I feel like I'm being watched. Do you feel like you're being watched?

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Tap away telecoms:

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

[Dan.Linehan]

I am really upset over this bill. It makes me so mad!

Congress is dirty. That's all there is to it. Dirtier than I ever realized.

These telecoms broke the law blatently. Now there is no accountability. Zero. It's just all being swept under the rug. It's just OVER THE TOP dirty and corrupt.

Glenn Greenwald is the main author I follow on politics - here's what his article yesterday had to say about it.

George Bush's latest powers, courtesy of the Democratic Congress - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

It's even worse than expected. When you read it, it's actually hard to believe that the Congress is about to make this into our law. Then again, this is the same Congress that abolished habeas corpus with the Military Commissions Act, and legalized George Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program with the "Protect America Act," so it shouldn't be hard to believe at all. Seeing the words in print, though, adds a new dimension to appreciating just how corrupt and repugnant this is.

The provision granting amnesty to lawbreaking telecoms, Title VIII, has the exact Orwellian title it should have: "Protection of Persons Assisting the Government."

So all the Attorney General has to do is recite those magic words -- the President requested this eavesdropping and did it in order to save us from the Terrorists -- and the minute he utters those words, the courts are required to dismiss the lawsuits against the telecoms, no matter how illegal their behavior was.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Do you think that these will be reversed after Bush is out of office?

What the hell is wrong with Congress?

[Dan.Linehan]

Yes, I think it will be reversed. Obama is all about constitutional law. I have no idea what is wrong with Congress. I really don't. They took an oath to uphold the law and they are doing anything but.

Read Update V on Greenwald's article.

His new article today talks more about the Dem congress. Not having a backbone is one thing. Not having a backbone when the law is being broken is complicity.

In January, I compiled a list of the Great Bipartisan Compromises of the Bush era and demonstrated that they are characterized by one common attribute: namely, they are supported by almost all Republicans and then enough Democrats from a split caucus to ensure its passage.

[Trezker]

This kind of thing is happening all around the world. It's like leaders have decided on dismantling democracy everywhere while the people of earth are still ignorant, constantly watching TV and care only for money.

I think it's time for a violent revolution soon.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Trezker

It's like leaders have decided on dismantling democracy everywhere

It's so ironic for me as a US citizen, considering we claim to be starting wars all over the world to spread democracy (hehe, I made a typo at first and spelled it democrazy).

[Dan.Linehan]

Originally Posted by Trezker

I think it's time for a violent revolution soon.

More like time for a peaceful revolution.

Violence just gives the war-mongers more villains to create.

[Dannyboy1]

No ifs ands or buts. We should have stopped him when he stole the election. I hope to God Obama wins...

[Lauxa]

Obama is about Constitutional Law? I beg to differ.

Constitutional Law is about securing the liberties of the people by limiting the power of federal government (enumerated powers). Obama wants to use federal government to hand out college educations and medical care to everyone, which is expanding the powers of government and increasing government interaction into the lives of citizens.

The Democrats are not against increasing the powers of government. Because they know Obama will be the next president and then that power will benefit them. Why would they object?

[Trezker]

I just heard on radio that Obama voted for some thing that's against human rights. Sounded similar to the Swedish wire-tapping law that was accepted this week.

So, I don't like Obama any more. But he still seems like the lesser evil compared to McCain.

The governments need to be replaced, and none of the major candidates are any good.
The entire people need to wake up and march against the capitol. For the USA it seems Ron Paul might be replacing the prez... Or maybe you should force Mr. Pavlina to become president, after all a good leader is one who does not strive for power. You'd need a whole new party too, I don't know any alternatives... Both the major ones really suck and are probably on the same side behind the scenes.

For Sweden, I think the Pirate party should be in majority. It's the only party here that values the people.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Trezker

I just heard on radio that Obama voted for some thing that's against human rights. Sounded similar to the Swedish wire-tapping law that was accepted this week.

Can you tell us more details?

[Tasaio]

I just heard on radio that Obama voted for some thing that's against human rights. Sounded similar to the Swedish wire-tapping law that was accepted this week.

So, I don't like Obama any more.

Aren't you jumping to conclusions?

I sure hope you didn't change your mind because of something you heard in passing on a radio show. Isn't that what Rush Limbaugh's listeners tend to do?

[Trezker]

Yeah you're right. I should not judge so fast. I do like the "Innocent until proven guilty" thingy after all.

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by Lauxa

Obama is about Constitutional Law? I beg to differ.

Constitutional Law is about securing the liberties of the people by limiting the power of federal government (enumerated powers).

Where does it say this?

Originally Posted by Lauxa

Obama wants to use federal government to hand out college educations and medical care to everyone,

What a horrible infringement on our private lives (and what a detriment to the comic world and the world at large) it would be to have better educated Americans walking around...and ones who aren't dying because they have the shame of living in the only country in the developed world with no healthcare.