The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
A general category for things related to our society and how we interact with one another.
The 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 moreHoly cow! Next thing you know those darn colleges are going to tell us women have the right to vote and black people can swim in our pools.
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 moreI came across speeches made by two Democratic State legislators concerning Gay Marriage Amendments. One was made recently by Freshman Virginia Delegate David Englin (D-45). Mr. Englin an example of the new kind of Democrat we need to clone. He could have sat quietly as he watched his seasoned collegues pontificated and voted to “protect marriage” from gays and lesbians, but he did not. Following Mr. Englin’s remarks are remarks from a while back by Representative Senfronia Thompson of the Texas State Legislature.
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.
Read moreOn this weekend, when we celebrate the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it would be well to remember that King dreamed of something very different for America. King dreamed of an America inspired, if not by love, then at least by justice.
Read moreMartin Toler, Jr. probably knew his life coming to an end. Mr. Toler was trapped in the Sago Mine some two miles beneath the surface of the earth. Most likely, he knew others around him had already died. In his final hours, his thoughts turned to those closest to him, and Toler took the precious little energy he had left, and scribbled a note to his loved ones: ?Tell all ? I [will] see them on the other side?? ?It wasn?t bad, I just went to sleep.? And at the bottom: ?I love you.? Toler touched not only reached out to his family, but his message touched many of us.
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