A Guide To The Loss Of Your Rights

Flopping Aces ^ | 12-06-10 | DrJohn

[Starman417]

Once long ago the Colorado River was unimpressive. Over time it eroded the stone through which it coursed and the landscape was forever transformed.

Not long ago, Barack Obama was an unimpressive river. Now he erodes the Constitution as he courses through his Presidency. He promised to "fundamentally transform" this country from a Democratic Republic into something else.

Obama has surrounded himself with a cadre of czars- a shadow government. Cass Sunstein is one of them. Sunstein believes that a population can be "nudged" into doing the "right" thing. Barack Obama and his left wing czars are the arbiters of what's "right."

The meaning of "right" is unfolding in front of our eyes.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has drafted a new set of "rules" for the internet that some believe will end internet freedom as we know it. Genachowski has clothed the proposal as one promoting "net neutrality" but as the Washington Times' editors noted:

Mr. Genachowski's draft document has over 550 footnotes and is stamped "non-public, for internal use only" to ensure nobody outside the agency sees it until the rules are approved in a scheduled Dec. 21 vote. So much for "openness."

It's another one of those "We have to pass it to find out what's in it" moments that have characterized virtually every piece of Obama legislation.

Genachowski's scheme does have redistributionist (oh hell, Marxist) tones to it. It allows companies to spend countless millions and then promises to forcibly remove the ability of those companies to recoup their investments.

Given Obama's penchant for lying and reneging on agreements one would be well served to by extremely cynical about this effort.

Barack Obama promised to end warrantless wiretapping and instead has expanded it. Now we learn that Barack is tracking US citizens through hotel reservations and their credit card usage, all without the benefit of court orders.

The document, obtained by security researcher Christopher Soghoian, explains how so-called “Hotwatch” orders allow for real-time tracking of individuals in a criminal investigation via credit card companies, rental car agencies, calling cards, and even grocery store loyalty programs. The revelation sheds a little more light on the Justice Department’s increasing power and willingness to surveil Americans with little to no judicial or Congressional oversight.

For credit cards, agents can get real-time information on a person’s purchases by writing their own subpoena, followed up by a order from a judge that the surveillance not be disclosed. Agents can also go the traditional route — going to a judge, proving probable cause and getting a search warrant — which means the target will eventually be notified they were spied on.

It's becoming so expansive that even the ACLU has found it offensive:

[Inyo-Mono]

Bookmarked.

[La Lydia]

I am thinking the new Congress might have something to say about the new regs, if they are adopted.

[petercooper]

bttt