The Policed States of America: Verizon Call Monitoring & More

[GTaudiophile]

It's becoming more evident every day that our government fears its own citizens most and is simply using terrorism to strip away the rights of Americans.

U.S. Is Secretly Collecting Records of Verizon Calls

The Obama administration is secretly carrying out a domestic surveillance program under which it is collecting business communications records involving Americans under a hotly debated section of the Patriot Act, according to a highly classified court order disclosed on Wednesday night.

Now FBI wants back door to all software

The FBI is unhappy that there are communications technologies that it cannot intercept, and wants a new requirement that software makers and communications companies create a back door so they can listen in when they want.

Dept. of Homeland Security: Laptops, Phones Can Be Searched Based on Hunches

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — U.S. border agents should continue to be allowed to search a traveler’s laptop, cellphone or other electronic device and keep copies of any data on them based on no more than a hunch, according to an internal Homeland Security Department study. It contends limiting such searches would prevent the U.S. from detecting child pornographers or terrorists and expose the government to lawsuits.

 

[PokerGuy]

All in the name of security of course, just to keep you safe don't you know.

Those who would give up liberty........

 

[MiniDoom]

Patriot act must be repealed.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Such a sad direction our country is going in. Arm yourselves for the rebellion.....

edit: maybe not a good idea to post that...

 

[Exterous]

This is a bunch of bullshit but I can't say I'm surprised. It's sad that there really isn't anyone at the top of the food chain on either side that is not willing to give our privacy and rights under the guise of 'security'

Thanks Obama for shitting on our privacy almost as much as Bush did

 

[Texashiker]

Obama fans will find some way to justify this.

 

[Genx87]

Another bush policy extended or expanded by Obama.

 

[Texashiker]

Another bush policy extended or expanded by Obama.

As long as the two major parties are in power nothing will change.

 

[ch33zw1z]

As long as the two major parties are in power nothing will change.

Holy shitaki mushrooms, TH and I agree on somethin'

 

[Texashiker]

Holy shitaki mushrooms, TH and I agree on somethin'

Holy crap, we divided by zero,,, well almost.

 

[Bowfinger]

Another bush policy extended or expanded by Obama.

This is something all Americans should find outrageous, and is another example of a valid basis for attacking the Obama administration. This is an unmitigated, overreaching intrusion into the private lives of American citizens. If Obama was aware of it he deserves all the criticism America can muster. If he didn't know until now, he damn well better put an end to it immediately, or he'll richly deserve all the fallout.

 

[MiniDoom]

This is something all Americans should find outrageous, and is another example of a valid basis for attacking the Obama administration. This is an unmitigated, overreaching intrusion into the private lives of American citizens. If Obama was aware of it he deserves all the criticism America can muster. If he didn't know until now, he damn well better put an end to it immediately, or he'll richly deserve all the fallout.

well, he either knew and did nothing about it, or didn't know what's going on and is clueless. Take your pick

 

[Bowfinger]

well, he either knew and did nothing about it, or didn't know what's going on and is clueless. Take your pick

Don't be a compulsive hack. The President isn't some omniscient demigod who magically knows everything happening in a government with millions of employees. Like any CEO, he knows only those things that are filtered up to him. It is possible the NSA was running this program without Obama's knowledge, or at least without him having an understanding of the total scope. If so, the cat's out of the bag now, and Obama does deserve to be judged on how he responds.

 

[Genx87]

As long as the two major parties are in power nothing will change.

I agree! Other option is people within those parties get sick of these authoritarians and start electing people who wont spy or bomb US citizens.

 

[MiniDoom]

Don't be a compulsive hack. The President isn't some omniscient demigod who magically knows everything happening in a government with millions of employees. Like any CEO, he knows only those things that are filtered up to him. It is possible the NSA was running this program without Obama's knowledge, or at least without him having an understanding of the total scope. If so, the cat's out of the bag now, and Obama does deserve to be judged on how he responds.

I voted for Obama, you dipshit. Maybe not knowing what's going on in his administration tells you something about the size of our government.

 

[Bowfinger]

I voted for Obama, you dipshit. Maybe not knowing what's going on in his administration tells you something about the size of our government.

Good for you. The government is big!!!! Film at 11:00!!!

 

[Attic]

Read about this last night. My first reaction to this story was OMG.... I have to be dreaming.

I'll wait for some more information at this point.

 

[xBiffx]

I'll bet AT&T, T-Mobile and others feel kinda left out.

What a disaster of an idea.

I agree with others that this is a Bush policy taken to yet another extreme.

 

[Vdubchaos]

It took Hitler 3-5 years to get Germany into position where America is today and has been for good 10 years.

 

[mchammer187]

Obama fans will find some way to justify this.

If this ends up with repeal of the Patriot Act this will definitely be a good thing.

 

[Exterous]

Don't be a compulsive hack. The President isn't some omniscient demigod who magically knows everything happening in a government with millions of employees. Like any CEO, he knows only those things that are filtered up to him. It is possible the NSA was running this program without Obama's knowledge, or at least without him having an understanding of the total scope. If so, the cat's out of the bag now, and Obama does deserve to be judged on how he responds.

Honestly - if he doesn't know they - specifically the Obama administration - were taken to court over these efforts then there is a huge flaw in his administration (Which Im pretty sure isn't millions of employees). I would hold that true for any CEO - if you get taken to Federal court over something your company does you would be derelict in your responsibilities as a CEO not to know. If he wants to claim ignorance then he needs needs to start righting the ship by rolling some important heads within it. Even then - there seems to be a ton of free reign to do whatever you want with your department under his reign. At some point you have to act like you are in charge of these departments and get them in line

 

[Genx87]

I'll bet AT&T, T-Mobile and others feel kinda left out.

What a disaster of an idea.

I agree with others that this is a Bush policy taken to yet another extreme.

Im sure these are involved. The admin just hasnt leaked the info or admitted to it yet.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

All in the name of security of course, just to keep you safe don't you know.

Those who would give up liberty........

I'm confused -- a few years back, I was assured by the usual suspects on the left here that Obama would never tolerate this and he would right the wrongs perpetrated by Bush and his "criminal cabal of murderers, thieves, and general incompetents." What happened? Is Bush still in charge or something? Wait, Bush couldn't be in charge, because these same people told me he would be arrested and tried by the Obama administration.

I'm shocked I tell you, SHOCKED!

 

[xBiffx]

Im sure these are involved. The admin just hasnt leaked the info or admitted to it yet.

Of course they single out the red team first. :sneaky:

 

[Genx87]

This is something all Americans should find outrageous, and is another example of a valid basis for attacking the Obama administration. This is an unmitigated, overreaching intrusion into the private lives of American citizens. If Obama was aware of it he deserves all the criticism America can muster. If he didn't know until now, he damn well better put an end to it immediately, or he'll richly deserve all the fallout.

Jon Stewert had an excellent segment on this a couple weeks ago. He showed all the feigning ignorance by the president and claiming he only finds out about these issues via the press. At what point do we look at these and ask

1. Is the president an incompetent boob that cant control his minions?
2. He knows and is playing stupid
3. While not directly telling agencies to carry out these actions. He sets policy that encourages it.

In the case of the NSA carrying out this crap. I have little faith to believe the president doesnt know about it. I find it hard to believe the NSA would go to a FISA court to gain access to records and the president didnt hear a word about it in a security briefing. And if he truely doesnt know. WTF is he doing that spying on the american public doesnt even warrant a mentioning to him?