Is Bush SPYING on his political opponents?

[fooj]

I firmly believe that THIS is the way to go. It's time to expose these rat bastards for what they really are. Enough of the bullshit.

:grr:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/8/181735/3455

Check this out!

<snip>

Revealed: US dirty tricks to win vote on Iraq war (The Observer, 3-2-2003) A leaked NSA memo makes it clear that the Bush administration intended to spy on UN delegates during the run-up to war in order to obtain "'whole gamut of information that could give US policymakers an edge in obtaining results favourable to US goals or to head off surprises." A later article by The Raw Story has more information and reveals that the plan was authorized by Condoleezza Rice.

FBI scrutinizing anti-war protesters (New York Times, 11-23-2003) Another leaked memo details how the FBI collected information on numerous anti-war groups and discusses "innovative strategies" such as videotaping arrests as a way of "intimidating" police".

Large Volume of FBI Files Alarms US Activist Groups (New York Times, 7-18-2005) The FBI has collected at least 3,500 pages of documents on antiwar and civil rights groups. 1,173 pages are on the ACLU alone.

Is the Pentagon spying on Americans? (NBC News, 12-14-2005) It's revealed that the Pentagon keeps a database of "suspicious" dissident groups and a list of protests.

NSA: Amanpour, other CNN reporters not targeted for surveillance (CNN, 1-6-2006) The possibility exists that Amanpour or other CNN journalist was spied on by the NSA. It should be noted that Amanpour is married to James Rubin, an advisor to John Kerry's presidential campaign.

NSA Used City Police as Trackers (Baltimore Sun, 1-13-2006) The NSA used local law enforcement to spy on Quakers on their way to an antiwar protest outside Fort Meade. The group has a history of non-violence. The Raw Story has more information and the relevant documents.

The Other Big Brother (Newsweek, 1-20-2006) Michael Isikoff discloses the role of a Pentagon program known as the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) in spying on domestic activists, including an anti-Halliburton group that showed up outside the company's headquarters in Houston.

Did The National Guard Spy On 'Raging Grannies'? (ABC 7 KGO-TV/DT, 2-28-2006) The California National Guard is accused of spying on an antiwar group called the "Raging Grannies" at a Mother's Day Rally. A hard drive with information on it about the spying was erased, and boxes of documents have been blacked out.

ACLU files lawsuit demanding military turn over records on alleged government spying (Associated Press, 3-7-2005) A student protest at Berkeley showed up as a threatening activity on a DoD database. It was done under a Pentagon program called Threat and Local Observation Notice (TALON) which was started in 2003 for the purpose of tracking people and groups with terror ties.


<snip>



:spank:

[EFerrari]

1. No! It's just spying on us for national security.

Yeah! Right!

:)

[TheDebbieDee]

2. Does a bear $hit in the woods?!?!?!?!

Of course he's spying on his political enemies.

He's also spying on his "friends" now, too. He can't trust anybody anymore!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Do ya think?

[fooj]

8. We need to frame the NSA argument around it.

It's at the very core of why the rat bastard is doing it.

[Cobalt Violet]

4. Ask him.

If he says no then it certain he does/did. He is such a liar.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. And if he says "Yes." We've got him!

[Fridays Child]

5. The question must be asked...

..and, given the broad powers he has granted himself, he could do it with impunity. No wonder Congressional Republicans don't want an investigation.

[fooj]

9. Bingo.

That's exactly what is going on, IMO.

Peace.

[Fridays Child]

6. k/r

[0007]

7. junior is a copy cat and does everything that Kim Jong IL does,

even Laura.

[emulatorloo]

10. k/r EOM

[NVMojo]

11. it must also be asked, what is Bush hiding from us?

[fooj]

12. You betcha!

The rat bastards have some 'splaining to do.

Peace.

[Fridays Child]

16. What sorts of activites might have been stopped, had there been...

...judicial oversight? No judge wants to impede the hunt for terrorists, right? So, what would make a FISA judge say "no?" Certainly, spying on political opponents, candidates or otherwise, would do it. What else? Spying for the benefit of corporate cronies?

[fooj]

24. This is how they have taken over our country.

:cry:

Why do you think that freaky bastard Fritz has done a complete turnaround re: ports deal?

Peace.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. It would be much easier to keep track of what these rat bastards

do legally, correctly and honestly rather than keeping track of what they do otherwise. The list would be so much easier to deal with.

[fooj]

14. Sadly, I'm afraid that there isn't any such list.

They are rotten to the CORE! Evil, maniacal madmen...

Peace.

[yourout]

15. God this would be fun to turn around on them.

What wondrous things we could learn about the Pukes if we could read all their mail, listen to all their calls(mistresses included), and secretly search there possessions.

[fooj]

26. Treasonous rat bastards!

:grr:

[Anywho6]

17. Hey, Rummy prefers "data mining"

And they're not "political opponents," they're the enemy. Sorry, but hell, yes, they're spying on anyone their hearts desire and I'm certain it has been an invaluable tool for the wingnuts politically. I hope they enjoy it while they can because THEY ARE GOING DOWN!!!

Peace...

[fooj]

29. My God, I certainly hope so.

Peace.

[ThoughtCriminal]

18. This is the REAL reason Bush skipped the FISA warrants

They might not have rubber stamped political spying.

[mom cat]

20. Bingo!

[fooj]

25. Oh momcat...this is how they took our beloved country from us.

I hate them with the intensity of 1000 suns!

Peace.

[mom cat]

27. I wish our combined hatred and rage would burn through their masks.

What will it take Fooj? What will it take? Even winning elections does not seem to make a difference!
Don't mind me. I have to funk for a while.

[fooj]

45. I can't even tell you how many days I'm in a funk lately.

No worries. We are in the same boat, yes?

Peace.

[mom cat]

46. A boatload of funkers! ... LOL!

[fooj]

21. They've declared a war on their own people.

It's time to fill the rest of the dummies in, dontcha think?:think:

Peace.

[Catchawave]

19. Great John Dean article here:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20051230.html

George W. Bush as the New Richard M. Nixon: Both Wiretapped Illegally, and Impeachably;
Both Claimed That a President May Violate Congress' Laws to Protect National Security
By JOHN W. DEAN
----
Friday, Dec. 30, 2005

On Friday, December 16, the New York Times published a major scoop by James Risen and Eric Lichtblau: They reported that Bush authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to spy on Americans without warrants, ignoring the procedures of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

It was a long story loaded with astonishing information of lawbreaking at the White House. It reported that sometime in 2002, Bush issued an executive order authorizing NSA to track and intercept international telephone and/or email exchanges coming into, or out of, the U.S. - when one party was believed to have direct or indirect ties with al Qaeda.

...snip....

Indeed, here, Bush may have outdone Nixon: Nixon's illegal surveillance was limited; Bush's, it is developing, may be extraordinarily broad in scope. First reports indicated that NSA was only monitoring foreign calls, originating either in the USA or abroad, and that no more than 500 calls were being covered at any given time. But later reports have suggested that NSA is "data mining" literally millions of calls - and has been given access by the telecommunications companies to "switching" stations through which foreign communications traffic flows.

In sum, this is big-time, Big Brother electronic surveillance.

...cont'd.....

[fooj]

22. Excellent article...

We need to SCREAM THIS STUFF FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

Peace.

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. I think this is why the Republicans don't want an investigation.

They need to continue cheating if they're going to win the next election.

[NastyRiffraff]

30. No! Say it ain't so!

THIS bunch, SPYING on political opponents? (Or as someone correctly said, "enemies")

This stuff makes the Watergate breakin look like toddlers reaching for that nice vase.

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. OF COURSE HE IS!!! Not just to get plans, but to get BLACKMAIL evidence

to keep them in line. I'm not the only one who believes this - Paul Craig Roberts, who has the insider understanding to know, has come right out and said the same:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x338735
thread title (2-6-06): Ex-Reagan official- Dubya uses spying to blackmail media & Dems

[Disturbed]

32. Not only political opponents but also...

Congressional Republicans and Reporters.

[spanone]

33. Why else did he go around the CFIUS courts? Of course he is.

He has broken the law and has vowed to continue to break the law and few of our lawmakers give a shit.

[sutz12]

34. Opponents? He's probably spying on his supporters too. nt

[ladjf]

35. He could be if he wanted to. And, why wouldn't he want to?

[Nothing Without Hope]

36. And let's not forget the ridiculously huge list of "terrorists" on their

spy list - the ones they are ADMITTING:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2109965
thread title: (2-15-06): WP: 325,000 Names on Terrorism List

[troubleinwinter]

37. Who fucking cares

According to your post, this republican administration spies on these Americans:

anti-war protesters

Activist Groups

civil rights groups

dissident groups

Amanpour, married to James Rubin, advisor to John Kerry

Quakers

domestic activists, including an anti-Halliburton group

an antiwar group

So, what is your point, fooj???!! Are you trying to make some kind of radical point like the obsolete idea of free speech? Civil rights?? GET OVER IT. Protests, peace, civil rights is all pre 9-11 thinking. Everything is different now. Being married to an advisor to a democrat is the new sedition. Go read the new Executive Order regarding Homeland Security alignment with the churches. I recommend you get your signature registered with a Christian organization today, because GUESS who will be on this list tomorrow: "those not signed with a Faith Based Organization".

[fooj]

39. No shit. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother...

Jeez...what's it gonna take?

Wonder what this Buddhist/Catholic based family falls under...

:hi:

[laugle]

38. Great Info, but weren't they spying on some AMISH church people too? n/t

[MrSlayer]

40. I think it's a certainty. Why else would they hide it?

The fact that it is just so easy to get warrants through FISA tells the whole tale in my opinion. They don't want anyone to know who they are spying on because it is people that they shouldn't be. Not only political opponents but political "allies" as well. They are keeping their own in line with this shit as well.

[leveymg]

41. They did it In 2003 -- a GOP Judic. Comm staffer hacked Dem e-mails

and then leaked them. Robert Novak was among those who spun the story to make it seem that a Dem dirty-tricks operation to thwart White House plans had been outed by an intrepid GOP staffer. Does anyone else see a pattern here?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Republican staffer put on leave for accessing Democratic files
- JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, November 25, 2003

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/11/25/national1948EST0744.DTL

(11-25) 16:48 PST (AP) --

WASHINGTON(AP) -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said Tuesday he had put one of his staffers on administrative leave for improperly obtaining data from the secure computer networks of two Democratic senators. Hatch, R-Utah, said preliminary interviews suggested that a former Republican member of the committee staff may have also been involved in penetrating the Democratic computers.

"I was shocked to learn that this may have occurred," Hatch said in a statement. "I am mortified that this improper, unethical and simply unacceptable breach of confidential files may have occurred on my watch." Hatch launched an investigation after Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., protested what they said was the theft of memos from their servers. The memos, concerning political strategy on blocking confirmation of several of President Bush's judicial nominations, were obtained and reported on by The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Times.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms William Pickle informed Hatch on Monday that the committee's four computer servers had been disconnected and that daily backup tapes had been given to the U.S. Capitol Police for safekeeping. He said an outside expert would conduct a forensic assessment to determine if there had been unauthorized access to files. Hatch said that, at his direction, two federal prosecutors assigned to the committee had conducted interviews with about 50 people.

He said the interviews revealed that at least one current staff member had improperly accessed at least some of the documents that appeared in the media reports and which have been posted on the Internet. The person has denied leaking the information to the press, he said. The staff member, who was not identified, was put on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of Pickle's investigation, Hatch said.

###

AND, then, this is how Novak spun the story a few days later:

Senate Democratic Plumbers
Chairman Orrin Hatch angered fellow Republicans last week by opening Senate Judiciary Committee Republican e-mails to investigators probing leaks of Democratic e-mails.
Nov 29, 2003
by Robert Novak

http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/robertnovak/2003/11/29/160364.html

WASHINGTON -- Chairman Orrin Hatch angered fellow Republicans last week by opening Senate Judiciary Committee Republican e-mails to investigators probing leaks of Democratic e-mails.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist ordered full cooperation in the investigation of how Republicans obtained the committee's Democratic e-mails, which detailed the strategy for blocking President Bush's judicial nominations. Hatch responded with his order to open GOP e-mails to investigators. The Republican chairman also put one staffer on administrative leave.

The investigation was triggered by Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the assistant Democratic floor leader who received some of the more important leaked e-mails. Rank-and-file Republican senators grumble that Frist and Hatch have permitted Durbin to obscure the substance of the e-mails, which showed left-wing special interest groups behind the filibusters preventing judicial confirmations.

Strangely, this story about GOP wiretapping simply disappeared. But, there seems to be larger pattern here that the Republicans improperly reveal classified or sensitive information, and when caught, allege the Democrats are involved in a witchhunt or "Plummer's" operation, as Novak had the temerity to call Durbin's attempt to get to the bottom of the 2003 Senate e-mail hack. This is a variation on the same strategy used in the Plame outing.

[Nothing Without Hope]

42. That time they got caught - but of course they do it all the time.

Because they want to, they can, and nobody stops them.

[fooj]

44. I know. It's maddening.

:cry:

[kentuck]

43. Kick

:kick: