House Dems Challenge Plans To Expand Spying
By Nicole Belle Thursday Sep 06, 2007 11:50amWaPo:
Senior House Democrats called on the Bush administration yesterday to delay a planned Oct. 1 expansion of the use of powerful satellite and aircraft spy technology by local and federal law enforcement agencies, challenging the plan's legality and charging that the administration is failing to safeguard the privacy of Americans.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and two Democratic subcommittee chairmen jointly asked the Department of Homeland Security to provide the legal framework for the domestic use of classified and military spy satellites, and to allow Congress to review privacy and civil liberties protections.
"You let this thing go, it may be another blank check to the executive. It may morph into things that will terrify you if you really understand the capabilities of satellites," said Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), former ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee.
Their demand was made in a letter after DHS officials testified about the spying program at a hearing, and signaled that administration officials had not succeeded in quieting Democrats' concerns about the intrusiveness of the satellite technology -- which was created primarily for foreign surveillance -- and the novelty of its proposed use by state and local police officials.
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Well, about time, but since when has a request ever worked with the Bush administration? Pass a law to prevent it, and then monitor them because they'll try to break it anyway. That's their modus operandi.
More words but in reality no action. When will the dems grow a spine and stop the madness?
Challenge their plans to *expand* their domesitic spying? This is what the Bush team always does. When they're in the wrong, they push harder in the same direction so they don't lose any of the ground they've already taken.
Challenge their CURRENT domestic spying as well.
Believe it when you see it done. The words are nothing anymore.
“You let this thing go, it may be another blank check to the executive"
And that has stopped you in the past? We thought you Dems loved giving blank checks to the executive.
This comedy routine from the Bush Penile Puppets is getting stale.
Ouch, another letter. That has to hurt. I don't know how the administration puts up with all that "oversight".
goatsage @ 5:
Yeah! We all know how the regressive right doesn't tax (cut) and spend irresponsibly, just look at the bill for Iraq.
Satellite imagery is so advanced now days that it can resolve license plates. Watch the movie Enemy of the State (1998) and know that it's not fiction anymore.
If you thought the phrase "police state" is a cliche, think again. Not only is the government's surveillance illegal, but, innocent people will get caught in their sights. Just like innocent people have been executed only to be found innocent a few years later and just like Richard Jewell's reputation and career were already ruined by the time the FBI exonerated him.
Strap Bush and Cheyney to a satelite and send them into orbit. They can spy on us from there.
Jo @ 10:
Good idea! Dr. Strangelove Cheney is used to heights....
Another letter. This congressional oversight brought to you by the United States Postal Service.
Whatever...it amazes me that people still think the dems really care about these issues.
All that will happen is that this spying will go undeterred, as always, because of a complacent population, and the dems will actually enjoy this new found power Bush has given the government.
They will partake in the spying and whilst doing so, will come up with some cockamamey reason why this is actually better for us, and say they did challenge Bush at one point by complaining in congress. Ooooooooohhhh....don't break a sweat or anything....geez....
Not to worry. As soon as the annual pre-planned Osama video tape "turns up" on 9-11 this year the Dems will be rolling over before the Arab bit actor they got to play Bin Laden can get the new fake beard off his face.
Amessage from Cindy Sheehan.
http://myfightfordemocracy.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00...
How Rahm Emanuel turned the Democratic Party into Blue Dogs.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/090607J.shtml
I wish the Dems had the cojones to do something other than write a friggin' letter!
notreallyabadguy @ 7:
There was an old Bob Goldthwaite routine about Bernard Goetz (the Subway Vigilante), and how odd it was to threaten someone with a screwdriver. One of the kind of throwaway punchlines was "'I'll make your glasses really wobbly.'"
With that in mind:
"Take that, Bush Administration! I bet that paper cut stings for weeks."
Could Larry Craig use the National Security defense for expanded spying in the bathroom?
Spying on american citizens, according to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, is still patently "illegal". What's with the condoning of something illegal by Congress? Duh!
just curious...what private companies benefit from all of this spying? Benefactors of Bush and Cheney?
Gene @ 12:
Now THAT's funny.
Our government cares and really wants to know about our deepest hopes and wishes....
So much in fact with that new fangled satellite they can see and hear you just fine from your living room lounge chair...
Dems better do something to stop this administration. Bush is drinking again. Anyone see that at the APEC summit, during a speech, he A.)Called it the "OPEC" summit; B.)Called his Australian hosts "Austrians." and C.)Walked the wrong way off the stage and would have fallen off it had not others pushed him the other way.
Capitulation in 3,2,1.
too little
too late on the
part of the spineless dems
heh...
by challenge, do you mean the dems won't do a god damn thing? because they won't...they are working for the same team cheney is on...
veritas @ 20:
Constitution has been suspended. This is a dick-tater-ship. Didn't you get the memo?
since hen has America been called the HOMELAND?
harkens to the Nazi's and the rise to fortunes of the Bush family as the enablers of the Nazi's
Waiting in Texas @ 21:
The Telecom Corporations are doing the actual phone and internet surveillance, so they are in a position to record conversations from board members of IBM, Microsoft Etc...
They are also legally protected from civil and criminal action in how they use this data. They can use it to buy and sell stocks, leak secret corporate information and sell personal and private data on executives, and enjoy the full protection of the law in doing so.
Rollo Tomassi @ 14:
the truth be known
Waiting in Texas @ 21:
Most likely there is a relatively small infrastructure that profits from this domestic spying, but not very big when compared to the contracting circus in Iraq. The sustained fight over illegal spying by Cheney has more to do with the assumed Presidential authority just to do it. Why do they do it the way it’s done? Simply because they think they can.
I also think that though the scope is so much greater than the Nixon spying, these programs have yet to be used for political purposes (like Nixon did).
Yet.
Left unchecked, and un-challenged, eventually these programs will be. They will be used to target political rivals, innocent dissidents, and soon you and me. It’s not like they’re not listening (illegally), they just haven’t co-opted the spying system for gain at this time.
They'll stay tough until cheney says: BOO...
Congressional Dems need some new material. I've seen this episode a dozen times.
Weaseldog @ 16:
Very enlightening article. I knew the voter was being made unnecessary, especially in the primaries, but I hadn't been aware Emanuel had such a hand in this kind of crap. I'm beginning to have just as bad of a visceral reaction to the term "Democrat" as I do "Republican". I feel like I'm living in the middle of a bad SNL skit. Problem is, it never ends.
Those not opposed say "Heil Hitler!"
Weaseldog @ 30:
Curious how is this Telecom Corporation protected when the ACLU just won a ruling (Doe v. Gonzales) against those National Security Letters legal validity under the Constitution....
Would appear at this point in time there is a real legal question regarding the compliance of any individual/business involving themselves in this apparent "fishing expedition"....
Why consider this tea party. Why would this even be a question?
Congress and the senate nothing but a bunch of bathhouse eunichs, we're fucked.
Weaseldog @ 30:
That’s not really accurate. When given the NSA letter, the telecom’s are “required” to let the NSA insert their equipment into the switch networks where the data streams are routed to Virginia for analysis. In the past, there were actually analog recorders at the switching sites, but I don’t think there are now. The complicity of the telecoms also is in responding to requests for SNAs (subscriber name and address) and records of all inbound and outbound numbers from that subscriber. These numbers are the basis for the routing.
A request in a letter? Holy crap. Any chance we can hire Michael Vick to train these worthless Dems to do some actual fighting for a change?
Retired Navy @ 36:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58N73cAF97Y
Retired Navy @ 36:
When did Hitler change his first name from Hal?
Yeah, like they challenged the White House on Iraq War Funding, and restricting Bush's authority.
This game of "make noise, roll over and play dead" is getting as tired as Fred Thompson in "Law & Order" reruns.:-(
The Democratic Party only offers toothless complaints about overreaching government power, because they don't really want to reverse it-- they want to inherit it.
Taarak @ 39:
Taarak @ 32:
It used to work that way. What I've read over the last two years makes it clear that the whole operation has been privatized.
As I understand it, ChoicePoint is actually storing all the records, recordings etc... The NSA doesn't actually handle the data, until they request it. Considering that ChoicePoint gets hacked a lot, this should be troubling. I think that now it is illegal for ChoicePoint to report when they've been hacked, because they hold sensitive data.
Just wait till the repugs outsource the CIA to China.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii1tc493bZM
Who's kidding who? IMO, the Democrat's leadership will roll over in fear that they will look "weak" on the "War on Terror"...
Too little too late. They can already read our emails, listen to our phone calls and throw us in jail w/out charging us. I don't know what the white house needs to "expand" spying for, but they can already do whatever they want so I'm not sure why Dems are bothering except to make a "token" stand.
Where the hell were you assholes the last time this came up, when you SIGNED THE BILL?!?!
bend over america, because we're getting screwed by both parties
ysbaddaden @ 46:
Maybe we'll get better intelligence.
wily1 @ 49:
And no KY.
hope @ 35:
This is really important, key stuff about where those sabotaging dems came from in the last 4 years. What's not clear is Pelosi's relationship to him since '03.
If Emanuel has a side-trip agenda going to crowd out progressives then the liberal press has a duty to expose him as a rat in the cellar and fumigate the premises.
Liberal AND Proud @ 51:
And I'm sure the Kentuckians will be sorry to hear that.
What are the gutless, useless, DEMS going to do? Hold their breaths and stomp on the ground before saying "okay but just this once."
crazylove @ 52:
Trouble is, where you gonna find a liberal press that actually gets heard. Most of the MSM is busy censoring, not reporting. For instance we have this little gem:
http://www.progressive.org/mag_mc090407
WTF? Is there anyone left out there (besides the blogs) that wants to report the news and not create it or tweak it to their (owners') liking?
Q: What's the difference between the Democrats and a coal mine?
A: Sometimes coal mines don't cave in.
My Ass Hurts!
OpinMynd @ 57:
Here you go:
http://www.hillary.org/hillary/dominatrix.jpg
Jeez, this is pathetic. First they give Bushie all the power in the world to spy on anyone, anywhere in the country they want to - without any court oversight - then they bitch about them using cameras to do it!?
That's it. The post-Clinton herd has got to go. They clearly are suffering from battered spouse syndrome after being throttled by Scaife and his minions for so many years. It's time to get rid of these jelly-legged has-beens and bring in some fresh troops.
A request huh!!??? Like a strongly worded letter or something... Yea, good plan dems, you guys ain't ever tried that one huh... Good luck with that strategy.... I'm sure the repukes will cower at that and immediately clean up their act....yea sure.......PFFFT!!!
I'm beginning to think that a correct cartoon or logo to express the democratic party wouldn't be a donkey, it would be a caved in mine shaft...... or maybe a gumbylike spineless blob... It sure as hell shouldn't be a donkey... They're known for stubborness, and these 2007 type dems will never be mistaken for having a sense of stubbornness or a spine either...
Jesus, I just wish they'd stop trying to blow smoke up my ass everyday that they intend to do anything about any of this shit..... So far, there successes are pretty minimal and their gaffs still create legions of rightwing laughter and derision..... Stop being punks for Christ sake dems and DO SOMETHING.... Something real... not send another bullshit letter that threatens nothing and noone........That phony shit isn't even momentarily making good p.r. noise anymore..................................sheeesh.....JD
The Dems will not do anything. They have let down the American people and have failed the Constitution, which they have sworn to uphold and protect from ALL enemies, both foreign and DOMESTIC.
Ooooh, ANOTHER strongly worded letter. Snap, snap, take THAT fascists!
Oooohhhh. Wow. A letter!
Vote anti-incumbant in 2008.
Government Accountability Office - CLOSED. We [ General Public ] have no accountability, no arrests and no prosecutions for the Public Fraud being exposed by 'oversite' committe's. WHY ..... because of the illegal agreements between U.S. Attorneys, Office of Inspector Generals and Federal Contractors.
We have Law Enforcement Officials conducting Public Fraud against us. These 'Federal Contractors' are allowed to conduct Public Fraud, give Campain Contributions and work with Congress to push ILLEGAL Bills through house floors ect.
The Medicare Drug Plan for example [ Federal HMO Contractors Own Pharmacy Chains ] is an illegal kickback solisitation to aid and abet felony HMO Dumping of Federal Beneficiaries into Other Federal Programs.
.
House ethics rules are very broad and provide that any Member, Officer or Staff shall conduct themselves “in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.” Other ethics clauses Require Any Person in the Government to “Expose Corruption wherever Discovered.” These are solemn obligations to ensure that members of Congress and Staff will preserve the integrity and dignity of the institution and Expose Wrongdoing.
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Federal Budget Committe Member - Befor the Drug Bill was given to congress:
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Subj: Re: Health Alliance ( Federal HMO Hospital ) Insurance Fraud
Date: 2/21/2003 5:07:41 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: senator@stabenow.senate.gov (Senator Debbie Stabenow) D-MI
To: kstbylite1@aol.com
February 21, 2003
.
Thank you . . .
. . for contacting me about ( OPM FEHBP hospital dumping ) insurance & Medicaid ( kickback ) fraud committed by ( Federal HMO ) Health Alliance Plan. I appreciate that you have taken the time to communicate your views and concerns with me. ( T18CFR1518 Obstruction of justice ).
I understand your concern about this issue. Should related legislation ( medicare drug plan Nov 2003 ) come before the U.S. Senate for a vote, I will keep your views in mind,and share your thoughts on this issue with my colleagues who serve on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me whenever I can be of assistance to you or your family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator - misprison of a felony T18CFR24Crime.
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Subj: FBI Response
Date: 2/5/2003 3:19:49 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: sioc@fbi.gov (FBI Internet Tips)
To: Kstbylite1@aol.com
Dear Ms Kimball,
Thank you for taking the time to submit your information to the FBI via the FBI.Gov Web site. It is being evaluated at this time by one of my Agents, and will be forwarded to the appropriate FBI component, as appropriate. If they are not responding to your emails try calling Detroit FBI at 313-965-2323.
Sincerely,
David N. Rushing/rwh
Supervisory Special Agent
FBI Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
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IAIP redacted 8Jun04.indd S.C. Section 552, as amended. Preface The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General Act of 1978.
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Office of Inspector General - Misprison of a felony DHHS OIG T42sec417 Hospital Insurance Fraud anti-dumping violation: Adverse Determination: denial of Existing Federal Insurance to force HCFA State Medicaid kickback conversions - Public Fraud
Office of Personnel Management - CITE: 5CFR890.105 criminal Denial of Covered Claims
Dated: 14 May 2003
Joseph Frech Investigator - T18CFR371 illegal agreement to defraud Entitled Individuals and Federal Health Care Programs with respect to claims - 1998 DHHS OIG ' Volentary Disclousure of Health Care Fraud Program': Federal Hospital Insurance (Fraud) Trust Fund [ kickback ] Account.
C 03-206 Quote:
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" Your only recorse is to file suite against the Office of Personnel Management in Federal Court. "
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The criminal liability of individuals ( Law Enforcement Officials ) through whom the entity ( Federal [ OPM FEHBP etal ] HMO Contractors & thier affiliates ) committed its acts ( Hospital Insurance Fraud T42CFR417 Anti-dumping Violation ) should be investigated and should be resolved separately from the entity's [ Federal HMO ] liability.
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Read the October 2006 Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General report on [ HCFA ] Medicaid payments for [ MI OFIS kickbacks ] deceased [ Federal ] beneficiaries - for more insite into the ongoing Criminal Abuse [ U.S. Attorney & DHHS Office of Inspector General - Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program T42CFR417 criminal denial of existing federal insurance to force illegal State HCFA Medicaid kickback conversions ] Against Elderly American Citizens with Federal HMO Policies
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Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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Stop Health Care Fraud [ CITE: 5CFR890.105 ] criminal denial of COVERED Claims - OPM FEHBP - How to stop and report suspected health care fraud.
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OPM FEHBP Disputed Claims [ CITE: 5CFR890.105 ] criminal denial of COVERED Claims - The procedures for you to use to file a formal request for reconsideration of a [ illegal denial of Covered ] health care claim.
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Subj: Re: Your Concerns Federal Hospital Insurance Fraud
Date: 3/26/2007 1:16:37 PM Central Standard Time
From: senator_levin@levin.senate.gov
To: JustmyOpnion@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Mrs. Kimball:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me regarding HMO [ Hospital ] dumping. I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind should this issue come before the Senate.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Carl Levin D-MI
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STILL Pending RULE of LAW - Where is GAO ????
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-CITE-18 USC Sec. 1964 01/16/96-EXPCITE-TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE PART I - CRIMES CHAPTER 96 - RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS -HEAD- Sec. 1964. Civil remedies -STATUTE-(a) The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction
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1999 OPM FEHBP - Federal HMO Hospital Service Contract Provider - Health Alliance Plan Detroit ( Region V HCFA ) MI HAP PROVIDERS offers 2,596 personal care physicians (PCP) and 4,901 specialists. HAP’s delivery system includes 45 hospitals ( inducing forfiture: T42sec417 DHHS Federal HMO Service: discharge procedures: Grievance Procedure/denial of Existing OPM Insurance -administrative fraud- dumping ) in southeast Michigan and the Flint area, including 23 major hospital networks ( robbing the Elderly of 401k's and savings accounts to Force ( poor ) Medicaid kickback Conversions -eligibility ), 65 urgent care centers and 765 ancillary providers: Hospital Affiliate Nursing Homes ( Criminally Billing OPM FEHB for COVERED T42CFR409.33 Posthospital Care CITE: 5CFR890.105, for criminal conversion into State HCFA Medicaid - kickbacks ),mental health facilities, optical providers, laboratories, durable medical equipment providers,ambulance services AND PHARMACY CHAINS.
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In 1985 the Crime Victims Rights Act created comprehensive rights of notification and participation in all stages of the criminal justice process for felony [ T18CFR24Crime ] crime victims in Michigan. The law creates a duty for police agencies, sheriffs, the Department of Corrections, prosecuting attorneys, courts and other agencies to include crime victims within the formal conduct of investigative, judicial, sentencing and post sentencing proceedings.
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Sincerely,
.
All Entitled Federal Employee Health Beneficiaries [ & the General Public
] who are being criminally denied [ DHHS T42CFR417 ] Existing Federal
Health Insurance Coverage, illegally billed for denied covered claims and
forced into HCFA State Mediciaid Programs for the POOR. Title18CFR1001Crime.
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