In conjunction with the spate of scandals enveloping the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, our friends at Reason have posted a short but illuminating piece highlighting the extent to which the federal government is attempting to hide its domestic spying program from the public.
Reason explores a case involving the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – which recently attempted to ascertain the extent to which the FBI (and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country) were engaging in warrantless snooping of cell phone communication.
“New documents from the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ offices paint a troubling picture of the government’s email surveillance practices,” the ACLU noted. “Not only does the FBI claim it can read emails and other electronic communications without a warrant – even after a federal appeals court ruled that doing so violates the Fourth Amendment – but the documents strongly suggest that different U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country are applying conflicting standards to access communications content.”
In an effort to gain a clearer picture of the government’s criteria for spying on its own citizens without a warrant, the ACLU submitted a Freedom of Information request to the U.S. Department of Justice (which was recently busted stealing phone records from the Associated Press).
What did they get back?
A fifteen-page USDOJ memo entitled “Guidance for the Minimization of Text Messages over Dual-Function Cellular Telephones.”
What did this document say? We’ll never know. The memo was completely blacked out.
Don’t believe us? Take a look …
Amazing …
Just three months ago, Obama appeared on a “Google hangout” and bragged about his administration’s commitment to transparency.
“This is the most transparent administration in history, and I can document how this is the case,” he said.
Wow … now that’s what we call “transparent hypocrisy.”
Government has no right to spy on its own citizens without first obtaining a warrant based on probable cause. The fact our government is habitually trampling over this fundamental liberty – and hiding its snooping from public scrutiny – is deplorable.
Of course “deplorable” is pretty much par for the course when it comes to the conduct of our government lately.
***
72 comments
In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, and possibly trees/ink/bandwidth, they should just instead send a single page with a middle finger. That gets the point across equally well.
But, at least, make it an interesting middle finger.
In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, and possibly trees/ink/bandwidth, they should just instead send a single page with a middle finger. That gets the point across equally well.
But, at least, make it an interesting middle finger.
WOW……”
OBAMA, TRANSPARENT HYPOCRITE…..”
it would seem that Wil Folks would have been smart enough to realize that as Commander in Chief that Obama is just following the tenets of the “Art of War”..!!
Any smart business man who would pay to advertise on this site would realize that Wil Folks is doing what…??
Does WIl Folks want to make …money..??
You know you just helped him make money by clicking on this article, right?
LOL….I support fellow hard working South Carolina residents any way I can…!!
…..and it looks like you do too..!!
…great awareness “friend”…..
Can I blow you?
To be fair to Obama’s critics, he did run on a platform of “Hope and Change”, yet nothing has changed all hope seems to be fading. There is nothing different about this administration and the Bush years, except they seem to be more brazen and arrogant under Obama. Barack Obama is the biggest disappointment of a President I’ve seen in my 42 years on Earth, for a myriad of reasons which I won’t bore you with. He’s the same as the old boss, only with a extremely confusing lineage and an overtly socialist attitude.
Bush did not pressure the media like this, he didn’t threaten reporters like Bob Woodward, he didn’t misuse the leak subpoena. Bush didn’t do the things the Obama administration is accused of doing, using the IRS to terrorize people and interfere in their ability to participate in the political process, retaliating against them and blocking them from operating lawful political groups and activities, while approving progressive groups to bolster his campaigns. I can’t defend everything bush did but don’t compare the two. It implies that all governments do it and this one just got caught, and that is not the case.
It’s always amazes me when someone doesn’t check their facts before they post a heaping pile of bullshit. Google, it’s pretty gosh darn amazing and so easy a fucktard can do it.
Fucktard as a trendy colloquialism when out about the same time Zima did as a trendy beverage. Google, it’s pretty gosh darn amazing and so easy a liberal can do it.
I was there–it was 1997. lol
Well, I’m waiting for you to counter me with your amazing fucktarded facts, but since you haven’t then I’ll assume you are shitting yourself because your leftist idol is going down, every day a new addition to the subversion of democracy, especially now that your fellow libs have already jumped ship knowing that there is a limit to the law breaking that can be reached, but you’ll clearly hold on to the dying end because you are too fucktarded to know better. Bring it. The fact is, you can’t. When Chris Matthews bails because of the indefensible corruption, anyone with a brain would realize time’s up.
I am not going to do your homework for you….Bush did intimidate reporters, Bush did target liberal groups, Liberal groups have had their tax exempt status questioned under Bush and Obama. The GOP screamed bloody murder about CIA leaks in 2012 and told Obama he needed to get to the bottom of it. He did and now the GOP is screeching that Obama is targeting reporters, apparently they don’t care about security leaks anymore…..I will apologize to all the fucktards out there. Google, so easy a fucknut can do it.
Google what exactly? It always amazes me the lies that liberals make up.
ZIMA! Love It! See:Confederate Fagg-‘Surrender’ YouTube
WOW……”
OBAMA, TRANSPARENT HYPOCRITE…..”
it would seem that Wil Folks would have been smart enough to realize that as Commander in Chief that Obama is just following the tenets of the “Art of War”..!!
Any smart business man who would pay to advertise on this site would realize that Wil Folks is doing what…??
Does WIl Folks want to make …money..??
You know you just helped him make money by clicking on this article, right?
LOL….I support fellow hard working South Carolina residents any way I can…!!
…..and it looks like you do too..!!
…great awareness “friend”…..
Can I blow you?
To be fair to Obama’s critics, he did run on a platform of “Hope and Change”, yet nothing has changed all hope seems to be fading. There is nothing different about this administration and the Bush years, except they seem to be more brazen and arrogant under Obama. Barack Obama is the biggest disappointment of a President I’ve seen in my 42 years on Earth, for a myriad of reasons which I won’t bore you with. He’s the same as the old boss, only with a extremely confusing lineage and an overtly socialist attitude.
Bush did not pressure the media like this, he didn’t threaten reporters like Bob Woodward, he didn’t misuse the leak subpoena. Bush didn’t do the things the Obama administration is accused of doing, using the IRS to terrorize people and interfere in their ability to participate in the political process, retaliating against them and blocking them from operating lawful political groups and activities, while approving progressive groups to bolster his campaigns. I can’t defend everything bush did but don’t compare the two. It implies that all governments do it and this one just got caught, and that is not the case.
It’s always amazes me when someone doesn’t check their facts before they post a heaping pile of bullshit. Google, it’s pretty gosh darn amazing and so easy a fucktard can do it.
Fucktard as a trendy colloquialism went out about the same time Zima did as a trendy beverage. Google, it’s pretty gosh darn amazing and so easy a liberal can do it.
I was there–it was 1997. lol
Well, I’m waiting for you to counter me with your amazing fucktarded facts, but since you haven’t then I’ll assume you are shitting yourself because your leftist idol is going down, every day a new addition to the subversion of democracy, especially now that your fellow libs have already jumped ship knowing that there is a limit to the law breaking that can be reached, but you’ll clearly hold on to the dying end because you are too fucktarded to know better. Bring it. The fact is, you can’t. When Chris Matthews bails because of the indefensible corruption, anyone with a brain would realize time’s up.
I am not going to do your homework for you….Bush did intimidate reporters, Bush did target liberal groups, Liberal groups have had their tax exempt status questioned under Bush and Obama. The GOP screamed bloody murder about CIA leaks in 2012 and told Obama he needed to get to the bottom of it. He did and now the GOP is screeching that Obama is targeting reporters, apparently they don’t care about security leaks anymore…..I will apologize to all the fucktards out there. Google, so easy a fucknut can do it.
Google what exactly? It always amazes me the lies that liberals make up.
ZIMA! Love It! See:Confederate Fagg-‘Surrender’ YouTube
“Transparent Hypocrit” a correct headline and should be the same label Nikki Haley wears.
many, many things about these two remind me painfully of the other!
You can tell when haley and O’Bama are lying, their lips are moving and their uteereances can never be believed or relied on!
Both have too many foreign family ties.
Both campaigned and lied about transparency.
Both support BIG Government.
Both appoint incompetent and unworthy people.
Both have questionable acquaintences.
Both are out for their own benefit, Country, State be damned!
Both are incompetent for their job.
Both followed failures in their elected positions.
Neither are what they claimed to be.
Neither truly want what is best for Country and State.
Neither are truly full blooded Americans who have their heart with the Country , or State they are elected to serve.
Both truth and honesty are casualties of Both administrations, President of US and Gov. of SC!
Roll on Gypsy Queen Dooh Nibor, dammit roll on !!
“Transparent Hypocrit” a correct headline and should be the same label Nikki Haley wears.
many, many things about these two remind me painfully of the other!
You can tell when haley and O’Bama are lying, their lips are moving and their uteereances can never be believed or relied on!
Both have too many foreign family ties.
Both campaigned and lied about transparency.
Both support BIG Government.
Both appoint incompetent and unworthy people.
Both have questionable acquaintences.
Both are out for their own benefit, Country, State be damned!
Both are incompetent for their job.
Both followed failures in their elected positions.
Neither are what they claimed to be.
Neither truly want what is best for Country and State.
Neither are truly full blooded Americans who have their heart with the Country , or State they are elected to serve.
Both truth and honesty are casualties of Both administrations, President of US and Gov. of SC!
Roll on Gypsy Queen Dooh Nibor, dammit roll on !!
A 100% redacted document from USDOJ. Hats off to the boys and girls over at Justice
Didn’t think you cockroaches had enough imagination to find another way to say “go fuck yourself” to the ACLU
A 100% redacted document from USDOJ. Hats off to the boys and girls over at Justice
Didn’t think you cockroaches had enough imagination to find another way to say “go fuck yourself” to the ACLU
So, anyway to get Hillary in there already?
So, anyway to get Hillary in there already?
I don’t know where BigT went. Not sure if he’s mowing somebody’s grass or hitting that ER after yesterday’s 10 hour erection…
Thinks he’s going by GrandTorino now
Thanks! That damn kid takes too much after his deadbeat dad…was he, by chance, wearing his Abe Lincoln mask?
I posted a compliment yesterday, and I guess it was too much for him/her.
Thanks Henry…but I’ve become so suspicious, I was not sure of it.
Not to mention, your art work, from the private collection (Maxine, Nancy and Sheila) kinda blew my mind…
Son, quit playing on that thing and help your mother find her reading glasses.
My apologies here. That photo (now deleted) was sitting there waiting to be used, and your comment offered up the right opportunity.
I don’t know where BigT went. Not sure if he’s mowing somebody’s grass or hitting that ER after yesterday’s 10 hour erection…
Thinks he’s going by GrandTorino now
Thanks! That damn kid takes too much after his deadbeat dad…was he, by chance, wearing his Abe Lincoln mask?
I posted a compliment yesterday, and I guess it was too much for him/her.
How about disclosing the donors to your PAC, Sic? Transparency works both ways!!
There are some smart and knowledgeable people who post on here, at times.
Can anyone tell me if FITS has to to disclose his contributors. He CERTAINLY is a political lobbyist. But I have not studied the laws related to know if his Contributors are public. I’d LOVE to know who they are…and I feel sure I can guess who some are
PS: I also feel sure the Obama administration would give FITS a thumbs-up, Green Light for any Government documentation he needed. He would not be ‘Tea-Partied’ by Obama…That’s for sure…
How about disclosing the donors to your PAC, Sic? Transparency works both ways!!
The Obama sycophants, like FITS, are trying to soft-sell this as ‘Transparenc’y issue…
FITS: Quit frontin’…this is CHANGING THE OUTCOME OF A FEDERAL ELECTION…It’s SUBVERTING DEMOCRACY. It’s using the federal government to prosecute and intimidate American citizens for the they think…NAZI, or Communist-like…
While FITS will try to make it a ‘Golly-Gee, What was Obama thinking,’ in order to down play it…THIS IS SERIOUS.
And regardless of how much FITS and the media HATE the GOP, I think Republicans know they can use a public outcry to MAKE Obama FINALLY account…
This is Going to be BIG. Even if the democrats will not pursue Justice, the 2014 Elections may be as bad as 1976 was for Republicans….
In a way: I hope the corrupt democrats, and the FITS-types, can shield Obama from legal prosecution. Because I think the people will make him and the democrats pay for their corruption. And there is not a D@*n thing the media, or sycophants like FITS can do about it…
Transparency was left in the dust about twenty minutes after he first uttered it. This is criminality. It is an understatement to imply otherwise. I get calling him on the bald hypocrisy, but this is one person after another, one organization after another coming forward to talk about their being illegally targeting to silence them, going after a Catholic professor, terrorizing her for exercising her rights to engage in public debate, disgusting. For speaking out against the fake Catholic groups funded by the international currency criminal George Soros. Read this, it is beyond puke:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/15/exclusive-prominent-catholic-prof-claims-irs-audited-her-after-speaking-out-against-obama-and-demanded-to-know-who-was-paying-her/
Thanks Brigid. FITS would do himself a lot of good to adopt your passion and capacity for forwarding valuable and vital information…
Sadly: FITS only becomes vicious when he can attack law-abiding Republicans for not being Liberal-Tarian…
FITS is a lot more comfortable agreeing with the left, though he claims a bastard version of Conservatism for himself. And he actually works as a useful idiot to soften the bite of most liberal corruption…
There is no Republican candidate that is good enough for FITS. Rather than vigorously supporting the decent man Romney, who didn’t meet FITS rarefied bluestocking tastes, he withdrew and supported the loser Ron Paul. And now is only dragged kicking and screaming away from his porn to offer feeble rebukes, late to the game, after everyone else all over online media has beat him to it. “Pretty much par for the course…?” You should be calling for their heads! Where is the testosterone? It’s like ‘Attack of the Body Snatchers.’ Will finds his body in a pod in the backyard, and wonders how it happened.
Tried to tell you effing idiots who voted and then re-voted for this incompetent, dishonest, Chicago low-life, food-stamp distributing community-organizing thug. You got the government you deserve. Pathetic bunch of idiots.
Problem is, Sandy: Obama is EXACTLY what they wanted.
They know he’s a Crook, but don’t care.
Obama takes from good people who EARN what they have and he gives it to those who claim they have been victimized by those who work.
Obama is a REVENGE president. Vengence is mine, sayeth the Lord. and Obama is their god. They love his hate toward Americans not like them…
You’re right GT. Obama is exactly who they wanted because they don’t care. They wanted a lying, thuggish, take from producers and give to non-producers redistributionist, incompetent, America hating fool…and that’s what they – and we – have.
Gee,I thought you Republicans were all for fighting the “War On Terrorism” and ANYTHING that was needed to do that.Remember your hero,George W Bush,”you are either for us or against us “There lots of hypocrites around.Right Republican?
You are just an example of how IGNORANT and Vapid, the left is…
You have nothing but STUPIDITY…
Tried to tell you effing idiots who voted and then re-voted for this incompetent, dishonest, Chicago low-life, food-stamp distributing community-organizing thug. You got the government you deserve. Pathetic bunch of idiots.
Bengahzi…
IRS…
AP Wiretaps…
Syria…
Time for a Golf Weekend!
Bengahzi…
IRS…
AP Wiretaps…
Syria…
Time for a Golf Weekend!