The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
Issues related to crimes and criminals.
Bush’s defense of his illegal domestic spying program in the State of the Union was almost entirely disputed yesterday by legal specialists across the ideological spectrum. “Bush’s assertion that his program was legal prompted a group of 14 prominent law professors, including both liberals and conservatives, to pen a joint letter objecting to his arguments.” Legal scholars disputed three false claims made by Bush.
Read moreIn 2002, the National Security Agency (NSA) hired Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) “to help it build a state-of-the-art tool for plucking key threats to the nation from a worldwide sea of digital communication,” in a project code-named “Trailblazer.” More than three years later, the project has yet to get off the ground, but has cost taxpayers $1.2 billion.
Read moreHouse Republicans are taking a mulligan on the first ballot for Majority Leader. The first count showed more votes cast than Republicans present at the Conference meeting. They can’t even conduct their own elections without cheating.
Read moreSection 605 of the House version of the Patriot Act renewal legislation. It calls for the creation of a Federal Police Force. Your imperial presidency at work.
Read moreThe confirmation of Samuel Alito to the US Supreme Court is all but completed. The addition of the Big-Brother-government-and-corporate-friendly Alito to replace a relatively moderate O’Connor is going to result in a more authoritarian society in which a few dictate to the majority what the rules will be. The American Republic is in its final days. Bin Laden won…or was it just the Bush Cabal taking over for good?
Read moreThe former head of the National Security Agency and the current principal deputy of National Intelligence, Michael Hayden, yesterday revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of the 4th Amendment.
Read moreNSA SPYING ON UNITED STATES CITIZENS may be the least of it. The Department of Defense, in its “?force protection??tracking threats and terrorist plots against military installations and personnel inside the United States? is spying far more than the government would like you to know. It?s doing it on the internet, it?s hiding its tracks through the use of proxies, and even the most innocent Americans may be in data bases longer than the law allows.
Read moreThe line of excuses/justifications being offered by the Administration is interesting. First, the President is saying that FISA is being followed, and warrants are being obtained. This is available on tape, and are statements made to an audience.
Read moreJust a couple of days before Karl Rove gives a speech to Republican politicians outlining a “war on terror” strategy for the 2006 elections, a tape from Bin Laden is quickly authenticated by the Porter Goss CIA. Does anyone besides me find that interesting?
Read moreI’ve decided that, as a good American, I should bite the bullet and do my civic duty. Therefore, I am announcing the formation of the Abramoff Scandal Relief Fund.
Read moreDemocrats should put on a well-lighted marquee the fact that the Republican-controlled Congress plans to save $50 billion over five years by cutting food stamps, student loans and by slapping new fees on Medicaid recipients and reducing child support enforcement. So much for compassionate conservativism.
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