Ashcroft is Watching You

[corplinx]

Oops, I guess he isn't.

I'm not a big fan of patriot act conspiracy theories, those based on "what if this power is abused". But if you read some of the anti-bush news sites, you get the feeling that Ashcroft is big brother. The numbers tell a different tale.

Now, I assume the numbers were much higher in 2001 for obvious reasons. The thing that surprises me though is that the majority of state wiretaps are done by some of the most liberal states in union (albeit they are also larger population centers and should have more poplation and therefore more wiretaps)!

I do think after reading the article that greater oversight is needed for the FISA wiretaps. You can never have enough oversight when great power is being wielded.

I'll say it once and say it again, Aschroft isnt big brother; he's an ugly, dull guy from missouri.

 

[Jedi Knight]

There are so many wiretaps on my phone it sounds like two dixie cups and a string when I am talking on it. The black helicopters that fly over the house really slowly are probably part of that.

It is OK though because I am the man, the myth, the legend!!!!!!!

JK

 

[Mr Manifesto]

Your article has proved nothing.

but that doesn't include hundreds of wiretaps approved by a special court to track down suspected terrorists and spies.

The numbers in the report don't reflect wiretap applications overseen by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court, which has approved thousands of warrants since it was established in 1978 by Congress. The FISA court is known to have denied only two government applications, and both of those involved test cases over the court's legal authority. In one of the two cases, the Reagan administration Justice Department asked that its application be denied as part of an effort to curtail the court's authority.

The lack of spy court data in the annual wiretap report makes the document less useful than it used to be, said Jameel Jaffer, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union.

"This report used to give us a comprehensive picture of the government's use of the wiretap provision in criminal cases," he said. "It no longer does because the government is using the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to conduct surveillance in certain criminal investigations."

I am willing to accept your theory that Ashcroft isn't particularly different when it comes to wire taps. But you won't prove it with that article.

 

[subgenius]

Oops, I guess he isn't.

I'm not a big fan of patriot act conspiracy theories, those based on "what if this power is abused". But if you read some of the anti-bush news sites, you get the feeling that Ashcroft is big brother. The numbers tell a different tale.

Now, I assume the numbers were much higher in 2001 for obvious reasons. The thing that surprises me though is that the majority of state wiretaps are done by some of the most liberal states in union (albeit they are also larger population centers and should have more poplation and therefore more wiretaps)!

I do think after reading the article that greater oversight is needed for the FISA wiretaps. You can never have enough oversight when great power is being wielded.

I'll say it once and say it again, Aschroft is
nt big brother; he's an ugly, dull guy from missouri.

From the great defender of the administration, this is quite surprising. You were very quick to defend him commenting on an ongoing trial in violation of a direct, clear, court order.
Stay tuned. There's more coming from the "ugly dull" people.
Until then, all it takes is for good people to do nothing.

 

[Tony]

Re: Re: Ashcroft is Watching You

Stay tuned. There's more coming from the "ugly dull" people.

Inside information?

 

[subgenius]

Re: Re: Re: Ashcroft is Watching You

Inside information?

Yes, the CIA has wired my brain, and the Big Three killed my baby.

 

[corplinx]

Re: Re: Ashcroft is Watching You

From the great defender of the administration, this is quite surprising. You were very quick to defend him commenting on an ongoing trial in violation of a direct, clear, court order.
Stay tuned. There's more coming from the "ugly dull" people.
Until then, all it takes is for good people to do nothing.

Yes skepticism of anti-administration rhetoric is "defending the administration". Your threads would be no fun if noone disagreed with you.

And yes, I said that if he violated the court order he should be dealt with harsher than you or I because of his position. However, it is up to the judge whether or not he violated it.

Its easy to find anti-administration material on any number of websites, blogs, etc. Skepticism of these claims is only found in a few places (spinsanity for one). As for myself, I like to play devil's advocate for the underdogs. Who is a larger underdog than John Ashcroft? He is probably the least popular member of the administration and is constantly bashed by everyone. Maybe history will show he was a crook or something, however I feel no compulsion to join the herd and declare him a fascist/idiot/moron/nazi/whatever.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

Re: Re: Re: Ashcroft is Watching You

As for myself, I like to play devil's advocate for the underdogs. Who is a larger underdog than John Ashcroft? He is probably the least popular member of the administration and is constantly bashed by everyone. Maybe history will show he was a crook or something, however I feel no compulsion to join the herd and declare him a fascist/idiot/moron/nazi/whatever.

(emphasis mine)

How about 'anyone who isn't in the White House administration'?

 

[subgenius]

Hey corp, my apologies for the gratuitous comment.

 

[jj]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Ashcroft is Watching You

Yes, the CIA has wired my brain, and the Big Three killed my baby.

Fnord, fnord the fnord fnord.