Wow... this administration has gone overboard

[Angry Irishman]

I didn't believe this either - at first. However, five years into his Presidency exactly what he called for has sprung into existence. I haven't heard a peep from the Peace Corps, the Foreign Service, or the USA Freedom Corps over the past five years - have you? Have you seen any great increases in their budgets over the Bush years?

What I HAVE seen is every federal agency militarizing, adopting military weaponry, body armor and tactics - and using them on the flimsiest of pretenses. Not against terrorists, even the domestic terrorists (you know, veterans and Second Amendment supporters) against which the Obama administration warned us, but against anyone who is not in line with their policies. Write articles they don't want written? If you're lucky you'll merely have your phones tapped and Internet usage monitored, but if you have some huge threat to society, such as a spouse with a twenty-seven year old resisting arrest conviction, expect the very thing that FactCheck laughed at - a force that WILL kick down your door in the middle of the night. And they'll take whatever they want, even if you're a member of the press.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/pentagons-militarization_b_4077283.html

 

[werepossum]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/pentagons-militarization_b_4077283.html

That's a good point. The federal government isn't just militarizing itself, it's also militarizing police departments around the country.

 

[Angry Irishman]

That's a good point. The federal government isn't just militarizing itself, it's also militarizing police departments around the country.

That's what I find alarming and factual regardless of how you interpret his statements regarding the Peace Corps. There's nothing peaceful about any of this. Yea, they aren't buying tanks but do they really need MRAPs? Is the NSA spying on citizens? Yes to all and it's indeed alarming. But hey, it's all for our own good....keep growing the government and handing over hard earned freedoms as many would have it. It may not be directly the POTUS who is making all the shots but he's not trying real hard to be transparent and he's ultimately accountable as the Chief Executive of this country.

 

[boomerang]

The "smart guys", the "deep thinkers" made their minds up a long time ago and will not be swayed despite all the evidence to the contrary. I must say that their devotion is admirable.

We've all seen the movie with the dumbass believer that is clueless while those around him or her are aware of the danger. The type that decides that all they need to do is to just "talk" to the bad guys, or the alien invaders and everything is going to be smoothed over. They are summarily killed.

In this instance I don't know if it's party loyalty, the love of a first black president, tunnel vision ignorance or denial. It really doesn't matter. But bright people leave their options open. Bright people prepare for possibilities, keep their eyes wide open and their wits about them.

Census bureau information from 2011 that shows that the takers have surpassed the makers should be cause for concern to everyone. Two years later and times are now worse. Record spending for food stamps, unemployment high and not improving, record borrowing and record spending, paired with an economy that has a recovery that is barely measurable.

But the most important things that need to be accomplished in the nation are a poorly conceived health care system that is failing right out of the gate, giving people that have broken our laws legal status and jobs, well yeah, we need to focus on that. When the going gets tough our leader hits the campaign trail. One where he can find some chump to "faint" so Dear Leader can look like he's kind and benevolent.

So here we are swirling around before the vortex sucks us down and the faithful are still singing the praises of a man that couldn't manage what's really important to the nation any worse. But he has managed to greatly fortify our police forces and Homeland Security.

Our leader walks like a duck, talks like a duck and acts like a duck. Many of us knew long ago that he was a duck. Many are now deciding he's a duck. The aliens are attacking. It's time to fight back. They're not looking to make friends and they are destroying all that is before them purposely. Meanwhile the "talkers" are busy berating the fighters. Thanks for the help.

 

[boomerang]

Charles Krauthammer talking to Jon Stewart two days ago. Everyone should watch or read the entire transcript. What I can't find right now is Stewart's reply to what Krauthammer said below.

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Ted Cruz is not the official spokesman for American conservatism. If you want somebody who has been out there, who has offered an alternative, the person who offered an alternative for example is Paul Ryan. But, let me start with his assumption. His assumption is not that government doesn't have a role. His assumption is that the welfare state as established with great success by liberals has now reached a point where it no longer fits.

With the new demographics and with the higher technology and medicine, we will simply become insolvent unless we radically reform. I’ll give you one fact. When Social Security was instituted, the age of longevity was 62. Today life expectancy is 80. So what you have is a huge change in the demographics. And when you look to Europe, which is the social democratic state where we’re headed which has all the entitlements and the government activities which a liberal would want and to with which American liberalism is headed. It became insolvent because it never adapted to the change in demographics and the change in technology, and it has had a rude awakening.

 

[piasabird]

It is totally insane to give the IRS more power.

 

[Angry Irishman]

It is totally insane to give the IRS more power.

And militaristic SWAT teams.....

 

[Zaap]

And here's the video of him saying it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s

I didn't vote for this shit - either time. We're being fundamentally transformed.

Yeah, all the dipshits think that only means "I get free stuff!"

They also think that means "I get to cheerlead for big government to stomp its jackboot on the neck of people I hate... like rich people!" but they never consider that the same jackboot is far more likely to wind up on their own neck.

I guess I wouldn't have so much of a problem with dumbasses getting the government they deserve, except they foist the same bullshit on everyone else.

 

[drebo]

IMO, the entire concept of "illegal firearms" is unconstitutional.

2A FOR LIFE!

 

[fskimospy]

I didn't believe this either - at first. However, five years into his Presidency exactly what he called for has sprung into existence. I haven't heard a peep from the Peace Corps, the Foreign Service, or the USA Freedom Corps over the past five years - have you? Have you seen any great increases in their budgets over the Bush years?

What I HAVE seen is every federal agency militarizing, adopting military weaponry, body armor and tactics - and using them on the flimsiest of pretenses. Not against terrorists, even the domestic terrorists (you know, veterans and Second Amendment supporters) against which the Obama administration warned us, but against anyone who is not in line with their policies. Write articles they don't want written? If you're lucky you'll merely have your phones tapped and Internet usage monitored, but if you have some huge threat to society, such as a spouse with a twenty-seven year old resisting arrest conviction, expect the very thing that FactCheck laughed at - a force that WILL kick down your door in the middle of the night. And they'll take whatever they want, even if you're a member of the press.

Seriously, does anyone see this and not wonder? Like this is some issue with Obama that never existed?

You are mentally ill.

 

[madoka]

Because the story is from her perspective and no one ever volunteers information that might make them look bad.

I take it you've never read any posts from alkemyst or tommy2000gt?

 

[Doppel]

Factcheck.org also debunked this ridiculous conspiracy theory:

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/11/obamas-national-security-force/

I would like to think that this will make people question whatever source they heard this conspiracy theory from, but my guess is that they will ignore contrary evidence and go right on believing it.

Honestly I had forgotten about this until it was mentioned. It seems it was taken out of context.

It doesn't affect in any way whatsoever the clear and massive increase in swat raids across the nation (which have been happening since Reagan but continue to accelerate at a disgusting pace). A warrant that should consist of 3-4 guys, not dressed for war, is now an assault team. This is fact. These cowboys are responsible for a growing number of innocent deaths and a fear of the police.

 

[boomerang]

Here's the last sentence of the factcheck article.

Does that sound like a force that could kick down your door in the middle of the night and haul you off to a Gulag or concentration camp? You decide.

What the speech sounds like is the kind of feel-good bullshit a dictator feeds the masses to lull them into a false sense of security. Contrast what was said then with what is happening now and you have your answer. Ignore it at your own peril. Is he going to haul off his "enemies" on a wholesale level? More than likely not. Would he like to? You bet.

What of that speech has Dear Leader achieved? Which of the goals he stated on his agenda are now a reality? Just one for sure.

We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.

Eskimospy tells werepossum he's mentally ill. Well that is rich. The man that would pick the corn kernels out of Obama's shit if asked, the man who posts like a pit bull, chomping and chomping and chomping, never giving up in a quest to prove the self-perceived superiority of his own intellect. The man who exhibits the most blatant example of obsessive compulsive behavior here calls another poster mentally ill for expressing his opinion which is based wholly in reality.

Eskimospy is the one that feels we should just talk to the aliens.

 

[Bowfinger]

Honestly I had forgotten about this until it was mentioned. It seems it was taken out of context.

It doesn't affect in any way whatsoever the clear and massive increase in swat raids across the nation (which have been happening since Reagan but continue to accelerate at a disgusting pace). A warrant that should consist of 3-4 guys, not dressed for war, is now an assault team. This is fact. These cowboys are responsible for a growing number of innocent deaths and a fear of the police.

Yes, that is a major cause for concern, that the U.S. is becoming an overtly, almost obsessively militaristic police state. It belongs in the old Soviet Union or some third-world dictatorship, not the land of the free. It started decades ago, tagging along with the War on Drugs, and has escalated ever since. It's something all Americas should be united in condemning.

Unfortunately, the partisan puppets immediately want to pin it on Obama, instantly derailing the conversation into useless partisan bickering. Which is, of course, exactly what our overlords want. They count on bitter partisanship to keep us divided and fighting each other instead of uniting to fight the subversion of America.

 

[fskimospy]

Honestly I had forgotten about this until it was mentioned. It seems it was taken out of context.

It doesn't affect in any way whatsoever the clear and massive increase in swat raids across the nation (which have been happening since Reagan but continue to accelerate at a disgusting pace). A warrant that should consist of 3-4 guys, not dressed for war, is now an assault team. This is fact. These cowboys are responsible for a growing number of innocent deaths and a fear of the police.

I agree! The militarization of the police is one of the things I hate most about the direction the US has taken in the last 30 years, although I mostly blame the stupid war on drugs. It is absolutely unjustifiable.

Still though, what werepossum and boomerang were trying to pass off as obama's statement was a pretty clear lie. It is pretty easy to criticize obamas war on drugs stance, but it takes someone who is particularly cynical or dishonest to try and twist a call for more peace corps volunteers into some kind of Brownshirt nonsense.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The man who exhibits the most blatant example of obsessive compulsive behavior here calls another poster mentally ill for expressing his opinion which is based wholly in reality.

Eskimospy is the one that feels we should just talk to the aliens.

Combined with the previous "we have all seen the movies" reference, I hope you can understand how the above can seem very incongruous to some of us. You used a metaphor based on scifi writing with no basis in reality, to describe someones position on an issue. Then infer his inability to grasp reality. WTF M8?

 

[Wreckem]

Honestly I had forgotten about this until it was mentioned. It seems it was taken out of context.

It doesn't affect in any way whatsoever the clear and massive increase in swat raids across the nation (which have been happening since Reagan but continue to accelerate at a disgusting pace). A warrant that should consist of 3-4 guys, not dressed for war, is now an assault team. This is fact. These cowboys are responsible for a growing number of innocent deaths and a fear of the police.

The issue is, local LEO's have to use their toys to justify keeping said toys/getting new toys, so you see them projecting as much power as they have more than they should. The other problem is the Military has a SHIT TON of surplus equipment because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars which by statute, passed by Congress decades ago, allows the DOD to give the shit away so they dont have to pay the costs associated with keeping the stuff. Which goes back to the other issue, local agencies spend a lot of money keeping this "free" equipment in working order, that further underscores why they use the stuff, if they don't ever use/dont use it regularly how can they justify it to cash strapped cities/counties?

As for your last line, have cops killing innocent people actually risen? Or is it just more known because of 24/7 media. I am pretty sure it is the later.

 

[Darwin333]

Because the story is from her perspective and no one ever volunteers information that might make them look bad. I think I'll wait this one out to have a reaction. At worst this sounds like it might be due to the actions of a vindictive former air marshall that the documents were taken.

It should be noted that even if a search warrant doesn't mention something specifically, if it is illegal then it can be confiscated too. Like if a warrant says they're looking for a suspected murder weapon and don't find it but find a pile of cocaine they aren't required to ignore it.

Yes but if a search warrant states they are looking for an ak-47 they are not allowed to open a manila folder that obviously can not conceal what they are looking for in any way possible.

Or to use your cocaine story, if they are looking for a person they can't look through desk drawers where the cocaine is hidden and use that against you. Pretty sure they aren't supposed to/allowed to open the desk drawer in the first place.

If the search warrant was indeed for weapons, they had no business looking through any files whatsoever and according to the story none of the files were illegal at all giving them zero right to seize them. That goes like a billion times for hand written notes...

 

[Darwin333]

Yes, that is a major cause for concern, that the U.S. is becoming an overtly, almost obsessively militaristic police state. It belongs in the old Soviet Union or some third-world dictatorship, not the land of the free. It started decades ago, tagging along with the War on Drugs, and has escalated ever since. It's something all Americas should be united in condemning.

Unfortunately, the partisan puppets immediately want to pin it on Obama, instantly derailing the conversation into useless partisan bickering. Which is, of course, exactly what our overlords want. They count on bitter partisanship to keep us divided and fighting each other instead of uniting to fight the subversion of America.

I agree! The militarization of the police is one of the things I hate most about the direction the US has taken in the last 30 years, although I mostly blame the stupid war on drugs. It is absolutely unjustifiable.

Still though, what werepossum and boomerang were trying to pass off as obama's statement was a pretty clear lie. It is pretty easy to criticize obamas war on drugs stance, but it takes someone who is particularly cynical or dishonest to try and twist a call for more peace corps volunteers into some kind of Brownshirt nonsense.

The issue is, local LEO's have to use their toys to justify keeping said toys/getting new toys, so you see them projecting as much power as they have more than they should. The other problem is the Military has a SHIT TON of surplus equipment because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars which by statute, passed by Congress decades ago, allows the DOD to give the shit away so they dont have to pay the costs associated with keeping the stuff. Which goes back to the other issue, local agencies spend a lot of money keeping this "free" equipment in working order, that further underscores why they use the stuff, if they don't ever use/dont use it regularly how can they justify it to cash strapped cities/counties?

The real problem and reason for all of your very real concerns are the confiscation laws that were passed back in Reagan's day. It allows state/local LEO departments to confiscate basically anything that they can come up with even the farthest stretch of bullshit "was involved in the drug trade". Cars, cash, and even entire houses are confiscated with most, if not all, of the proceeds going directly to the department that busted you. This gives your local LEO a financial motivation to figure out a way to charge you with a crime. Most of the time its not that they want to justify the use of their new toys it is that they want MORE new toys and using the ones they have can and very often does fund just that. Hell they don't even need to charge you with a crime to steal your stuff.

The confiscation laws, as still currently written, have been and are still being used for quite literally armed robbery, highway robbery and extortion all of the time. The fucked up thing is that they need zero proof to steal your shit and you are required to get a lawyer and prove that you obtained whatever they stole via legal means. A cop can quite literally stop you, take all of your cash and the burden of proof is on YOU to prove that it is yours and was obtained legally. There was not long ago (perhaps still is) a stretch of Texas highway in which the local PD often stopped mostly minorities from out of state, and if they found a decent amount of cash would threaten to arrest them on all sorts of trumped up charges if they didn't sign over the money. If they sign it over they are free to go, no criminal charges filed at all.

The state being able to take and keep your shit due to supposed criminal activity without even charging you with said criminal activity is about as anti-American thing as I can possibly think of. Like I said, it is quite literally armed robbery. The fact that they have badges doesn't change what they are doing.

You end confiscation laws and I guarantee that you will see an absurd slow down in bullshit raids on non-violent drug users. Until then, just like with the underground drug trade, when you make an activity profitable people/entities will profit off of it.

 

[hal2kilo]

The real problem and reason for all of your very real concerns are the confiscation laws that were passed back in Reagan's day. It allows state/local LEO departments to confiscate basically anything that they can come up with even the farthest stretch of bullshit "was involved in the drug trade". Cars, cash, and even entire houses are confiscated with most, if not all, of the proceeds going directly to the department that busted you. This gives your local LEO a financial motivation to figure out a way to charge you with a crime. Most of the time its not that they want to justify the use of their new toys it is that they want MORE new toys and using the ones they have can and very often does fund just that. Hell they don't even need to charge you with a crime to steal your stuff.

The confiscation laws, as still currently written, have been and are still being used for quite literally armed robbery, highway robbery and extortion all of the time. The fucked up thing is that they need zero proof to steal your shit and you are required to get a lawyer and prove that you obtained whatever they stole via legal means. A cop can quite literally stop you, take all of your cash and the burden of proof is on YOU to prove that it is yours and was obtained legally. There was not long ago (perhaps still is) a stretch of Texas highway in which the local PD often stopped mostly minorities from out of state, and if they found a decent amount of cash would threaten to arrest them on all sorts of trumped up charges if they didn't sign over the money. If they sign it over they are free to go, no criminal charges filed at all.

The state being able to take and keep your shit due to supposed criminal activity without even charging you with said criminal activity is about as anti-American thing as I can possibly think of. Like I said, it is quite literally armed robbery. The fact that they have badges doesn't change what they are doing.

You end confiscation laws and I guarantee that you will see an absurd slow down in bullshit raids on non-violent drug users. Until then, just like with the underground drug trade, when you make an activity profitable people/entities will profit off of it.

Yes, thank you Reagan. Just say no to drugs. And that's where it all started.

 

[blankslate]

That's a good point. The federal government isn't just militarizing itself, it's also militarizing police departments around the country.

That's because industries in a particular sector need customers...

One of the best presidents of the 20th Century told warned us about this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWiIYW_fBfY


here is the particular segment about it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUXtyIQjubU



====

 

[IEC]

Yes, that is a major cause for concern, that the U.S. is becoming an overtly, almost obsessively militaristic police state. It belongs in the old Soviet Union or some third-world dictatorship, not the land of the free. It started decades ago, tagging along with the War on Drugs, and has escalated ever since. It's something all Americas should be united in condemning.

Unfortunately, the partisan puppets immediately want to pin it on Obama, instantly derailing the conversation into useless partisan bickering. Which is, of course, exactly what our overlords want. They count on bitter partisanship to keep us divided and fighting each other instead of uniting to fight the subversion of America.

Someone who gets it. What better way to control the angry populace than to make 49% point the finger at 50%, and ignore the 1% causing all the problems?

 

[Zaap]

Unfortunately, the partisan puppets immediately want to pin it on Obama

No, it's mainly people notice the deafening silence from the left on Obama's role in it. And beyond silence- outright bent-over/spread/lapping it up/sycophantic support and praise.

Notice all the leftwingers out in the streets protesting lately? Yeah, neither does anyone else. Even when it was Bush in office, leftwing twits weren't protesting over any real concern for too much government power or abusive government agencies. They were just protesting against an R in office.

We all know if Romney had won, the twits would be chaining themselves together blocking the streets and screaming bloody murder, blaming Romney for everything. But Obama? Crickets chirp.

Talk about partisan.

 

[FaaR]

I know most of the Obama supporters will see nothing wrong with this.

First off, I don't know of anyone who actually LIKES Obama, they just tolerate him because he was the slightly less crap choice between him and the monkeys and clowns presented by the republican party last election, and second, if events went down as described I see plenty wrong.

...But you americans aren't going to do shit about it, because when it comes down to it you love your authoritarian leaders and the authoritarian government they run, no matter how much you may protest otherwise. It's evident that you desire authoritarianism all throughout your nation's history, from the genocides performed against native americans, slavery, the atrocities performed throughout the Vietnam conflict, the knocking-over of governments of south american nations, supporting military dictators on several continents as well as terrorist guerillas throughout the cold war era...on and on it goes. Not to mention involuntary Dr. Mengele-class tests done with drugs, pathogens and radioactive substances on prisoners, african-americans and so on.

You got the kind of government you deserve, buddy...

 

[Bowfinger]

No, it's mainly people notice the deafening silence from the left on Obama's role in it. And beyond silence- outright bent-over/spread/lapping it up/sycophantic support and praise.

Notice all the leftwingers out in the streets protesting lately? Yeah, neither does anyone else. Even when it was Bush in office, leftwing twits weren't protesting over any real concern for too much government power or abusive government agencies. They were just protesting against an R in office.

We all know if Romney had won, the twits would be chaining themselves together blocking the streets and screaming bloody murder, blaming Romney for everything. But Obama? Crickets chirp.

Talk about partisan.

And speaking of useless partisan puppets, here you are to demonstrate my point. Thanks!