Posted on 08/23/2008 9:47:06 AM PDT by Clint Williams
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes
"Attorney General Michael Mukasey has agreed to allow Congressional hearings, but not to delay, the implementation of new FBI regulations that would allow them to spy on American citizens who are not suspected of any crime. As an editorial in the New York Times points out, this is a power that has a history of abuse. In times past, it was used to wiretap Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to spy on other civil rights and anti-war protesters."
As Dekortage points out, "Several senators have formally complained that citizens could be investigated 'without any basis for suspicion,' which the Justice Department denies."
Are the Feds getting nervous that they won’t be invited to the Tea Party?
Any anti-War Nazi should be spied on and sent out of the country, to the country they are supporting, as they help kill Americans.
travel to regions of the world known for terrorist activity and access to weapons or military training, along with the person's race or ethnicity.
I think on the whole Mukasey has been doing an excellent job at the Justice Department—the first AG since Bush took office about whom that can be said. Ashcroft was a good guy, but allowed himself to be intimidated by the press and recused himself at several key moments, with disastrous results.
What bothers me about this is that you really can’t trust the FBI. They are full of clintonoids, and they have a record of abusive behavior.
Many, many years ago.
“Waiting for the “I Have Nothing To Hide” crowd.”
Yo!
People always talk about the wiretapping of King as though it were the worst abuse in human history. King was a man of bad character and extensive ties with communists who was in a position to bring about widespread social disorder — which, in fact, did ensue from his movement. It would have been criminally negligent not to keep an eye on him.
“Waiting for the “I Have Nothing To Hide” crowd.”
Yo!
People always talk about the wiretapping of King as though it were the worst abuse in human history. King was a man of bad character and extensive ties with communists who was in a position to bring about widespread social disorder — which, in fact, did ensue from his movement. It would have been criminally negligent not to keep an eye on him.
“access to weapons or military training, along with the person’s race or ethnicity. “
So we know that the arab’s won’t be the ones tracked. White, bitter, bible carrying folks who have read the Constitution are probably on top of the list.
“Isn’t there a document somewhere called the Constitution where it spells out that this kind of thing is illegal? Oops! Sorry. Silly me. We stopped following that document years ago. “
There is a document called the Constitution, but it is not a suicide pact, and nowhere does it forbid us from keeping a weather eye out for enemies.
Except the wiretapping was illegal - along with many other activities under COINTELPRO.
The plan might permit an innocent American to be subjected to such intrusive surveillance based in part on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or on protected First Amendment activities, the letter said. It was signed by Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
It sounds like these rules are specifically crafted to help the Feds root out the enemy within, which is a good thing. Individuals from hostile nations, adherents to seditious anti-American ideologies, and non-citizens absolutely deserve a higher level of scrutiny than the squeaky-clean native-born white guy next door.
However, the devil is in the details and I am wary of giving them even more powers that can be used against ordinary, innocent Americans. Especially because the government tends to operate in a politically correct manner no matter what the rules are.
Since when does an agency of the Executive Branch have the authority to regulate itself new Constitutional powers?
There should be a huge outcry over this.
Heh!
Sure, when things get boring in the justice department, randomly pulling a rabbit out of a hat makes for a fulfilling day.
Now to go wash my tin foil suit for another day of use as Rome burns.
This is complete bull$hit!
Quite a few people in this country w/ valid security clearances have had “access to weapons or military training.”
Let’s see.
The gov’t finds after listening in on me, that I might be doing something illegal.
They backdate a warrant, and present it as evidence that they have been investigating me for it all along.
Yep...the lady’s time might be coming soon.
Thanks to the US Navy, I have traveled to regions of the world known for terrorist activity and had access to military training. So it looks like just about all veterans are on the hook for these reasons alone.
And all us "bitter clingers" who have guns...
BTW, everyone has "race or ethnicity" so that covers everyone left over.
“Isn’t there a document somewhere called the Constitution where it spells out that this kind of thing is illegal? Oops! Sorry. Silly me. We stopped following that document years ago. “
There is a document called the Constitution, but it is not a suicide pact, and nowhere does it forbid us from keeping a weather eye out for enemies.
I am afraid this is a lost cause, my friend. Even so-called “conservatives” hail MLK as a hero these days. And if you don’t agree with them you are branded a racist.
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