FBI breaking laws that Bush pledged to ignore.
By on Mar 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
FBI breaking laws that Bush pledged to ignore.
“The story here is not merely that the FBI is breaking the law and abusing these powers,” Glenn Greenwald writes. “That has long been predicted and, to some degree, even documented. The story is that the FBI is ignoring the very legal obligations which George Bush vowed were not obligations at all, but mere suggestions to be accepted only if he willed it. It is yet another vivid example proving that the President’s ideology of lawlessness exists not merely in theory, but as the governing doctrine under which the executive branch has acted, time and again and as deliberately as possible, in violation of whatever laws it deems inconvenient.” (Via Atrios)
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“Bush has created vast and permanent data bases to collect and store evidence revealing the private activities of millions of American citizens. When the FBI obtains information essentially in secret — with no judicial oversight — that information is stored in those data bases. This is all being done by the executive branch with no safeguards and no oversight, and the little oversight that Congress has required has been defiantly and publicly brushed aside by the President, who sees legal requirements as nothing more than suggestions or options which he will recognize only if he chooses to. That is the constitutional crisis that we have endured under virtually the entire Bush presidency — the crisis which, for the most part, our mainstream political and media elite have collectively decided not to acknowledge.
The story here is not merely that the FBI is breaking the law and abusing these powers. That has long been predicted and, to some degree, even documented. The story is that the FBI is ignoring the very legal obligations which George Bush vowed were not obligations at all, but mere suggestions to be accepted only if he willed it. It is yet another vivid example proving that the President’s ideology of lawlessness exists not merely in theory, but as the governing doctrine under which the executive branch has acted, time and again and as deliberately as possible, in violation of whatever laws it deems inconvenient.
When a country is ruled by an individual who repeatedly and openly arrogates unto himself the power to violate the law, and specifically proclaims that he is under no obligation to account to Congress or anyone else concerning the exercise of radical new surveillance powers such as National Security Letters, it should come as absolutely no surprise that agencies under his control freely break the law. The culture of lawlessness which the President has deliberately and continuously embraced virtually ensures, by design, that any Congressional limits on the use of executive power will be violated.”
Glenn Greenwald
March 9th, 2007 at 10:40 amThose poor terrorists, we really don’t need to know who Senator Dick Turban is talking to in Al Qaeda, move along.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:47 amCan we start the impeachment process now?
March 9th, 2007 at 10:48 amAnd this sense of being above the law soon transposes itself to any individual in any agency that feels it has even the slightest bit of authority.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:53 amCivil servants (police, EMT’s, public utility workers, state and municipal employees) all soon get the idea into their heads that they can control, order and manipulate ordinary citizens. They forget who they are ultimately working for.
I saw this syndrome emerge soon after one particular morning in early September.
All of a sudden, every person with a job even remotely related to the government became an official in the Department of Homeland Security.
Just as Duck Chainee and Dubious Boosch never got it into their consciousness that they are accountable to, and the public servants of, the people.
We are witnessing the demise of the American Republic. It is happening right before our eyes.
Remember well what is happening now. Your children will want to know, when their shift ends at the work camp.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:54 amLife in Bushworld….
March 9th, 2007 at 10:54 amWhat happened here? How far have our standards been lowered? Had Clinton done these things, he’d of been out of office. Why is there a double standard for repugs? Is it like the mentally deficient killing innocent human beings, and then getting off of it by claiming insanity?
March 9th, 2007 at 10:56 amhow surprising. The president says that the laws can be ignored and now the FBI are practicing what he preaches. If any of the FBI are convicted lets throw Bush in jail for giving illegal orders. Lets throw Bush in jail anyway as a good example.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:56 amThose poor terrorists, we really don’t need to know who Senator Dick Turban is talking to in Al Qaeda, move along.
Comment by Patrick1
They can tell you what size underwear you bought P1. So I guess you must be a terrorist then by your logic right?
March 9th, 2007 at 10:56 amBy golly, speaking of persons jumping on the petty tyrant bandwagon ….
March 9th, 2007 at 10:56 amGood morning oh great Patrick one!
What a crock! The left more concerned with the right of terrorists than the lives of the American people. Typical.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:57 amThanks for continuing to affirm that, as a liberal, I’m on the right side of the fence. :)
March 9th, 2007 at 10:58 amBush is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
It takes a village to raise an idiot, but just one idiot to destroy a village.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:59 amWhat a crock! The left more concerned with the right of terrorists than the lives of the American people. Typical.
Comment by Patrick1
This is about your rights P1, and it’s not a left or right issue.
March 9th, 2007 at 10:59 amWhat a crock! The Right is more concerned with the right of terrorists than the lives of the American people. Typical.
Comment by Patrick1
You really don’t understand sigint do you? They have been collection data from terrorists for decades, that is nothing new.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:02 amWhat a crock! The left more concerned with the right of terrorists than the lives of the American people. Typical.
Comment by Patrick1
Patrick1,
March 9th, 2007 at 11:02 amAre you due for an upgrade to Patrick2.0 soon? I think your software is outdated and has a few bugs in it.
What a crock! The left more concerned with the right of terrorists than the lives of the American people. Typical. Comment by Patrick1
Interesting. It was your boy, Bush, who continued reading a children’s book for several minutes after being told “The United States in under attack.” Bush also played guitar while people died in New Orleans.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:02 amBush obviously doesn’t care about Americans.
Patrick1 sez:
Hey Patrick…I’ve got a quote for you:
Freedom isn’t for sissies. It’s hard. If you can’t hack living in a free society governed by laws, rather than people, than you’re free to leave any time you like.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:03 amPatrick1
You really need to learn some proper grammar and punctuation so your posts are logically and accurately presented. The following is my edit of your post so that it fits these criteria:
What a crock: “The left more concerned with the right of terrorists than the lives of the American people. Typical.”
You’re welcome.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:03 amThis is about your rights P1, and it’s not a left or right issue.
Comment by AckSyn JAckSyn
Gas bags and right wingers like Patrick forget that their rights will be violated as well.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:05 amThe left likes to be defense lawyers for terrorists but when it comes to defending the nation against attack, as in the 90s, they were no where to be found.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:06 amPlease ignore Patrick. He inserts inflammatory remarks in each thread in the hopes that someone will respond in the predicted manner. He’ll do it repeatedly if he feels he hasn’t gotten the attention he craves. Nothing you do or say will change this behavior.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:07 amWhat rights have been lost other than the right to fly a passenger plane into a skyscraper?
March 9th, 2007 at 11:07 amThe left likes to be defense lawyers for terrorists but when it comes to defending the nation against attack, as in the 90s, they were no where to be found.
Comment by Patrick1
Patrick’s bed weighs approximately 100 pounds more than it ought to — because of all the piss.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:09 amThe left likes to be defense lawyers for terrorists but when it comes to defending the nation against attack, as in the 90s, they were no where to be found.
Comment by Patrick1
Speaking of which the WTC was attacked under Georges watch. Who happened to be on vacation and who mostly ignored the PDB.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:11 amWe are witnessing the demise of the American Republic. It is happening right before our eyes.
Remember well what is happening now. Your children will want to know, when their shift ends at the work camp.
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
So true. I am frightened of how are children are going to look at us knowing we sat idly by and watched the takeover of our American ideals. Who do you think they will blame – not Mr. Bush, it will be us. For it is us who has the power to stop the madness. The fault will lay on our shoulders.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:12 amWhat rights have been lost other than the right to fly a passenger plane into a skyscraper?
Comment by Patrick1
Can we still fly them into a nuclear facilty? As long as we have that right I’m okay with it.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:12 amHi Patrick!
March 9th, 2007 at 11:14 amSplatrick is pretty safe, knowing that all of his published spew will garner him a few laughs and a couple of atta boys from the agents.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:15 amKnowing as well, that when all of the collected data is unearthed in the course of justice, his right to free speech will be acknowledged by we progressives.
He’s much to cowardly to actually be guilty of any actual criminal activity…
Patrick 1,
You are such a blind, blind sheep-man. You would follow your “leader” no matter what, and part of me wants to applaud your determination and loyalty; however, I would have to point out that unwavering loyalty without considering a moment to listen to valid, irrefutable proof, is just plain silly. You’d expect this kind of behavior from isolated cult members, who know no different. So, BLAAATT for all of us to hear… C’mon, keep blaaaating you blind sheep-man. The leftist’s reason and fact-searching will always drown out the blaats from the trolls.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:15 amWhat ideals have been lost? What rights lost? The answer none. This is yet another example of the bizarre socialist belief that America is somehow the problem with the world.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:16 amWhat rights have been lost other than the right to fly a passenger plane into a skyscraper?
Comment by Patrick1
Once again the warning were ignored and airport security was not tightened during that period. There is, and has never been, a ‘right’ to fly a passenger plane into a building.
WTF are you trying to say? That there was a law that allowed people to hijack planes? Tell me from what nation, P1, that these terrorists came from?
Good morning Zooey.
And Heh! (P1’s bed)
March 9th, 2007 at 11:19 amYou’re funny, Patrick, though I’m quite sure you’ll never pack ‘em in the comedy clubs like Robin Williams.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:19 amLoL,
I is awesome how you take bad FBI agents and equate them to Bush personally. Like the man goes down to the FBI and instructs each agent personally on what they should and shouldn’t be doing. I like this post. Takes alot of imagination.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:19 amThe left likes to be defense lawyers for terrorists but when it comes to defending the nation against attack, as in the 90s, they were no where to be found.
Comment by Patrick1
What a truly bizarro-world statement. As if Defense attorneys can rush to a nearby phone booth and don a superman outfit, except during the 90’s, and leap tall buildings.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:22 amGreetings, Mr. Patrickone.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:22 amWe have an employment offer you may be interested in…do you have any computor skills? You don’t even need to be able to speak.
We do have imagination!
March 9th, 2007 at 11:24 amThere’s a quote somewhere that illustrates just how important the imagination is to the evolution of consciousness….
Good morning Zooey.
And Heh! (P1’s bed)
Comment by AckSyn JAckSyn
Good morning to you. :)
March 9th, 2007 at 11:25 amI is awesome how you take bad FBI agents and equate them to Bush personally. Like the man goes down to the FBI and instructs each agent personally on what they should and shouldn’t be doing. I like this post. Takes alot of imagination.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Who is the Captain of this f*cking ship, Rogerx2?
Imagine, if you will, the FBI pulling this sh*t under Pres Clinton. Response?
March 9th, 2007 at 11:26 amI is awesome how you take bad FBI agents and equate them to Bush personally. Like the man goes down to the FBI and instructs each agent personally on what they should and shouldn’t be doing.
The Buck stops there.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:27 amYou know RrOoGgEeRr I was thinking the same thing, but about Pee Pee 1’s posts.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:30 amLoL,
I is awesome how you take bad FBI agents and equate them to Bush personally. Like the man goes down to the FBI and instructs each agent personally on what they should and shouldn’t be doing. I like this post. Takes alot of imagination.
Comment by Roger_Roger
I am saddened that you think that this is a funny situation where a president can think he has the power to write his own laws or choose to ignore certain ones which would allow the FBI to spy on American citizens with no fear of penalty. I’ll bet you must laugh yourself to tears when you watch a Stalin documentary on the History Channel.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:35 amThey can do whatever they want to the rule of law, and I will continue to support them as long as I wrongly imagine them to be protecting me against those brown Islamist animal things massing at our borders.
Patrick1
/sarcasm off
March 9th, 2007 at 11:38 amThe Buck stops there.
Until it’s time to hold somebody accountable for the criminal lawlessness of this fascist crime family.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:42 amImpeach Bush Now!
March 9th, 2007 at 11:50 amAnybody seen that worthless piece of shit TrumpMaster Mickey?
If you see it, tell it I am looking for it.
There’s a new sheriff in town.
March 9th, 2007 at 11:52 am“Trumpmaster Mickey†sez (multiple times):
Looks like I really got under rachel’s skin when I exposed her as a plagairist, a liar, and a fraud earlier this week.
Sorry, rachel, but I’m not going anywhere. ^_^
March 9th, 2007 at 11:59 amI no longer feel compelled to follow any laws what so ever. Bush is a human and American and so am I … so whats good for the goose…
March 9th, 2007 at 12:02 pmWhat Patrick needs to think about is that Hillary Clinton may very well be the next president to inherit these powers. She thinks there is a vast rightwing conspiracy against her family. What would YOU do with these powers if you thought the entire rightwing faction of the republican party was out to get you?
Maybe define them as terrorists?
March 9th, 2007 at 12:05 pmNot too long ago Rachel was looking for well hung-ness. Guess it didn’t happen, now just frustration.
March 9th, 2007 at 12:07 pmWhat Patrick needs to think about
Comment by ggibson — March 9, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
Thinking is not one of Patrick-the-talking-point-robot’s functions.
March 9th, 2007 at 12:08 pmGosh, who couldv’e seen this one coming?
March 9th, 2007 at 12:13 pmPatrick 1 just proves my point about republicans, they natural born followers. They don’t think for themsevles and need to be told why to say and think.
March 9th, 2007 at 12:24 pmI see you are a Commie sympathizer. There are places for you out in Wyoming.
You are also an armed “survivalist kookâ€
I expect the government will be seeing you very soon.
Prove me wrong.
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What is TripmasterMonkey.com? It’s a cheeky news magazine for the Asia-savvy. Yellow journalism served up fresh—that’s our goal. On the site, you’ll find plenty of pop culture, offbeat topics, unusual views on U.S. and world news, and—as we ramp up—more graphic content (comics, photo essays, illustrated stories). In short, it’s a place for some fun and titillation. A lychee-martini lounge on the Web.
What’s with the name? The name comes from Maxine Hong Kingston’s novel about a hipster playwright, a modern-day incarnation of the fabled Monkey King, who spread Buddhism from India to China. Pretty trippy, right? As we see it, tripmasters are people who connect different worlds and cultures and ideas. People like you. (BTW, we’re not affiliated with Maxine Hong Kingston, the novel, or the defunct band of the same name.)
Who are you guys? Most of us are young journalists from the ranks of CNN, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and magazines like Ms, New York, Glamour, and World Press Review. Many of us first met in various parts of Asia but now call New York City home.
Why a Web magazine? Seeing connections that exist across cultures—that’s what we’re all about. We love the borderless nature of the Web. It’s totally cosmic, man. A way to link to what’s Out There. The casual, ephemeral nature of the Web is perfect for a light but tasty sampling of Asian-accented news.
How are you funded? Excellent question. TMM is a volunteer effort, though it’s not technically a nonprofit. We’re funded through private donations, ads, and the sale of branded merchandise.
So, how do you define Asia? We follow the Asia Society’s definition: “The area from Japan to Iran, and from Central Asia to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.†Though, given our namesake, we tend to focus on countries where the Monkey King managed to spread the Buddha’s teachings to a large segment of the population.
Um, you really like monkeys. Well, Tripmaster Stephen Hawking probably said it best: “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.â€
Okay, you guys are completely bananas. Can I write for you? Sure, submit to the monkey.
March 9th, 2007 at 12:58 pmWhat’s changed in Bush’s persona since his frat days? What’s changed in his code of conduct since his days of corporate greed, corruption, and tanking his personal business endeavors due to lack of intelligent planning and execution? What’s changed one iota? Evidently, Bush has never grown up – a sad fact considering that one this immature is running this country. Any wonder why everything – and I mean absolutely EVERYTHING – that has to do with our government is tanking right before our very eyes….day after day…..miserable nadir after nadir. Just when one thinks that “things couldn’t get any worse” – they absolutely DO! How low will this administration of smoke & mirrors go? How far will they tank this country?
The wheel of fortune spins….round and round…..and where it stops? Nobody knows!
March 9th, 2007 at 1:04 pmAs they say in AA: Everyone has their own “low” or “hitting bottom” and I believe that Bush’s alcoholic life has been a metaphor for this country – when will he/we hit bottom? I suspect that we have some further descending to do before all is said and done and/or before impeachment or two years time elapses.
March 9th, 2007 at 1:06 pmThat’s cute, rachel…too bad http://www.tripmastermonkey.com isn’t my site.
Keep swinging, though…it’s amusing to watch you flail about. ^_^
March 9th, 2007 at 1:25 pmBig surprise. They’re just following the “Lawbreaker-in-chief”.
March 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pmWHAT DO YA EXPECT FROM AN INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMINAL, MASS-MURDERING NARCISSISTIC SOCIPATH, WORLD’S NUMBER ONE TERRORIST and TIN-POT FASCIST-NAZI BANANA-REPUBLIC DESPOT WHO CALLED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES “just a goddamn piece of paper”? IF ANY SO-CALLED “president” TALKED LIKE THAT TO HIS PREDECESSORS OF THIS EXALTED OFFICE LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN or THEODORE ROOSEVELT IN SUCH A MANNER, THEY WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY BEATEN TO DEATH OR STRANGLED BY WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, LINCOLN or ROOSEVELT–SEEING CHIMPya, Torticola Cheney, Rove, Gonzales, Mueller, Rice, Addington, Yoo, all neocons, Bushland Uber Allies BEING GARROTTED, THROTTLED, AND BEATEN TO DEATH BY THE FOUR GREAT TITANS OF AMERICA ON MOUNT RUSHMORE WOULD BE A VERY SATISFYING AND JOYOUS SIGHT INDEED–EVIL BEING CRUSHED, KILLED, DESTROYED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS, VIRTUE and THE RULE OF LAW OF THE LAND!!!!!
March 10th, 2007 at 2:50 pm