!!!!!!!!Warrantless PHYSICAL Searches!!!!!!!!!!!

[kpete]

FROM ATRIOS:

Warrantless Physical Searches


According to Countdown, US News and World Report will tell us tomorrow that Bush administration lawyers (Torture Yoo and Abu Gonzales presumably) after 9/11 made the case that Bush had the power to engage in warrantless physical searches of terrorism suspects on domestic soil.

Cue wingers screeching Clinton/Aldrich Ames. I actually don't agree with what Clinton did with Aldrich Ames, but it nonetheless isn't the same thing as at the time the FISA law had no provision for dealing with physical searches. After the FISA law as amended the Clinton administration didn't argue they could violate the law.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_03_12_atrios_archive.html#114264535199163884



AND FROM DAILY KOS:

US News announces

Fri Mar 17, 2006 at 06:42:35 PM PDT
Just saw on Olberman that US News will publish a story that the Justice Department has authorized domestic search and seizure of homes and offices without warrant.


According to Keith, this is the same legal finding that they used for the NSA warrantless wiretaping.

Let's see how many Senators sigh up for Censure now. Maybe they will bypass censure and go right to impeachment.

I am sick to my stomache.

The U.S. News article will be published on their site tomorrow (Saturday) evening and will be the lead story in the magazine published Monday.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/17/204235/876

[JuniperLea]

1. Whenever they use the term "suspect"

it leaves then wide open to do whatever they please to whomever they please.


They can "suspect" anyone.

[TexasLawyer]

42. especially when a huge proportion of the "terror" groups

are actually peace groups. A "suspect" is anyone you want him/her to be.

[CrispyQ]

45. Yeah.

When they start turning in people who don't go to church on Sundays there's gonna be a whole lotta people behind bars -- Christian & non-Christian alike.

I am certain I have family members who would happily turn me into the dissent police.

[KansDem]

63. You and me both...

I am certain I have family members who would happily turn me into the dissent police.

That's why I've been shying away from family reunions and holiday get-togethers the last few years.

[Hubert Flottz]

57. Whenever they use the term "suspect"

They mean YOU!

[longship]

2. What does "physical search" mean in this context?

I have to cringe. This brings up visions of stopping people in the street for cavity searches.

Good bye Bill of Rights.

[liveoaktx]

3. VIDEO of that from KO

Warrantless physical searches to come to attention this weekend

[David Zephyr]

8. Thanks.

You really rock, liveoaktx.

[shance]

23. If Americans don't call 9-11 for the inside job that it was, we will

continue to be attacked and terrorized by this Administration and those within our own government.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

41. What can you say? Americans are more than willing to trade

their rights for the perception of security.

[converted_democrat]

4. When is this madness going to stop? n/t

[undergroundpanther]

5. When alot of people say enough and choose

Freedom instead of"security" And put a stop to bush his allies and his funders..

[Canuckistanian]

58. And when will that be, exactly?

In almost any other country you could name, Buscho couldn't have gotten away with 1/3 of what they've done.

Compliant media, spineless opposition, the extreme religious right fringe imposing their "morality" and lies, lies, lies, endless lies.

Get involved? Why should I? This doesn't involve me and American Idol is about to come on.

So ends the "great experiment" in democracy.

[shance]

6. When real leadership and real citizenry raise some holy unmitigated hell.

n/t

[undergroundpanther]

12. there is no leader

none willing to risk being different and stand up.

There is no leader. We have to learn to lead each other, and if no one leads us we have to lead ourselves. Leaders suck because leaders when they think doing the right thing will risk their popularity or"legacy" they back down and do the WRONG thing. Leaders are popular cowards..Cowards unless they do the right thing..and act on a CONSCIENCE.Which means they might become unpopular and lose the lead in favor of some two faced yahoo that tells the crowds afraid to lead themselves, what they want to believe is true.
The problem is in FOLLOWERS,followers scared and too cowardly to lead the leadership by supporting them in doing what must be done..even if it is risky unpopular or whatever.

[shance]

25. Honey, we are "our" leaders.

The longer we look for the knight or goddess to come and save us the more vulnerable we are. We are the leaders and we are the ones to look to.

We are the ones who will make change, but it will take all of us en masse and unified.

[ladjf]

32. Feingold's approval ratings among Democrats more than

doubled in a couple of days. That was his reward for "calling Bush out". We have others who are doing the same thing, i.e. Conyers, Boxer, McKinney, Murtha and others.

[Sparkly]

7. Remember Gonzales' testimony?

He wouldn't rule ANYthing out. He wouldn't even say they haven't/wouldn't open first class mail between Americans.

Does anyone here believe they have NOT spied on their political opponents?

[gilpo]

44. And that is exactly why those in leadership are cowering in the shadows

No one will stand up because they do not want their dirty laundry aired to the public. The damage was done in the first months of this warrantless surveillance program, the administration got all they needed then. Black mail city now.

[caligirl]

51. Its also why Bush can't fire anyone, can't replace anyone. He is a sitting

duck as his poll #'s fall fall fall.

[leftchick]

59. absolutely right

I would guarentee all of their spying and data mining has been political and ZERO used to actually persue terrorists.

[Minnesota Libra]

9. Now this is officially 1939 Nazi Germany - PLEASE link tomorrow nt

[David Zephyr]

10. Perhaps (dare I believe it possible) a 5th Democrat will suport Feingold

Thanks, kpete.

[Clara T]

11. Please link tomorrow for us followers of the Reich Wingnuts

[alfredo]

48. That bottom image got to me.

I am making a simple graphic using it.

Here it is:



This is a resize of the 8X10 version.

[Trevelyan]

70. That is a great graphic. I am going to upload it to my gymnastics site

(despite complaints that "propaganda" does not belong on a gymnastics photo site)

[alfredo]

72. Thanks. I am thinking about putting that one on my

anti bush website.

[unblock]

13. so the 4th amendment has officially been repealed by preznit decree??

[Marie26]

14. This isn't surprising

It's the natural outcome of the Justice Dept.'s argument. That argument is basically that the President's authority as Commander-In-Chief trumps the 4th Am. protections against search & seizure. We've already been in a police state for awhile; it's just a question of how far they're willing to push it (or reveal it).

[EVDebs]

20. Only under declarations of war by Congress. And even then

that logic is 'iffy'.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=676832&mesg_id=678060

""Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;...

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;""

War and the War Powers Act of 1973 require truthful 'circumstances' and 'situations' to be valid, not mere WMD fantasies. The 'commander in chief' arguments arising from deception are futher requirements for Democrats to demand investigations. Also, crimes committed while in office can be prosecuted once those in office are out. Something for law breakers to think about now.

[Marie26]

26. The Justice Dept.'s official

brief in support of the warrantless spying had the most tortured legal reasoning I've ever seen. It considers the "War on Terror" enough to invoke the President's Comm.-in-Chief powers. (under the Afganistan Authorization of Force resolution). And since the "war on terror" extends everywhere, even here within the US, the President's CIC authority to persue that war as he sees fit also extends to the US. So, as long as Bush is acting under his CIC authority as part of the "War Against Terror", the Justice Dept. believes that this authority trumps contrary laws. This basically gives Bush the power of dictatorship - the laws no longer apply to him. It's not justified by the War Powers Act, or the Constitution, but that's the path they're following right now.

[FatDave]

29. commander in chief OF THE MILITARY

Is gathering evidence, by means legal or illegal, typically the duty of the military? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong part of the Constitution, but as far as I can tell the only place "commander in chief" is mentioned it is immediately followed by "of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States"

So somebody please tell me, what does that have to do with breaking laws in the process of gathering evidence?

Am I missing something in the right-wing argument that Article II of the constitution trumps FISA?

[Maraya1969]

34. You have to have a paper trail to make sure the process is not abused

And that paper trail is warrants which can now be obtained up to 45 days after the search. Also getting warrants will stop people from proceeding with illegal searches in the first place, (like eaves dropping on your political opponent)

[Marie26]

35. Have you ever heard Bush speak?

He'll say, "I'm the Commander-In-Chief," in response to questions about nothing related to the military. He's introduced as the "Commander-In-Chief" in situations where it's not at all appropriate (fundraisers, etc.) For Bush, CIC is not a specific authority restricted to military battles, it's an essential part of Bush's general authority. He's not the Commander-In-Chief in Iraq, he's the CIC everywhere. That's the conceptual framework.

What is Bush's authority as CIC? The Constitution might say it's simply to command the nation's Armed Forces, but the DOJ says something different. The DOJ states his CIC authority is "to protect the Nation from attack." The Constitution describes a specific role; the DOJ describes an abstract mission. And the CIC may use whatever means necessary to fulfill that mission. Indeed, any law that prevents the CIC from fulfilling those duties is itself unconstitutional. If FISA interferes w/the President's Consitutional authority to fight the war against terror, FISA itself is unconstitutional.

So, as "Commander-in-chief" Bush has the power to determine how we fight our wars. This "war on terror" is a global war, extending to fighting terrorism within the US. In order to find terrorists in Iraq, soldiers can conduct random physical searches of people's homes. In the same way, Bush can order the police or military can conduct physical searches within the US to find terrorists. That's the (absolutely crazy) argument, as far as I can tell.


Here's the link to the DOJ brief (sorry, it's a PDF file): http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/fisa/doj11906wp.pdf

[FatDave]

37. I realize that's how they take it...

...but the constitution is quite clear on exactly what "comander in chief" entails. I mean, it's right there, "commander in chief of the army and navy". I just can't believe their sole justification for the tapping is based on twisiting those words to a meaning that any 8th grade government student can tell you wasn't their intention.

[Marie26]

43. Me either

These are the best legal minds in our country. I kept reading the document, expecting them to find some loophole, or some obscure statute that authorizes this. But no, they're just basing it on that that insane interpretation of Art. 2 & the Authorization of Force Resolution.

You'd think this would be slapped down by any court in the country. But back in 2003, the DOJ made the same argument to justify detaining suspected terrorists as "enemy combatants," & it worked. The Supreme Court upheld the detentions, stating that the AUF Resolution also allows the president to detain suspected terrorists. In the 1940's Korematsu case, the Supreme Court ruled that Roosevelt had the authority to detain Japanese-Americans under his authority as CIC. It's obvious to 8th-grade students, but maybe not to people with an agenda. I still have hope, though, that the NSA spying will be found unconstitutional once it reaches the courts.

[Occulus]

50. This would be their reasoning

if you were to ask them directly:

"Because the President was authorized to use force, that is in fact a declaration of war. As such, the President has the authority he needs to take command even of ordinary citizens who are also gun owners. Thus, every registered gun owner is directly under Presidential command at this moment.

We do realize, however, that there are many more Americans who are owners of rifles and shotguns, which are not necessarily registered firearms under the laws of the various states. According to the second Amendment to the Constitution, gun owners are by default members of their state's militia. Therefore, in order to maximize the war's support, all Americans are assumed to be in posession of a firearm in one form or another and, under the Constitution, are at this moment directly under Presidential control.

This allows us to perform searches and seizures of persons and/or property at any time for the purposes of the war on terror. Thank you for your cooperation."

Seriously. That's how tortured the "logic" they use is.

[EVDebs]

64. The flaw stems from Congress delegating ITS war-declaring powers

via the AUMFs, with the language in each stating 'at his determination', meaning at Bush's determination as President--one of the other offices that Congress was specifically NOT to delegate power to. You have to do a lot of reading of the two AUMFs (of Sept 2001 "USE OF FORCE" RESOLUTION September 14, 2001, for TWOT the war on terror, and Oct 2002 for the war in Iraq) plus the War Powers Act of 1973. I've put those links on my posting

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=676832&mesg_id=678060

Read them all CAREFULLY. The "he determines" and "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to..." language obfuscates the War Powers Act of 1973's language requiring clarity and truthful circumstances and situations:

"It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgement of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicate by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations."

If one man's whimsy and fabrications (WMDs that didn't exist, except in his mind), then the WPAof'73 and the Constitution have been circumvented in order to create a state of perpetual war and to bankrupt the treasury. Continuation of the charade requires domestic spying upon your political "enemies", actually dissenters to wrongdoing, now labelled "traitors" conveniently. Wrongdoing under color of authority is still wrong and will be held to account.

Congress, as long as it remains in Republican hands, will continue this charade. We have until November of this year to set things right again in the USofA. The facts are on our side, along with the Constitution ! Let's get greased and kick some ass.

[slaveplanet]

27. This isn't about pushing it

This is about revealing it.
This won't be about some big media scandal, This is a product rollout.

They're eager to pull back the curtain and get this show rolling.
What they've been pushing for and have been doing in secret, they want to bring it into the light and let you know how things really work.

Bush may be a sacrificial lamb at this point.

But you can see it on their faces, this won't be going away even if numbnuts does.

They're licking their chops and getting ready to have their way with the sheeple in a big, in your face kinda way.

Score another one for the tinfoilhatters, In this white is black world, they qualify as the sane ones.

[Marie26]

30. yeah, well, you may be right

I'm getting pretty tin-foily too. It's hard not to be.

[gilpo]

46. Thanks... from this tinfoil hatter!

[converted_democrat]

62. I have always said that The Patriot Act was going to be used against

American citizens that try and stop them, and had nothing to do with terrorism.. Looks like we'll find out soon enough..

[kainah]

15. is this what Russell Tice referred to?

A few weeks ago, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) actually held some important oversight hearings on whistleblower protections. They got almost no coverage; I think C-SPAN only showed them once. But among those witnesses was Russell Tice and he testified that there was another domestic spy program that was much more intrusive than the NSA program. He wouldn't say much more than that and told Shays, et. al, that he couldn't even talk to them about it in closed session because they didn't have high enough security clearance.

I need to try and root out the transcript of this exchange because it's been driving me crazy that no one seems to have paid any attention to it.

Here's a small reference to the above from the Nation:

Mora wasn't declared by his bosses to be mentally ill, like NSA whistleblower Russell Tice--who indicated to the subcommittee that the agency's illegal "black ops" extend well beyond the wiretap program.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060313/editors

and from mediachannel.com

Russell Tice, a former intelligence officer at the National Security Agency (NSA), charged that there were "illegalities and unconstitutional activity" in the agency’s so-called ‘special-access programs’ but was advised that he could not discuss them even with members of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees in closed session.

http://mediachannel.org/blog/node/3383

[Marie26]

16. I think this is different

Tice seemed to be referring to other, more intrusive, forms of electronic survaillence (domestic eavesdropping, Total Info. Awareness, etc.) This story is instead referring to actual physical searches (entering people's homes, reading mail, etc.)

[kainah]

that's what I thought at the time, too

But from what I remember of what he said, it seems to me that he could have been referring to physical searches as well. After all, they would certainly be considered "more intrusive" by most people.

Anyway, I'm sure glad to see that someone else heard and noticed what Tice said!

[Disturbed]

17. "spied on their political opponents?"

Of course they have done that and Rethugs, as well. Keep them all on board of the Neo Fascist Police State.

Russel Tice has been ignored by Congress. They don't want to know what he has to tell them.

[hootinholler]

19. I don't think so.

This seems to be more law enforcement related. A defense lawyer suspects his house and office were searched. I think he was referring to a TIA-like program.

-Hoot

[liveoaktx]

22. I don't think related, but here's a video clip of what you're referring

to if it was in the Kucinich-Tice exchange.

[slaveplanet]

36. just a few of the things I've heard mentioned

the agency's illegal "black ops" extend well beyond the wiretap program.

That Tice could possibly be referring to:

"Gun shot" detectors (Highly sensitive directional remote microphones, placed in traffic cams and on telephone poles, trees, etc...)

Microphones in the digital cable boxes that can be keyed by the cable companies

Land line AND cell phones can be keyed to use the trans mic even when the phone is on the hook.

Imaging technologies that turn your walls into glass, and can be operated from patrol cars.

T-valves in new or refurbed water delivery, so individual residences can be remotely adulterated to differing levels.

and I'm sure they have many other tricks up their sleeves that they are probably using or plan on using real soon.

I know the plan is to turn America into one big prison with differing levels of incarceration depending upon your permanent record.

That is why the public was purposely acclimated to the idea of house arrest over the last 20 years or so.

And why there are acclimating the public to RFID and warrantless society in the present.

[EVDebs]

18. Fourth Amendment ?

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

http://www.constitution.org/billofr_.htm

So, reading the 4th Amendment to the Consitution, which Bush et al took oaths to defend, how does pretending it doesn't exist play into this grand charade ? Warrants are required to have due process built in, not ex post facto !

[kster]

21. If it is on TV we got the regime VERY WORRIED

and they are putting it on TV to scare us, we all know nothing gets reported on TV unless the regime says it gets reported ON TV.......


MY TWO CENTS........

[EVDebs]

24. Wouldn't Aldrich Ames as an FBI employee have consented by employment

to having his home and person subject to search and seizure ? Just wondering what the FBI's spy handling procedure would be otherwise. Seems like it would be boilerplate in any hiring contract. A I wrong ?

[ladjf]

33. I believe that the Attorney General approved this, which was the

legal requirement at the time.

[NoodleyAppendage]

28. At what point will we rise up against this tyranny?????

Like the parable of the frog in a slowly heated pot of water, we are continuing to show that we will allow our beloved democracy to die a death of a thousand cuts without much struggle to the contrary.

Ultimately, what will it take for the "common man" to rise up against this slow, but steady, move towards fascism and tyranny?

J

[FatDave]

31. Allow me to be optimistic for a moment

Sure my optimism is usually shattered, but sometimes it's all I've got.

His approval ratings are in the low-to-mid 30's.
People are fed up with the lies.
People are fed up with the war.
His base is fast abandoning him.

Then this breaks. The fact that it's coming from US News & World Report means it won't be--can't be--swept under the rug. Most people have had enough. This may prove to be too much. And any republican who tries to defend it will be signing his own death warrant, metaphorically speaking.

[upi402]

40. media misdirection, sports narcotic

we are a distracted and selfish lot in 'merica. it's no excuse though.

[upi402]

38. * isn't deleting the 4th amendment

he's violating it.

"It's just a piece of paper"
-W

[understandinglife]

39. I've sworn to defend the Constitution against ALL enemies .... I will.

Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[napi21]

47. I've got a question about this.

If I understand the Patriot Act, it does allow physical searches of someone's home or office, in secret, without warrant, and without any notice, AND never having to tell the people they were ever there!!!

Isn't that one of the sections of the Patriot Act that the Dems were fighting to have deleted?

[caligirl]

52. In this case, they searched the ATTORNEY's home who

represented someone they were watching. They went into the home of an American citizen not a terrorist under serveillance. And it violates attorney client priviledges, but thats nothing compared to this.

[Warren Stupidity]

61. Actually it is secret but not warrantless.

"The Patriot Act, however, unconstitutionally amends the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to allow the government to conduct searches without notifying the subjects, at least until long after the search has been executed. This means that the government can enter a house, apartment or office with a search warrant when the occupants are away, search through their property, take photographs, and in some cases even seize property - and not tell them until later."
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/17326res20030403.html

Still fascist bullshit, but a different flavor than secret warrantless searches, which are unambiguously unconstitutional.

[napi21]

65. Thanks for the exp. There are so damn many illegal things this

admin claims are OK, I'm having trouble keeping them straight in my head!

[gordontron]

49. I saw that on countdown too nt

[nonconformist]

53. K & R.

America means NOTHING anymore. NOTHING. This cabal has destroyed everything that was wonderful and good about America.

[fishwax]

54. I wish I could be so optimistic

Let's see how many Senators sigh up for Censure now. Maybe they will bypass censure and go right to impeachment.

I wish. Frankly, I don't expect it to even help the quest for censure.

I hope I'm wrong.

[RazzleDazzle]

67. My sentiments -- and fears -- exactly

They are so fucking spineless that they won't even object to this. If anything, they'll be cooing in Bush's ear, "But, honey, all you had to do was ASK, and we'd make a law to MAKE it legal for you. Anything for you, babe." And yes, the spineless Democrats included.

[Vinca]

55. Without giving this any real thought and having just read it,

a law enforcement officer can search someone anyway if they think they might have a weapon, etc. Is this particular brouhaha more about waking Grandma up in the middle of the night and patting her down for no good reason?

[Disturbed]

56. This is about warrentless searches.

In this case, they searched the ATTORNEY's home who represented someone they were watching. They went into the home of an American citizen not a terrorist under serveillance.

America is now a Neo Fascist Police State.

[Warren Stupidity]

60. But you see only terrorists will be subjected to this.

Are you a terrorist supporter? If not why would you object to the government protecting us from terrorists by warrantless searches? Why do you hate america? Why do you hate the baby jesus? What are you hiding? What if they have a nukular device? Don't you think the government should take it from them?

[DELUSIONAL]

66. If you travel you are subjected to warrant-less searches now.

[DemInDistress]

68. Before King George spys on another American or before he

starts another war before he spends another billion he must "TURN OVER ALL 911 DOCUMENTS,PHOTO'S,VIDEOS" and answer to those 100 "UNANSWERED QUESTIONS" then he,his dicky,dumsey and rice must testify in public regarding their failures to "PROTECT THIS NATION" anything less is NAZI GERMANY.
How can we make him cooperate? Gazillion man/woman march on DC? Riots in the streets? What can I do? I am only one person.

HELP !!!

[Trevelyan]

71. The richest man in babylon

9/11 NY Emergency Oral Histories+Dispatch Tapes

A number of firemen and medics saw and heard controlled demolition of the Twin Towers on 0/11..Some transcripts reveal this and some transcripts are redacted. http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition

The richest man in babylon

There is no quidance in your kingdom
Your wicked walk in Babylon
There is no wisdom to your freedom
The richest man in babylon

Your beggars sleep outside your doorway
Your prophets leave to wonder on
You fall asleep at night with worry
The saddest man in Babylon

The wicked stench of exploitation
Hangs in the air and lingers on
Beneath the praise and admiration
The weakest man in Babylon

There is no hope left in your kingdom
Your servants have burned all their songs
Nobody here remembers freedom
The richest man in Babylon

Si la lou babylon go 'dain
Babylon gon' be rich again
But to we don' sick again
But no we no weak again
Babyloooon on on on on
(Rasta scat)
Sal la lou ca uba whoa
Si la douba douba do wa bay
??
Si la loo babylon come 'round
You better know you better understand
'Fact you know you better hear what they say
Babylon this is your final day
Babylon this is your final call
Read the writin' it's on the wall
Said United we stand
And together we fall
And if I know that
You're not 'gon catch me in a rat pack
We not go fallin' on your death trap
No way...

Whoooooa oh oh oh oh whoa oh who oh oh
Whooooooa oh oh oh
Whoa oh oh o oh

Thievery Corportation

[Trevelyan]

69. Here is another "terrorist suspect" whistleblower Sancho protecting vote

or trying to from Knight-Ridder which has been partly taken over by bush backer buyout. One of my emails in support of Sancho and against the prosecution of him came back undeliverable.

Mar. 07, 2006I N MY OPINION http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14034640.htm

Election official hammered for telling the truth

Ion Sancho may be a hero in California, where grateful election officials have verified the ''serious security vulnerabilities'' in Diebold voting machines that the Leon County election supervisor uncovered last year.
Sancho is regarded a little differently in Florida.

Florida's secretary of state's office disparaged Sancho's finding, demonstrating considerably more interest in propping up vendors than protecting elections.

California, alarmed by Sancho's report, dispatched its independent, expert-laden Voting Systems Technology Assessment Advisory Board to conduct its own investigation.

Florida, meanwhile, threatened to sue Sancho.

VOTING MACHINE VENDORS

When two of the only three voting machine vendors certified to do business in Florida (other potential competitors are shut out) refused to sell new machines to the troublemaking maverick from Leon County, the state snatched $564,421 in grant money away from Leon County for failing to meet a deadline for -- you guessed it -- obtaining new machines.

''This is incredible how he has been treated,'' Wagner said Monday. ``He's the leader everyone else in the nation has been watching. Because of his investigation, we've been able to strengthen security and protect the voters of California and Florida.''

Wagner noted, instead of getting credit, Sancho has been savaged. One vendor canceled his orders at the last minute, one refused to sell him machines, the third won't return his phone calls.

Salesmen are suddenly too busy to sell him machines. The state, rather than react to possible collusion, promptly canceled his grant and threatened to sue him for failing to fulfill his official duties. A couple of Leon County commissioners have joined the pummeling.

`ROUGH FEW WEEKS'

''It's been a rough few weeks,'' Sancho said Monday, nearly in tears.
Wagner suggested that Sancho's situation ''exposed a weakness that no one has realized up to now.'' Florida apparently doesn't mind if its only licensed vendors refuse to sell their products to certain supervisors.

''Can a vendor punish someone who exposes defects in their product?'' Wagner asked.

``If they can drive out Ion Sancho, this is going to have a chilling effect on election supervisors across the country.''

He e-mailed Sancho: ``I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that some of us are grateful for your dedication to election security, even if the state of Florida can't bring themselves to thank you.
''In my mind,'' Wagner added, ``You are a real hero.''

In Florida, real heroes just catch hell.

[freethought]

73. 4TH Amendment. R.I.P. n/t