3 separate events!!! this shit is getting scary

[CatWoman]

on 3 different occasions, Obama's passport file was accessed.

Chimpy learned one thing from his father, it appears.

[Bluebear]

1. When did Karen Hughes leave the Undersecretary of State thing to "be with her family"?

[CatWoman]

2. ah, Grasshopper

:)

[Quakerfriend]

3. Yes, scary. But, I must be nieve. What is a passport FILE?

Can you tell me? x(

[CatWoman]

8. there is a file on every citizen who has a passport

[tachyon]

14. There's one for everyone with a driver's license too...

so...I dunno, seems like a lot of noise over not much.

[CatWoman]

18. I truly can't believe you just said that...........

[tachyon]

20. I said it because it's so obviously true. Do you deny that?

:shrug:

[CatWoman]

25. this is MONUMENTAL

the first Bush regime did the same thing to nominee Bill Clinton.

Privacy breach as well.

Political dirty tricks in the vein of Watergate.

You need to get busy with Google.

[magellan]

24. How would you feel about it if you learned

...multiple unauthorized strangers had accessed your driver's license or passport without your knowledge or consent?

[tachyon]

29. I'd be irked but a hell of a long way from hysterical. There's nothing in my

travel history that could cause me any actual trouble...
:eyes:

[magellan]

33. Ah....

Those two little sentences said so much. I can see there's no point in continuing.

[tachyon]

35. Well, I'm sure that's right. Because if you think there aren't dozens of dossiers on you,

whether from credit reporting agencies, law enforcement, military, IRS, ad infinitum, you're already dead and zeroed out.

[magellan]

50. Of course there are

But that isn't quite the same as someone who hasn't the need to know, or the permission, trawling through any private records they like. State Department contractors, no less!

I found your response to this breach of citizen privacy within our government appalling for its lack of concern, but hardly surprising. Since moving back here, I've had to adjust to the fact that "seems like a lot of noise over not much" is representative of the sentiment among most Americans now when it comes to protecting our rights.

It's no wonder BushCo have gotten away with trashing the Constitution.

[Echo In Light]

56. Bingo. Language always gives people away :)

[marmar]

26. Not a big fan of civil liberties, are you?

n/t

[tachyon]

31. I am a VERY big fan of them. I did not DEFEND what they did, I'm just trying to get

a non-hysterical answer to the question: How does peeking into these records translate into some ACTUAL
potential HARM?

Is that too abstract?

[rateyes]

44. I know where your children live.

I know your social security number. I know your medical history. I have your credit report. I have a report on your criminal background. I'm not authorized to have it, and I can wreck your life even though you think the information is inoccuous.

Do you know that INVESTIGATIONS are done before passports are issued? Do you know that the information contained in those background checks is classified?

If you don't think it's such a big deal, then let's see you post that stuff about yourself right here on this board for everyone to see.

Understand now?

[tachyon]

48. I understand perfectly and that's the point I was trying to make. That none of us

really have any privacy any more. As I mentioned to someone else, any of up to a dozen agencies and companies have full dossiers on virtually every citizen. You're mistaken about the level of "investigation" involved, though...you can get a passport in about 2 hours. (Well, you can get the paperwork done, the actual document takes longer but almost nobody is ever actually denied one after applying.) That amount of information is infinitesimal compared to that which I supplied to join the military...and also the police department.

Somebody bent on damaging you, me, or Obama would have more luck poking through insurance, drivers license bureaus and credit card companies...all of which have more information and are far less likely to be secure.

[JMorgan]

54. Could You Be So Used To Having Your Rights Violated, You're Numb?

It's against the law for anyone without legitimate business to look at those files.

It's particularly appalling because for the last 30 years, Repubs and DINOs have been privatizing and deregulating govt services on the promise that our information would stay private and be safe from peering eyes. Anyone who has been a victim of identity theft can tell you what a life-altering pain it is. In Obama's case, it's been for unfair political advantage and dirty tricks.

The Clinton campaign was saying things in email more than a week ago that looks like they have seen Obama's passport file:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/clinton_camp.php

As a citizen and a democratic voter, I'd like some answers from both the Bush Administration and the Clinton campaign.

[Quakerfriend]

16. What the hell is on it? I was never told that I had a file.

Jesus, I just found out that 'they', more than likely, also have my 2nd son's DNA in some sort of national data bank.

I hate these M_&^%$&#&^#&!

[marmar]

9. I assume it's all of your personal data that's collected when you apply for a passport...

.... and the record of when it's been used, where you've been ETC ETC.

When I cross the border into Canada, they know immediately when my last visit was. All that jazz.

[CatWoman]

13. and Obama's file is especially large, as he has been traveling

the world nearly his entire life, beginning around age 7.

[montanacowboy]

4. There is No Fucking way this was not planned

by the highest minions - by the Monkey himself; - it's watergate all over again, the plumbers are at it again, the fucking repukes keep playing the same old shit over and over again

WHEN DOES IT STOP? WHO IS BEHIND IT? WHAT WAS THEIR MISSION??????????????????

[HowHasItComeToThis]

5. WHERE IS DIRTY CARL????????????????????????

THE REPUBS DON'T DARE LOSE THE PRESIDENCY....... THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO HOLD POWER.

[EVDebs]

43. You mean KARL Rove right ? nt

[Neecy]

6. really scary

Even usually dependable GOP shill Andrea Mitchell isn't buying this story. She actually sounds a little angry about it.

This should be interesting....

[EFerrari]

7. If you people don't think our front runner will be targeted

no matter who it is, you're not paying attention.

[CatWoman]

10. someone should tell the turd slingers in GD:P that

:hi:

I see they are already putting the blame on the Clinton camp.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

34. Most there are so twisted with their own delusions you can't tell them a damn thing

They've become their own worst enemies.

[H2O Man]

11. OSP n/t

[CatWoman]

17. hey!!!!

good to see you!!!!!!!!!!!

:hi: :hug:
:hi: :hug:
:hi: :hug:
:hi: :hug:
:hi: :hug:
:hi: :hug:

[H2O Man]

23. And you.

Though this is not the most pleasant of topics. This should be an outrage for all democrats.

[TahitiNut]

53. Hullloo!

:pals: :hi:

[tachyon]

12. I guess I don't get why (aside from obvious privacy issues) this is such a big deal.

I mean, is there really hugh (sic) potential for some kind of actual harm? What's in those files beyond easily obtainable public information?

[kstewart33]

21. The issue may well be his childhood, the countries

he visited the schools etc. His file is very large. They are likely looking for anything to use against him.

Who trusts the Bush admin to investigate this?

[tachyon]

28. I'm just wondering why all the hysteria over the CONTENT...I agree that whoever

"broke into" the records should be nabbed - I just don't see how passport information could be destructively used against someone. Every time I show mine, it's open for anybody to look and see where I've been and when.

[Adsos Letter]

36. I suspect the issue is with the breach of privacy...

and I also suspect you are right in your thought that nothing in the file itself is probably at issue...it is the fact that it is one more example of spitting on privacy matters in this country...but I think you have already said you realize that... :hi:

[tachyon]

37. Yes, exactly. Perhaps I did not adequately explain that.

There seems to be a lot of concern hereabouts that something in those files may be ...incriminating in some way?
I don't believe that at all and it seems to me it might actually work to Barack's advantage, being victimized in this way.

[Adsos Letter]

38. I think you explained it just fine...

I think we all (you included, from the overall tone of your posts in the thread) are just very, very, very sick, sick, sick and tired of continuously seeing our government shit on our Bill of Rights with impunity...and, in this case, it may very well work to Obama's advantage.

[Generic Brad]

39. I suspect it's a big deal because it places him in specific places at specific times

And that helps a sleuth narrow the field down on where to look for dirt or manufacture falsehoods with a touch of fact mixed in.

[tachyon]

42. Yeah, well...the goons can make up places and times just as easily as they can

make up events. Surely you noticed that from the Swiftboaters...

[Generic Brad]

45. I understand. But this is like homework for Swiftboaters.

Even they like to use cliff notes when possible.

[Kingofalldems]

49. Google Watergate

And then put your thinking cap on.

[malaise]

15. I'm glad it happened to a US Senator

Is it time to IMPEACH these criminals yet?

[DemoTex]

19. As Dick Cheney would say .. "So?"

This is just another opportunity for subpoenas to be ignored and "executive privilege" to be claimed. Mark my word. These criminals learned well from Nixon's mistakes.

[H2O Man]

30. Indeed

VP Cheney likely did say, "So?" when the report was being brought to him.

[rocktivity]

22. That makes it VERY hard to believe that this was a frat house-level prank

by some lower-echelon peon types.

But then again, this IS Georgie Bush's White House.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Quakerfriend]

27. Breaking news: 2 State Dept. employees have been fired

for this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3236414

[lovuian]

32. AHHH HA

Why would state Department want to access his passport???

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

46. Scapegoats

We've fixed the glich, now move along.......

[tridim]

40. It's now morphing into a conspiracy and coverup

Hoo boy this thing is exploding. Whoever did this is probably shitting their pants right now.

[malaise]

41. When they send out Eagleberger to spin for them you know

the shit has hit the fan.

[surfermaw]

47. Flashback: So was Bill Clinton under Bush

FLASHBACK: A senior State Department official under George H. W. Bush breached Bill Clinton's passport information and was forced to resign in 1992. Read about it here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/20/obama-passport-breached-_n_92668.html

[suffragette]

51. Something about the dates

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/20/AR2008032003422.html?hpid=moreheadlines
"He said that the incidents, which occurred at three offices, on Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and March 14..."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/claims-of-dirty-tricks-after-security-breach-on-obama-passport-details-799035.html

"The security breach has echoes of other Republican dirty tricks operations. Mr Obama's confidential files were first accessed after he defeated Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucus at the beginning of January."

The 2nd date. I'm not even sure why, but I just had a bad feeling about it and sure enough:
http://www.star-telegram.com/251/story/486413.html
Posted on Thu, Feb. 21, 2008

Police concerned about order to stop weapons screening at Obama rally
DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.

The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.


Damn, maybe I do have my shiny hat on :tinfoilhat: but this one's worrying me.

[lpbk2713]

52. This helps to explain why BushCo is so protective of the telcos.

We will probably never know just how much the telcos were used to collect personal information on US citizens who really had no reason to be suspected as "terrorists" or any threat to the USA for that matter. BushCo wanted to collect information and eavesdrop on phone calls for political purposes.

[MiniMe]

55. Agree about 3 different people

I could almost believe that if it was 1 person, it might have been curiosity, of course, I don't trust the right wing so I don't believe it. But 3 different people?