Oh my god.

Waaaaaahh...

These assholes are making our country into a bunch of chickenshits. Whatever happened to ”Land of the free. Home of the brave?”
New slogan for the United States of America: “Be scared. Be very scared!!”

Can we have Bush committed yet? He's the most insane and deluded President ever!!!

Wait. Why doesn't Bush get this thing taken down? Doesn't he realize what the Heritage Foundation is doing? Doesn't he see what this really is? A invitation to all the terrorists out there trying to kill us to make phone calls! My god! They are going to all make phone calls now, we are actually telling them when they can use the phone. OH NO!

The thing is the government can aready spy and look and peek and arrest. All they have to do is go to the FISA court and get a rubberstamped warrant. They can even get the warrant after the fact!!
Fuck you Sean Hannity!!

At least the retards corrected the spelling of 'Extention' [sic] on their terror-graphic.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/02/16/protecting_us/index.html

What if bush had gotten the bill without the amnesty in it and vetoed it, would we be dead yet?

For 45 years (since 11/22/63), the executive branch of the U.S. government has worked assiduously at feeding lies and distortions to the American People. Each administration has learned propaganda lessons from prior administrations.

What we have with Bush is the chickens coming home to roost. Americans, in all their comfort, have allowed the lies to be published to the point where the president feels justfiably secure in flat out, hands down lying.

And if we Americans don't stand up and demand an end to the lies, they surely won't stop after 1/20/09.

Has the terrorism color alert been raised?

pissed off patricia @ 18:

So the war in Iraq and Afghanistan were for nothing? The only thing protecting America was the telecoms? Well, who the hell knew?

More precisely, the only thing protecting us was the telecoms' immunity from lawsuits.

where is the dem-capitulation countdown clock???

Are we dead yet?

I know something smells bad.

Run!!!!!Hide!!!!!!!Put youe head between your legs!!!!! ,Lion's & Tiger's & Bears!!!!OOOOOOOOO-Noooooooooo.

the fucktards are at it again... geebus!

Well . . uh . . we are going to die, ya know. So at least they got that right.

Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 2:

Watch out everyone becuase Osama Bin-Goldstien is coming to get you!

perhaps ill be safe if i join the mossad!

Current Threat Level
February 19, 2008 — The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow.

The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines.

While there continues to be no credible information at this time warning of an imminent threat to the homeland, the department's strategic threat perspective is that we are in a period of increased risk. The National Intelligence Estimate cited heightened activity overseas and we're mindful of the recent arrests in Europe. There has also been an upward trend in propaganda tapes and messages coming from Al Qaeda and affiliated networks over the past year.

Recommended Activities
All Americans should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicious items or activities to local authorities immediately.
Everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency.

I don't see it on fox, either. man, how I am gonna know how long i've been dead :(

Herr dubyah was spying on Americans prior to 9/11....how well was he able to protect us?

I personally am getting more and more scared. Not from the terrorist but from a false flag operation that kills hundreds maybe even thousands of people. It would put the United States on a direct path to permanent Fascism. The US would take away more and more rights and I don't think we would ever get them back.

Let's assume for a moment these massive class-action lawsuits against the telecoms proceed and the courts find that people experienced actual harm to be paid damages for. Who do you think would be left holding the bag? That's right, those court costs and damages will be passed right on to consumers. Worse yet, because lawyers will skim their customary 30% off the top, it will effectively be imposed as a regressive tax, harming the least among us more. Aside from clogging up the courts and enriching lawyers, suing the pants off a person or corporation accomplishes nothing in the end when they can just turn right around and charge the public for a new pair.

And isn't ironic, don't you think?

It's like ignoring a presidential daily briefing in August about Bin Laden determined to strike in US.

It's like using 9/11 as a pretext to invade Iraq.

It's like 10 billion dollars in no bid contracts.

Who would've thought... it figures.

ConcernedCanuck @ 35:

Current Threat Level
February 19, 2008 — The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow.

The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines.

While there continues to be no credible information at this time warning of an imminent threat to the homeland, the department's strategic threat perspective is that we are in a period of increased risk. The National Intelligence Estimate cited heightened activity overseas and we're mindful of the recent arrests in Europe. There has also been an upward trend in propaganda tapes and messages coming from Al Qaeda and affiliated networks over the past year.

Recommended Activities
All Americans should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicious items or activities to local authorities immediately.
Everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency.

Does Europe have a color coded threat level system ?
I mean they have had their share terror and they don't go thru what we as americans do.
The system is to keep you scared and compliant

This is a president who has inspired hate, sparked anger, instilled fear and paranoia in the hearts of American citizens -- all the darker angels of our nature. I think our nation died a little when he strutted on that navy ship in his borrowed flight suit trying to impress us with bravery he didn't possess.

Every thing he touches turns to ruin. Hope, love, kindness, generosity, empathy -- all of the good things in the world -- shrink away from him. This is a man who has already died on the inside. And he clings to us with a smirk on his face and a frantic grasp, hoping to drag us into his metaphorical grave with him.

Other than these qualities, he's the greatest president ever and the bestest policies I ever seen!

“At this moment, somewhere in the world, terrorists are planning a new attack on America.”

And somewhere in this world, someone is thinking about making Pigs fly in the sky. Pigs to be jettisoned and airborned in the sky, and only to splash down its guts and intestines sprawling all across US suburban neighborhood. How about that, Pigs flying the sky, so people be afraid !!! Be very very afraid of Pigs flying in the sky.

Dr. Matt @ 39:

Herr dubyah was spying on Americans prior to 9/11....how well was he able to protect us?

And there you have it, the reason Bush is trying to terrorize the country just until he can get out of office and have his ass free of all responsibility for 9/11.

Gotta keep driving the point home: the surveillance program existed pre-9/11, and failed catastrophically - yet it's existence remained secret until after 9/11, and it's existence pre-9/11 not until much later, yet it's existence was justified by 9/11.

Will someone in the House or Senate please make this goddamn point??

Ron @ 46:

peaceful easy feeling @ 43:

Let's assume for a moment these massive class-action lawsuits against the telecoms proceed and the courts find that people experienced actual harm to be paid damages for. Who do you think would be left holding the bag? That's right, those court costs and damages will be passed right on to consumers. Worse yet, because lawyers will skim their customary 30% off the top, it will effectively be imposed as a regressive tax, harming the least among us more. Aside from clogging up the courts and enriching lawyers, suing the pants off a person or corporation accomplishes nothing in the end when they can just turn right around and charge the public for a new pair.

So you think we should just let them commit crimes with no repercuusions. You sir are a dunce or a troll.

Dunce or Troll? That is a false choice. Thats like saying your short and you cant reach very high.

BobD @ 34:

ConcernedCanuck @ 30:

MM @ 19:

Has the terrorism color alert been raised?

Is it still used? I don't recall hearing about it since terra was defeated with the Iraqi splurge.

GO to the Fox home page, it's there in all its glory!

Sorry, I'm wrong. On super sunday I was trying to find a station I could tune in that was showing the game (no cable) and on the Maine Fox website I saw the coded alert. It was Orange BTW. It's not there now, guess the game was scary to GW!

And of the HSA website it says we are in orange today. With GW out of the country I thought we would be safer! I still contend that GW is looking for a country that will let him hide out after he gets out of office. He doesn't want to be brought to the Hague, and maybe Charles Taylor will hide him!

Ron @ 46:

peaceful easy feeling @ 43:

Let's assume for a moment these massive class-action lawsuits against the telecoms proceed and the courts find that people experienced actual harm to be paid damages for. Who do you think would be left holding the bag? That's right, those court costs and damages will be passed right on to consumers. Worse yet, because lawyers will skim their customary 30% off the top, it will effectively be imposed as a regressive tax, harming the least among us more. Aside from clogging up the courts and enriching lawyers, suing the pants off a person or corporation accomplishes nothing in the end when they can just turn right around and charge the public for a new pair.

So you think we should just let them commit crimes with no repercuusions. You sir are a dunce or a troll.

Conservatives believe that only the "free market" should hold corporations accountable for anything. Because, in their desiccated little minds, money is the only valid source of political power.

RayC @ 41:

The possibility some deranged individual might try to "make history" by taking out Obama is what concerns me. It's hard to conceive of a single worse event which could occur right now. You want to talk about undoing decades of progress in a single blow, that would do it, even more so than another bona fide terrorist attack. Thank goodness the SS is on the job! Secret Service, that is.

RayC @ 55:

Ron @ 46:

peaceful easy feeling @ 43:

Let's assume for a moment these massive class-action lawsuits against the telecoms proceed and the courts find that people experienced actual harm to be paid damages for. Who do you think would be left holding the bag? That's right, those court costs and damages will be passed right on to consumers. Worse yet, because lawyers will skim their customary 30% off the top, it will effectively be imposed as a regressive tax, harming the least among us more. Aside from clogging up the courts and enriching lawyers, suing the pants off a person or corporation accomplishes nothing in the end when they can just turn right around and charge the public for a new pair.

So you think we should just let them commit crimes with no repercuusions. You sir are a dunce or a troll.

Dunce or Troll? That is a false choice. Thats like saying your short and you cant reach very high.

LOL, he can't reach a very high level of intelligence.

MM @ 19:

Has the terrorism color alert been raised?

Yeah, it's now BLACK.

unsurebtwilling @ 47:

ConcernedCanuck @ 35:

Current Threat Level
February 19, 2008 — The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow.

The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines.

While there continues to be no credible information at this time warning of an imminent threat to the homeland, the department's strategic threat perspective is that we are in a period of increased risk. The National Intelligence Estimate cited heightened activity overseas and we're mindful of the recent arrests in Europe. There has also been an upward trend in propaganda tapes and messages coming from Al Qaeda and affiliated networks over the past year.

Recommended Activities
All Americans should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicious items or activities to local authorities immediately.
Everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency.

Does Europe have a color coded threat level system ?
I mean they have had their share terror and they don't go thru what we as americans do.
The system is to keep you scared and compliant

This is all I found

United Kingdom: Like the USA, the UK has 5 levels of alert. They are as follows: low for unlikely attacks, moderate for possible but unlikely attacks, substantial for very possible attacks, severe for highly likely attacks and critical for imminent attacks. The threat level has now been downgraded from critical to severe.

The Netherlands: Things are more complicated here, as there are two systems. One activates special protection for certain economic sectors such as power suppliers, public transport and the civil service. The other defines the degree of risk to the country from terrorist attacks. Both consist of 4 levels. According to the second system, the alerts are the following: minimal, limited, substantial and critical. The current threat level in the country is substantial, and it is expected that this will soon be reduced to limited.

Spain: A simplified system with 3 levels numbered from 1 to 3. For the past year, the level has been set at 3, the most serious, which means that the army may have to act.

France: its system – pompously named Vigipirate – is divided into 4 levels. These are represented by 4 colours, in order of increasing severity: yellow, orange, red and scarlet. The threat level is currently set at red, the level intended to prevent serious attacks.

Rusty Shackleford @ 59:

Ron @ 46:

peaceful easy feeling @ 43:

Let's assume for a moment these massive class-action lawsuits against the telecoms proceed and the courts find that people experienced actual harm to be paid damages for. Who do you think would be left holding the bag? That's right, those court costs and damages will be passed right on to consumers. Worse yet, because lawyers will skim their customary 30% off the top, it will effectively be imposed as a regressive tax, harming the least among us more. Aside from clogging up the courts and enriching lawyers, suing the pants off a person or corporation accomplishes nothing in the end when they can just turn right around and charge the public for a new pair.

So you think we should just let them commit crimes with no repercuusions. You sir are a dunce or a troll.

Conservatives believe that only the "free market" should hold corporations accountable for anything. Because, in their desiccated little minds, money is the only valid source of political power.

appropriate use of quotation marks around "free market".... myths need to be put in quotes

ConcernedCanuck @ 64:

A deranged individual going after Obama, not a terrorist organization. Don't mix the two.

Anyone who was alive when our cities were burning back in the 1960s probably understands my point.

Rusty Shackleford @ 59:

Ron @ 46:

peaceful easy feeling @ 43:

Let's assume for a moment these massive class-action lawsuits against the telecoms proceed and the courts find that people experienced actual harm to be paid damages for. Who do you think would be left holding the bag? That's right, those court costs and damages will be passed right on to consumers. Worse yet, because lawyers will skim their customary 30% off the top, it will effectively be imposed as a regressive tax, harming the least among us more. Aside from clogging up the courts and enriching lawyers, suing the pants off a person or corporation accomplishes nothing in the end when they can just turn right around and charge the public for a new pair.

So you think we should just let them commit crimes with no repercuusions. You sir are a dunce or a troll.

Conservatives believe that only the "free market" should hold corporations accountable for anything. Because, in their desiccated little minds, money is the only valid source of political power.

Thus, if they take money away from the poor and middle class, those groups will no longer have power.

Great moniker by the way: "Are you my friend Hank? Or are you my new friend "Rusty Shackleford"?

ConcernedCanuck @ 67:

unsurebtwilling @ 47:

ConcernedCanuck @ 35:

Current Threat Level
February 19, 2008 — The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow.

.....
France: its system – pompously named Vigipirate – is divided into 4 levels. These are represented by 4 colours, in order of increasing severity: yellow, orange, red and scarlet. The threat level is currently set at red, the level intended to prevent serious attacks.

Why the need for the editorial comment? One meaning of the word pirate in French is hijacker or to hijack. Vigipirate in a combination of the words vigilance and pirate. How is that more pompous than "Homeland Security"?

Yellow Elephant Safari @ 75:

ConcernedCanuck @ 67:

unsurebtwilling @ 47:

ConcernedCanuck @ 35:

Why the need for the editorial comment? One meaning of the word pirate in French is hijacker or to hijack. Vigipirate in a combination of the words vigilance and pirate. How is that more pompous than "Homeland Security"?

Still better than Vagipirate. One meaning the female reproductive organ and the other is the word for hijack in French. Thus, be on the lookout for hijacked vaginas.

Blowing off all the strawmen and ad hominems in reply to peaceful easy feeling @ 43.

Without disputing any of the facts of the telecom immunity case, my only point is the tort system doesn't changes behaviors of either people or corporations when the punishment can just be passed along as part of the cost of doing business. Some people are hell bent on punishing all corporations financially, seemingly without consideration for who is ultimately bearing those costs. I'm advocating the current system needs to be overhauled so that actual progress is made on these issues, because right now there's a lot of churn but little forward motion.

I remember when deranged individuals back in the burnin', riotin' 1960s assassinated some white men, including a president.

So, because we were so skeered, we stopped electing white men.

MM @ 19:

Has the terrorism color alert been raised?

They only use that in the heat of a presidential election. Wait until after the primaries are over.

When costs are passed on to consumers, they "vote with their feet."

Except, apparently, the costs of tort suits. They are immune from that "rule" of the "free market." When a company passes on those costs, the consumer can make no choice!

"Free market" propaganda is fun. You can arrive at any conclusion you want by picking where you stop your "analysis."

Blue Lensman @ 76:

Raising the spectre of assassination is just another brand of fear mongering.

Although there was no specific threat, it's clearly more than a specter when Obama was assigned SS protection earlier in his candidacy than any person before. And I seem to recall this was put in place because Obama himself requested it. It's not fear-mongering at all, but rather a tangible threat our political leaders have to take seriously.

Rusty Shackleford @ 85:

When costs are passed on to consumers, they "vote with their feet."

Not on essential services for which demand is inelastic and providers few due to the high cost of the infrastructure, e.g. telecom.

"Because congress hasn't given Bush 'exactly' the (bullshit) bill that he demands'.... blah blah blah we're all gonna diiiee!!!! Oh the humanity yadda yadda... and chicken little and the sky is falling too... HEY!!!! Fuck OFF!!! Hannity and all the rest of the deluded Bush appeasers just shove a frikkin sock in yer pieholes asswipes!!!.... I don't fucking care anymore about tur-er-ists are gonna git us iffen we don't let Bush and his DOJ shove a railroad tie up our asses and sniff around any ol time they like... I'm sick of being bent over without a kiss over this unconstitutional bullshit! Fuckem and their fear mongering!!! IF anyone really wants to know the why behind my rant... Capt. Kangaroo spells it out @11... JD

Hmmmm... can anyone say illegal wiretaps for political purposes? Say the Kerry/Edwards campaign? 2002 Senate races perhaps? Maybe illegal wiretaps on the perceived "political enemies" such as whistle-blowers in the "libruul" media?

There is much more to this story! I am not willing to give up a single freedom for these alleged "tuurorists" hiding behind every tree. Not one. If the beaureacrats and law enforcement cannot do their job under the existing laws then get someone in who can. We have some very smart people in this country. I am sure of it!

In the next few months America can probably lok forward to another "False-Flag" attack,
planned and executed by the forces of evil Cheney and Bush and their Cabal.

Bangkok Bob @ 95:

In the next few months America can probably lok forward to another "False-Flag" attack,
planned and executed by the forces of evil Cheney and Bush and their Cabal.

Sometime in September, I'd wager. - or August 8th (08/08/08)

peaceful easy feeling @ 89:

Rusty Shackleford @ 85:

When costs are passed on to consumers, they "vote with their feet."

Not on essential services for which demand is inelastic and providers few due to the high cost of the infrastructure, e.g. telecom.

Mmm-hmmm. Are you suggesting that St. Ronnie's deregulation didn't work out as planned? I'm sure that's not the case because He could do no wrong.

I guess the message from conservatives is "corporations can fuck you all they want, provided they're big and important enough, and there's nothing you can do about it HAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

Y'all should go ahead and put that on McCain's bumper stickers.

I can't think of anything to write when I read about this FISA confabulation on the part of Bush and company except, "Gosh, I just hate this guy and can't wait to see the last of him."

Bud @ 94:

Holy mother of Buddha, Sean, have you gotten fat!

It's all that protein he's been getting from Rove...

Rusty Shacklelford 99 Says:

You need a couple of more ha's.

If they really want to hit us, there's not a damned thing that's going to stop them. A bunch of English-only-speaking assholes sifting through stuff coming from a small room in San Francisco aren't going to help us.

The most amazing part of this mess is how difficult it is to get information out of the same telecoms who now want immunity. I used to work in Law Enforcement Relations for one of the carriers seeking immunity. If the police were investigating a kiddie porn ring and needed information as quickly as possible, the carrier would deny all access. If there were bomb threats to a school, they would require a court order to release any information. No matter what the situation, they would never give out information even when the police were begging. If they did have a warrant or court order, they typically challenged it.

Today, they are willing to turn over everything and everything on the basis of some "what-if" threat, when they have always made it as difficult for police to investigate a crime or suspect. Something seems a bit out of whack here.

D to the Izzle @ 107:

If they really want to hit us, there's not a damned thing that's going to stop them. A bunch of English-only-speaking assholes sifting through stuff coming from a small room in San Francisco aren't going to help us.

Honestly, the concept that terrorists don't know or suspect that their calls are being tapped is simply insane. Of course they know it and if they didn't Bush's whining has certainly brought them up-to-date. These are not 12-year olds calling in a bomb threat to get out of school early, they are very resourceful terrorists. To think that listening to phone calls will stop them is nothing short of idiotic.

ashton @ 109:

The most amazing part of this mess is how difficult it is to get information out of the same telecoms who now want immunity. I used to work in Law Enforcement Relations for one of the carriers seeking immunity. If the police were investigating a kiddie porn ring and needed information as quickly as possible, the carrier would deny all access. If there were bomb threats to a school, they would require a court order to release any information. No matter what the situation, they would never give out information even when the police were begging. If they did have a warrant or court order, they typically challenged it.

Today, they are willing to turn over everything and everything on the basis of some "what-if" threat, when they have always made it as difficult for police to investigate a crime or suspect. Something seems a bit out of whack here.

Ashton, you seemed to have missed the point being made by our conservative friends: corporations always know best, and should not be held accountable in any way because they are too important. If a corporation achieves a certain level of indispensibility, then it should be able to behave in any way it sees fit. I am told the telecoms have achieved this status, and that we are now obliged to submit meekly and hope they continue to grant us their boons.

PLEASE EXPLAIN to me..exactly what all does this administration members want to be given to as they say "make this country safe"..

Martial Law is all they haven't acquired as of yet.

Marge @ 115:

PLEASE EXPLAIN to me..exactly what all does this administration members want to be given to as they say "make this country safe"..

Martial Law is all they haven't acquired as of yet.

BINGO!

Bingo,
ysbaddaden @ 118:

BANGO, BONGO & IRVING!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Mosquitoes!

Folks...this is real simple

Right wing: Disingenuous

If Al Gore were in office right now....they'd have a clock counting down when our 'privacy rights' will be 'reinstated'....

FISA works, corporate malfeasance & illegal spying is an afront to the 4th amendment....

This is stupid in so many ways.... its bad enough that con-servatives actively rejoice that US tax payer money is wasted in paying for Saudi weapon systems, now they're actively anticipating terrorist attacks....hmmm...maybe there is something to the 9/11 conspiracies after all....

Rusty Shackleford

It`s just hypothetical.......and the only name of a carrier that I could pull off the top of my head as I was typing.

Marge @ 115:

PLEASE EXPLAIN to me..exactly what all does this administration members want to be given to as they say "make this country safe"..

Martial Law is all they haven't acquired as of yet.

When they've turned the country into either a maximum security prison or a graveyard, then they'll tell us we're safe and secure. But, only if they get to be the jailers or the killers and fillers of graves. The rest of us will get to play the roles of prisoners and the dead.

The most powerful country of scaredy cats ... courtesy of GOP leadership.

Jeez ... good thing they didn't catch Bin Laden or there'd be no bogey-man around the next corner plotting your demise.

There is nothing to fear but T E R R OR ! ! !

I no longer think it's fear-mongering but T E R R O R -mongering ...

Cheers & Get Rid Of The GOP,
Marvin