this country invests in. You don't sink billions, and not expect a return on that investment. The bombs aren't made to sit on a shelf. The technology that agencies such as DARPA work on every damn day isn't there just for show. It will be used, law or no law. As long as agencies such as DARPA exist, they will continue to work on these technologies. Until we all get that through our heads, laws don't make any difference.

[KansDem]

75. "...Cheney conducted a Republicans-only meeting..."

Did he have his shotgun with him?

[rox63]

18. Time to call your Senators again

Especially the repukes. And especially the repukes who are running for reelection this year. Let them know that they WILL NOT get reelected if they vote for this illegal, unconstitutional program.

[Imalittleteapot]

22. Olympia! You're kidding, right?

Lawmakers cite senators such as Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) to illustrate the administration's success in cooling congressional zeal for an investigation.

<snip>

In an interview yesterday, Snowe said, "I'm not sure it's going to be essential or necessary" to conduct an inquiry "if we can address the legislative standpoint" that would provide oversight of the surveillance program. "We're learning a lot and we're going to learn more," she said.

<snip>

"The administration has obviously gotten the message that they need to be more forthcoming," Snowe said.

Olympia! Olympia! You're kidding, right? The administration never gets the message.

[Lasher]

28. Translation

In an interview yesterday, Snowe said, "I stand with Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and the rest of my fellow republicans in blocking this and every other partisan Democratic attempt to exercise the minimum Congressional oversight of the executive branch that is mandaded by our Consititution. Our imperial leader has told us to retroactively change the law, to conform with what he has already been doing. Elmer Cheney gave us a lot of instructions in our fascist-only meeting, and he's going to give us a lot more.

"King George II has obviously sent the message that he would be displeased if we were to initiate even a sham of an investigation. He said he will be more forthcoming in letting us know what he expects us to do."

[debbierlus]

61. She is a complete sell-out & a disgrace as a Senator & as a woman

Fuck her.

They still haven't told ANYONE how MANY people are being monitored. They refuse to discuss the extent of the program or reveal if other programs are monitoring calls within the US person to person.

FUCK all these people.

[Leopolds Ghost]

62. Is Olympia Snowe up for re-election?

What this tells me is Republican operatives are passing the word along to folks like Mike DeWine that the DLC and the DSCC have the November elections all sewn up for the Republicans. Because it's the truth.

[Road Scholar]

23. kick

:kick:

[Fovea]

27. K&R

[EST]

29. Kick!

:kick: :kick: :nuke:

[progressoid]

30. CALL, FAX, EMAIL your senators about this!!

[cyberpj]

31. ACLU Petition to "Demand the Truth" (Domestic Spying) here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2460573&mesg_id=2460573

[in_cog_ni_to]

34. Signed the ACLU petition....KICK for more signatures!

:kick:

[Wordie]

41. Signed it...thanks cyberpj! K&R

[Beelzebud]

32. Republicans - The Party of Fascism

Dont' ever let these bastards tell you they're for smaller government again!

They are a fascist regime...

IT's too bad they've got half the fucking population brainwashed. It wouldn't suprise me if the sheep we call countrymen, start supporting this shit too, just like they've supported every other fucked up initiative this fascist regime has put in place...

[StaggerLee]

33. k&r

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

- Samuel Adams, speech at the Philadelphia State House, August 1, 1776

:dem:

(Took the quote directly from TheWhiteRoseSociety.org homepage)

[warrens]

35. If they kill it, they have to run on that record

Who cares about an endorsement from Smirk or Snarl? Politically, both of them are toast. But I will happily watch them try to defend the indefensible this year and hand us back the house and maybe the Senate as well. THEN, gentlemen, start your investigations.

[Leopolds Ghost]

63. Run against whom? The DLC is in favor of domestic spying.

They have taken steps to ensure that only toothless or traditional "liberal" candidates are in place to provide a nominal voice of dissent.

If and when Sherrod Brown loses to DeWine, for instance, the DLC will write a press release saying "I told you so... Brown promised to run to the right. Instead, he decided not to abandon his decades-long record as an ideological extremist. We don't need to experiment with Dean's strategy anymore."

The more races they lose in November, the more internal power the DLC can sieze from Dean. It is purely an internal power struggle for corporate lobbying contracts traditionally accorded to the minority party.

[GreenPartyVoter]

36. Kickin'

[foreverdem]

38. Signed and kicked for more signatures

Unbelievable. We can't get a straight answer on how the VP shot a man in the face, yet this same admin has carte blanche into every aspect of our personal lives, down to our phone conversations and emails. Fascism is not coming, it's already here.

[giant_robot]

39. Typical republican tricks.

Loyalty to the party trumps loyalty to the country. They should just change their name to the nationalist party and get it over with.

Everybody please sign the petition! We can't let this be swept under the rug!

[NJCher]

40. print this out and call committee members from your cell phone

At lunch, on your way to and from work. I was able to put the republican phone list together and there is also an 800 number where you can get ahold of any of them. Can somebody put the list of Dems together? It's at this link, which I obtained above.

http://intelligence.senate.gov/members.htm



Copy and paste, print out and call!! Say you want an investigation!

Pat Roberts, Kansas:
Phone: [phone]
( Fax us in DC at 202-224-3514 Fax: [phone])


Orrin Hatch, Utah, DC office: Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Mike DeWine, Ohio, DC office: Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Christopher (Kit) Bond: couldn't find, use capitol number

Trent Lott, MS, DC: Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Olympia Snow, Maine: DC offic e Phone Number: [phone]
Fax Number: [phone]

Chuck Hegel, NE, DC office: el: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Saxby Chambliss 202-224-3521

I will be calling these numbers on my way to work.




Cher

[Coloradan4Truth]

90. I called these today as I was walking between classes.

All the receptionists were very polite and receptive. I wonder how much the senators and their staff resent the GOP arm twisting?

:loveya:

[kentuck]

42. It will only be postponed until after November elections...

Then it will be up to the Democrats to investigate...if they have the appetite. They will probably demur for sake of a new start and in the spirit of "bi-partisanship"?

[Leopolds Ghost]

65. BINGO... just like BCCI in 1992 n/t

[rd_kent]

43. WHY???? What could make them chamge their mind?

After all that has been said about this program, why on Earth would they all of a sudden change thier mind?

[renate]

46. that's a rhetorical question, right?

Surely BushCo used the wiretapping program to dig up dirt on ALL senators and representatives, Republican and Democrat.

Why would they limit their spying to just their enemies when they might also need to blackmail their friends someday?

[NJCher]

47. that is it in a nutshell, renate

Everyone needs to understand that this is how they do business. They blackmail our representatives and once they have the goods on them, they use it for the rest of their career.

This is a tool for further power along those lines.

Please, someone, do the phone list for Dems like I did the Repubs above. Make it EASY for people to call.

I have to go to work now but I'll be calling all the way down the Parkway!




Cher

[worldgonekrazy]

71. I wonder if Cheney's "private appeals" included divulging that info?

(Two committee Democrats) attributed the shift to last week's closed briefings given by top administration officials to the full House and Senate intelligence committees, and to private appeals to wavering GOP senators by officials, including Vice President Cheney.

I can just see that fucker going around telling all the Moderate Republicans what dirt they have got on them from the very same fucking program they are told not to investigate.

[Nikki Stone 1]

44. kick and recommend

:kick:

[KAT119]

45. K&R!

[jackstraw45]

48. GOP takes a DUMP on our Constitution....

And all your GOP friends and relatives should wake up and smell the coffee. We are in a bizarro-world of American history right now.

This will be a mocked era and EACH of us will have to answer to our grandchildren about what WE DID during this horrible period.

[helderheid]

49. Please sign this ACLU petition!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x416095

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

50. Keep the pressure up! Don't let them get away with this!

Thank you so much for staying focused on this. The Cheney matter is NOT distracting them from trying to bury this.

[dogday]

51. K&R

[Selteri]

52. Can you imagine the election year fodder on the Repukes

If they were to win with allegations of corruption and being unwilling to protect American Civil Liberties or do their job--- I don't think the people will take it when added with the most important American Statement, "It's the Economy Stupid, the law breaking that is being flaunted makes 2nd.

[cascadiance]

54. This is where killing the DLC is so important...

You have to wonder if the DLC is also participating in the effort to mute this investigation too, which also mutes the advantage in the elections if many Democratic incumbents mute their critiicism of Republicans with the DLC telling them not to make it an issue. The DLC is already on record as having said that investigating this issue wouldn't be worth it or something to that effect. In order to ensure that this IS an issue that the Republicans have to answer for, we need to help make sure that Moveon.org, the DNC, PDA, etc. help to shut down the DLC's influence NOW!

[Selteri]

56. The DLC refuses to act like it's actually Democratic

More likeit's a group of NEocons in Democratic clothing.

[Iowa]

82. Yep, Bayh is on the Intel. Committee...

..and Bayh is a card carrying member of the DLC. He was just saying the other day that Dems shouldn't make a fuss over this. A few days before that Tom Vilsack (DLC Chairman) said the same thing. The DLC wants to bury this.

[worldgonekrazy]

72. Who will use the fodder? Certainly not the Dems?

The Republicans are pretty much doing everything they can to hand control of Congress to the Democrats on a silver fucking platter, but, cynical as it may be, I can't help but thinking the Democrats will find a way to blow it. Hell, sometimes I wonder if they even want it.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

53. Tice says more than one program and it might have effected "millions"

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060214-053955-9494r

Whistleblower says NSA violations bigger

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A former NSA employee said Tuesday there is another ongoing top-secret surveillance program that might have violated millions of Americans' Constitutional rights.

Russell D. Tice told the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations he has concerns about a "special access" electronic surveillance program that he characterized as far more wide-ranging than the warrentless wiretapping recently exposed by the New York Times but he is forbidden from discussing the program with Congress.

Tice said he believes it violates the Constitution's protection against unlawful search and seizures but has no way of sharing the information without breaking classification laws. He is not even allowed to tell the congressional intelligence committees - members or their staff - because they lack high enough clearance

[obreaslan]

55. K&R!

:kick:

[Mr_Spock]

57. Phew!! Almost thought the Republicans were feigning "INTEGRITY" there

Now they've decided not to even PRETEND to have any integrity.

Good, I can see the campaign adds now :D

[Road Scholar]

58. kick nm

:kick:

[Nikki Stone 1]

59. kick

:kick:

[EVDebs]

60. Two reasons why Congress (R's) refuse to act....

A 'major policy shift' at NSA just prior to 9-11. Plus, the missing $2.3 Trillion at DoD, and why the whistleblowers are being retaliated against

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2461635&mesg_id=2461635

and

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=427279&mesg_id=429977

the ability to 'go after' political enemies' domestically, while ignoring OBL and Al Quaida. Lovely, huh ? They can track YOU but not a terrorist with kidney dialysis in the mountains of Pakistan/Afganistan.

Oh, OK, add a third reason, it's secret, so on the QT

See No Evil: What Bush Didn't (Want To) Know About 9/11
TomPaine.com
Saturday, March 1, 2003
http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=195&row=1

""Despite these tantalizing facts, Abdullah and his operations were A-OK with the FBI chiefs, if not their working agents. Just a dumb SNAFU? Not according to a top-level CIA operative who spoke with us on condition of strictest anonymity. After Bush took office, he said, "there was a major policy shift" at the National Security Agency. Investigators were ordered to "back off" from any inquiries into Saudi Arabian financing of terror networks, especially if they touched on Saudi royals and their retainers. That put the bin Ladens, a family worth a reported $12 billion and a virtual arm of the Saudi royal household, off-limits for investigation. Osama was the exception; he remained a wanted man, but agents could not look too closely at how he filled his piggy bank. The key rule of any investigation, "follow the money," was now violated, and investigations -- at least before 9/11 -- began to die.""

The NSA was looking into Islamic charities early and before 9-11. Shortly after 9-11 BushCo spiked the NSA's investigations. Why ? Fitz now can ask himself this question.

The NSA's spiking of pre9-11 investigation of terror financing is something the NSA OIG would want to keep covered up, along with the rest of the Republican partyliners.

[AZBlue]

64. Kick.

[mac56]

66. "White House Sways Some GOP Lawmakers"

Must have threatened to take them quail hunting.

[AbbyR]

67. K&R

I want my country back, with its Constitution in tact, if you please.
What are they going to do next if we let them get away with this?

[fooj]

68. So...Repubs are willing to run on a platform that negates

ALL CIVIL LIBERTIES? I say go for it, you idiots!

Peace.

[NJCher]

70. are you guys calling?

I posted a call list of the repukes above. I called them this afternoon, while going from one class to another. Mixed results. Some took down my objection. Others took my objection but you could tell there was an "attitude." Couldn't even get Trent Lott's office to pick up the phone. Another I didn't get through to was Olympia Snow's office--very busy. I was put on hold. I'll call her again later.

Call, everyone. I'm not getting the impression they're hearing a lot about this and we need to make sure they understand THESE HEARINGS MUST BE HELD.

Cher

[flimsy]

73. The ACLU petition

I'm new here but I just signed the petition. But somehow I feel defeted. I live in Tennessee so calling Frist isn't an option. I sent the link to most of my friends but is there something else I can do. This is the smoking gun, this is the blue dress. This administration should be gone by now. Please anyone with words of wisdom please respond.

[Iowa]

85. Hi flimsy - and welcome to DU! n/t

[Vidar]

74. kick

[incapsulated]

76. I'm shocked.

Really. Who expected this?

:sarcasm:

[VP505]

77. Ok, I just

FAXED all the Republican Members of the committee, hope it does some good.

[kinchdedalus]

78. I just sent a letter to Senator Snowe.

[Lori Price CLG]

80. Kick. BTW, CLG is listed as 'Who's blogging?' in their box.

Who's Blogging?
Read what bloggers are saying about this article.
Dan Gillmor's blog | Bayosphere
Citizens for Legitimate Government
Stop The ACLU

As of 6:40 PM EST, 15 Feb 2006:

Lori Price

[Harper_is_Bush]

81. I hope they do kill it.

That will just create more discussion of it and make Americans resentful of a Repuke congress that won't provide them the truth about the issue.

[democrank]

83. I don`t even know what to say anymore.

It`s as though NOTHING matters more to most Republicans in Congress than Bush`s image. The whole lot of them should be voted out of office right along with any Democratic enablers.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

84. Republicans Block Investigation of Domestic Spying Program

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/15/153042/824

Republicans Block Investigation of Domestic Spying Program
by Congressman John Conyers
Wed Feb 15, 2006 at 01:30:42 PM PDT

Today, the House Judiciary Committee considered my resolution of inquiry on the domestic spying program. The Resolution was rejected 16 to 21, with all Democrats and one Republican (Congressman Hostetler) voting for it.

A few quick impressions: first, I was surprised at how half hearted the Republican defense of the program was. I would even go further -- while some offered a full throated defense of the program, many of my Republican colleagues seemed almost sheepish about it, and many did not speak about it at all.

Second, Republicans repeatedly asserted that the documents were not needed because Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner has unilaterally submitted 51 questions (pdf) to the Attorney General, and that the Attorney General would testify at a general oversight hearing at some undetermined point in the future. I and the other Democratic Members responded that this was wholly inadequate, and that to fulfill their constitutional oversight role the Committee needed to obtain documents from the Administration and hold separate hearings on the NSA issue.

More to the point, while some news outlets touted the Chairman's letter, his questions are, in my view, inadequate. A close reading of them reveals that the first 38 questions essentially ask the Department whether they think the program is legal. They have already given us their answer on that. The remaining questions are so general, that they can be answered by a google search of what is already in the press.

This just makes me mad. This will be re-addressed when we have Dems in power. I want to see harsh political consequences for these bastards who are trying to retire the Constitution of the United States.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

93. This is the House Judicial Committee, NOT the Senate Intelligence

Committee, which is what the OP was about. We can still hope that the Intelligence Committee pulls through. What they appear to be doing, is that the WH is pressing them to pass legislation after the fact that would give them the authority to do legally what they are doing illegally at this time. That is NOT the entire issue - it is just part of the issue. What they clearly do not want to address openly is the question of whether the President has been openly, insistently and repeatedly violating the law. They would prefer to fix the law to suit the President and let the larger underlying issue go unanswered.

WRONG!

[NJCher]

86. aww damn

this just makes me sick.

If the repuke support is that half-hearted, that means we could have moved some of them with a stronger effort. Unfortunately our press didn't even cover it until it was too late.

I am so disgusted.




Cher

[PhilipShore]

87. The Repuke wiretapping Hearing was the lobbying campaign

The launching of the congressional investigation -- concerning wiretapping -- by the Repukes, was the all out White House lobbying campaign.

[giant_robot]

88. Please add your name to the list of supporters

of Senate resolution 350.

http://www.tedkennedy.com/res350

Kennedy and Leahy are co-sponsoring this resolution to look into the domestic spying issue.

Sign your name and kick, kick, kick!

[dpbrown]

89. This is the worst thing that could happen

For God's sake, they broke the law and are spying on citizens in violation of the Constitution!

How could the Congress turn its back on this?

[autorank]

91. No investigation represents a critical finding. n/t

[tirechewer]

94. That figures......

All kinds of spying is perfectly OK with the Republicans, and it seems like everyone else in Congress just stands there and does nothing. Other than here, where is the public outcry?

In the meantime I have had my second visit in two months to my antiwar board by the CIA. They came by today. I took my usual screen caps of the site meter. If you want go and say "Hi" to them, follow this link. Please don't hesitate to greet them, they think they own the place anyway.;)

http://platypuspool.com/blog/platypuspool/2006/02/15/old-friends/


I posted the other one from December before, but if you haven't seen it here's the link to that. Someone from DOJ also stopped by that day.

http://platypuspool.com/blog/platypuspool/2005/12/28/someone-who-has-found-what-they-were-looking-for/

And for the cherry on the cake of my life, even Halliburton is fingerprinting my board in secret too. To view that link go here.

http://platypuspool.com/blog/platypuspool/2006/01/25/guess-who-stopped-by/

This would be funny if it weren't so pathetic that hardly anyone seems to realize that they are sucking away our privacy, our freedom of speech or our right to dissent. I also print the screen caps so maybe I'll wait until I have a really hefty stack and send them to the Frogheads in Congress who don't seem to want to do anything about illegal surveillance.

[lovuian]

95. Well you can violate as many laws as you want

but if there is nobody to enforce them well there are no laws...

[Voltaire99]

96. Congressional uselessness was never in doubt

One more responsibility abdicated?

Shocking, shocking.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

97. good update and summary for today - Thursday from the WP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/15/AR2006021502446.html

Justice Dept. Role in Eavesdropping Decision Under Review

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 16, 2006; Page A04

Elsewhere in the Capitol yesterday, Democrats and Republicans skirmished on several fronts in the debate regarding proper congressional oversight of the program.

The House Judiciary Committee, voting largely along party lines, rejected a Democratic measure asking the attorney general to provide the legal opinions and other documents related to the surveillance program. Rep. John N. Hostettler (Ind.) was the only Republican who joined the panel's Democrats in supporting the proposal by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.).

The Senate intelligence committee is scheduled to vote today on a Democratic proposal to launch a congressional inquiry into the NSA program. One member, Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), opposes an investigation but wants legislation to exempt the surveillance program from the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

That idea got a thumbs-down yesterday from some prominent players, including Specter and Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), the House intelligence committee's top Democrat. The surveillance law can be modified as needed, and remains the best vehicle for setting guidelines for government efforts to eavesdrop on phone calls and e-mails, Specter told reporters. But thus far, he said, "the administration will simply not comply with that statute."

[TheGunslinger]

99. DeWine hates Democracy and freedom

I'm being serious

[Disturbed]

101. Former NSA, Tice may just blow the lid off of this.

He has info of deep spying done by the NSA that he will only disclose to the Intell Committee behind closed doors. As with most other info this will leak out and just maybe the shit will hit the RW in the face.